Sean Collins-Smith

@SeanTwoNames • 8,753 subscribers

TV & Feature writer // CHICAGO P.D. // Michael Schur's FIELD OF DREAMS // Reps: Verve & 3 Arts. Recovering Journalist. Springsteen Addict. Tennis Noob.

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Mind you, this happens 30 min into the Mad Men pilot:

The whole "he's horrible for hating this" vs. "she's horrible for doing this" Mad Men debate misses the point, which is: Don married someone he doesn't know, and Megan married someone she doesn't know. Hence, Peggy's reaction here. She *does* know Don, and knows he'll hate it.

One of my fav Bert Cooper moments in Mad Men is when Don shows up for work after getting beaten and robbed, goes into his office, finds Bert sitting in his chair, and Bert launches into a history lesson that ends with him threatening Don twice, and forcing him to sign a contract.

One of the more devastating MAD MEN Betty moments, underscored by January Jones' amazing performance. The real heartbreaker is: "Honey. It has nothing to do with you," referring to any number of things, including the fact that she's just a pawn in Don and Jim's back-and-forth.

Don telling Roger, “No one thinks you’re happy. They think you’re foolish,” might be the most damning thing he says to him in the entire series. And it cuts Roger. Hence his response about: “A place like this…you get to choose your guests.” He knows Don doesn’t belong here.

MAD MEN taking occasional 60-second diversions into straight up sitcom territory -- all while furthering the theme and narrative -- remains one of its greatest feats

The S3 finale of MAD MEN is flawless, and my favorite moment is when Don visits Peggy -- immediately after he's told his kids the family is splitting up. "With you or without you, I'm moving on," he tells Peggy. "And I don't know if I can do it alone. Will you help me?"

One of those MAD MEN scenes I didn't fully appreciate at first, bc Don in NYC/at Sterling Cooper is such a huge engine of the show....but now. Man. "The only thing keeping you from being happy is the belief that you are alone," is one of my fav lines in the series.

One of the great joys of rewatching Mad Men is confirming Pete Campbell is one of the funniest, craziest, most neurotic characters in TV history, and that Vincent Kartheiser's line delivery is flawless. The scene that kicks off with him screaming "DRAPER!" is just chef's kiss.

It's funny because Dr. Keener suggests this to Betty on *two* separate occasions throughout S4 of Mad Men, and the second time, she has this incredible moment where she point blank tells her: "Betty, you can talk to me, but...you know. I'm a *child* psychiatrist."

Pete and his brother skimping on investigating their mother's mysterious cruise ship death because "it won't bring her back" and then closing with, "She's in the water. With Father. ... She loved the sea," will forever be top-notch MAD MEN humor. Incredible, sicko shit.

S2 of THE BOYS devoted the entire opening of an ep to watching a white, neckbeard incel get brainwashed by rightwing, anti-immigrant media. He then shoots a convenience store clerk because he (incorrectly) thinks he's a "Super Terrorist". So...yes. It's always been political.

A great example of how Mad Men seamlessly slips humor into scenes is when Roger finds out his mother has passed. Almost a dozen jokes in less than two minutes. Physical gags, one-liners, Roger using the glasses to console Caroline. And then...a sliver of sadness at the end.

One of the many things MAD MEN does so well is set up moments of action and apparent heroism for Don, just to have reality shit all over him soon thereafter. I remember watching the 'Why I'm Quitting Tobacco' scene in awe, and then when the Partners show up it's like... oh😬

Mad Men 3x02 has so much great stuff, but "If you don't like what is being said, change the conversation" is up there with the greatest lines on the show - especially when considering the ep’s themes (and Roger's own battles with 'public opinion' re: his divorce/new marriage.)

S6E08 of Mad Men is so wild and funny, and this particular scene is incredible bc not only is Don *not* talking about Chevy during his drug-induced proclamation (it's Sylvia all the way), he uses empty platitudes to do it - just to have Peggy immediately recognize and dismiss it.

"Don't wake me up and throw your failures in my face, it's Sunday, for Christ's sake!" is one of the funnier Mad Men zingers, and Don hanging up immediately after delivering it just accents it beautifully.

The way Adam Scott says "...three friends." here is just an incredible line read. Severance gets much-deserved kudos for exceptional world building, but the performances in this series are equally lights out. Can't wait to see where S2 goes after this great premiere. #Severance

"Don't be a stranger." 😭

The cinematography in MAD MEN makes some of the simplest scenes look like paintings, and one of my favorites is the end of S2 E8, where Don drinks a beer alone in the office, and we slowly back away as he becomes more isolated in the frame. All while "Early in the Morning" plays.

The whole "he's horrible for hating this" vs. "she's horrible for doing this" Mad Men debate misses the point, which is: Don married someone he doesn't know, and Megan married someone she doesn't know. Hence, Peggy's reaction here. She does know Don, and knows he'll hate it.

It's funny because Dr. Keener suggests this to Betty on two separate occasions throughout S4 of Mad Men, and the second time, she has this incredible moment where she point blank tells her: "Betty, you can talk to me, but...you know. I'm a child psychiatrist."

S6E08 of Mad Men is so wild and funny, and this particular scene is incredible bc not only is Don not talking about Chevy during his drug-induced proclamation (it's Sylvia all the way), he uses empty platitudes to do it - just to have Peggy immediately recognize and dismiss it.