Mad Men

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dlbpharmd
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Mad Men

Post by dlbpharmd »

Does anyone keep up with this AMC series? It won the Emmy for Outstanding Drama last year. I rented the first season on DVD just to see for myself. After the first 2-3 episodes, my impression was "what's the big deal?" But I soon realized that I was in the middle of some really strong character development. Now that I've finished the first season, I have to say that story progression and character development is the best that I've seen since "The Sopranos."

The story is set in 1960, with the Nixon-Kennedy presidential campaign in the background. The setting is an advertising agency in Manhattan (hence the name "Mad Men," a play on words between ad men and Madison Avenue.) Common themes in the series are smoking cigarettes (everybody smokes, despite the revelation of health risks,) overt sexism (women are little more than playthings for men,) infidelity, and career ambition. The historical accuracy is a strong point for the series, and it's great to see the characters ooh and aah over the latest gadgets that they are trying to advertise (for instance, the Kodak Carousel for slide projectors has one of the characters scratching his head trying to figure out what the hell it's supposed to do. ;)) Another funny subplot had the characters desperately trying to figure out a way to help Nixon defeat Kennedy.

I haven't seen the 2nd season yet, which I understand just concluded back in October, so no spoilers please!
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Lord Mhoram
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Post by Lord Mhoram »

I haven't seen it but it's supposed to be quite good.
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Post by [Syl] »

I've taken the time to catch up on this series. It's great. Sure, it starts out slow, but... I loved how Draper evened the score with Sterling in episode seven, even more that they don't spoonfeed you that that's what he's doing. And episode eight (draper getting high with the hippies) was probably one of the best episodes I've seen on any TV show.
"It is not the literal past that rules us, save, possibly, in a biological sense. It is images of the past. Each new historical era mirrors itself in the picture and active mythology of its past or of a past borrowed from other cultures. It tests its sense of identity, of regress or new achievement against that past.”
-George Steiner
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Post by dlbpharmd »

Good timing on reviving this thread, Syl. I finished Season 2 last night, and it's every bit as good as Season 1, if not better. Don Draper is one of the most complex characters I've ever seen. The closest comparison I can make is Tony Soprano.

Two years have passed between seasons. Kennedy is president, and the Cold War is heating up in the background. Infidelity and ambition are still common themes, but new ones emerge: alcoholism, infertility, depression, and revenge, to name just a few.

What I like best about this show is that there isn't one huge arc - one really doesn't know where the story is going to go next.
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Post by danlo »

I saw the first season and really liked it.
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Post by CovenantJr »

I've considered watching it, but I know too little about it to be able to judge whether I'd like it.
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Post by Usivius »

Hmmm well after reading these postings, I may have to continue.
I have watched the first 3 episodes and am not really enjoying it. I can see the writing is good, the acting and characters are real and the detail is perfect, but ... well, so far I really don't give a damn about any of these characters... I would care very little if any of them dropped off the face of the earth. Harsh, yah, I guess, but I am frustrated by this point. It's like reading the George RR Martin series, where in the first book, any character that I liked was killed off... gives me no reason to continue ... or, to put it another way, the characterizations are stronger than the plot, so when I don't have any characters I care about, the continuation of the plot doesn't matter as much to me.

So ... I am unsure whether I will invest more time in this (my TV viewing time is limited as is), but the wife seems to like it, so I guess I will stick through the 1st season at least ... then I will dive in to the Millenium series I picked up! woo hoo!
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Post by The Dreaming »

Christina Hendricks is really really hot.

Like, really hot.

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The show's pretty good too.
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Post by Cagliostro »

I recently realized she was Mal's "wife" in Firefly. I've not watched Mad Men yet, but I am a bit more interested now.
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Post by CovenantJr »

Yeah, I've loved Christina Hendricks since seeing her as YoSafBridge. :lol:
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Post by dlbpharmd »

The Dreaming wrote:Christina Hendricks is really really hot.

Like, really hot.

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The show's pretty good too.
This deserves a second look. Yeah, she's smokin' hot. :twisted:
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Post by [Syl] »

Those are real, btw, though I understand the hair color isn't.
"It is not the literal past that rules us, save, possibly, in a biological sense. It is images of the past. Each new historical era mirrors itself in the picture and active mythology of its past or of a past borrowed from other cultures. It tests its sense of identity, of regress or new achievement against that past.”
-George Steiner
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Post by dlbpharmd »

Last Sunday's episode was the best one yet.
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Post by [Syl] »

Just for fun:
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"It is not the literal past that rules us, save, possibly, in a biological sense. It is images of the past. Each new historical era mirrors itself in the picture and active mythology of its past or of a past borrowed from other cultures. It tests its sense of identity, of regress or new achievement against that past.”
-George Steiner
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Post by dlbpharmd »

Hilarious!
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Post by [Syl] »

Good riddance, I say. Hopefully she'll be around less to drag the scenes down, but I doubt it.

What about Cosgrove and Cane, though? The show would function pretty well without the former, and while I can see not bringing Cane along from a business standpoint... Wish there would've been something more about Sal, though.
"It is not the literal past that rules us, save, possibly, in a biological sense. It is images of the past. Each new historical era mirrors itself in the picture and active mythology of its past or of a past borrowed from other cultures. It tests its sense of identity, of regress or new achievement against that past.”
-George Steiner
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Post by Cagliostro »

Too many posts without this picture.

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Post by dlbpharmd »

Thanks, Cag. ;)

Excellent end to this season, can't wait til next season (next fall?)
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Post by CovenantJr »

Alright, I just finished up season 2. I like this series, but I'm not sure why. For a long time, I didn't like any of the characters. Most of them are repellent, and every time I think someone's becoming quite likable, they do something to change my mind. I've found that the only person who's half decent is Harry, and even he's hardly a saint. I also quite like Jane; she has far more balls than the other women, even Joan.

I suppose it's a credit to the writers, though, that even though he has more bad qualities than good ones, I usually end up rooting for Draper.

The more I think about it, the more I think that what I like about Mad Men is that it assumes intelligence in its audience. It's not generally particularly complex, but it doesn't simplify things and it's not afraid to tell many densely connected stories slowly over a long period.
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Post by CovenantJr »

Two episodes into season 3 and I'm already pissed off. Why are British characters always effete bureaucrats? And why do they always speak like the frigging queen?
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