• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Mad Men Redux

ducati_EL34

ducati_EL34

Addicted Member
This show looked interesting, but, I did not devote time to watching it. Now three seasons later I am watching a Season 1&2 marathon, and the sets and the day to day activity of the average person is not missed on the production of this show.


The story line(s) though, this seems like a soap opera for men. So with that in mind, what does everyone like about this show?
 
Register to hide this ad
I have been watching from the start and was watching some of the marathon, seems like they are skipping around on the episodes with the marathon.

I love the period sets and clothing. The story line is fun as well.
 
I started on DVD and watched the last season in "real time."

Yes - Mad Men is a soap opera. As was the Sopranos to a lesser extent.

Mad Men is well-written, sharp, and with its existential bend, pleasing mind candy at the end of the day.

Ken
 
I enjoy the show, but don't really go too much out of my way to watch. If I stumble across it, I'll probably watch it (if I haven't seen the episode before).

I don't know if I agree with the assessment that it's a soap opera or necessarily for men. The two most avid fans of the show I know are my wife and her sister, and, while the show does tend toward drama, they do some great, humorous stuff.

I suppose that you're assessment of it being a soap opera depends on what your definition of a soap opera is. While the show is definitely a serial, meaning that the narrative thread runs throughout all episodes, I don't think it has the melodrama or the painfully slow narrative pace that's inherent in more traditional soap operas. Because it lacks two of the three elements that, for me, define what a soap opera is, I can't call it a soap opera.

And, frankly, I do kinda like the show, and I see "soap opera" as a pejorative term so I'll defend it from that classification. Serial drama. Or just plain drama work better for me.

What's crazy to me is the cultural differences between then and post-British Invasion America.
 
Last edited:
Flat-out great program! We kicked ourselves for not getting in to it right away...so steeled ourselves into not watching. Then...picked up Seasons 1 & 2 used for cheap. Season 3 is on order...and we have to refrain from watching the premiere of Season 4 on 7/25.

Great storyline & plotting...costuming & set decoration second to none. Outstanding actors in every role. January Jones is almost the 21st Century version of Grace Kelly.
 
Interesting characters, interesting how the plot is meshed with history and social issues of the time. The main character has a kind of Gatsby mystique that is very interesting to me. Actually, the whole storyline is very Great Gatsby...

I also like the themes - wealth, career, the "perfect" family, etc., masking corruption, selfishness, duplicity, secrets, etc.
 
Excellent attention to detail in the art direction...some of the best I've seen. The script is equally well done. Complex characters who surprise you by not doing the predictable thing at every turn. It dares to be quiet at times. It is one of my favorite shows on TV. Helps that in my real life, I do what Don Draper does (just not at the top like him).
 
Day one watcher here , can't wait to see where it goes next .

Brings back o so many memories for me .

Barney
 
My wife & I watched it from the beginning and can't wait for the new season. I find it pitch perfect to my childhood memories of the era. My dad was a Don Draper with most of the baggage too. I don't recall him ever without a lit cigarette or scotch. My favorite character, and by a large margin is Roger Sterling. John Slattery absolutely owns the role.
 
I love how well thought out the characters are. These are fairly complex characters.

Christina Hendricks (plays Joan Holloway) is jaw-droppingly gorgeous. And, as we find out in the "Why you should never bring a riding lawn mower into the office" scene, her character is tough and has good character.

Elizabeth Moss's character (Peggy Olson) is another complex character. She reminds me of my wife's kid sister, but what I like about the show is that their characters seem more drawn from the realm of semi-normal people, looks-wise. Not everyone is super-attractive (at least in their onscreen personas).
 
cwall99 said:
I love how well thought out the characters are. These are fairly complex characters.

Christina Hendricks (plays Joan Holloway) is jaw-droppingly gorgeous. And, as we find out in the "Why you should never bring a riding lawn mower into the office" scene, her character is tough and has good character.

Elizabeth Moss's character (Peggy Olson) is another complex character. She reminds me of my wife's kid sister, but what I like about the show is that their characters seem more drawn from the realm of semi-normal people, looks-wise. Not everyone is super-attractive (at least in their onscreen personas).
Click to expand...

+1 to all of the above. The set design and continuity and detail are great. However, I guess I just do not find the stories a "must watch" event.
 
slow_jazz said:
I really enjoy it.... Strange seeing everyone smoke.....
Click to expand...

I thought that too. Although what I found interesting for tv/movies back in that day, that there were plenty of situations where smoking was declined by a lead or secondary character. Certainly not much in Mad Men, though. ;)

They're doing a great job of capturing the period, although I do wonder how much over the top the "affair" stuff is. Weren't the adults in that day a bit more conservative, especially in contrast to the teenagers and early 20's folk who were anti-everything commercial/corporate/government? I was a kiddie during that time, but remember a lot of details regarding the adults that paraded around. My dad was, of all things, a commercial art director working for advertising firms like Doyle Dane Bernbach and Benton & Bowles... he wasn't as slick as Draper, though. ;)

I'm one of those people who doesn't have cable (because I'd watch it way too much--I don't have enough self control), but I do catch some things on-line and through Netflix. Mad Men is one of them. I wish they'd show more period cars and audio gear, though! :D
 
Last edited:
Well...

Being old enough to have lived through all the episodes "in real time" I must say that they've done an excellent job of depicting an era where men wore hats, people smoked profusely, women stayed at home and wore jewellery to dinner and Black folks just drove elevators, cleaned house or janitored. Interesting times, for some more than others. I find the series fascinating and love the old ads.

Worf
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom