“Mad Men” premiered in 2007 as a period drama about advertising executives in New York City during the early 1960s. The show follows Don Draper, played by Jon Hamm, as he navigates the competitive world of Madison Avenue while hiding the truth about his past and his marriage. It is a slow-burning character study wrapped in sharp suits and sharper dialogue.
Trailer, via amc+.
The Draper Machine
Don Draper is the engine of the show. He is charismatic, manipulative, and deeply wounded. His secret identity is revealed in the first season, and the show spends years exploring how he maintains the lie. Jon Hamm carries the weight of this performance, delivering a portrait of a man who is both brilliant and broken.
Peggy Olson, played by Elisabeth Moss, starts as a secretary and rises through the ranks. Her arc is one of ambition and resilience, and she becomes one of the show’s most compelling characters. The show tracks her evolution from a young woman in a man’s world to a confident executive in her own right.
Style Over Substance
The visual style is impeccable. The cinematography is saturated with yellows, golds, and reds, creating a dreamlike quality that fits the era. The music is a mix of jazz and pop standards, setting a melancholic tone. The sets are meticulously recreated, from the glass towers of the offices to the modest apartments of the working class.
But the show’s pace can be a problem. Some episodes feel like padding, with scenes that exist to show the rhythms of office life rather than advance the plot. The final seasons, in particular, stretch out storylines that could have been resolved earlier.
What Works Best
The show excels at capturing the hypocrisy of its era. Characters speak about freedom and progress while maintaining rigid social hierarchies. The sexism is explicit, with women treated as objects and secretaries expected to keep quiet. The racism is subtler, but present, especially in the treatment of minorities.
The show also handles addiction and mental health with a degree of honesty unusual for its time. Don’s drinking and affairs are not glamorized; they are shown as desperate attempts to escape pain. The show’s willingness to show the dark side of success is part of what makes it stand out.
A Slow Burn That Pays Off
“Mad Men” is not a show for everyone. Its slow pacing and dense plotting will frustrate viewers used to faster storytelling. But for those willing to invest time, the rewards are significant. The finale, which aired in 2015, is a masterclass in ambiguity, leaving the audience to decide whether Don found peace or merely ran from himself.
| Season | Episodes |
|---|---|
| 1 | 13 |
| 2 | 13 |
| 3 | 13 |
| 4 | 13 |
| 5 | 13 |
| 6 | 13 |
| 7 | 15 |
The show’s strengths outweigh its weaknesses. The performances are consistently excellent, the writing is sharp, and the themes remain relevant decades later.
Here is a ranked list of the show’s best qualities:
- Jon Hamm’s central performance
- Elisabeth Moss’s arc as Peggy Olson
- The visual style and production design
- The handling of addiction and mental health
- The exploration of gender roles and power
“Mad Men” is a flawed masterpiece. It is slow, occasionally repetitive, and overly concerned with surface details. But its core is strong, and its final season delivers a payoff that justifies the investment. It is a show about people trapped in systems they don’t fully understand, and it captures that feeling with rare precision.
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