Sunday night’s “Mad Men” hit out of the ballpark again. Don Draper was finally confronted by his wife Betty over his secret past. As fans know, the character’s real name is Dick Whitman. He traded identities with the real, now dead, Don, in Korea.
But wait. Also in last night’s episode, we learned (if not before) that Don’s wife, Betty, is actually known as Betsy by her family.
What’s in a name? An old flame of Roger Sterling shows up and resists changing the name of her dog food company after a scandal. They’ve been revealed for using horsemeat. It’s the name her father gave the company, says the woman (played with perfection by guest Mary Page Keller). Don tells her, it’s just a name, you can’t do anything but change it. Even Roger (the great John Slattery) remarks, Just slap a new label on the can.
Well, isn’t that what Don did when he abandoned Dick Whitman?
There are two episodes left for “Mad Men” this season, an insufficient number. In the old days you’d get a 22 or 26 episode order. Thirteen installments for so many characters is frustrating. Joan, our red-headed bombshell, has been sorely shortchanged. The story of Peggy and Pete’s baby has not been addressed once. They’ve also gotten short shrift. The digression to Sal’s firing and his gay secret life also was backburnered fast. That storyline felt like the “Sopranos” similar diversion with Vinnie in Vermont.
Sunday’s episode took place on Halloween 1963, meaning we are heading now into two final episodes. This Sunday may include the Kennedy assassination and the wedding plans of Sterling’s daughter. Perhaps the final installment will take place on New Year’s Eve. (So far, it’s been one episode per month of 1963.)
But the real story of “Mad Men” season three was about the rise to power of Betty, Lady MacBeth in a pillbox hat. She’s tasted politics, and a politician. She’s gained the upper hand with Don after leveling her own brother. She has disdain for her children. What she does next is going to be interesting. Like it or not, Betty overcame Peggy and Joan as the top female in this season.
And isn’t Betty really Sue Ellen Ewing without a drinking problem? “Mad Men” is really just a “Dallas” for the millenium. Don is definitely J.R. Bert Cooper is Jock Ewing. Roger Sterling is Cliff Barnes. Joan is Lucy Ewing. Peggy is a reinvented Bobby Ewing. If she had a story, Jane, Roger’s new wife, would be Pam Ewing. And all those guys in the Sterling Cooper office? They’re the Greek chorus, the oil cartel and Harve Smithfield. Forget remaking “Dallas.” It’s already been done.
October 27th, 2009 at 3:56 am
The daughter’s name is Sally, not Betsy.
October 27th, 2009 at 5:03 am
This has to be the biggest piece of crap I have ever read. Mad Men is Dallas? Are you f**king serious? The only similarties are that yes there are men and woman in both shows. And for the record,Don and Betty’s daughter is SALLY,not Betsy. Watch the show and maybe you would know these things.
October 27th, 2009 at 7:25 am
Way to tarnish a great show with the Dallas comparison. I am proud to say, I avoid anything and everything having to do with Dallas. Monday Night Football, Austin City Limits, BBQ.
I wish they’d secede already.
October 27th, 2009 at 10:10 am
ahhhhh, NO. you couldn’t be further from the truth. To say that Mad Men is like Dallas is akin to saying Family Guy is like the Golden Girls. it’s a stretch. Mad Men is unique in many ways from its cinematography to its period setting to its industry-focus to its characters….
Nice try.
October 27th, 2009 at 11:28 am
Sounds incredibly contrived. How long til the “dream” episode?
October 27th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Roger,
I have always liked your column, but this one is astounding in its stupidity. I can’t believe that you didn’t even get the name of the daughter correct. Ith’s THALLY! If you ever watched the show, you would know that she has a lisp. I expect better from you!
October 27th, 2009 at 5:32 pm
Wow Roger….maybe you need to go back to your Sting love fest….You are so wrong about “Mad Men”. Have you watched the show from the first episode? As mentioned before the daughters name is Sally. Also Peggy told Pete at the end of last season about their baby, so while it may not be “resolved” he does know. Also we know the child is being raised by Peggys sister. Finally Don Draper = JR Ewing? Give me a break. Also your scenario suggests that Pam is married to her brother Cliff (Jane and Roger). I’ve been a fan reading your column for years and now I’m done. Tell Sting and Trudy I said “hello”.
October 29th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
Oh, man. I never watched Dallas but my assumption is that that comparison is probably as true as the daughter’s name being Betsy. Her name is Sally. As for Betty’s name being Betsy, that was revealed way before this episode; a number of people have called her ‘Bets’ previously. Hop, skip and a ‘Y’ to Betsy. So what show were you watching on Sunday?
I don’t know why I thought your columns would be less narcissistic after your move to THR. Yes, I wrote narcissistic.