Mad Men (TV Series) A Little Kiss, Part 1 (2012) User Reviews

Getting to 1966!

[tforbes-2 · 10/10 · 26 March 2012]

I enjoyed seeing this double outing of "Mad Men." Here we are, transported to May/June 1966, a time of unrest. This is a time when one-half of the New York daily newspapers (Journal-American, the World- Telegram and Sun, and the Herald-Tribune) are in their death throes.

And there have been changes with the lead characters.

We start with Don Draper dropping off his kids in his 1966 Cadillac Coupe De Ville, referring to his ex-wife and her husband as Morticia and Lurch, a sly and funny reference to "The Addams Family." We see Pete Campbell and his family living in the suburbs, Draper and his wife in a penthouse, and an insecure Joan Harris tending to her newborn son.

Between the protests and the coming of a younger generation, it is clear this is a time of change. Like the old newspapers, the Old Guard is in an insecure position, not sure of what is happening. Even as Pete Campbell is being assertive as hell, he runs the risk of becoming a dinosaur.

Overall, this episode sets up what is likely to be a combustible season, for sure. And God only knows what lies ahead for the next two seasons!

Surprise birthday party

[jotix100 · 8/10 · 24 April 2012]

If you ever want to be in good terms with Don Draper, do not throw him a birthday party, much less wish him a regular "Happy Birthday", the man hates it! The new season opens in the 1966 with a protest outside one of a big advertising agency. It is clear blacks want to be recognized after all the struggles of the beginning of the decade about equality, but the point raised in the episode is that most whites, even in New York, have not embraced the cause, as shown by some young workers making fun of the protesters.

In the home front, Don has settled to a new routine with Megan. The kids are with him and his new wife every other week in an arrangement that is not welcomed, especially by Sally, who shows she is not at all satisfied with the new set-up in her life and her siblings. Megan is still an attraction, but toward the end of the chapter it shows that not everything is all right between her and Don.

At the office, Roger Sterling is getting in Pete Campbell's nerves as he annoys the younger man for meddling into his work. Peggy Olson is seen doing a presentation that does not go too well with the Heinz people. Joan is now a new mother, but staying home is not exactly what she was made for.

The first installment of the series keeps the story line flowing, although in comparison with past seasons it looked somewhat weaker, being it because of the direction of Jennifer Getzinger, who has been connected with the series, or Matthew Weiner's writing. We get a bit of what will follow as the episode ends with a pensive Megan standing near the edge of her Manhattan apartment's terrace.

Good Start

[DKosty123 · 7/10 · 23 February 2013]

I think the problem if there is one with Mad Men when we start Season 5 is we are now at the point where each episode is being compared with prior ones from previous seasons. When the show was newer this danger did not exist. Still, the first shows of the season are set ups for what is coming. This one holds it's own just fine.

The surprise party concept is a good device to start the story lines. It gives viewers a chance to see multiple problems of each character and where things are heading with all of them. The agency while still in financial straits appears to be stabilizing.

Pete Carroll is becoming a dictator but that only makes sense as he appears to be the rain maker pulling in clients. Still there are points where Don, and the others are trying to keep the reins on him.

The party sets up Don's new young wife for relationships with the cast and the story which are still in development. I feel a strong season is coming up.