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Matt
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« Reply #510 on: June 04, 2012, 10:47:19 AM » |
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No doubt Don has done some terrible things and has had a lot of lucky breaks along the way and is a thoroughly reprehensible person. But what could he have done here? He covers with Cooper, telling him that he cut a check that he damn well knows he didn't write. And he lets Lane avoid a criminal charge (a courtesy that literally no one else in that office would have extended to him), potential jail time, and losing all of his assets - and on top of it, tells Lane that he'll cover the debt.
Fact of the matter is that Lane engaged in criminal behavior, and made Don an unwitting conspirator to that criminal act - something that, frankly, Don was never dumb enough to do. Once Lane wrote that check, he put an expiration date on his time at the company - and Don, to his credit, tried to make that exit as smooth as possible.
(Vaguely related thing I enjoyed: when Don goes in to complain to Roger, he's pissed that despite all of their achievements, the company can't pay out Christmas bonuses - which would have made this whole thing a moot point).
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BrianLynch
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« Reply #511 on: June 04, 2012, 10:50:18 AM » |
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I think Don handled it okay. I also liked Pete showing some humanity.
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JCEFalconi
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q tal
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« Reply #512 on: June 04, 2012, 11:05:53 AM » |
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"I grew up in the 30's, my dream was indoor plumbing"
If Dick's mother had enough money she wouldn't have had to prostitute herself and then have to stand a drunk as an abusive partner.
Yes, if Don's company had enough money Lane wouldn't have had to steal. Don wishes he could've given Lane a break, but that would entail risking the lose of all his stuff and that just won't do for someone like Don. He's not materialistic, he honestly thinks things are the only thing that keeps people's base instincts at bay. But then, he aced the meeting, got Jaguar, got to keep his stuff and still he feels like a reptile. I think the series intro animation is the series final scene.
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Dalton
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« Reply #513 on: June 04, 2012, 11:26:36 AM » |
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Don is ok. He let Sal be gay until he became a liability to the company. He has his moments.
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LpF
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« Reply #514 on: June 04, 2012, 11:28:53 AM » |
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No offense Dalton, but I kind of hate that I'm (more or less) in agreement with you on Don's character. Don is OK, and (I think) improving every season.
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Dalton
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« Reply #515 on: June 04, 2012, 11:39:53 AM » |
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No offense Dalton, but I kind of hate that I'm (more or less) in agreement with you on Don's character. Don is OK, and (I think) improving every season.
He's a complex character. And believe me if you actually knew me you wouldn't hate that you agree with me on anything. |
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LpF
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« Reply #516 on: June 04, 2012, 11:44:03 AM » |
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He's a complex character. Exactly. And believe me if you actually knew me you wouldn't hate that you agree with me on anything. No worries, when I say shit like that I'm mostly playing into board personae anyway. |
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katy
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« Reply #517 on: June 04, 2012, 11:45:13 AM » |
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Don is ok. He let Sal be gay until he became a liability to the company. At which point he sneered "YOU PEOPLE" at him like he was a leper. And he never accepted Sal's gayness, he simply related to him having a secret that (in Don's opinion at that time) should never be let out. Don is a douche, always. He just looks good while being one. |
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Dalton
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« Reply #518 on: June 04, 2012, 11:49:32 AM » |
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At which point he sneered "YOU PEOPLE" at him like he was a leper. And he never accepted Sal's gayness, he simply related to him having a secret that (in Don's opinion at that time) should never be let out.
Don is a douche, always. He just looks good while being one.
Nah, he really isn't. He reaction to finding Sal with that dude in the hotel was enlightened for 1965. The "you people" thing was more born out of frustration with the situation. He CAN be a douche, but he tries not to be, and is capable of great humanity at times. |
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katy
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« Reply #519 on: June 04, 2012, 11:57:45 AM » |
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It was not "frustration with the situation", it was anger and disdain for Sal specifically.
I don't think Don tries at all to improve himself; heck, he is unwilling to even analyze himself or admit to himself or others who he really is (even down to the simple fact that there are still only a few people who know who "Dick Whitman" is, despite there being no purpose to him keeping this secret at this point).
The real question is: why do viewers WANT Don Draper to be cool? He doesn't have to be a good person (and he isn't) to be enjoyable to watch.
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Dobbin
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« Reply #520 on: June 04, 2012, 11:59:01 AM » |
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Don is a douche, always. He just looks good while being one.
Yes. |
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BrianLynch
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« Reply #521 on: June 04, 2012, 12:08:03 PM » |
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You guys make everything so black and white with your villainy.
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DerickA
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« Reply #522 on: June 04, 2012, 12:08:27 PM » |
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Don is a troubled and complex person. You guys are always kind of absolute when these kinds of characters come around.
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BrianLynch
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« Reply #523 on: June 04, 2012, 12:11:01 PM » |
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On EVERY show.
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katy
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« Reply #524 on: June 04, 2012, 12:13:11 PM » |
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Yes.
If this character was played by, I dunno, James Gandolfini instead of Jon Hamm, I doubt the audience would be so quick to think everything he did was slick and Marlboro-man cool. I do feel sorry for Don b/c he had a terrible childhood and will likely never be happy, due to his refusal to face himself. BUT I don't get this whole "he's becoming a better person" stuff. He's the same jerk he was in episode 1! WILFULLY so. When he has a chance to really improve himself (as with his relationship with Faith, his mentoring of Peggy, his friendship with Anna, the tobacco letter, etc.) he runs away from it as fast and decisively as he can. |
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