Sometimes I like to think that I am not a TV person. Generally, I can get away with that statement, as I don't have cable or a satellite dish, and refuse to get Netflix until my husband has finished his MA. Nevertheless, the number of television shows that I keep up with seems to be growing.
A year or two ago, I was having one of my all-too-frequent "I'm too lazy to pick a book to read" moments, and decided to watch the first episode of
Mad Men. Perhaps it had something to do with the poor quality/resolution that I opted to watch, but I didn't find anything particularly fascinating about the show. Fast forward to a few months later when the spouse and I were having dinner at a friend's house. Another friend who was also in attendance had lent the first two seasons of
Mad Men to our hosting friends and offered it to the spouse and I. Sure, why not?
I am now fully enamoured with
Mad Men.
If you're lost on what
Mad Men is about, it is 1960s drama centered around the men (and women) of a prominent advertising firm. There are infinite other things I could mention, but let's be honest; if you're reading this blog, you are capable of
doing research online. It should be noted that Mad Men may be a little, shall we say, problematic for some viewers content-wise. Being set in the 1960s, there is virtually non-stop smoking and drinking in this show, not to mention a fair amount of extramarital relationships. Nevertheless, here are a few of the many reasons (in no particular order) I think you should watch
Mad Men*:
1. The Style
I have always been fairly fond of the clothing and accessories from the 1950s and 60s, and watching Mad Men certainly solidified my fondness. Although I am all for women and men dressing as they please rather than adhering to societal norms, I absolutely love the glamour of this time period. 'Business casual' barely exists, as men are constantly wearing suits (often three-piece) and women wear silhouette-flattering dresses and pearls. It's no wonder that Banana Republic released
a line of Mad Men-inspired clothing last year. What a test of shopping willpower!
2. The Historical Accuracy of the Setting
Although plenty of television shows are set in a time period other than now, Mad Men does an excellent job of transporting you to the 1960s in a multitude of ways. Not only do the clothes and the hair and the attitudes match with what I've read/been told happened in the 60s; the storyline also weaves important historical events into the plot line. The Cuban Missile Crisis, the Nixon/Kennedy drama, and a vast array of other historically significant occurrences are in this show just like they were in people's lives. I'm glad I'm not spoiling anything to say that the episode featuring Kennedy's assassination is an excellent interpretation of how people felt about the assassination of their beloved president.
3. The Many Emotions of Jon Hamm
Granted, Don Draper doesn't really have any emotions other than angry and empty, but the actor who plays his character is bursting with emotion. Please take a few moments out of your day and
spend them with Jon Hamm.
4. The Inevitable Self-Esteem Boost
If you want to feel like you're a better human being than at least someone, watch an episode or two of
Mad Men. Rarely in this show can you find a character with moral standards that they consistently uphold. And, should you stumble upon such a good-intentioned character, never you fear: they will come crashing off their moral pedestal in no time flat. For example, let's look at the means by which Mr. Don Draper
makes decisions: if you can't drink, smoke, yell, sleep or womanize your way out of a situation, it isn't worth attempting. If you're a woman, you'll be happy you don't live in the 60s so you can be more than a secretary and a trophy wife. If you're a man, you'll be happy you don't live in the 60s so you aren't a complete misogynist.
5. The Character Development
Because
Mad Men is so delightfully slow-moving, there is an abundance of time for the writers to flesh out their characters in great depth. We learn about their families, their relationships, their hopes and dreams more than is typical with television. I have never been more annoyed by a fictional character than I was/am by Pete Campbell. Granted, his antics are periodically amusing (re: "HELLS BELLS Trudy!" and/or throwing a turkey out the window), but he is whiny, selfish, and fully deserving of the nickname The Wiener. I pitied Betty Draper deeply, and then found she was essentially a bratty child. I resented Joan for being so harsh with everyone, but grew to pity and then respect her.
6. The Widespread Critical Acclaim
Just go watch this television show.
--- chRistie
* and hope desperately that you have enough free time to watch four seasons prior to the start of the fifth on March 25th, 2012.
