Mad Men

For Those Who Think Young

Season 2, Episode 1, Aired 7/27/08

Episode Summary

On Valentine's Day, the staff of the Sterling Cooper Advertising Agency is hustling and checking out the newest office equipment. Don and Duck clash over an account, and Betty hears from an old friend.

8.5

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Cast & Crew

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Elisabeth Moss

Peggy Olson
Vincent Kartheiser

Pete Cambell
January Jones

Betty Draper

Fan Episode Reviews (5)

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Don and Duck are at odds over an account.

5.8

"Mediocre"

By thefanof, Dec 21, 2010 Report Abuse

The so-called juicy and exciting drama would be better described as monotonous and tedious. After receiving universal critical acclaim and sixteen "well-deserved" Emmy nominations, Mad Men returned to airwaves with a weak offering.

Jon Hamm's inability to take over the screen leaves the viewer constantly checking the clock and wondering when the program will be over. The supposed strong actor reads his lines in total monotone, and is portraying a character nobody can relate to. The female stars Elisabeth Moss and Joan Holloway, who are as unrealistic as they are unexciting, fail to give the audience any reason to show interest in their characters. At least they made January Jones somewhat interesting by throwing her in lingerie (something I wouldn't suggest they do with Moss). John Slattery was mildly compelling on Desperate Housewives, but he is even less appealing here. Vincent Kartheiser is the one lone bright spot of the show yet his presence is almost always underutilized. He really seems to get into his character and make the viewer feel like they are watching an actor from the 1960's.

People often wonder why so many dramas have over done love triangles, murders and improbable happenings to seemingly normal people. The reason is to get an audience to keep coming back. There's a reason this show is not on CBS or NBC, because the ratings would be pathetic.

The only character I could relate to was Harry, because the meetings put him to sleep.moreless

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2 13
Slower Start Than Expected With Some Interesting Quirks

6.5

"Fair"

By AudioFileZ, Dec 21, 2010 Report Abuse

Way early to say "sophomore slump", but the premier episode of the second season of Mad Men didn't exactly get off to a rousing start. I mean, similar to the way music albums are programed you expect that first "cut" to be the most "rocking"...You know the one that fires you up for the rest that follows. This episode was plain slow. A few interesting things were revealed such as we have over a year time lapse since last season's last episode and January Jones may want to express her sexuality. The few seconds she is shown in lingerie surely brilliantly makes the point that she's a vixen under cover. Plus, the way she uses her newly realized power in order to get a fan belt fixed on her car certainly hints there is going to be a twist or two with her character.

Whatever the banter regarding "Mohawk Airlines", it was lost on me. Maybe the whole point was Sterling Cooper was running on empty, but if that scene alluded to bigger things I missed that. As usual Don, didn't like anything his staff "threw on the wall" and sets them straight. That is the Don we like, cocksure and able to let others know how little they really are. Other than that Don has seemingly retreated in more ways than one. I admit I may need to watch the episode once more, but basically it was too slow for that rousing start I had hoped for. Maybe it was actually brilliant since I have to watch the next episode just to see if I can make more sense of this one!moreless

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This season premiere just didn't do it for me.

7.8

"Good"

By Nissaxx, Oct 31, 2010 Report Abuse

I honestly expected more from Mad Men's long-awaited and hyped-up return to the small screen. Yes, the episode was cleverly written, as always. Yes, it didn't follow tv convention by depending on huge relevations or action. So what was not to like?

Nothing happened. The reason I loved this show's first season was because it mixed mystery and character development in a very interesting way. The writing was crisp and top-notch - nothing like all of those formulaic borefests that are being shoved down our throats.

But this opener seemed very much formula and little substance to me, I'm afraid. The only real light of the episode was Betty, who started thinking about her sexuality in a more different light after she met an old friend-turned-hooker. Her storyline played out nicely, especially with the car scene near the end.

Last season I found Don to be the most intruiging character around - but this time it just seems like they're leaning on the same mystique to keep the viewer intrigued. There's nothing new on the horizon as Don he continues to mindlessly roam the streets and posts a mysterious letter to someone we have yet to find out about. I'm sorry, but that just didn't cut it for me. Where's the deliciously complex Don ze came to love?

I really hope the writers have a few other fresh tricks up their sleeves because this show desperately needs to reinvent itself.moreless

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1 1
Great

9.0

"Superb"

By efc91, Feb 05, 2010 Report Abuse

On Valentine's Day, the staff of the Sterling Cooper Advertising Agency is hustling and checking out the newest office equipment. Don and Duck clash over an account, and Betty hears from an old friend.
A good episode at first I didnt get why people like this show I thought it was over rated but I apoligize because I didnt understand what this show was about. Now I see why people like it, I have recently become a big fan of the show and this episode deserves much higher than what I originally gave it. I give it a 9 out of 10.moreless

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1 3
Its 14 months later and they're back. All the characters you think you know are back and since they were so nice to introduce everyone last season we can now start expanding on each characters. This episode was the beginning.moreless

9.2

"Superb"

By gcswift2, Jul 28, 2008 Report Abuse

Its 14 months later and they're back. All the characters you think you know are back and since they were so nice to introduce everyone last season we can now start expanding on each characters. This episode was the beginning. I wonder what happened in the past year. How did Don become the good and faithful family man? What happened to Peggy's baby? Whats up with Pete and Peggy or Pete and his wife? How did Joan break up with Roger and whats gonna happen with her new beau? How far is Betty gonna go with her budding knowledge of her arsenal of feminine wiles?

This season looks like its gonna be fun. I think I'm gonna like this new Peggy. She's starting to show "something" that wasn't there last season. I still don't like Pete, but I'm sure thats the point so I'll concede that his part is brilliantly done.

I enjoyed last season and if this season's premier is anything to go by I'm gonna love this one.moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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Trivia
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- Music played during episode:
  Let's Twist Again by Chubby Checker
  Song of India (Song of the Indian Guest) by Rimsky-Korsakov Edit
- Mohawk Airlines was the first American airline to hire an African American flight attendant. Edit
Notes
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- Season one ended on Thanksgiving, 1960. Season two begins on Valentine's Day, 1962. Fifteen months have passed in between. Edit
Quotes
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- Don: You are the product. You feeling something. That's what sells. Not them. Not sex. They can't do what we do and they hate us for it. Edit
- Peggy: Sex sells. Don: Says who? Just so you know, the people who talk that way think that monkeys can do this. They take all this monkey crap and stick it in a briefcase, completely unaware that their success depends on something more than shoeshine. Edit
- Doctor: So, Mr. Draper, you haven't had a physical in quite some time. Don Draper: Yeah. I eat a lot of apples. Edit
Allusions
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- "A Tour of the White House with Mrs. John F. Kennedy" aired on CBS and NBC on February 14, 1962. It is said that three out of four television viewers tuned in to watch it. It was the first news documentary that focused on a female audience-- something that is reflected in the episode of Mad Men by the attention of the female characters and the relative disinterest of the male characters watching it. Edit
- Don Draper reads a fragment of Meditations in an Emergency, a book by the New York poet Frank O'Hara (1926-1966). Edit