Mad Menis one of the greatest TV shows ever made. There are certainTV shows that everyone should watch at least once, either because they have deeply compelling characters likeBreaking Bad, they touch on important issues likeThe Wire, or they’re a unique cinematic vision likeSix Feet Under.Mad Menis all three in one seven-season masterpiece.
It’s One Of The Staples Of Peak TV
Created by Matthew Weiner,Mad Menis one of the greatest TV shows ever made. Along withThe Sopranos(where Weiner cut his teeth),Breaking Bad, andThe Wire, it’s one of the staples of so-called “Peak TV.”Mad Menmanaged to be just as captivating as any of those shows without any mob murders or drug turf disputes.
Jon Hamm stars as Don Draper, a suave, brooding ad executive in the 1960s. While he puts on a smooth facade for his clients, Don is covering up a dark side: frequent infidelity, raging alcoholism, PTSD from a deeply disturbing childhood, and to top it all off, a stolen identity.
A lot of Mad Men’s cultural and political references have surprising parallels to today’s culture and politics.
Over the course ofMad Men’s seven seasons, the show explored every facet of ‘60s society: classism, crime rates, race relations, political divisions, the economy, the nightlife, the media. It’s interesting to see how much has changed, but also how little has changed. A lot ofMad Men’s cultural and political references have surprising parallels to today’s culture and politics.
Mad Menisn’t just set in the ‘60s; it feels like it was ripped straight from the ‘60s. Hamm and his co-stars — John Slattery, Elisabeth Moss, January Jones, Christina Hendricks, et al — look and act like they just stepped out of Old Hollywood, and the production design team did an uncanny job of bringing the era to life.
It’s A Subtle & Nuanced Look At A Different Time
Everyone should watchMad Menat least once, because it’s one of the best-written, best-acted, and best-designed shows ever made. It’s one of the rare TV shows that never has a dip in quality. Every season is at least great, and some of them (especially in the middle of the series’ run) transcend to masterpiece level.
Mad Menis streaming on AMC+.
In a medium that often spells out its themes and character motivations,Mad Men’s subtlety is refreshing. The writers make masterful use of subtext and the actors will often let a nuanced facial expression say a thousand words. It captures a very different time in modern society with an addictive sense of immersion and realism.
Don is just as complex as otherTV antiheroeslike Tony Soprano and Walter White, and his journey makes for compulsive viewing.Mad Mentransports you back to the ‘60s with a poignant blend of charming nostalgia for a bygone era and an unrelenting look at the bleak realities of that regressive time. There’s no other TV show quite likeMad Men.
