Arts: Mad Men, Season 5

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Tv Club Mad Men, Season 5 Was it Don's fault? By Patrick Radden Keefe Posted Monday, Jun 04, 2012, at 02:38 PM ET All partners present? We're gathered here to mourn the passing of the P in SCDP, dear old Lane Pryce—at the hands, let's face it, of Don Draper. Only last week, we observed that the firm can be frighteningly indifferent to the toll the job takes on the lives of its employees. Lane transgressed, no doubt about it, and the steps Don took were correct, even humane, at least on paper. But as his fusty partner fell apart in front of him, the famously perceptive Don completely missed the real desperation on display. Don is gentle but firm, you might say, but there's a fine line between firm and inflexible. Let's not forget that just a few years ago, in 1960, Don's no-exceptions excess-baggage policy and credo of reinvention drove another weak man—his brother Adam—to hang himself, as well. What an extraordinary bit of acting by Jared Harris. His squinty, elastic face is such an unpredictable bag of tricks—it reminds me of those squishy, soft rubber puppet faces they used to sell at novelty shops when I was a kid. His slow regression from denial to indignant bluster, then from pleading to disconsolate sobs was excruciating. But there was also his awkward, spry delight over breakfast, when he says, "I suppose I accept!" (I'm scandalized, incidentally, to learn that English muffins aren't English. I'm officially switching to French toast. Also? There should be Danish.) Is it me, or has ... To continue reading, click here. Join the Fray: our reader discussion forum What did you think of this article? POST A MESSAGE | READ MESSAGES Also In Slate Dickerson: Last Week Was a Bad Week for Obama, but Not as Bad as You Think The American Cities Where Gas Prices Are Skyrocketing the Most A New French Animated Movie That's Less Hectic and Less Cutesy Than American Ones	Advertisement
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