Mad Men Power Rankings, Week 10: 'Enjoy The World As It Is, Margaret. They'll Change It And Never Give You A Reason.'
7. Miss Farrell (up) Last week: 10
"I don't care about your marriage, or your work, or any of that. As long as I know you're with me." Now this lady really gets how to be a mistress. (Probably because she's destroyed so many marriages in so many towns, she knows exactly what to say to set up maximum homewrecking damage down the road.)
8. Paul Kinsey (up) Last week: unranked
Last week, Harry Crane got to play the "designated boob" role. And he performed admirably. But for our money, no one gilds the boob-lily with as much panache as good old Paul, heaping pomposity, self-regard, and burgeoning alcoholism onto his bumbling.
One side-note: Did Kinsey unbuckle his belt in that late-night-at-the-office scene, or did we imagine that? We feared Peggy was going to walk in on a soused, blubbering Paul trying to jerk his way towards inspiration. Or Achilles, whom we imagine walks in on a wasted Kinsey three nights a week while he's trying to manually jump start his creativity-engine.
9. The Backstory Box (aka The Shoebox of Damocles) (up) Last week: unranked
Deep inside the Desk of Secrets, an enchanted furnishing that can only be unlocked when the Sad Princess finds the Magic Key, is the Backstory Box, which holds all of the explanatory treasures the Liar Prince wants to hide from his imprisoned, congenitally bored, bride. But even though the Sad Princess has spent years looking for the Magic Key, when she finally unlocks the Desk of Secrets and opens the Backstory Box, she won't be ready for what she'll find inside, and she'll need to drink an entire bottle of Emboldening Potion to demand that the Liar Prince explain why there's a piece of paper that says he used to be married to some other princess. Luckily, the Liar Prince was too busy schtupping a Comely Homewrecking Maiden to come back to the castle that night, so all he got was some icy stares at the Royal Banquet while the Sad Princess, looking as gorgeous as ever, stewed about all the terrible things she found inside that accursed shoebox.
(Were there no safety deposit boxes in 1963? Just asking.)
10. Achilles The Janitor (up) Last week: unranked
Good janitor. Great name. Poor memory.
Entering/Exiting: Danny Farrell
Hey, check it out: Another punk kid comes strolling through Don's world, sneers at how square the old man is while getting a ride in his Cadillac, then winds up with all his money. Except this one thinks he's Julius Caesar because he has epilepsy, or something. (Also, he didn't clock Don in the head. But he kind of would have, if Don tried to take him all the way to Bedford?)
Honorable Mention: Mother Sterling
"Enjoy the world as it is, Margaret. They'll change it and never give you a reason. Oh, by the way, Roger. I'm not senile, I know exactly who this tramp is. I'm just f*cking with you both because you shouldn't have married someone your daughter's age, you horny old yutz. 'Does Mona know?' Hahaha, I am effing hilarious!"
Not ranked: Joan Holloway, Pete Campbell, Henry Francis, Bert Cooper, Connie Hilton, Salvatore Romano, Bobby Draper, Lois, Moneypenny, London, honey, Agamemnon the Window-Washer, Doug Thompson.
Subscribe to the new Movieline on YouTube
Comments
1) i am perplexed as to why you are ignoring sally's urge to turn on her mother who verbally berates her at least once an episode.
2) mother sterling is the shit.
As much as I actually like Betty as a character (and let's face it, January Jones can wear the hell out of a dress), I don't think she understood what she found at all. The divorce certificate was all she really noticed. The Dick/Don thing went completely over her head (or at least would be par for the character).
When/if Duck's firm buys Sterling Cooper, I hope we are treated to the clothes-chomping vs. fingerbanging showdown Lisanti teased us with in Week Seven.
Also, kudos on Agamemnon the Window-Washer.
There were safety-deposit boxes in 1963, but they were only used by the kind of guy that doesn't really want, deep-down, to be found out. You know, the same kind of guy that would never leave the secret-drawer keys in his dressing gown pocket, at home with his bitter, suspicious, bored wife, who does all the laundry (despite having a maid).
I hope that crazy teacher gets off the show soon.
Joan? Joan?! Joan?!!!
Next week, I guess.
I would say the winner of the week is Lois. That woman cannot be fired.
Not mistaken. Paul did indeed unbuckle his trousers to polish his Knob of Inspiration. Right after he got out the mock-up artwork (with model) for his failed "Jackie/Marilyn" campaign. And what appeared to be 3 hotel towels, though surely only one would do (but who knows?)
I think you're way overstating Don's stabilization. His mistress is getting clingy and too emotionally involved (it so was her who called and hung up, I think). Betty is poised to confront him about his secrets (even if, as Dollywould says above, she doesn't fully grasp all of them). Plus Sterling Cooper will likely be sold, putting his career in jeopardy once again. The storm clouds are rolling in for old Don.
Correction: According to the U.S. Department of Labor's inflation calculator, $5,000 in 1963 is roughly the equivalent of $35,300 in 2009 dollars, not $4.3 million. Just sayin'.
You're new here, huh? FYI, it's usually Hyperbole Central. No worries.
I was definitely bracing for Paul to be 'Sterling-ing his Cooper'
Is Sal's wife still hanging around? Back in those days, you could bet that if a guy got axed and his wife worked in the same place (unusual enough), they'd find a way to off her too. And, is she the woman in the Progressive Insurance ads? I know she was one of the switchboard operators a couple of seasons back, is that her?
Was it just me, or did anybody else start screaming "What's in the box, what's in theee boxxx??" when Betty raided Don's soul locker?
I have been reading your blog and I like the writing. Thailand has some of the greatest dining in the world. All other food seems to be bland in comparison to Thai food. I sure miss Bangkok.