when DD first burst onto the screen I thought wow he is such a sexy sophisticated guy - great face, great physic, beautiful clothes, soooo well groomed. Now - I find each time I see him, I dont like him - he is bad news to women - the sort of guy you should only have an affair with - enjoy and move on - definitely not marry - Rachel got it!!!

MY take is:  DD is simply a representation of all too many men of his time period.

surely there were better men (morally) as there were worse predators than DD.

what an excellent character study the characters of this show are!

"when DD first burst onto the screen I thought wow he is such a sexy sophisticated guy - great face, great physic, beautiful clothes, soooo well groomed. Now - I find each time I see him, I dont like him - he is bad news to women"

Is that not typical though of many people someone may initally think is attractive and then you find out more about them, they begin to stink?

I think this is how Peggy feels now,  first few shows in season one, she was obviously attracted to Don, now, she seems more disgusted and disillusioned than anything.

I've met many women that appeared at first to be the total package.  After a while, they come across as not so great.

Yeah, having puke on your shirt will do that.
Not to mention bailing him out of jail and hiding his girlfriend at her place.
Emotionally distant, verbally abusive...hey, come to think of it, he IS the perfect boyfriend!

Of course, DD has the ad casting him as the good gentleman, and others as the dreadful man. Yet, Megan can read what DD he's saying… "I want to be SEEN as a good guy even if I'm not always good. I want to be SEEN as the hero, even if I'm often a villain."

"Ive got a strong feeling - Don and Peggy "

With Peggy's more mature and developed character, she is to me, now very attractive.  Her improved confidence makes her very appealing.

So, maybe the seed is planted for weary Don and pretty Peggy- BUT there is still that OMINOUS purple heart in the drawer. Why doesnt he lose it!!! It will cost him.

I thought Don had jettisoned his skirt chasing impulses when he first took a look at Megan.  I thought he was mature enough not to do that, especially when he'd burned himself at the same campfire a few months earlier.  I forget the other secretary's name.

But he didn't and he wasn't.  And so he slept with Megan.  Whatever.  It's his nature.

I suppose he will eventually get to Peggy.  I no longer think he is mature enough to stay away.  Hopefully, she will be the one to say no.

It is more than that - his promiscuity is a sympton of when he said "I don't feel anything".

Hi there fellow MM fans!
I saw this and had a good laugh.

Enjoy

http://www.youtube.com/wa ...

What???

Ye, yep and yep.  Don would be an easy target for the euphoric condition of "romance". It probably was the first escape from his impoverished and shabby (asthetic) childhood.  That is a remarkable discovery, usually the "romantic" is coupled with us (women) not so much men.  Romance for Don fills the gap of tenderness from a mother he never knew - so his inability to take it further - he cant cross the bridge to see women as the complete "trio" mother, lover, wife they remain in separate boxes for Don. So he continues to search for the elusive love.

In season 1, besides taking naps, Don used to take off during the day and watch foreign films. Romance films, perhaps?
These days, as an important partner in the firm, he has little time for such frivolities. Ping-ponging between women seems his only outlet.

I am new here..so bear with me..
But I find it interesting that I had a totally different response to Don Draper than some others here.
Initially, I didn't find him particularly attractive and i didn't like him and his cold, sleek surface at all. As time has gone on, however, and more has been revealed behind the facade and more shown a little of what makes him tick; I have enormous sympathy  for his character..and I have evolved into really having a desire for his evolution. And,yes, for the eventual happiness of Don Draper.  It's only after gaining some momentum on his character have I been able to find him incredible attractive.
Even as a woman, I find myself relating to him more and more.
Betty, on the other hand, I started out with immense sympathy. But as time goes on I find myself loathing her character and even desiring to see her fall as low as she can.
I think both are victims of the times...and the human condition. But Betty seems to be stunted and going backwards. At least Don recognizes the need and attempts for a change...even if he goes about it the wrong way.
I do think that Don really needs someone that fills all his needs... but he's still caught up in some kind of child-like dream of what that is. When he was married to Sally he didn't seek out the one night stands...but women that stimulated him mentally and emotionally.  He needs to accept that in one woman and stop compartmentalizing the female gender. Otherwise he will always stray.
Maybe in the end that woman will be Peggy.

Thanks..
Oh wow..I meant to say when he was married "to Betty"..

Hey boho! Glad to have you. I agree with most of your points. I am not really looking for Betty's distruction but I am interested in seeing Henry's being opened to the bratty child he married.

I am more and more interested in DD and his way of relating to women. I actually think Megan has a shot. He loved Betty because "she is so beautiful and so happy," He loved Rachael for her independence and self sufficiency. He loved the teacher (can never remember her name) for her innocence and trusting.

If Megan is developed appropriately she could really fill the bill. And she has a temerament that better suits him. Calm but full of suprises.

"He needs to accept that in one woman and stop compartmentalizing the female gender."


The assumption that one person can and should satisfy all the needs of another person is obviously problematic especially concerning some types of needs, for example, intellectual stimulation, psychological support, and social connections.

Exclusivity is of no relevance to intellectual needs.


Only in the sexual realm are people required to limit themselves to one multipurpose partner.

Exclusivity in the case of married people is of relevance.


To ascribe to be ALL THINGS to the man/woman  you love would be ideally wonderful, but in reality, a virtual impossiblity.

and then, there is this point of view....

"A man can have two, maybe three love affairs while he's married. After that it's cheating." Yves Montand