we are not a representative sample of the general viewing population.

Judging from the active fora I've seen eagerly awaiting in-depth analysis for Mad Men (AV Club, Sepinwall, Goodman, Coates, Tom & Lorenzo...) I think most people watching the show are in it for the complexity.

I don't see people talking about it now the way they did in the first season when there was much more interest in the look, and Don Draper as Superstud.

9. When will the 800 pound elephant in the room be dealt with: There is something amiss with Sally. She is oddly adult at times and is clearly the victim of more than parental dysfunction and divorce. The signals are all present: I would suggest that Sally was in fact molested by her grandfather. Thus, the root-spring of her sexual acting out earlier in this season.

I keep seeing this suggestion (that Sally was molested by Gene), and I have to ask if any of these bloggers remember being that age. Being "oddly adult at times" is what puberty IS. Figuring out masturbation? Ditto.

I concur, Jess. I see a lot of projection in those statements and assumptions. I don't think that's where Weiner is going at all.

Sally's not even particularly messed up. She's a pretty normal kid going through a divorce.

Plus, Sally has supersmart parents, and that tends to rub off.

I just hope the child psych can actually help.

I tend to think that most of Betty's damage came from her mother's actions.

Judging from the active fora I've seen eagerly awaiting in-depth analysis for Mad Men (AV Club, Sepinwall, Goodman, Coates, Tom & Lorenzo...) I think most people watching the show are in it for the complexity.

Anyone in a forum to discuss a TV show is quite probably in the minority. That's just not how most people consume the medium.

Anyone in a forum to discuss a TV show is quite probably in the minority

Exactly.

But hardly anyone watches Mad Men, right? I'm sure the analyze-y portion of the audience is relatively large, since the numbers are relatively small.

In some ways, the surface reaction to Don Draper kind of reminds me of the way a lot of fans are about Ari Gold(keeping in mind that I haven't really watched MM, in what? A season and a half?) but it seems like the casual fans of both characters just want a character who struts around in a suit "pwning" in whatever way. Ari needs to bring the vulgar tonguelashings and Don needs to bring all the girlies to the yard. Personally, I think both Piven and Hamm do better work when they have to be vulnerable, but it seems to disappoint the dudebros.

but it seems to disappoint the dudebros.

I expect the dudebros have been sorely disappointed with Don Draper this season.

Probably...I get kind of spoiled on Jez sometimes. I also think they are saddened by the focus in the last few episodes on Entourage on the struggles in Ari's marriage...it's no fun when your Ken doll has to sweat. Can't he just make money and say "hug it out, bitch," to people?(Don't get me wrong...I laughed at that. But the people who want an Ari spin-off want it for the wrong reasons.) And the dudes who want to be Don have found(and snorted) the WMD.