I'm so glad I'm not going to be alone in my Mad Men fixation this season. *g* One of Lewis' aunts, who's terribly literal and closed-minded, especially for a woman who works in women's health services as a nurse, said she watched an episode of it and found it horrible how it represented women.

And when I said it wasn't meant as some kind of political statement, but rather a representation of a slice of American culture during an era at which we were at huge crossroads, she looked at me as if I was speaking Urdu. Then again, this is the same woman who referred to Love Actually as having porno scenes and when I said that it was actually a brilliant way in which to execute the most innocent of the love stories, told me I was--wait for it-- an idealist.

I like that the characters are flawed and interesting. You understand everybody's motives. You see the flaws of the era and the sexist, racist, anti-semitic, homophobic culture. Nobody's completely irredeemable. Nobody's untainted.

It's very sharply written and it looks beautiful, and the stories were very compelling.

It's so beautifully layered, too- just something new revealed each week.

this is the same woman who referred to Love Actually as having porno scenes

Huh? I obviously haven't watched Love Actually nearly enough.

Huh? I obviously haven't watched Love Actually nearly enough.

The relationship with the couple who were employed as body doubles on a film. They spent most of their scenes buck naked, having the most lovely get to know you conversations.

The relationship with the couple who were employed as body doubles on a film. They spent most of their scenes buck naked, having the most lovely get to know you conversations.

Aww, but they're so sweet and not the least bit offensive that I completely forgot about them being naked. I love Love Actually.

I get all of your posts about Peggy's denial (rest in WF):

but I am just not thrilled with that development. Both because of the "development" (and lack thereof) of the character. I mean is there no one on the show who is absolutely fucked up besides characters we likely won't ever see again?

And the whole time I'm just worried about the effect on the baby of all the BC pills and I just wish there was a different way to demonstrate denial than through pregnancy under those circumstances.

I put this in the category of things I wish had never happened.

But you know, I think it was sort of inevitable, because of

Pete's home situation and his wife wanting to get pregnant and his absolute belief that he wasn't ready for it. Mostly because he was a selfish git.

I'm thrilled they're starting this season fourteen months after the conclusion of last season's finale. It's going to make things very interesting, I think.

Re Glen the neighbor's boy.

I think I've been halfway conditioned by my decade-long L&O habit for him to begin stalking her or do something sick to the Drapers' dog.

On the one hand, I had an equal but opposite thought, that the kid needed something desperately that he couldn't articulate. In reaching out for her hair, he's reaching out for connection and help, and because Betty responded so ... inappropriately, and now is dumping her crushing need on him... he's not only not getting anything of value from Betty, he's going to be disappointed or even shattered later. I'm worried about him. He needs art therapy, or something. I don't see that anything good for him can come from the relationship the way it is now.

The mother seemed pretty cool though. Is she too wrapped up in walking, working, and fending off would-be affairs with her neighbor's husband to see that Glen is needy?

Or perhaps I'm overthinking. On the other hand, as I said, I just don't know what they are doing with the kid, besides using him to show us Betty.

Just rewatched a bunch of Mad Men eps to prepare for tonight and was struck yet again by what a little weasel Pete is, but what a pathetic little weasel.

I mean, it's all of his own making, but everyone's just got him by the balls, don't they?

Oh, yes. He'd really like to be a big weasel, but he's a little weasel instead.

(Am also marathoning today. Yay!)

I've got two episodes left to watch. The suspense is killing me.