u/debrisaway

Like Jared Harris on the WTF podcast explaining that he understood that Lane was a middle class Englishman with an inferiority complex towards his social betters at PPL (Powell, Ford). And as a result he accepts their lesser treatment of him out of a sense of "duty" and "knowing one's place".

Or that Lou Avery is meant to be the mediocre placeholder middle manager that's very common in real work-life. Someone who won't crash out like Don but won't dazzle anyone either.

When they are either lonely and/or searching for deep meaning. Especially for individuals that were previously more thrill seeking (partying, drinking) or lone wolfs.

Some examples:

Church

Community group

Volunteer associations

Adult education classes

Sports rec leagues

Usually because you have a personal connection with the proprietor or long term staff. Where you have been welcomed to hang out and shoot the breeze when you are bored. Where you might bring a coffee or donuts as a gesture. Or been a pseudo bodyguard/companion if it was in a rough neighborhood.

Some examples:

Hair salon

Auto body shop

Independent boutique

Dojos / Boxing gyms

Cannabis/vape store

Repair shops

Art supplies store /gallery

Alternative wellness clinic

Tattoo parlor

Hobby store

Food take out joint

From the 70s to 2000s. Back when you actually had to invest active time by getting their books, listening to their audio seminars, buying the VHS series or attending their workshops.

In either your or your close circle's lives (friends, family, colleagues).

Likely in key areas:

Addiction

Trauma

Codependency

Self esteem /Acceptance

Anxiety

Depression

Goal setting

Self Discipline & Execution

For some reason you can't fully explain.

You will watch the series every couple years.

Stop and watch any YouTube short clips you stumble upon.

Listen to any interviews with the actors, writers, producers.

Visit the subreddit dedicated to it.

Nobody would have predicted the black screen!

Tony being clipped?

FBI arrest?

Them joining Witness Protection Program?

The ducks flying back in the pool and Tony tearing up?

Those that grew up upper middle class and/or clearly had professional parents. That because of the socialization they received as kids, the work world is like a golden escalator versus a steep mountain climb for everyone else. They have that cool confidence, social polish and healthy sense of entitlement that is rewarded. Especially the ones that did sports, youth leadership and attended private schools.

As a result, they tend to get promotions, special assignments and development opportunities early and quickly. Leading to them being mid and senior level leaders on an accelerated schedule, even executives by 50.

So by middle age you just cynically expect it at this point and can see the next generation of them right away.

While acknowledging the actual one was pretty clever..

1. Don Draper just nailed another pitch. He goes back to his office to celebrate and is confronted by two military police officers for impersonation and desertion. In a panic, he jumps out his window and falls as a exact frame by frame replica of the opening credits.

2. Private Whitman waking up in the military hospital after a long coma as himself, having dreamed the whole Don Draper life swap saga that we saw as viewers. And the characters we saw were representations of the hospital staff that he would see for brief non-lucid moments (Betty as the nurse's aide, Joan as the head nurse, Roger as the surgeon, Pete as the Attending Doctor, Peggy as the clerk, Cooper as the Colonel in charge of that base, Harry as the maintenance guy, Ken as another patient, Freddie as the night janitor). Nurse :"Private Whitman, OMG it looks like you are waking up, can you hear me? You were in an accident and have been in a coma for the last four months".

As he put it, that "junior executives will be scavenging over his carcass" in the pilot. To keep his dominance over the next rung under him (Pete, Ginsberg, Harry, Peggy)

It's Toasted (pilot)

Snow Cone Devil

And not necessarily in a good way.

Drea De Matteo - Adriana

Lilo Brancito - Matthew Bevilacqua

Tony Darrow - Larry Barese

Richard Maldone - Albert Barese

Robert Iler - AJ Soprano

Joseph Gannascoli - Vito

Before technology became relatively foolproof as it is today. In the wild west of digital technology in the 90s.

Like when landline wireless phones used to cross with your neighbors in close quarters (apartments, townhouses, dorms) and you would hear their calls.

Getting an electronic call from a modem or fax and hearing the garbled screechy sound.

When the visual adult content scrambler on cable channels used to drop, exposing all.

Tricking the satellite box to get free boxing and wrestling PPVs.

Your transistor radio picking up chatter from truckers, emergency services and other hobbyists.

That how they handled it or mishandled it gave you some intelligence and foresight to navigate your own similar situation more strategically. Some examples:

Conan O'Brien opted up to leave on his own terms instead of accepting NBC pushing his Tonight Show back to midnight. Knowing that this would be the first of many papercuts until they finally fired him a year later after his reputation was tarnished. That once a company sours on you, there is no going back so protect your dignity and leave when you have leverage.

Ann Curry has already been passed over for the Today Show co host job and had to structure her contract into guaranteeing she get the next opening short of a lawsuit. Once she got the role, she ended being professionally tortured and demoted anyways within a year. So not forcing someone or a company to "like" you under duress because their true feelings always come out and you get harmed all the same.

Rachel Lindsey from the Bachelorette allowed her insecurity and pride to push her into accepting a proposal and eventual marriage to an opportunistic man that ended up costing her 500K to pay him off in alimony. So not allowing your insecurity to push you into overcompensating bad decisions that harm you down the road.

Those off the record chatter that people share over drinks to mock another agency or a rival. Even if the incident morphs into something outrageous as a telephone game.

Roger's heart attack in the office after-hours while frolicking with a young girl.

Freddie Rumsen's accident before a pitch.

Joan's partnership stake was from an indecent proposal for a client pitch.

Duck's failed power grab led to him falling off the wagon again.

Guy McKendrick losing his foot from an office lawnmower incident.

Peggy likely having a coworker's baby, giving it up for adoption and coming back.

Roger's oyster stomach upset.

That Chevy shot Ken in the face during a hunting accident.

Ginsberg having a mental health crisis in the office and being hauled off to the sanitorium.

Bert Peterson's dramatic exit the first time.

Losing Vicks because Pete and his father in law bumped into each other at a brothel.

Losing Heinz Beans because they backdoored going after Ketchup which they lost anyways.

Don's Hershey meltdown AND that he returned to a demoted position.

Lane's suicide in the office.

Joan's outburst at the receptionist.

Kevin being Roger's illegitimate son.

Sterling Cooper hiring Dawn after their prank backfired.

Ken being fired by McCann as revenge for his stint seven years before.

Joan leaving McCann with a partial payout after threatening them with going public with sexual harassment lawsuit.

Miss Blankenship dying at her desk mid shift.

Don and co doing a heist to set up a new company during a weekend.

Industries that used to provide careers that didn't need formal education but offered a ladder that could provide a living. But due to globalization, union busting, technology and deregulation has raced to the bottom and can only financially support a teenager/young adult living at home.

Retail

Food service

Hospitality

Warehousing

Manufacturing

Call center / customer service

Tech support

Electronics repair

Personal transportation (taxi, delivery)

Based on their behaviour and what's gleaned in the show. That had parents that invested into their education, development and cultivation.

Finn

Amy Safir (D-girl)

Noah

Jennifer Melfi

Hunter

Both Cusamanos

Father Intintola

Devin Pillsbury

Special Agent in Charge Cubitoso

Agent "Danielle"

Dr. Fegoli

Dr. Stokely Davenport

Once Herb suggested that his lot attendant work on copy with Don, it was only a matter of time before they brought it in house fully.

Causing Don to impulsively fire him as a client.

That you can infer from their behaviour on the show aside from Tony and Janice.

Ralph (sadism, self sabotage, narcissism)

Christopher (anger, substance abuse, codependency)

Adriana (codependency, anxiety disorder)

Tracee (child neglect and abuse, codependency)

Irina (substance abuse, depression, codependency)

Gloria (borderline personality disorder, depression)

Eugene (depression, anger)

Mustang Sally (anger, sociopathy)

The common scenarios:

1. Their tasks may have been more heavy or complex then they appreciated.

2. Had tacit knowledge that is suddenly needed in a crisis (audit, system migration, customer bid process, year end).

3. Is proving to be impossible to backfill without a massive salary increase.

4. The remaining employees who had to pick up the slack are starting to revolt over the stress.

And even make overtures to rehire them even as a contractor.