clockwise from top left: Lori Grimes (The Walking Dead), Betty Francis (Mad Men), Sarah Linden (The Killing), and Skyler White (Breaking Bad)

This post contains spoilers for the four AMC shows being discussed.  All spoilers are contained behind the jump.

As a fan of AMC’s original series, I’ve begun to notice a strange trend when it comes to the way people have reacted to the women on these shows, specifically:

The Walking Dead’s Lori Grimes, Zombie Apocalypse Survivor

Mad Men’s Betty Francis, Homemaker

The Killing’s Sarah Linden, Homicide Detective

and

Breaking Bad’s Skyler White, Homemaker

This is how these women have been described by various recaps and reviews:

Sarah Linden is: “a bad mother” and “the worst police officer on earth”.

Lori Grimes is: “incredibly stupid”, “irritating, self-righteous, hypocritical”, and “annoying.”

Betty Francis is: “selfish”, a “vicious, terrible mother”, and “the least sympathetic character” on the show.

and the actress who portrays Skyler White, Anna Gunn, discussed that she is found to be an “annoyance” on the show, in an interview with Vulture.

If you haven’t watched some or any of these shows, you might be wondering what awful behaviors and actions have lead to such strong hate among viewers.  To very briefly recap the storylines of each of the women listed and pictured above: (SPOILERS Within)

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While most recaps focus on the entire aspect of a show, this one’s going to be a little bit different.  As this is a feminist blog deconstructing images and portrayals of women in pop culture, why spend an entire post rambling on about the men of Sterling, Cooper, Draper, Price.  Instead, these recaps will focus on the women of Mad Men – the main ladies: Peggy, Joan, and Betty, and any new additions or guest stars – hence the title “Mad Women.”

Betty
Considering the amount of anger Betty has shown toward Don since the divorce, it was good to see her smiling; (I don’t think we’ve seen her smile all season, much less because of something that Don did.  It was really good to see him doing fun things for Sally.)  I was surprised to see Betty confronted with protecting Don’s identity and doing so.  It looked like it bothered him much more than her.  I think she’s becoming slightly wary of Henry, with him working long hours; hopefully a big difference between him and Don will be honesty.

Peggy
No thoughts on Peggy this week, she was completely absent from this episode.

Joan
After the episode earlier this season where Joan visits her doctor, I was surprised to see the topic of abortion come up again this season.  (Its not the first time the topic has been addressed on the show, Betty considered and discussed it with Francine when she became pregnant with Gene at the end of the second season.)  It was curious how Roger wanted Joan to keep the child, but didn’t discuss or consider how she would support herself or the baby, with her husband off at war.  I wondered if she was so calm about the situation because she’s been through it before, and if he caught on to that.  The contrast of how abortion was treated then versus now wasn’t very big.  It is still a very taboo subject, despite the fact that it’s been legal for over thirty years.

Toni, Faye, Sally
I don’t know why, but I never took Lane for being socially progressive in his dating life.  The scene where Lane introduced Toni to his father was a bit awkward to say the least.  While he tried to play it off like it was nothing, I think she understood the racist undertones in his fathers excuses.  I’m curious whether he’ll do what his father says going forward, or stay with Toni, and continue his life in New York.

I wasn’t surprised to see that Faye was not upset by finding out that Don Draper isn’t who he pretends to be.  She was completely supportive and comforting of him while he fell apart and revealed his secrets.  Additionally she doesn’t care who he wants to say he is, it doesn’t matter if he still wants to be Don Draper or would like to start being Dick Whitman.  It was a really big moment for him, considering only Anna (who’s now gone) and Betty know.  I think Faye will be incredibly good for Don – she’s strong, independent, and speaks her mind without hesitation.

Leave your thoughts on Faye’s reaction to Dick Whitman, Joan and Roger’s future, and anything else from this episode in the comments.

While most recaps focus on the entire aspect of a show, this one’s going to be a little bit different.  As this is a feminist blog deconstructing images and portrayals of women in pop culture, why spend an entire post rambling on about the men of Sterling, Cooper, Draper, Price.  Instead, these recaps will focus on the women of Mad Men – the main ladies: Peggy, Joan, and Betty, and any new additions or guest stars – hence the title “Mad Women.”

Betty
I find it more and more difficult to be a fan of Betty as this season progresses.  I understood where she was coming from by leaving Sally with Don after he called her, but I completely disagreed with the approach she took.  Her annoyance at every single thing Don does is getting tired.  I think the writers are spending too much time on the surface of her behavior, and not enough with the issues that lie underneath.

Joan
It was interesting to see Joan’s reaction to her husband (Mr. Asshole) going off to war.  Also, while Joan was chastising Roger for wanting to take her out after buying her the at-home spa treatment, she was wearing his “favorite dress.”  (He made a comment to her during the Christmas party episode, telling her to wear the red dress with the bow.)  It made it somewhat unsurprising that they got together again a few hours later.

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While most recaps focus on the entire aspect of a show, this one’s going to be a little bit different.  As this is a feminist blog deconstructing images and portrayals of women in pop culture, why spend an entire post rambling on about the men of Sterling, Cooper, Draper, Price.  Instead, these recaps will focus on the women of Mad Men – the main ladies: Peggy, Joan, and Betty, and any new additions or guest stars – hence the title “Mad Women.”

I always use a quote from one of the female characters of Mad Men for the title of the recaps.  However, Don’s line to Peggy during last week’s episode was too good not to use.

Betty
During last week’s episode I couldn’t help but think that Betty has married a cross between her father and Don.  Instead of getting to the root of her issues, she keeps marrying controlling men who treat her like a little girl, so she continues to act that way.  From the end of the episode it seemed clear she’s desperate for the picture perfect suburban life that only exists in the advertisements Don creates for a living.  I think from the dinner, it’s obvious that she still isn’t over Don.  While she divorced him, and moved on, it pained her to see him doing the same.  From her conversation with Francis I think she’s beginning to become concerned that Henry is just another Don in a different suit – she’s spending her time being the trophy wife at important dinners for his career, and waiting in the kitchen for him to get home.

Peggy
I think Peggy is my new favorite character of the series.  Her reaction to Joey’s sexist behavior and attitude was excellent.  I was surprised that she gave him a chance to apologize to Joan, and I was glad that she fired him.  It was fantastic that Don told her to do it herself, I think it was power she didn’t realize she had yet.

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While most recaps focus on the entire aspect of a show, this one’s going to be a little bit different.  As this is a feminist blog deconstructing images and portrayals of women in pop culture, why spend an entire post rambling on about the men of Sterling, Cooper, Draper, Price.  Instead, these recaps will focus on the women of Mad Men – the main ladies: Peggy, Joan, and Betty, and any new additions or guest stars – hence the title “Mad Women.”

Apologies for the late recap this week.

Peggy
I feel this week’s episode proved that this is turning out to be a very Peggy-centric season.  In my opinion, it was the best episode of the series so far.  Although I haven’t felt this type of vibe from her and Don’s relationship in the past, I really felt in this episode that they should be together.  They balance each other out, and neither judges the other for their past, their current mishaps, or their secrets and anger.  They both opened up to one another in emotionally revealing ways, and Peggy telling Don that he didn’t lose the only person who truly knew him, was spot on.  I believe that Don could sit down and tell Peggy all of his secrets, and she wouldn’t hold it against him, or be angry.  I thought when Peggy and Don were talking at the bar, she would tell him that Pete was the father of her child, and while she didn’t say who it was, I think that she’ll tell Don at some point down the line.

While I think Trudy’s comment to Peggy in the ladies room noticeably bothered her, her actions proved she isn’t caving to the pressure to be a “real” or “good” woman of the time, and let her life just become about marriage and children.  By the end of the episode, it didn’t bother her that instead of dinner with her boyfriend and family, she spent her birthday brainstorming, drinking with, and consoling a grieving Don Draper.  She is smart, and knows the stigma attached to her choice to focus on her career instead of landing a husband.

Joan
While I think Joan had only two lines the entire episode, I loved her exchange with the guys.  She proved that she is no longer just the girl who cleans up after the messes other employees make, she now has the power to tell people what to do.

Betty
No thoughts on Betty this week, she was absent once again

Leave your thoughts on Peggy and Don’s relationship, Trudy’s comments, and anything else from this week’s episode in the comments.

While most recaps focus on the entire aspect of a show, this one’s going to be a little bit different.  As this is a feminist blog deconstructing images and portrayals of women in pop culture, why spend an entire post rambling on about the men of Sterling, Cooper, Draper, Price.  Instead, these recaps will focus on the women of Mad Men – the main ladies: Peggy, Joan, and Betty, and any new additions or guest stars – hence the title “Mad Women.”

Betty
Despite my frustrations with Betty so far this season – her anger at Don this episode was totally legit.  He’s completely hit rock bottom, and she has no patience for putting up with his shit.  Who can blame her?

Peggy
Peggy was AMAZING this week.  She showed she has no fear and takes no bullshit from the men at Sterling, Cooper, Draper, Price.  We also saw a total role reversal of Peggy and Don’s relationship – while she has come to his rescue and “fixed things for him in the past, this week, she told him what to do, how to fix it, and how it was his responsibility to clean up the mess he made.  She proved to the new art director that she is far from “repressed” and in fact, one-upped him completely.  She not only challenged him and proved him wrong, but completely shut him down in the process.  I’m pretty sure she won’t have any problems with him going forward.  Peggy’s response to Stan looking at Playboy “Are you going to work or just stare at pictures who can’t stare back” was interestingly profound.

Joan
The flashbacks of a younger Joan and Roger together was great.  I was shocked that Don kissed Joan on the lips when they announced his win at the Cleo’s, but I think there’s a certain part of Joan that feels like these guys are her extended family in some weird kind of way – from seeing her hanging out with Pete, drinking with Roger at the bar, and holding Don and Roger’s hand during the awards under the table.

Dr. Faye Miller, Doris, And The Woman From The Bar
These three women this week showed us Don hitting rock bottom. The Clio’s were on Friday, when he went to a hotel with the woman from the bar, and he woke up the “next morning” (it was actually) Sunday, next to a mysterious woman who called him “Dick.”  He was so drunk from Friday night to Sunday morning, he couldn’t even remember when the woman from the bar left, or who the hell Doris was, much less that he had slept with her.  (I’m guessing from her uniform it looked like she was a diner waitress?)  Which of course leaves the questions of what ended up happening with the woman from the bar, and how he met Doris, and why she knows him as Dick?

Leave your thoughts on Peggy’s liberation, who Doris is, and anything else from this week’s episode in the comments.

While most recaps focus on the entire aspect of a show, this one’s going to be a little bit different.  As this is a feminist blog deconstructing images and portrayals of women in pop culture, why spend an entire post rambling on about the men of Sterling, Cooper, Draper, Price.  Instead, these recaps will focus on the women of Mad Men – the main ladies: Peggy, Joan, and Betty, and any new additions or guest stars – hence the title “Mad Women.”

Sally
Sally was a really big focus of this episode.  She’s hitting adolescence, and it’s obvious neither of her parents are quite sure of how to deal with it properly or appropriately.  She’s exploring appearance, beauty, and her own body (she cut her hair, tried to look like Phoebe, and masturbated at her friends house.)  I can’t help but wonder if Don and Betty’s reaction is due to what we know about their past.  Both of them had parents who weren’t exactly good at dealing with their children growing up, and the changes that happen during the process.  I think if any of Sally’s behavior is a way of her “acting out”, it’s because of Don and Betty’s divorce, and the death of her grandfather – her picture-perfect-on-the-outisde suburban life is crumbling. 

Betty
After two weeks of almost no Betty screen time, this week’s episode featured her storyline throughout most of the episode.  I found her reaction to Sally cutting her hair disturbing.  While initially I felt that Henry was getting along better with her because he was listening to her after she slapped Sally, I quickly realized that it wasn’t an equal conversation they were having.  Henry’s tone and choice of words showed him treating Betty as everyone describes her: “a little girl.”  Something about the way he was telling her to go upstairs and apologize to Sally, and everything will be fine, was very…paternal?  Not to excuse Don in any way, because he certainly put her through hell, but it’s as if Betty married someone who would treat her in the way she sees herself – as daddy’s little princess.  While I was big fan of Betty for the first three seasons, rooting for her all the way, waiting for her to realize Don’s lying, cheating ways and to kick his ass to the curb, this season I find myself frequently annoyed by her behavior.

The show approached the topic of therapy once again.  Betty’s aversion to it, I think, is more about the betrayal she experienced the first time she opened up to a supposed confidant.  It seems she’ll be opening up and putting trust into the therapist she found for Sally.  I hope she’s finally able to work through her past – with her parents, her former and current husbands, and her kids.  It’s obvious simply divorcing Don didn’t solve “the problem that has no name” for Betty.  Being married to him wasn’t the source of all of her problems, and I think that in her discussion with the therapist, she may be coming to realize it.

I found it incredibly telling that while “trying” to get Sally help for her “problems” – Betty makes it all about her.  Rather than wondering why Sally would be driven to cut her hair or “play with herself  in public” the conclusion she reaches is that Sally is doing it to punish her.  As demonstrated by the picture I chose for this recap, I am fascinated by the possibility that the person who could help her understand herself, and open up is a child psychologist.

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While most recaps focus on the entire aspect of a show, this one’s going to be a little bit different.  As this is a feminist blog deconstructing images and portrayals of women in pop culture, why spend an entire post rambling on about the men of Sterling, Cooper, Draper, Price.  Instead, these recaps will focus on the women of Mad Men – the main ladies: Peggy, Joan, and Betty, and any new additions or guest stars – hence the title “Mad Women.”

Peggy (and Joyce)
This was the second big episode for Peggy this season.  After the departure of Kinsey, I was wondering if the progressive social side of the 60’s would just be tossed by the wayside, so I’m glad they brought that aspect back.  I’m curious where her friendship with Joyce is headed; I feel like Joyce is interested in her.  The “he doesn’t own your vagina” “No, but he’s renting it” exchange was great.  She also confronted the “real art” vs. mass media attitudes that started to show up during the time (and that still exist today.)  I can’t decide if I like Joyce or not, but I think she’ll be a good friend for Peggy to have, if only because I think we’ll see Peggy explore the social progressive movements of the time in very direct ways.  I like seeing Peggy waver back and forth between being progressive, and being conservative to meet the expectations of the time.  I wonder if she’ll find feminism via Joyce?  I think that would make for great storyline.

We saw Peggy playing with Dr. Miller’s engagement ring (further confirming her “I want to get married” statement from the last episode) and I loved her reaction when she saw Don looking at her.  She had another another great exchange with Don’s secretary, and while her “You should get over it” line seemed pretty harsh at the time, I later realized she likely felt frustrated that while she spent time as Don’s secretary, and moved up, this young woman ended up sleeping with her boss, and being mad that he didn’t care.

Peggy’s awkwardness at finding out about Trudy’s pregnancy is exactly what I would’ve expected from her.  She showed herself to be incredibly gracious and mature, in congratulating Pete.  (Despite the fact that Pete is a little weasel, I feel like they should totally be together.)  I found the final shot when she’s leaving the office, and they look over at each other to be really sad – I feel like Pete really likes her (loves her maybe?) but that’s something I don’t ever see happening on the show.  I felt like it was a great contrast as well – Peggy walking out of the office for lunch with all the young, hip, casual people, while Pete stood in a suit, talking to a bunch of old white men in suits.

Oh, and her peeking over the window into Don’s office was one of the funniest moments I’ve ever seen on the series.

While most recaps focus on the entire aspect of a show, this one’s going to be a little bit different.  As this is a feminist blog deconstructing images and portrayals of women in pop culture, why spend an entire post rambling on about the men of Sterling, Cooper, Draper, Price.  Instead, these recaps will focus on the women of Mad Men – the main ladies: Peggy, Joan, and Betty, and any new additions or guest stars – hence the title “Mad Women.”

Joan
As I stated last week, Mad Men has been dealing with some progressions of the 60s, in indirect ways.  And while no one uttered the word “abortion” in the opening scene, the show tackled one of the biggest, and most important issues of the time.  I got the feeling from her conversation with her doctor, Joan isn’t really interested in starting a family with Mr. Asshole – and the writers confirmed to the audience that he has indeed, joined the army.  My opinion on where Ms. Holloway is coming from is that if or once she has children with him, there’s no going back, there’s no getting out, she will have to leave Sterling Cooper Draper Price behind, and be stuck with him forever.

While most recaps focus on the entire aspect of a show, this one’s going to be a little bit different.  As this is a feminist blog deconstructing images and portrayals of women in pop culture, why spend an entire post rambling on about the men of Sterling, Cooper, Draper, Price.  Instead, these recaps will focus on the women of Mad Men – the main ladies: Peggy, Joan, and Betty, and any new additions or guest stars – hence the title “Mad Women.”

This week’s episode of Mad Men had a large focus on the women of the show – both regulars and new-comers.  We saw the return of Trudy, Jane, and Carla, and much of the episode focused on Peggy, Sally, and the new characters of Don’s neighbor and secretary.

This week seemed to confirm that Don Draper’s relationship to women has been reversed – they are now the ones who call the shots, aren’t afraid of holding back their thoughts, and get up and leave once they’re done with him.

Joan
Joan was back to her role as the always-got-it-together office manager.  There was some slight flirtation with Roger which was nice, and we found out Mr. Asshole is “saving lives” – I found her reaction to being asked about him, that she addressed the question as almost an afterthought, quite interesting.  It was good to see her and Roger interacting in the office again, and despite the fact that they’re no longer together, he obviously still feels protective of her, a sentiment that she didn’t seem to mind.  She understands her expected role in the office, and plays it perfectly (flirting with the head of Lucky Strike, even though they’re aware of the Sal situation, wearing the dress, turning the party “from convalescent home to roman orgy” at Roger’s request.)

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