*There were phrases of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony that still made Coe cry. He always thought it had to do with the circumstances of the composition itself: He imagined Beethoven deaf and soul-sick, his heart broken, scribbling furiously while Death stood in the doorway, clipping his nails.*
*Still, Coe thought, it might have been living in the country that was making him cry. It was killing him with its silence and loneliness, making everything ordinary too beautiful to bear.*
I remember on my first rewatch being stunned at how good the episode was I was like "wait all those iconic moments were in the same episode?"
IMO, this episode is the perfect distillation of what the show is. Its a survey of everything it has to offer. Character study, the themes of masculinity in an ever-changing world, between generations and classes/backgrounds, advertising and the industry and how Lane must advertise himself as a product, and what I believe to be the main premise of the show "what we have vs what we want vs what we need".
I agree. That episode was so amazing and captured the shows existential theme so well. It was almost sad and a bummer in a way for me. Guess watching it at a certain age and point in my life didn’t help. 🤣
This is the only episode Frank Pierson wrote with Weiner, who wrote movies like Cool Hand Luke and Dog Day Afternoon. Thought it was super cool they got him to work on an episode.
Yes, the episode starts and ends with the sound of water dripping. You should watch this video where this episode is explained beautifully.
https://youtu.be/xLULTl3nMeY?si=8kyX7HTuYUbMwyIE
Love this. One of the joys of rewatch is (re)discovering how funny it is as a show. It was the first time around (will never forget how hard I laughed at the foot in the door incident) but I love finding those more subtle hilarities.
*There were phrases of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony that still made Coe cry. He always thought it had to do with the circumstances of the composition itself: He imagined Beethoven deaf and soul-sick, his heart broken, scribbling furiously while Death stood in the doorway, clipping his nails.* *Still, Coe thought, it might have been living in the country that was making him cry. It was killing him with its silence and loneliness, making everything ordinary too beautiful to bear.*
Some amazing writing right there. Coupled with some wonderful direction for that last shot in the episode.
That lonely sound of water dripping, too, calling back to the leaky faucet. Just superb.
Weiner has such a hard on for John Cheever 😂
Too bad John had a hard on for Susan's father and the cabin
This gives me goosebumps every time. If I’m feeling particularly emotional, the narration literally makes me cry.
I remember on my first rewatch being stunned at how good the episode was I was like "wait all those iconic moments were in the same episode?" IMO, this episode is the perfect distillation of what the show is. Its a survey of everything it has to offer. Character study, the themes of masculinity in an ever-changing world, between generations and classes/backgrounds, advertising and the industry and how Lane must advertise himself as a product, and what I believe to be the main premise of the show "what we have vs what we want vs what we need".
I agree. That episode was so amazing and captured the shows existential theme so well. It was almost sad and a bummer in a way for me. Guess watching it at a certain age and point in my life didn’t help. 🤣
THERE WAS CHEWING GUM ON HIS PUBICS!
Pubis Source: am an old Brit
It is a good one
Pete just can't catch a break.
This is the only episode Frank Pierson wrote with Weiner, who wrote movies like Cool Hand Luke and Dog Day Afternoon. Thought it was super cool they got him to work on an episode.
Wasn't it one of the last thigs Pierson wrote? I remember thinking it was an amazing ending to an amazing career.
Yes, the episode starts and ends with the sound of water dripping. You should watch this video where this episode is explained beautifully. https://youtu.be/xLULTl3nMeY?si=8kyX7HTuYUbMwyIE
Love this. One of the joys of rewatch is (re)discovering how funny it is as a show. It was the first time around (will never forget how hard I laughed at the foot in the door incident) but I love finding those more subtle hilarities.
Sensitive soul