Mad Men - recap

At a friend’s recommendation, I started watching Mad Men last year and finished three seasons (39 episodes) in just under half a year. From the beginning I’ve been impressed on so many levels. It’s historical authenticity being one of them: the sets, the costumes, the hair-styles, the mores, and the language. Then there’s the chain-smoking and hard drinking; the jazz music, beat culture and references to drugs. I adore all the contemporary consumer products and brands they incorporate – from Lucky Strikes to Pepsi Patio Diet Cola, from American Airlines to UTZ chips, from Clearasil to Playtex bras. There are the obvious Cold War references: the space race (i.e., the aeronautic program), the Vietnam War and the military draft, the Cuban Missile Crisis. Famous names, like Richard Nixon, John F. Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe. Events such as the crash of American Airlines Flight 1 into Jamaica Bay. Local New York history, such as the rebuilding of Madison Square Garden. And in season three we start hearing more and more about the civil rights movement: the murder of African-American activist Medgar Evers; Martin Luther King, Jr., “I Have a Dream”; the four black girls who were murdered by segregationists in Birmingham, Alabama, and so on. All of this makes for great, satisfying entertainment.

But none of this would matter one damn bit if it wasn’t for the characters who make the show. And the reason why Mad Men is the best drama series of the past few years, is exactly because of the captivating characters and the superb acting, the fascinating plotlines and the compelling dialogue. Over the course of three seasons we’ve been treated with such amazing stories and character development! I’m not going to try and recap the events in Don Draper’s life, his marital turmoil, or his extra-marital trials and tribulations, but they sure are part and parcel of the fascination. I don’t mean to judge him, yet at the same time want to blame him for ruining his marriage, for patronizing his wonderful wife, for boxing her up in her Connecticut bird-cage. I’ve been applauding Peggy’s spectacular rise to success at Sterling Cooper from secretary to creative writer. I’ve come to resent Pete for being such a whiny snail, but learned to respect that he’s actually good at what he does. Again, it’s the cast that makes this show, and they are formidable!