I think a lot of this season was encapsulated during the bar scene with Joannie, then Don at home, then Don's little speech about the Jag account after giving out the Christmas bonuses. I remember thinking during the first few episodes, "man, this show has jumped the shark" but it's starting to get some momentum....

The plot was thick, the unexpected brought a level of adventure to the series in previous seasons. This season has been flat in comparison, then again I have watched every episode and watched each series build up.

That, and it seems to me they raced too far ahead in time too fast. All of a sudden they go from Kennedy being killed right through the Beatles at Shea Stadium and now it's Xmas '66. I can't wait to see Don get "the dry look" (remember those ads guys?) and grow his hair. Oh the possibilities of late '60s/early '70s Don Draper.

Oh, and expect a heart-attack from Don sometime soon. All those ciggies, all that booze, all that stress he'll go through in getting his ad mojo back, keeping Megan happy, Megan going bat-**** on him if her acting career doesn't happen the way she wants it to, Megan wants kids suddenly (oops, I'm pregnant), etc., etc. I guarantee a heart-attack!

I think a suicide is in the works - 3 candidates, the party boy with the white hair, the english guy getting himself in too damn deep and the douchy kid who don't get no respect. 4 if you count Betty, but I think she has some life in her.

Or Cooper croaks suddenly. Roger Sterling is too good to kill off. Pete will get caught screwing his neighbor's wife and that could be a disaster.

What about the open elevator doors a couple of episodes back when Don hits the button and the doors open but there's no elevator and a 20-story drop down the shaft? What the hell was that supposed to signify? Someone's gonna' step through the doors and fall to their death? Who?

The woman he killed in the dream was a woman from his past he used to sleep with. His past haunts him, and the whole encounter with the woman at his apartment was a dream (nightmare). He loves his new wife and is afraid he could slip back to his old ways.

As motion said, this is the type of show that you need to see every episode to really know what's going on.

I've wondered this as well.

The intro has done the same (people falling from the building).

Just watched the episode and avoided this thread up until now. What was shocking??

The Hair Krishna sex scene in the office(before and after). It was fortunate that my daughter was not watching this with us. Maybe this is what it takes to get viewers to watch the show. Maybe this kind of thing still happens in the workplace?!?:eek::eek::eek:

"Still happens"? It was set in 1967. That's been going on in the workplace since the Paleolithic age, if not longer.

The only thing I found shocking about that was that Juliet Lewis got an acting job.

That wasn't Juliet Lewis, it was Anna Wood. I could have sworn that it was Juliet at first glance too.

I thought she wasn't ugly enough to be the real JL. It must be bad when you can't even afford the real JL.

If ugly is the requirement, it shouldn't take much money...even if the requirement is "period correct" ugly.

+1 - I enjoyed seasons 1-4 a lot.. Season 5 is boring beyond belief to me.. I could not summarize to you what's been happening.. not much, at any rate...

There have been articles written about the symbolism of the opening sequence...ranging from a comparison to the iconic photos of the victims of 9/11 plumeting from the twin towers, to a simple representation of the metaphoric fall of Don Draper.

But I always thought it was a just a slight rip-off of (or homage to) the opening sequence from North by Northwest - which would be both period correct and correct in context of Madison Avenue advertisers. To me, the openings look very similar. The Bernard Herrmann theme, while more intense, I also find similar to the MadMen theme.
I would also imagine much of Don Draper is based on Cary Grant's portrayal of Roger Thornhill.

I think the scene when Sally saw Roger and Don's mother in law would have been more awkward.

Why did Lane have to come up with the cash? I missed it. Back taxes?

I am not the one to ask that but it is an intriging series and my mind does drift a bit but the last show caught my attention with a showroom full of Jaguars and the occasional prowling cougar. If the show showed everything, then there would be less intrigue?!?And you would not be asking these questions:):):)Stay tuned for more retro action.....

Not wanting to dispatch your post with inadequate info , I asked my wife. She suggested blackmail or he had to make some payment. Perhaps his wife was not enough for him. :eek::eek::eek:

Doubt is was taxes. There was an adversary on the other end of the phone. I don't think the IRS plays(ed) it that way.