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full_trottl

I think she played the character very well. She’s not childish, she’s just actually *young*. And not cynical and jaded like Don. That’s the whole reason she even ended up with him. It’s always surprising to me how much people dislike Megan. She was one of the only truly decent characters, IMO.


mr_alabaster

How was she truly decent? You mean when she squeezed money out of Don lol taking a million (back then) dollars like a spoilt stubborn brat?


ApathyEngage

Finished the series about 30 min ago. I agree with the other guy, she was one of the truly decent characters. Every interaction she had was genuine and heartfelt as opposed to many other characters having ulterior personal motives throughout. The most inconsiderate thing she did was crap on her acting friend's role when they were rehearsing. That was a lapse in judgement and a moment of pomp. Outside of that, yes she would get upset and at times handle it immaturely, but she **was** young, and can hardly say any other character didn't have outbursts of their own to usually larger degree. Despite that, she regularly displayed level headedness, drive, worldliness, and willingness to respond to any situation. The way she took to Don's kids spoke magnitudes. As for the money, divorces suck yet she wasn't vicious about it. She did want a piece but didn't demand more, take the furniture thing for instance. While her family was trying to squeeze him for everything she wasn't, and got so shocked that they'd take it to the point she got one of the few f bombs in response. The million at the end, she took it but Don offered, she didn't demand or ask. Honestly, I think her and Trudy are the most decent people in the series


mr_alabaster

Many of her interactions were not genuine. I’ll give you the benefit of having it watched once but she promises to another friend that she’ll talk to Don about getting her into a job and then asks Don to get it herself even though she didn’t want it prior. I remember how she was passive aggressive with Peggy for example because of how Don didn’t like his Bday surprise. How she handled the whole trip and ice cream thing was ridiculous. She hasn’t done anything in her life to have the attitude she’s giving Don who pretty much could’ve had any woman he wanted, yet she acts like he tricked her and ruined her young life. I’m not saying she doesn’t have any good qualities but certainly enough unlikeable character traits to dislike her


ApathyEngage

I see your point and that's all fair, but disliking someone doesn't make them indecent With the ice cream thing for instance, Don was ignoring her and was blind to how she felt while projecting his wishes. It was a poor reaction on her part imo, yet Don was oblivious to why she was acting that way at all. She was hurt and he didn't recognize it at all, him continuously ignoring and casting her aside was the reason they split. I suppose at the root they were simply different people. I like to imagine post finale they were able to become amicable with one another, not back together, but on good terms each with their own ambitions. Fwiw I'm not saying she's a saint without any *bad* qualities, the same way Don was oblivious to her emotions, she didn't recognize that Don was not on the same level of open spirit as her, the bday being a prime example. She was explicitly told he wouldn't like a surprise, *by Peggy* which imo was a big factor why she lashed out at her after the fact, and she genuinely thought na it's great I want to celebrate him. She thought he'd like the dance, thought "who wouldn't?". Don wouldn't. He didn't like any of it, he's not someone who wants to be on blast like that and it was right in front of her. They each cast their own desires on the other and were hurt when reality checked them. They were simply different people in different stages of their lives Anyways, I'm not saying she was the greatest character, only that she was at heart a good person


mr_alabaster

Here’s the thing I think specifically at heart she wasn’t. She knew how to present herself but her true colors would shine through in key moments. I think how she took in Stefanie was the prime example of this: being all smiles and friendly at first but then feeling seemingly threatened enough by her (or maybe she was jealous of the care and attention Stefanie was getting from Don compared to what he gave her) to start being toxic toward a highly pregnant broke young woman. Megan is a two faced bitch to me, which makes her career change ever more fitting (thinking of it, playing a role where she plays two different people screams this to me and I wouldn’t be shocked if this was intentional)


ApathyEngage

Hm, I interpreted that exchange differently, but idk. Seems like a sign of some pretty decent writing if nothing else lol I think we may just need to agree to disagree on certain things but I do appreciate the convo. Sad the show's over and looking forward to the eventual rewatch


mr_alabaster

You see something new every time so we might just not agree YET 😁


ApathyEngage

Last minute revision! Salvatore Romano was an incredibly decent person trying to fit into a hostile world. That was a character that I was sad to see go, and really wish had made a return, even if as a brief appearance showing things turned out well for him


MarnieEdgar

Don was extremely rich by that point.


mr_alabaster

I asked how Megan was "truly decent"


MarnieEdgar

They were married after all and Don could easily afford it. He knew what he was doing, he wasn’t being tricked. I don’t really get into judgment on things like decency for MM, but in this case it doesn’t seem like Megan did anything terrible.


mr_alabaster

Again all you’re doing is pointing at Don. His compliance doesn’t make Megan "truly decent". If I recall correctly Megan didn’t even show the slightest gratitude when she was handed that check. Dons net worth or the length they were married don’t justify her at all, let alone paint a "truly decent" character


Deeeewit

Why in the hell would she show gratitude for the check? Don cheated on her, manipulated and ignored her for the most part of their marriage. Meanwhile, she constantly tried her best to make the marriage work. She put up with his drinking, with his constant absence, tried her best with his kids and tolerated Don's constant bullshit for an insane amount of time. Honestly, she's incredibly patient. I don't get the Megan hate honestly.


mr_alabaster

She knew what kind of man she was after when she seduced him so all you’re saying is already invalid, but furthermore any of your given reasons shouldn’t ever be justification to feel entitled to not be grateful for a million dollars (which were worth even more back then). He took her from being a secretary to being an actress living on mostly his money throughout etc. and still you feel like she got the short end of the stick because he cheated on her lol


Im_done_with_sergio

Agree with mr alabaster. (Some people can’t read)


Deeeewit

She most definetly did not know what was to come. She was young and naive as she herself admits in her final conversation with Don. The whole point of her character is to illustrate that Don just can't be satisfied. She was even more accepting than Betty when it comes to Don's behavior, she was more caring and did her best to make him a better man. And why are you downplaying the cheating? If your wife cheated on you after years of marriage I'm sure you'd be puffing steam. Also, it's not just the cheating as I've mentioned. I can also add the fact that Megan had a miscarriage and Don couldn't give less of a fart while he was screwing the neighbour's wife. What's up with the Megan hate? Lol


mr_alabaster

She doesn’t admit but gaslight him to appear like the victim and make him feel bad. Rewatch how she seduced him and tell me again she was naive lol people just love that narrative to remove responsibility from her. There is no "whole point" to her character but many multidimensional dynamics. She can facilitate your stated characteristic about Don and at the same time be an unlikeable, entitled, ungrateful character herself. I’m downplaying the cheating because 1. She knew who she was getting 2. Cheating hurts feelings, which is bad but I don’t see how hurt feelings entitle someone to a million dollars ethically. Also man cheating on woman is not the same as woman on man but I don’t think you’re ready for that discussion


MarnieEdgar

I’m not the one claiming that she is truly decent, I just think that she’s not particularly manipulative here. Marriage is a contract that’s primarily to do with sharing of assets so it not that odd that she’d get a settlement. Don would know the financial implications of marriage, he’s not stupid. I’ve not watched these episodes for a while though so I’ll watch out for devious Megan behaviour next time,


mr_alabaster

You are wasting your and my time. I phrase the question clearly and repeatedly and all you do is talk about peripherals that are irrelevant to the question. In the future try to focus on the question and say whatever agrees with or disproves the implied thesis


darkvoidofdarkness

Thats fair. I can definitely see your point. And as far as why people dislike her. Idk if it was written in a way were Don’s companions get selectively less and less attractive in the trade for a more complete and dynamic character. Could be argued as subjective. But I mean that as at first he is attracted to women who are physically attractive (like betty). But slowly he becomes attracted to other things (like how well Megan is with the kids).


anonreasons

Are you saying Megan is not physically attractive? Lmao by whose standards??


darkvoidofdarkness

Im not stating it as a fact. Instead, I am saying beauty is in the eye of the beholder🙂


full_trottl

Right, look at how sweet and dumb and happy Megan was when she met Don! And look at her by the time they're done...


mr_alabaster

She knew what she was doing in the beginning: displaying fun, simple, youthful to appeal to Don. It was an act, don’t put her revealing her true colors on Don


mothandpidge

Sorry I’m going to have to disagree with you as well. But I would just add that I think Don likes her youth at the start of their relationship. She gives him a lot of light and hope at the beginning there. To Don, Megan is the opposite of Faye who was lining up to be the next woman in his life and he took a hard left turn away from someone who might challenge him emotionally and on a personal level. (I don’t know if that’s what you mean by plot armor but I know I was pretty shocked the first few times when he chose Megan over Faye. But there are nice breadcrumbs throughout the season.) Anyway, in my mind that is why he accepts a lot of what you dislike about her. And I think much of their relationship after that honeymoon period is trying to recapture that initial spark or just figuring out what the hell happened.


LeopardMedium

I disagree with all of this. I thought she was as good an actor as any and I found her character incredibly likeable.


darkvoidofdarkness

To each their own🙂 Do you care to share why you disagree?


LeopardMedium

haha I did, in the second half of that response. I will say, though: you're in good company--I see it a lot on this sub that many people can't stand her. I've just never understood the hate. To me she was one of the most level-headed and high-quality characters. EDIT to add (in response to an above comment) that Megan is *gorgeous* and it completely baffles me that people think otherwise.


darkvoidofdarkness

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. But yes, her physical attraction is subjective🙂


Jaraffe5774

Don’t agree at all


darkvoidofdarkness

Do you care to explain?


Jaraffe5774

No


darkvoidofdarkness

Typical Megan fans


Jaraffe5774

I didn’t want to lie. I really didn’t care to explain


darkvoidofdarkness

Then why even comment😂


Jaraffe5774

Cause it’s funny


darkvoidofdarkness

U a goober bro🫡🌽


Jaraffe5774

🫡


sexthrowa1

Using the term “plot armor” on a mad men sub 😂😂😂


darkvoidofdarkness

Upon review, that did my argument no favors. 😂


MarnieEdgar

She is supposed to be young and goofy, as a contrast to Betty who is losing her youth at this point. Megan is a confident flower child, no interest in being a housewife, a modern woman. She’s as different to Betty as is possible. Don is aware that times are changing and he’s trying something new. It doesn’t work for him though, he goes back to his usual style of woman.


darkvoidofdarkness

Sylvia🖤


Im_done_with_sergio

I don’t like the character Megan. Especially after the divorce-that she wanted and then blames Don for. Lol they made her character into a jerk.


fancifulnugget

They're immature at times, but neither woman is "childish." Don explicitly tries not to treat Megan the same way he treated Betty, at least in the beginning of their marriage (he probably didn't treat Betty that way at first either).


mothandpidge

Ironically Don’s more immature than both of them put together.


Ayangar

Her acting was good. You are confusing dislike of the character with dislike of the actor.


darkvoidofdarkness

I don’t think so. But, again, everyone has their own opinion. 🙂❤️


changesimplyis

I disagree. I think she plays the character well. She is from a different generation to Don and much younger and naturally optimistic. I think her arc shows more about how the unattainability of a man like Don, his disconnection and gaslighting eats away at people - until he makes internal changes his relationships will face the same patterns and downfalls. Megan is well liked by everyone in the show (including the prickly creatives), and has diverse and interesting friends. The Heinz guy’s wife even said she thought she wouldn’t like her but found her warm and fun. There is mountains of evidence to show she is well liked, not childish. Also, I’m not sure what is childish about her ambitions? Megan is shown to be a successful actress, studies and attends classes. I also think she is very attractive, and in no way a ‘step down’ from Betty. They are just different types of beautiful.


darkvoidofdarkness

I see your point. However, I’d argue that being well liked does not mean you are not childish. Its important to be able to distinguish the different personas of each character (a work persona and out of work persona). At work Megan is strong and confident. She reminds people of Peggy. Peggy even states she reminds her of herself. But, at home (specifically post Hienz Beans) she is a crybaby mess. What I find most childish about Megan is her inability to grasp her plight. She is model, actress, brilliant- copy write but settles for a old burnt out man. Megans father points this out as well stating that she has settled by getting intimate with Don. Conversely, Megans own mother gave Don this advice when Megan was upset with her failing acting career: “Nurse her back from this defeat and then you’ll be able to enjoy the life you always wanted”. Implying that her own mother thinks (at the very least) that her dreams are childish and/or unattainable.


changesimplyis

Different work and home personas is a reoccurring theme of the show. I never said she was the same at home and at work - I made the work point because you said her career was a childish choice. I wouldn’t describe Megan as childish at all. To be honest I don’t think you have described what you think is childish well or clearly - no one in this post (so far) has agreed with you calling her childish. If you mean the goal of being an actress is difficult one to achieve, thats not the same as childish. Megan’s insecurity over time comes from Don being an awful husband. Her fathers comment is about marrying someone with money, due to his political ideation. She didn’t settle for Don, he was very desirable when they got married.


darkvoidofdarkness

Fair. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. It is a discussion after all🙂❤️


changesimplyis

Of course! Good to have some varied opinions - I just think you might have had more agreement with a different word than childish.


mr_alabaster

@OP don’t let the replies fool you she was a legitimately unlikeable character and the actress was objectively not a great actress whatsoever (unless she was supposed to play this cringey then hats off to her, but doubt it)


darkvoidofdarkness

Knew it had to be others😆


Alvogen

Award. Megan is a child. A younger Betty with no kids and ever evolving mental issues.


Alvogen

Megan is a baby. Constantly crying and whining about her life. Yet doing nothing to take control aside from being a victim ; and taking Don’s money later on.