A little Kiss

A review of the First episode of Mad Men's Fifth Season

Those who need to review Mad Men to make a living are very lucky people. The Mad Men series is a delight to watch and the desire to analyse every little nuance is inextricably embedded in the delight. And there is so much to analyse. The show has so many layers that there is an entire book “Mad Men and Philosophy: Nothing is as it seems” devoted to it. (Let’s ignore, for the moment, the fact that even Twilight has a similar book devoted to it.)

The show begins with blacks protesting outside Madison Avenue. It is enlightening to be exposed to the overarching theme of 60s. Neither am I an American nor have I lived through that era. Therefore, I have diluted exposure to the decade and its legacy through Shows such as that 70s show and books such as To kill a mocking bird. My exposure to the legends of the era is limited to listening my parents discuss that Pooja Bedi was copying Marilyn Monroe with flying skirt scene in Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander. It is illuminating to understand the origin of several ideas and references that still have a cultural resonance.

Having given us an idea as to what is going outside the world of our favorite advertisers we are quickly exposed to the new Draper household, Don has a new stylish apartment to go with his new wife. The kids seem to be taking well to their new stepmother but that is no surprise. I think one of the things that cemented Don’s whim to marry Megan was how good she was with kids. Even Don’s ex Dr. Faye Miller had felt like she had failed a test after not being able to befriend Sal. Oh, and it’s heartbreaking to see Sal show so much interest in the semi nude body of her stepmother. You can see that she is beginning to grasp at adolescence. You want to reach out and tell her to be a kid for some more time. We have our entire lives to play grownup anyway.

At the same time the questions of the last season quickly come to the surface. Don married Megan too quickly. We were left to wonder what would happen when the blood flows back to Don’s head. Already, there is tension between Peggy and Megan because Megan works under Peggy but Megan is married to The Boss. The marriage also seems to be hurting the dynamics between Peggy and Don. Another aspect of the marriage that comes to the fore is that Megan doesn’t know Don either. It is an aspect that is easily overlooked since the viewer is too heavily invested in Don’s perspective. When Megan discusses throwing a surprise birthday party for Don, the viewer and Peggy immediately sense that it is a mistake. Megan, however, doesn’t see that because she doesn’t know Don like we do. Indeed, our introverted protagonist is irked by the party and is completely drained by the time party ends. I believe the dynamic relationship between Don and Megan will play a crucial role in the fifth season.

As an aside, it is a pleasure to watch an introvert being idolized by millions. Don’s introverted nature is part of his charm and attraction. He looks comfortable alone and he dislikes drawing attention to himself. It adds to his aura of mysteriousness.

Moving on to the others who share the smoke (which seems to be decreasing) filled screen with Don Draper. Bert Cooper is back and no one seems to care. You feel bad for the poor fellow as the other partners completely ignore him. Is it because he deserted at the 11^th hour or is it because he is becoming old? Regardless, things are slowly getting back to normal at SCDP. Though there are changes. Roger Sterling is threated by the upstart that is Pete Campbell. Pete like his usual self throws a tantrum at partners meeting and is able to get back at Roger in the end. Jane now has a baby and that is the only clue as to the fact that 8-10 months have passed since the last episode.

For now, things have become smooth at Sterling Cooper Daper Price. But will Don’s new marriage affect the entire office (especially Peggy) or will everything carry on as usual like it has, despite all that happened, or maybe it’s like the way Don puts it to his wife “You think you're a splinter? You're not. The whole foot's been infected for years.”

                                            

I was to go to US in three months. I wanted to learn some form of dance, so as to be able to socialize better when I arrived in US. I looked around, by which I mean googled. I found only one academy that existed in Kathmandu that could teach me. Their website said it was the only Salsa Dance Academy in Kathmandu. I found little information online or offline to dispute their claim. Even the best Gyms offered only Zumba classes.

I was apprehensive and slightly nervous going into the academy. However, some of my nervousness was offset my nostalgia – the street leading to academy was opposite my old school. I arrived academy in good spirits. I enquired about the classes and payment. The owner Shrestha was willing to give me the student discount, given I showed him my admission letter. He was a man of few words to say the least. All my attempts to start a conversation were met by monosyllabic answers. I wanted to take a trial class before committing, as I was not sure the academy would deliver on my expectations. The owner did not entertain any of my wishes and I was in half a mind to leave when he agreed to let me join the class on the condition that I show him my admission letter letter and the owner’s wife stepped in.

She was much more conversational than her husband. She kept up the conversation and told me that they had already started classes last even though there was a strike. However, she told me not to worry, as they don’t teach anything in the first class. I had to wait and hour and half as the beginner classes had been postponed.

I got to see the most curious bunch of people while waiting for my class. All the students in advanced class were dressed like people out of fashion magazine. Also, they had a very different demeanor than the people I come across day to day. They looked secure, they were rich enough to indulge their idiosyncrasies – in short they looked pampered. Now do not mistake my saying they were pampered as me criticizing them. I loved it. The atmosphere the people there formed helped me forget that we were in the least developed country in South Asia. I always prefer people who are confidently idiosyncratic people to people who list out all the advantages they did not get.

An hour later my classes began. We were a bunch of good-looking English speaking individuals. The instructor herself seemed a bit unsure of herself though. She did a good job of teaching us basic moves even though she herself got confused at times. She has some very good advice on the mistakes that a learner makes when learning those moves for the first time. She also had great advice for paired dance. All the pairs were feeling awkward and looking at their feet throughout the dance. Instructor advised us to look up and if it felt to look at each then look at road, ceiling anything but the feet. I was able to learn the moves very quickly as I am good at following patterns. (A thing that would prove to be a disadvantage next week as I would criticize my partner too much for not being able to keep up).

I went back home that day very happy. Doing dance changes you within in ways tough to explain. It gives you confidence. It is like learning boxing or learning to ride a bike. Also, you have to be present in the moment even if you are trying to remember the next step. I know I will be going back there again and again.