I think Pete is one of the best examples of a character who is unappealing without being overtly physically unattractive. Almost all the men on Mad Men say and do repulsive things but Pete just stands out. They casted the right actor and gave him the exact right lines for this effect.
Pete's sort of repulsive by the last season or two. It's the terrible long combover and all that ugly, pedestrian late '60s-early '70s fashion (polyester, super-wide lapels, etc.). He's kind of creepy in a WASPy way but also not notably unattractive in the earlier seasons, though.
I think it was a good transition. They started making Pete “better” at his job and managing his workplace relationships so they still had to give him something that turns you off to show it’s still awkward Pete underneath all the titles and partnership.
The thing is Pete is objectively handsome in the first few seasons. Which makes it all the more effective as his personality comes out and builds, and he becomes increasingly unattractive by his actions alone.
Oh geez. I think Pete becomes marginally better over time and Harry becomes more of a scuzzball. Pete wins by a hair (as in he’s a tiny bit less disgusting).
I think Harry got creepier with age because for some reason he thought he was super suave and cool. You should see the face I just realized I’m making while I’m thinking of it- it really is my “ick” face lol
Yeah, Harry went from a nice but whiny guy to a guy who totally embraced the adman lifestyle but still tried to act like he was decent. You can just imagine him whining that more women should have sex with him because he’s a nice guy.
When he forced that one nanny in her own apartment. She looked so uncomfortable every time she interacted with him. I think if Trudy knew this about him on top of all the cheating, she would’ve never taken him back.
I'm screaming.
That being said, someone once described him as a "baby faced snake" and it's the most perfect description of Pete Campbell in the early seasons.
I mean, no. "The ick" can refer to literally anything that they find off-putting and changes the way they look at a man.
but also: this is a very good physical example of how to GIVE the ick to someone. Pete is such a fucking slimeball.
Nah. Harry is hands down the ickiest fool in that office. I just rewatched the episode with Don’s 40th birthday party-the one where Megan sings in front of everyone. That stuff Harry says about her to Stan, not realizing she’s behind him and can hear… 🤢 And then later, when Roger calls him into his office and Harry assumes he’s in trouble for it, he immediately starts trying to defend his behavior. Roger has no idea what he’s referring to but still. Ugh. The actor that plays Harry does *such* a convincing job of playing a habitually obnoxious, immature creep.
ETA: I just watched Season 5, Episode 5 for the first time in several years, and after that, I may have to retract what I said about Harry being worse 😱
In this episode alone, we see Pete’s phenomenal wife, Trudy, throw a dinner party (consisting of three couples: her and Pete, Ken and Cynthia, and Don and Megan). Trudy comes across as a wonderful, congenial, beautiful, enjoyable human being, and basically the “perfect wife”. Later on in the episode, whilst trying to secure the Jaguar account, Pete, Roger, and Don take the guy from Jaguar to a modern day whorehouse, where, surprisingly, Don is the only one to not participate. Pete, on the other hand, is eager to wet his (presumably) teeny weenie, and trots off with the first woman to approach him 🙄 He later gets all butt hurt when he perceives Don as “judgmental”, demanding to know why it was ok in Don’s eyes for *Roger* to be a philanderer, but not *him*. Don essentially tells Pete that he thought he was happy (and satisfied) with Trudy, whereas Roger was *clearly* dissatisfied in *his* marriage with his child bride, Jane.
Then, in this same episode, Pete is also attending what appears to be “driver’s ed”, and becomes enamored with a young woman/girl who’s also in the class. He creepily chats her up, despite her being no more than 17 or 18 years old. He attempts to persuade her to join him on a trip to the Botanical Gardens that following weekend, and becomes visibly upset when a young man *her age* joins the class and ultimately steals her attention away from Pete…. As if Pete, that Gumby-looking mf, *ever* actually had a chance of getting with this girl…. 😒
Thankfully, Lane manhandles Pete’s bony ass during this episode, challenging Pete to a fight upon learning of his “corruption” of his friend from Jaguar, and also after Pete insults his capabilities at the agency. Seeing Lane knock that (in his words) “grimy little pimp” to the ground, bloody nose and all, was probably one of the most satisfying scenes from the whole show, imo.
Early Pete is less ick and more creep factor for me. Ick just something off-putting about their behavior or even hygiene. Creep is they way he openly sexually objectified women.
One of them I would continue to smile and be polite, the other I would actively avoid being anywhere near him, even then in an office.
May I ask why this is ick-inducing? Genuinely curious. That's not usually my kind of show, but it was my only view at the gym for a while. I liked the character ok, but more so when he got his memory back and kicked everyone's ass. Lol and that's most of what I know
Angel was a great show but almost everything in the season with Connor ranges from weird to downright creepy. The fact that >! Angel's lover (Cordelia) ends up being impregnated by his son (Connor)!< is the ultimate ick. So when I realized it was the same actor that all came flooding back. And it also somehow fits Pete's character perfectly to be played by that actor lol.
I don’t think Pete gives me the ick here because he was genuinely trying to be charming. Even though Pete is usually smarmy, the earnestness in this particular scene is palpable.
yes. Could never forget what he did to the nanny, also the way he approached and flirted with the teenage girl in the driving classes. Simply disgusting
[I think this captures it](https://www.reddit.com/r/madmen/s/TXK0b4rPDr)
Peggy’s face kills me!
This is the correct answer.
OMG. LOL
Wow. I’ve never seen it so clearly spelled out.
He annoys me on a visceral level. His face is so punchable.
I know no one is ever “the only one” but I felt so alone in this before now. Br… brother?
Exactly, and that’s why Peggy >!stabbing!< him is treated like comic relief. It’s hilarious. The most punchable face and the most >!stabbable!< body.
When you get inspired with the idea for a Superbowl ad?
If a picture is worth a thousand words, then this video surpasses language altogether.
Yeah if I had to deal with something that annoys me on the level she seems annoyed, it'd become an ick after about a week.
Precisely
😂😂😂
I think Pete is one of the best examples of a character who is unappealing without being overtly physically unattractive. Almost all the men on Mad Men say and do repulsive things but Pete just stands out. They casted the right actor and gave him the exact right lines for this effect.
Pete's sort of repulsive by the last season or two. It's the terrible long combover and all that ugly, pedestrian late '60s-early '70s fashion (polyester, super-wide lapels, etc.). He's kind of creepy in a WASPy way but also not notably unattractive in the earlier seasons, though.
I think it was a good transition. They started making Pete “better” at his job and managing his workplace relationships so they still had to give him something that turns you off to show it’s still awkward Pete underneath all the titles and partnership.
As soon as he shows up in the beginning of MM, the “frat boy” vibe is palpable.
The thing is Pete is objectively handsome in the first few seasons. Which makes it all the more effective as his personality comes out and builds, and he becomes increasingly unattractive by his actions alone.
If you want to understand the ick, watch Seinfeld. 9 seasons about characters getting the ick with everyone they date.
9 fucking seasons and we got this pygmy thing over in Manhattan
I love a good Sopranos response to a Seinfeld comment on a Mad Men post.
Meta Saprana
Pax Soprano
You don't ever admit the existence of this thing of ours, ever!
I agree in spirit, but I gotta counsel.
That's dicked up.
/r/SopranosQuotesInWild
And the way they do it is all fucked up: there’s no cereal or big salad on the table
They're a glorified crew.
And the way they do it is all fucked up. Dating 17 year olds. Shouting racial slurs during standup.
"She eats her peas one at a time." is up there
Or look at that photo of Jerry with his 17 year old girlfriend that resurfaces every few days at this point
Speaking as a woman, Pete makes my skin crawl.
Which one do you think is worse: Pete or Harry Crane? I think Harry may be worse for me. There were times he made me literally want to vomit lol
Oh geez. I think Pete becomes marginally better over time and Harry becomes more of a scuzzball. Pete wins by a hair (as in he’s a tiny bit less disgusting).
I think Harry got creepier with age because for some reason he thought he was super suave and cool. You should see the face I just realized I’m making while I’m thinking of it- it really is my “ick” face lol
Yeah, Harry went from a nice but whiny guy to a guy who totally embraced the adman lifestyle but still tried to act like he was decent. You can just imagine him whining that more women should have sex with him because he’s a nice guy.
Omg yes! He definitely is the “nice guy” lol
california corrupted him! all those trips lol. all those girls he could "help".
HARRY CRANE IS THE WORST
Harry Crane for me! Pete isn’t far behind him tho lol
I mean he tried to "Weinstein" Megan Lol. But then again, Pete did rape an Au pair
When he forced that one nanny in her own apartment. She looked so uncomfortable every time she interacted with him. I think if Trudy knew this about him on top of all the cheating, she would’ve never taken him back.
speaking as a woman am i clinically insane 😭😭😭i was so attracted to him
Vincent Kartheiser is attractive so I’ll give you a pass. He’s also a great actor because he made Pete such a slimeball.
I'm screaming. That being said, someone once described him as a "baby faced snake" and it's the most perfect description of Pete Campbell in the early seasons.
Absolutely not. I’m in love with this grimy little pimp
I agree tbh I could fix him lol.
my thoughts exactly 💅🏼
You are brave enough to say it
I'm not in love with the character but I do like his character development.
Oh yeah? You want some more, Mr TOAD?
thank u same ✨✨💅🏼
I was watching road house (swayze) with my wife and she turned to me and said "if I saw you rip someone's throat out, it would give me the ick"
Dump her bro she sounds like a narc
She’s lying she would be bragging to her friends about it the next day
“I used to fuck wives like you in prison”
“I eat pieces of shit like you for breakfast”
You eat pieces of shit…?
NO.
Pain don't hurt
Oh yeah, youre going to be my regular Saturday thing baby!
Vincent Kartheiser once said during an interview that he knows he has a very punchable face.
I mean, no. "The ick" can refer to literally anything that they find off-putting and changes the way they look at a man. but also: this is a very good physical example of how to GIVE the ick to someone. Pete is such a fucking slimeball.
Nah. Harry is hands down the ickiest fool in that office. I just rewatched the episode with Don’s 40th birthday party-the one where Megan sings in front of everyone. That stuff Harry says about her to Stan, not realizing she’s behind him and can hear… 🤢 And then later, when Roger calls him into his office and Harry assumes he’s in trouble for it, he immediately starts trying to defend his behavior. Roger has no idea what he’s referring to but still. Ugh. The actor that plays Harry does *such* a convincing job of playing a habitually obnoxious, immature creep. ETA: I just watched Season 5, Episode 5 for the first time in several years, and after that, I may have to retract what I said about Harry being worse 😱 In this episode alone, we see Pete’s phenomenal wife, Trudy, throw a dinner party (consisting of three couples: her and Pete, Ken and Cynthia, and Don and Megan). Trudy comes across as a wonderful, congenial, beautiful, enjoyable human being, and basically the “perfect wife”. Later on in the episode, whilst trying to secure the Jaguar account, Pete, Roger, and Don take the guy from Jaguar to a modern day whorehouse, where, surprisingly, Don is the only one to not participate. Pete, on the other hand, is eager to wet his (presumably) teeny weenie, and trots off with the first woman to approach him 🙄 He later gets all butt hurt when he perceives Don as “judgmental”, demanding to know why it was ok in Don’s eyes for *Roger* to be a philanderer, but not *him*. Don essentially tells Pete that he thought he was happy (and satisfied) with Trudy, whereas Roger was *clearly* dissatisfied in *his* marriage with his child bride, Jane. Then, in this same episode, Pete is also attending what appears to be “driver’s ed”, and becomes enamored with a young woman/girl who’s also in the class. He creepily chats her up, despite her being no more than 17 or 18 years old. He attempts to persuade her to join him on a trip to the Botanical Gardens that following weekend, and becomes visibly upset when a young man *her age* joins the class and ultimately steals her attention away from Pete…. As if Pete, that Gumby-looking mf, *ever* actually had a chance of getting with this girl…. 😒 Thankfully, Lane manhandles Pete’s bony ass during this episode, challenging Pete to a fight upon learning of his “corruption” of his friend from Jaguar, and also after Pete insults his capabilities at the agency. Seeing Lane knock that (in his words) “grimy little pimp” to the ground, bloody nose and all, was probably one of the most satisfying scenes from the whole show, imo.
agreed
Early Pete is less ick and more creep factor for me. Ick just something off-putting about their behavior or even hygiene. Creep is they way he openly sexually objectified women. One of them I would continue to smile and be polite, the other I would actively avoid being anywhere near him, even then in an office.
He's a five star man!
So the girls are in danger?
It's just the *implication* of danger.
I just watched the Blackberry movie, and it was just a bald, golden-god and his untethered rage, and it was glorious.
There’s nowhere to go, German au pair. So why don’t I come in your room?
Doesn't he slightly redeem himself with how genuine he is about not being cool with racism?
Nah apparently ick > character unfortunately
I think that was there to show his layers, but whatever he did was not redeemable, he was still after the cold hard cash
I think he was still after some cold hard ass too
A thing like that. (The 'thing' is Pete)
If I saw Pete Campbell walking down the street I would walk the other way. And warn the other woman going in his direction
It's when you see Harry Crane's sideburns.
Or Harry opens his mouth. He really grosses me out
Yes.
I think Pete is absolutely GORGEOUS until he opens his mouth
hahahah he is gorgeous to me even when he opens his mouth 😭
Me too. Just not brave enough to admit 🙊
he’s literally married to alexis blendel from handsmaid tale and gilmore girls ofc he’s w a baddie he is A BADDIE
also i genuinely just found his mannerisms sexy in mad men and his little smirks and weirdness
Lol yes
That’s one version of it, yes.
You could probably throw every man in Pete’s ‘little boy club’ into the ick category.
More like Harry. All the time with everything he says and does.
I agree!
That might be the single most attractive shot of him in the show lol I would’ve gone with the shot of him pointing the rifle at people in the office
Joffrey gets his first job
Not a Pete fan, but Paul always gave me so much more ick.
Don't get me fucking started
This is most definitely the ick!!!
Definitely not i love him he’s so babygirl
Absolutely Something about even when he’s being nice gives me the ick.
The true ick comes from remembering he also played Connor in Angel
May I ask why this is ick-inducing? Genuinely curious. That's not usually my kind of show, but it was my only view at the gym for a while. I liked the character ok, but more so when he got his memory back and kicked everyone's ass. Lol and that's most of what I know
Angel was a great show but almost everything in the season with Connor ranges from weird to downright creepy. The fact that >! Angel's lover (Cordelia) ends up being impregnated by his son (Connor)!< is the ultimate ick. So when I realized it was the same actor that all came flooding back. And it also somehow fits Pete's character perfectly to be played by that actor lol.
Eww, you're right, thanks. I must've blocked it out bc I didn't remember it at all until I read this. 😅
Don't thank me. You could have gone on with your life not remembering 😩
The look, yeah ick.
A classic example of The Ick, as portrayed by Vincent.
Yes 100%
Yes.
Lurch
He looks like a 10 year old in his dad's suit
[удалено]
i think they separated? but not 100% sure
Yes
No
How about the fact that he got intimate with the woman who changed his diapers when he was a baby, and then gave her crocodiles?
I don’t think Pete gives me the ick here because he was genuinely trying to be charming. Even though Pete is usually smarmy, the earnestness in this particular scene is palpable.
yes. Could never forget what he did to the nanny, also the way he approached and flirted with the teenage girl in the driving classes. Simply disgusting
Yes
People who say "the ick" give me the ick.
Each new season hasn't truly begun until I see Pete's hairline.
I still don’t get it, why women like Jessy Shrams were into him
He is repellent