Mad Men (TV Series) My Old Kentucky Home (2009) User Reviews

Blows Season Three Out of the Water

[borowiecsminus · 8/10 · 8 August 2016]

I wish I could rate decimals, or at least half-stars, on IMDb, but alas, I can't. I would rate this about an 8.2, and most things I rate 8 would be like 7.8 or something. But anyway...

This is the best episode of season three yet. I know that probably won't last (especially because the finale is rated #2 overall), but so far, it is.

Everything about this episode clicks. "Mad Men" submitted this, along with five other episodes from the season, to be nominated for Best Drama. They were right to do so. It was a really, extremely good episode of television. There are essentially four things that happen in this episode, all of which are worth mentioning. Roger Sterling's pre-wedding party, Joan throws a smaller dinner party, Sally steals money from her forgetful grandpa, and Peggy and Paul smoke weed.

This episode has a few hilarious moments, a few uncomfortable moments, and a few tense moments. Hilarious was pretty much every second of the mile high club. Elizabeth Moss... well, I never knew she could be so funny. Moss is absolutely hilarious in this episode, all pinnacle at the wonderfully delivered line "I am so high." Uncomfortable is the mild fight between Joan and her husband, and of course, the very unsettling black face scene at Roger's party, to which Don asks Betty, "can we go now?" and the viewer is hoping he does. But no, the dinner lasts the entire episode. And of course, tense is the scene where Sally drops the missing money on the floor for Gene to find.

I must, before I end the review, highlight two fantastic performances in this episode. Ryan Cutrona (Gene) and Deborah Lancy (Carla). Their personality conflict in the episode is some of the best acting work I've ever seen between two people. You can't cut the tension with a butter knife because it's too think. You need a hacksaw.

I love Mad Men, and episodes like this one are exactly why.

Uh Oh, It's THAT Episode

[TheFearmakers · 7/10 · 6 September 2023]

Uh oh, it's the Roger in black-face episode, which didn't get anyone extremely angered until 2020, after which a warning was put in front of the episode, explaining why it's still there...

The truth is, this being the epitome of a binging series, you can't take away anything without ruining the pace. And Roger... he's the fan-favorite character, so him doing this really rocked the Mad Man world... but, again, well after the show had ended. Either way, it's a pretty weird scene...

And back on the ranch, in the office, Peggy and Kinsey (and that little annoying guy who used to hang with the tall gay guy) get stoned, which of course has them eating. But at least they also think in eclectic circles and get deep... or so they think...

The whole eating thing on pot actually happens when you start coming down (before realizing it) and your taste buds return, and you have dry-mouth, and food tastes better than ever and, anyhow... sometimes getting stoned on TV or movies is cliche...

To people who never got high, watching pot-smoking in the media seems like the total purpose is to enjoy food... So an entire generation changed the culture because of a drug that makes you eat food? Anyhow, it's no different than drinking... after enough drinks you eat like a pig...

Anyhow, some of the most awkward scenes, which makes this show stand out, are with Gene, Betty's dad, a scary guy, actually, unpredictable, which means a pretty good character.

Understated masterpiece

[shaughne1 · 22 February 2014]

Mad Men doesn't always try and hit you over the head. A lot of the most beloved Mad Men episodes are the ones where all of a sudden we learn something that dramatically alters our perception of a character. That only happens a few times a season. Besides the perfect moment when Peggy decided to smoke marijuana, this episode is not about those moments. This is not a big episode, but it's the kind of episode that makes Mad Men the best show on TV. There are a dozen believable but absurd moments and some of them are truly hilarious. "I am so high." Ultimately, this is a show about character development, and even though Don Draper is far and away the show's greatest accomplishment, Paul, Peggy, Trudy, Sally, and even the brief moments of Roger making a crowd pleasing fool of himself are what make this a special episode. And then there's the Joan subplot. For most of the first two season's it seems like Joan is loosing her grip on the perfect world that she created, where she's queen bee, beloved by the boss, and feared by her coworkers. We see the epitome of Joan in her element and in her nightmares in this episode. In "My Old Kentucky Home," Joan is capable, even dominant, but she can't compete with the world she lives in. And even though she controls what's around her, she's never truly in control. Joan can'r be happy in her own world, while Peggy is finding satisfaction in a world completely alien to her.

This is one of the quiet Mad Men episodes, but it's pitch perfect. Little moments, like Don grabbing the beautiful grass beneath his feet, or the camera panning to the trees and then suddenly cutting to explain it steal the show over and over. This isn't an episode for new viewers or for people who aren't completely sold on the show, but for people who know and love the characters, this is an episode packed with exposition on who these people really are and if you really commit to loving this episode, it's one of the greatest character oriented episodes of TV I've ever seen.

"The thing is, I have a job. I have my own office, with my name on the door. And I have a secretary. That's you. And I am not sacred of any of this. But you are scared. Oh my god, you're scared. Don't worry about me. I am going to get to do everything you want for me. I'm going to be fine, Olive. I really am." -Peggy Olson

Controversy for the sake of controversy

[ben_mkstk · 4/10 · 18 January 2024]

The production must have felt it needed to shake something up with this episode, and clearly felt it was necessary to turn undertones into overtones. The controversial scene in this episode does absolutely nothing to enhance the story, or further Sterling's character development. Moreover, it is (if possible) more cringe-worthy in its ridiculous execution than it is in defining the racial atrocities of an era. Perhaps it was meant to further display the transformation of ethos from the early 60's to the late 60's... It comes off as a banner waiving event, attempting to turn an ugly real-life happening into a marquee signal of virtue.

Partying

[vivianla · 10 June 2020]

It starts off with an audition for a female. The first girl looks beautiful with a half-updo and one of the man ask for her to do The Twist again. She moves elegantly.

Jane comes in dressed in a black and white checkered outfit and sees Joan. Jane is now Mrs. Sterling and Joan previously fired her. Mrs. Sterling asks Joan about life and there is tension as Jane takes this opportunity to show off about her new rich life. Politics in the workplace are stressful and you never know who someone might become so be nice to everyone.

Peggy tries marijuana with three other men in an office on a Saturday. Peggy's secretary who is an older woman seems very humble and sweet.

Betty is dressing up and calls for Sally to "zip". She looks amazing in a lace sleeved dress. It has pinks and whites on it and a little belt and goes over her bulging belly beautifully. She looks perfect.

The Drapers go to the Sterlings party where we see Jane dressed beautifully for the party. As Betty waits for Trudy who is in the bathroom, an older man says he wishes she was waiting for him. He flirts with her and she lets him touch her belly.

Don goes to the bar indoors and orders a drink. The bartender says he is also looking for the ingredients for that drink at the moment. Don climbs over the bar, he does not walk around. Don shows off his bartending skills, being swift and elegant.

There are politics even when it comes to the social scene. Harry and Jennifer try to show how much fun they are having despite being outcasts. Jennifer gets jealous watching the Campbells dance a routine.

At the end of the day Peggy's secretary scolds her for doing drugs saying she is not thinking of her future. Peggy replies saying she has her own office and her own secretary so she is not worried.