Mad Men episode 710 – “The Forecast”

Notes

Like Old Times

Don is back to putting the “director” in “creative director.” Peggy needs his approval for an ad campaign and wants his feedback for a performance review; she and Pete compete for his backing after a failed presentation; Mathis pleads for his support after said presentation and is later subjected to one of his on-the-spot firings. Don gets to openly drink booze, too.

Love-Hate

Don disapproves of the first tagline for Tinker Bell Cookies: “Jesus. ‘Love’ again?” he says. In “The Doorway” (601), Don explains his dislike of the word “love” in ads.

That Guy

Whenever I think of Bruce Greenwood, I think about his movie characters who’ve been rich, smug, white guys. At least in Mad Men, his character is a somewhat likable rich, smug, white guy. His character’s apology to Joan in the office makes up for his “no plans” outburst.

Mr Holloway № 1

Joan tells Richard that she’s been divorced twice, which is a revelation. He might or not be Mr Holloway № 3, but the mystery is with Joan’s previously unmentioned husband. Unless Joan had eventually accepted Bob Benson’s proposal in “The Strategy” (706), then Joan’s first marriage would’ve ended before the show’s beginning.

The Showrunner’s Son

I, for one, am glad that Glen Bishop has returned. I think that the actor has turned into a good-looking dude and I like the character’s self-righteous justification for enlisting in the Army, even if his main reason is to hide his failings as a college student. His scenes with Betty are awkward, but the awkwardness is realistic. I have a hunch that he’ll die, either in training or in combat, some time before the finale and Sally will be forever changed.

Inexplicable Reference to a Memorable Scene

Why is there a closeup of the office vending machine that Don uses? Is the Hershey’s chocolate bar that’s in the center of the row only intended to remind us of Don’s confession in “In Care Of” (613)? We might never know.

The Future

Don is obsessed with figuring out the future. The obsession starts with Roger asking him to write a speech about the company’s future, and Don consults his creative peers Ted and Peggy. Both of them reveal their dreams in terms of the business and their careers, but Don seems to be hoping for more insight beyond advertising.

Poor Don

Sally points out to her friends that Don had grown up “very poor.” In “Severance” (708), Roger points out the same thing. As if viewers have forgotten, I think that one of the remaining episodes will have flashbacks to Don escaping poverty.