SummaryIt's New York in the 1960s, and the men and women who work at the Sterling Cooper Advertising Agency are some of the top names in the industry. Master manipulator and leading ad man Don Draper is at the top of his game, but there are those who want to see him topple down. Can he maintain his formidable status? Writer and executive produc...
SummaryIt's New York in the 1960s, and the men and women who work at the Sterling Cooper Advertising Agency are some of the top names in the industry. Master manipulator and leading ad man Don Draper is at the top of his game, but there are those who want to see him topple down. Can he maintain his formidable status? Writer and executive produc...
Matthew Weiner clearly intended for us to contemplate the mortality of his TV masterpiece when he wove Peggy Lee’s bleak 1969 ballad through Sunday’s midseason premiere.
What is not surprising at all about the fourth season of one of television's elite series is that Weiner continues to explore what it means to be human.
Mad Men is quite possibly the greatest TV drama of all time. Don **** journey through this series is captivating. The casting, set dressing, costume design, directing, and all of the little details provide a glimpse into life in New York in the 1960's. You see Don and the rest of the cast experiencing life in the 60s and how the world reacted to the numerous large events that happened in American history during this period.
I VERY rarely give anything a perfect score. And I hate writing sentences that veer toward hyperbole, but Mad Men is the best television show in existence.
"I'm living like there is no tomorrow because there isn't one."
Not a pretty sentiment, to be sure, but it makes for an intriguing character in what's likely to be the best new summer series of 2007.
I appreciate its willingness to be life-sized, if not exactly subtle, in a medium that increasingly demands its drama on steroids. And I applaud its rejection of nostalgia as much as I do its avoidance (so far) of serial killers. It's the fetishizing of the visual, not lack of action, that leaves me impatient.
As a witty social history viewed through the tempestuous prism of office and sexual politics, Mad Men is big fun ... classy entertainment with a brain.
Mad Men, set in 1960’s America, is in my opinion the greatest television show of all time. Produced by Matthew Weiner, it follows Don ****, Peggy Olson, Pete Campbell, and other members of the Sterling & Cooper advertising agency. Its main message is on how desire can lead people to downfall, but it also depicts racism, sexism, and ****, as per the time period of its setting. Also, it has very clever dialogue, witty characters (especially Roger Sterling), and subtle character depth. In-between every line is a second meaning, occasionally even a third; sometimes, they are merely examples of droll comedy (again, Roger Sterling), while in other times, they are more profound in context. Mad Men is ever-changing. As the time period the show is set in progresses, so does the show itself. In the backdrop of Mad Men are changing cultural tendencies, most noticeable through impactful events of societal change. Though rarely directly involved in affecting these changes even in the smallest ways, they are often impacted by them. After Martin Luther King Jr’s “I Have a Dream” speech, for example, one member of the agency brings his Black girlfriend to a party, ostensibly to brag about his progressive beliefs. In another event, Sterling Cooper’s advertising campaigns for Don Nixon are completely upset when John F. Kennedy wins the election. All this again reiterates the ever-shifting nature of the background. Otherwise, Mad Men is notably also a very well-produced show. The building offices, the suits and dresses of the characters, restaurants, music, etc., are all accurate to the time and locations the show progresses through. These fine details evoke a specific 60’s atmosphere, as though the show is a time capsule to the past. Overall, if you’re into slow-burn stories that focus more on character and narrative depths, then I would highly recommend Mad Men.
Greatest TV Drama Of All Time?
The journey is a most interesting one in Don **** universe that occupies a time (1960s) in American culture when changes occurred in warp speed.
No Pollyanna view of the world, 'Mad Men' explores the full spectrum of human relationships and personality types.
The show's creator Matthew Weiner takes viewers on a high-ball roller coaster of human experiences that explore pursuit of bliss, the depths of where one can go, and the winding roads of inner angst one must often travel.
As it stands now, "YES", 'Mad Men' is the best TV series drama of all-time. I don't believe there is even a close second.
Those who have seen every episode in sequence, experience a level of quality TV that sets the bar to the top.
Matthew Weiner's concept alone puts it into a must-try category.
View 'Mad Men' from episode one season one if you haven't already. The trip is worth the time.
I've seen the entire series at least three times, not counting re-watching shows the day after they aired. It's my favorite television series of all time.
Everything is here: Spot-on acting (and casting), with Jon Hamm so perfect at the center that I can't imagine anyone else; terrific directing, and faithfulness to every detail of the era in which it's set. But most of all, the writing is superb. It's not only the characters (all so distinct and fully developed); it's also the themes, and the pacing, and perfect dialogue—so good that I have a notebook where I've written down the lines I want to keep.
Matthew Weiner (and his very talented writers) have created real literature here. It's like a novel, and a classic one that will stand the test of time.
This sounds like a review from someone with a connection to someone in the show. It isn't. It's a thank you note to Weiner et al. If only more of television could be of this caliber ....