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[JzeroT1437]

First Aired: July 19th, 2007
Seasons: 2 (2nd currently airing)
Episodes: 26 produced, 17 aired
Channel: AMC

I don't watch much television, but a friend recently suggested that I pick up Mad Men and check out a few eps. I've only watched the first five, but have to say this show is absolutely frickin amazing. I also searched to see if we had a thread for the show, and it looks like we didn't, so it seemed appropriate to start one.

The show's best quality is its reliance on "gray" characters--there isn't one clear individual you're meant to root for. Everybody's an asshole, but the writers somehow manage to make you sympathetic to them anyway, and actually inspire concern for their struggles. My favorite episode out of the five I've seen has been "New Amsterdam"--up to this moment, Pete seemed like a complete piece of trash, but the way he's treated here really serves to paint him as more of a bumbling oaf with good intentions--even if he has proven himself to be a slimy piece of crap in previous eps.

What say you guys? Anybody been watching?

 

[Karakand]

Hell yeah I've been watching. Up to date with season 2.

 

[JCtheMC]

Upper management wins.

 

[Bloodwake]

Simply an amazing show. One episode put tears in my eyes. TV doesn't do that very often.

 

[scorcho]

Don's awfully dark this season. he's also hard to pin down, as if he's torn between the two extremes of the Dick/Don personalities.

 

[Bluecondor]

Great show!

I love how they make references to beliefs people had in the fifties and sixties, and the events that were going on at the time.

This isn't too much of a spoiler, but one of my favorite moments from the show was a simple scene where two guys (I won't name them) have to do a basic activity and simply can't because their two packs a day + "two martini lunch" lifestyle has made it almost impossible for them to do any kind of sustained physical effort.

It's amazing how much we have changed in this regard. It used to be that people in their 30s and 40s+ did almost no physical exercise/activity whatsoever. I remember when my grandfather (who was in his 70s and early 80s when I was growing up) was considered to be a marvel because he still could work in the yard and cut the grass. Back then, there were lots of people 15-20 years younger than him who were completely sedentary because they smoked and never exercised, with a poor diet.

I admire this show because it really captures the feel of things like this that have now changed. It really takes you back to think that things were this different - just a short time ago.

 

[Schattenjäger]

i'd love to start watching this if netflix would start sending it

 

[Costanza]

should have searched

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=326970
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=322005