For a show that’s so rooted in the past – not just stylistically but thematically as well – it was refreshing to see Mad Men take a look to the future. Even this episode’s title, “The Forecast,” spoke to its themes of looking ahead, of trying to guess what tomorrow has in store. Weathermen are wrong a lot of the time, so “The Forecast” has a gloomy feel of disappointment about it, as if no matter what sunny day you anticipate, when you wake up, the clouds will still be there. That said, it was an unusually funny installment.
Don, for instance, is tasked with writing a statement – a “Gettysburg Address” – about the future of the company. (That the Gettysburg Address served as a eulogy for thousands of dead young Americans is pretty rich symbolism.) He can’t think of anything, so he spends most of the episode asking other people, like Ted and Peggy, what they think. Curiously enough, those two, who in past seasons seem alternately disgusted and disillusioned with their work, have similar goals: land a big client. Don’s disappointment is palpable.
Joan is in Los Angeles, interviewing with Lou Avery, who remains the worst (“Dee, can you get me a Sanka?”). She winds up meeting handsome divorcee Richard Bergoff (guest star Bruce Greenwood) and they really hit it off. He comes to New York and he too is disappointed to learn that Joan has a child. Later, when Joan screams at the sitter, “You’re ruining my life!” it’s hard to tell if she’s addressing the sitter or her son Kevin. Bergoff comes to apologize and tell Joan that he wants to be part of her life, and everything it entails. Joan says that she was planning on sending Kevin away, and Christina Hendricks’ dry delivery makes me wonder how serious she was, or if she was just spitting Bergoff’s words back in his face. Either way, she tells him that he can call her. Greenwood is charming and straightforward, and he and Hendricks have good chemistry together. Introducing a new love interest in the last season – especially with four episodes to go – is a tricky proposition, but I trust Mad Men to make it pay off.
Now let’s talk about something I never thought I’d enjoy: a Glenn Bishop subplot. Glenn has long been the bane of many a Mad Men viewer, and for good reason: when first introduced, he was creepy as shit. (“Creepy Glenn” is a commonly-read nickname online.) He’s always had a weird crush on Betty, and it hasn’t gone away as he’s matured into a sideburn-sporting young man. But you know what would make it even weirder? If Betty didn’t reciprocate. Recall that when he was very young, she gave him a lock of her hair. I’m not saying Betty wanted to hop into bed with a prepubescent Glenn Bishop, but something about the pureness of his affection for her goes a long way towards humanizing Betty and makes her less of an ice queen (Sally rightly points out that when anyone gives attention to either of her parents, they “ooze all over the place”). Glenn is shipping off with the Army, which is a nice way to give closure to one of Mad Men’s most troublesome characters, but in true misguided fashion he seems to think this will impress Betty. And weirdly enough, I think it does. He goes to kiss her and she tells him to stop; when he asks why, she responds “Because I’m married,” which is not the same thing as “Because I don’t want to.” When she presses his hand to her face, it’s intimate and strangely erotic, and I applaud Mad Men for not taking this subplot to its potentially icky extreme, and bringing the Glenn Bishop story to a close with surprising grace.
A Few Thoughts
-
Did the film quality change near the end? It looked grittier, dirtier. Interesting stylistic choice
-
Sally was right to be upset; I think everyone was a little creeped out by Don’s pseudo-flirtation with her friend
-
“Some of us are busy.” “You’re going to the Bahamas.“
-
“Ted wants me to do my own performance review.” “Sounds like he trusts you.” “I’m tired of this!” “I’d start with that.”
-
Don’s hilarious impatience with Mathis – and really the whole copywriting team – is what I’ll miss most now that Mathis has been fired
-
Remember that Kristen Schaal was on the pilot episode? Am I the only one who’s really glad that she’s not a recurring character?
About Author
