Talk:Mad Men/Archives/2012/03

Cast and characters

I made a tentative list of the cast and main characters, which will be later added to with info on each character. The section will also be turned into prose instead of a bullet-pointed list. Articles for each character are not necessary and wouldn't pass Wikipedia guidelines on notability. Cliff smith 05:54, 21 July 2007 (UTC)

I made the section prose, with info on each character. The info may be added to and/or changed as the season plays out, of course. Cliff smith 06:46, 21 July 2007 (UTC)

I wanted to place a spoiler warning in this section because the unveiling of the character details are part of the story line. The details of Drapers character spoiled an on-demand episode for me. Avermillion 18:25, 23 August 2007 (UTC)

I edited the spoiler warning to fit the proper format. I also read the spolier warning page guidelines - and I think a spoiler warning is appropriate for this page because it is a topic that concerns a TV show in production with new shows coming out weekly - and previous shows available on demand. Avermillion 18:31, 23 August 2007 (UTC)

I added some characters last names and updated info, based on AMC's website. please rewrite if you can do it better. 38.112.225.84 22:13, 5 October 2007 (UTC)

I tried to add a spoiler warning after myself having a plot ruined. Why was this removed? What justification is there to not warn readers that the characters section has multiple spoilers on every character? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 149.159.81.113 (talk) 01:28, 23 April 2008 (UTC)

Maybe we should start putting "WARNING: May contain spoilers" at the top of every damn article about a film, novel or television program from now until the end of eternityVonbontee (talk) 13:47, 20 April 2010 (UTC)

Notable is the absence of Rachel Menken (played by Maggie Siff) in the list - a strong, independent and intelligent woman who also happens to be Jewish, really ought to deserve a mention or two, no? The character's a very important signifier of the social changes gradually taking place in the era. Likewise, why no mention of Helen Bishop? A young single mother, holding down a job, raising kids and finding time to work in support of JFK's election campaign, she's another vital example of the people pushing society forward at the time. Compare both to the Francine character - likable, but fundamentally just a foil for Betty's thoughts and an outlet for some of the more offensive views of the era (she's such a minor role, we don't have to like her - we still maybe kinda do, because Dudek's brilliant, but it shouldn't affect the viewer's appreciation of the show if they hate her, so Weiner gives her all the dated prejudices), at least until her minor marriage trouble storyline. Can't understand why some of the vague sketch characters have writeups and the two most progressive women don't??

The Lane Pryce section has a complete misinterpretation of why he was being sent to India. He was being punished for one reason or another, which is rather unclear. 'But what will I do there?' (in bombay) 'I imagine about what you accomplished here.' (in new york). Saint John Powell and Harold Ford are insinuating that he accomplished nothing.----Bernard

Strongly disagree. Lane's success at cost-cutting (largely through layoffs) and increasing receipts--i.e., increasing profitability, at least in the short run--are clearly established by the time of that conversation, and that's clearly what they are referring to as his accomplishment. Lane's role for the parent company is evidently to make the subordinate company look better on paper so that it can be sold off for a profit. Sterling, Cooper, and Draper all agree that none of them can do what he can do in their conversation regarding whether to take him on as a partner in the new firm.--Schoolmann (talk) 10:45, 23 November 2011 (UTC)

The Salvatore Romano section states that Don implies that "Sal is at fault for not keeping his proclivities out of sight and mind." What Don actually implies is that Sal should have given in to the client, as the cited reference clearly states.--Schoolmann (talk) 11:07, 23 November 2011 (UTC)

I wanted to question this sentence but did not want to change the article without consulting other writers. "Draper's real name is Richard[22][23] Whitman: he assumed the identity of Don Draper during the Korean War after the death of his Lieutenant, taking his name to escape from the war.[24]" My memory from that episode is that Dick Whitman took the name of his comrade who was accidentally killed in order to escape his identity, family, and home. He did not escape from the war by taking another name. I believe that Dick Whitman volunteered for Korea and his bravery and patriotism are key aspects of his character -- so this is very "insulting" statement to make unless the writer can show evidence that it is so. Can someone help reconcile my memory with the statement? Should it be changed? -- SDK —Preceding unsigned comment added by Ednastvincent (talk • contribs) 17:13, 30 June 2010 (UTC)

I think you should mention that the actor who plays Bert Cooper (Robert Morse) was the lead in the 60s movie "How to get Ahead in Advertising Without Really Trying". Choosing him as the lead is an obvious wink to the past, and also when he is confronted with the truth about Draper's identity his reaction of "Who cares?" adds another layer to the show, given the impostor like nature of his character in the "How to get Ahead..." movie. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.166.124.100 (talk) 01:41, 29 January 2012 (UTC)