Mad Men Series Review

Mad Men (2007-2015)

Season 1 - 13 episodes (2007)
Season 2 - 13 episodes (2008)
Season 3 - 13 episodes (2009)
Season 4 - 13 episodes (2010)
Season 5 - 13 episodes (2012)
Season 6 - 13 episodes (2013)
Season 7 - 14 episodes (2014-15)
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Created by: Matthew Weiner
Starring: Jon Hamm, Elisabeth Moss,Vincent Kartheiser, January Jones, Christina Hendricks, Aaron Staton, Maggie Siff, John Slattery, Jared Harris, Kiernan Shipka, Jessica Paré
Rated: TV-MA
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Plot
A drama about one of New York's most prestigious ad agencies at the beginning of the 1960s, focusing on one of the firm's most mysterious but extremely talented ad executives, Donald Draper.

Verdict
This show remains impressive in all facets from the first to last scene. It's an absolutely stunning narrative. This show is great at developing well rounded characters with both strengths and flaws. What makes this show cool is setting it in the 1960s. The recreation of the time feels completely authentic. While it's engrossing to see what life was like back then, discrimination is rampant. It's the 'good old days', but it wasn't great for everyone. Through this series we see the enigmatic Don Draper continue to develop amazing ideas while putting his desires above everything else. Other characters strive for promotions or upend their lives for a fling. I couldn't wait for the next episode to see what would happen next, and I was always impressed with the architecture, fashion, and culture of the time. 
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Review
Few shows create such an arresting atmosphere. This feels like the 60s in every aspect, with a great sense of style. That's the foundation for a show about characters. This show is incredibly well written, and that generation of advertisements for the brands is fun to watch. The branding bolsters the authenticity while also showing off clever writing. I saw the show as it originally aired. It's gripping and great, offering characters for which you root to win and lose. Their personal lives and struggles seep into their creative ideas. The ads are never just ads, they're often personal expression.

Season 1:
We're introduced to the advertising world in the 60s through the firm Sterling Cooper. Don Draper (Jon Hamm) is the talented creative director that can talk anyone into anything. We see the other side of the era with rampant misogyny through Peggy's (Elisabeth Olson) treatment who starts as Don's secretary. This season features Don's successes as well as revealing his distant past. Peggy manages to finally get a promotion from all of her hard work.

S1E2: Jon Hamm plays Don Draper

I was surprised to see an unsure Don in the first episode working on the Lucky Strike ad campaign. My memory of him was a confidant man up to any challenge. While Don had doubts, his pitch impresses. Even in the first episode we see the tension between Don and junior executive Pete Campbell (Vincent Kartheiser). Pete would later go around Don, resulting in Don firing him. Unfortunately Pete is too well connected and Don has to walk that back.

It's fun to see not only the branding for well known companies, but how those ideas were developed. Don has great insight into how people think and their desires. It's what makes him so successful. He has to figure out how to market cigarettes after the surgeon general has labeled them dangerous.

An earlier episode had someone mistake Don for "Dick." Now someone claiming to be his younger brother shows up looking for Dick. Don's past is a mystery, though each season would slowly reveal more. Don left that life behind, and he doesn't want any reminders. It wasn't an easy childhood.

Pete is such a brat. He's the rich kid that always got what he wanted. He's spoiled, a contrast with Don who came from nothing. Pete can't even be fired despite deserving it.

S1E4: Vincent Kartheiser, Jon Hamm play Pete Campbell, Don Draper

The agency's workplace, likely any office of the time, is incredibly sexist and toxic. It's a boys club. Don never participates in it, but he certainly has his own issues. He doesn't call out the behavior, likely not wanting to rock the boat or draw undue attention. It's frequently shocking how stupid men think women are. The time period is integral to the show, revealing a style, culture, and society. Seeing the misogyny is surprising as this isn't that long ago.

This show isn't Earth shattering moments of saving the world. It's what these character will do next after success and failures in their lives. It's gripping. How will Don sell the next client? Will Peggy continue to quietly put up with discrimination? She gets a chance to write copy. Is that her ambition? What petulant reaction will Pete have next?

In episode twelve we finally see Don's origin. He just wanted to escape his old life. This mystery was persistent during the season.

It's a great season. It's based on a workplace and all of the varied relationships that occur. Don's the face of the show, but he's created a wall between himself and everyone else. It slowly pushes his wife away.

Season 2:
Don's frequent flings cause his wife to make a decision while Duck and Pete's jealousy threaten Don's job. The perfect facade he's created is crumbling.

Don has never cared much for Pete or Duck. With the two of them planning together, what does that mean for Don? At home Don's wife Betty (January Jones) becomes suspicious, which at this point means anything she finds will only prove her theories. Don seems to have a lot of flings. The difference is that he's more discreet than his associates, which makes them think he refrains.

S2E11: Elisabeth Moss plays Peggy Olson

We discover that Don was the only one to visit Peggy while she was in the hospital pregnant, though no one else knows why she was out. I'm guessing that's part of the reason why Don calls Peggy one night when he crashes his car and is taken into custody in episode five. It doesn't help that Don was with Jimmy's wife, an actor they hired for a commercial. Don really doesn't like people talking about or knowing anything about him. When Jimmy's wife breaks past the wall he's created and mentions talking about him with others, he's furious.

In episode nine Betty orders Don out of the house. She doesn't have proof, but she has plenty of doubts. He complies. In the same episode, Don seems protective of Freddy. Is it a move to defy Duck or is Don seeing one of his potential futures as a lonely alcoholic?

S2E4: Elisaeth Moss, Aaron Staton, Bryan Batt, Jon Hamm, Robert Morse, Rich Sommer, John Slattery, Vincent Kartheiser, Michael Gladis, Christina Hendricks play Peggy Olson, Ken Cosgrove, Sal Romano, Don Draper, Bert Cooper, Harry Crane, Roger Sterling, Pete Campbell, Paul Kinsey, Joan Holloway

I have to wonder how a nice woman like Trudy (Alison Brie) ended up with Pete. Is it just two rich families making an alliance? It's funny how we root for Don and condemn Pete even though Don is much more nefarious. In episode twelve Pete is caught between an account and his wife. His father-in-law is head of that big account, and he's pushing Pete to agree with Trudy. If Pete goes along the account will have no problems. If not...

In episode eleven I wondered what Bert Cooper does. I've not sure I've ever seen him do anything. He's just the eccentric founder. In the next episode we find that Don became friends with his namesake's wife.

S2E10: Jon Hamm plays Don Draper

Duck gets upset that he's snubbed for partner despite not performing. I suppose that's why he and Pete get along so well. They want all the accolades they haven't earned. Duck spitefully proposes an old colleague buy Sterling-Cooper. Duck thinks he'll be made president of the Sterling-Cooper branch, but I knew it wouldn't go his way. He expects to be handed everything. He tells Pete he'll be made head of accounts. Duck thinks he can overpower Don, and this is his play to win. Duck doesn't realize that Don doesn't have a contract and thus a non-compete clause. He can't pin Don in.

Season 3:
Sterling-Cooper adjusts to the PPL merger with Lane Pryce (Jared Harris) as the new financial officer. Pete and Ken are both made head of accounts. Ken is happy, Pete is petulant. No one likes Lane as he's looking to cut costs, annoying everyone.

Betty's father lives with them for a short time, and Betty and Don have a baby boy.

In episode three Roger confronts Don, thinking Don is upset about Roger's newfound happiness. Don bluntly tells him Roger's new, young wife is a foolish endeavor.

S3E6: Jon Hamm, Christina Hendricks play Don Draper, Joan Harris

Peggy still tries to fit in. It's not easy being a woman in a mans world. Even then everyone assume she's a secretary and not a copy writer. Her lack of decisiveness contributes, but as a woman it's a fine line. If she's too assertive she'll be labeled as difficult. If she doesn't call out bad behavior she'll be ignored.

The London company executives are coming to town in episode six. Ken is doing great, much to Pete's chagrin. London is moving Lane and making Don a co-lead over creative with Guy. Roger doesn't have a position in the new hierarchy. This is a big episode that changes the entire dynamic of the office. Then Guy is injured in an office accident, and the London plan is thrown out.

With episode seven Don lands Hilton Hotels after an encounter with the owner in an earlier episode. Connie keeps Don busy, and Don has to play account manager when he's usually just creative. Relating to people isn't his strong suit. Connie calls him at all hours. What is Connie's end? Does he like to push important people around? Is it just an ego trip? He might be pushing to see how far Don will bend to accommodate. They seem like kindred spirits, both of them came from nothing to work their way up. While Connie likes the campaign Don creates, he states it's not what he wanted. Connie seems to have unreasonable expectations. That or it's all a game.

In episode eleven Don has a fling with a teacher. I wonder if she thinks it's more than it is. Don uses her as stress relief. Work becomes difficult, and he seeks something different. In the same episode Betty confronts Don, and he tells her his past as Dick Whitman. He's honest, but I doubted it would be enough by that point.

S3E5: Don Draper's 1962 Cadillac Coupe de Ville

Peggy has had an ongoing relationship with Duck. I wonder why. It might be that he's more refined while the guys her age are so juvenile.

Ken gets the job over Pete, and Pete wants to quit. It's typical. He throws a fit when things don't go his way.

I like how this show incorporates real events like JFK's assassination. It adds credence, fitting this show within history. It's similar to incorporating real brands, grounding the show. 

S3E6: John Slattery, Robert Morse, Jon Hamm play Roger Sterling, Bert Cooper, Don Draper

In episode thirteen we find out why PPL was looking for short term gain. They want to sell Sterling-Cooper. It all makes sense now. Don doesn't like this as he now has a contract. He can't get out of being beholden to someone else. To prevent the company being sold, Don proposes buying Sterling-Cooper. To pull that off, he ropes in Lane. If Lane fires him, Cooper, and Roger they can be free of their contracts. The next question is accounts. Don recruits Peggy who turns him down, tired of being his shadow. Pete is next and agrees.

Amidst all of this Don's marriage is disintegrating. We understand Betty's side, but she's also running around with Henry Francis. That's why she's now insistent on a divorce. It's isn't Don's actions directly.

This season provides more backstory on Don and his desire for control. We see his past and how his future is changing with the acquisition of Sterling-Cooper and then a sale. Then his marriage is failing, and he starts a new company. It's a big season.

Season 4:
At the end of last season Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce started in a hotel room. When this season starts they have a fully staffed office. While I'll miss the look of the old office, I like the time jump that allows the show to avoid bogging down with the startup. It also brings the show back to status quo with the main characters operating out of a regular building.

Don is the figured head of SCDP, but he's not a great interview as he doesn't share anything personal. That has ramifications for the firm. Don lets his personal life bleed into his work life. He doesn't like a client's response and rejects them, kicking them out of his office. In episode four Don has an affair with his secretary Allison. She becomes upset as he acts like the fling never happened. She feels neglected, which is understandable, but that leads to a scene at the office.

Watching this again, I had forgotten how immature Betty can be. Don called her childish in a previous season. Initially I thought it was just a put down, but she is emotionally immature. She can't handle any stress. When she's under duress she lashes out. Betty wonders what's wrong with Sally when the answer is her parent's divorce. Betty can't see past herself. Part of it is how Betty's own mother programmed her. It's not like Don is much better, he's self centered and neglectful.

In episode five Don plans a masterful tactical move to better his position against rival creative Ted Chaough (Kevin Rahm) with Honda.

Peggy isn't invited to an awards ceremony despite her efforts on the Glo-Coat ad in episode six. Don tells her it isn't her ad. She had an idea, but he transformed it into something great. In an interesting parallel of two drunks, a drunken Roger hired Don way back when and a drunken Don changes a tag line and orders Peggy to work all weekend on Vick. He misplaces his award and doesn't remember any of it, just as Roger didn't remember hiring Don.

Duck reappears in episode seven. He broke his sobriety in season two. We've seen snippets of him struggling. In the last episode he was drunkenly jeering at the awards show. Now he wants to start his own company, and Peggy knows enough that he's falling apart.

S4E7: Elisabeth Moss, Jon Hamm play Peggy Olson, Don Draper

Don orders Peggy to again cancel her plans and work on Samsonite. Don comes and goes as he pleases. Is it just a control issue? He knows Peggy is smart, so why is he so demanding? Peggy lashes out, pointing out how unappreciative he is. They reconcile, but it's a rare moment when they're hanging out. I don't think it's ever happened.

In episode nine Don has moved on to Faye (Cara Buono) as his last relationship got too serious. That meets friction as Faye doesn't want kids and Don throws her into the deep end as some kind of test with his kids. Then in episode ten a security clearance check for the Department of Defense has Don worried. He didn't realize there would be a background check for the firm to do work. He has to end the contract. If that wasn't enough Lee calls Roger and tells him Lucky Strike is over. The board wants to go a different way. Roger is incensed, not to mention the company relies on Lucky Strike to remain solvent.

Losing Lucky Strike is a huge blow, but Don pens an ad in the paper rejecting tobacco companies. It's a big swing. It's also a shenanigan, something Don stated he didn't like. He chided Peggy when she paid two ladies to fight over a Sugarberry Ham in episode one of this season. 

In episode twelve the principals have to front money to keep pay roll. Even then, they're facing layoffs.

In episode thirteen Don impulsively marries his secretary. Peggy cements herself as more than capable when she sells an ad to Topaz.

Season 5:
Don is starting a new life with his wife Megan (Jessica Paré). That and SCDP has the chance at a car company finally, Jaguar.

While Don got married, it seemed like a fling. Megan has been promoted to copy writer, but she doesn't have to work weekends or deal with the downsides of the job as Don gets her out of everything. She gets special treatment at all times. Then there's the unpleasantness of Don frequently running into past flings which unnerves Megan. There are quite a few.

Peggy voices her frustration that Don fights for his ideas but none of the others. Peggy has always thought the bosses should make things right. That's the difference between her and Don. Don always took it upon himself to get what he wanted. He was smart enough to read the field and make the right play.

In episode two, I love that Roger carries around eleven hundred dollars in cash. That's the equivalent to $11,000 multiplied for today. Roger is buying Harry's office for Pete as Pete doesn't like Roger and has the pull to snatch his office.

S5E1: Rich Sommer, John Slattery play Harry Crane, Roger Sterling

In episode three Betty experiences weight gain due to a thyroid problem. Actress January Jones was pregnant, so extensive prosthetics and a story line were used to cover.

In season four Joan's husband Greg joined the army after failing to get a residency. He wanted to feel important, and he didn't mind abandoning his family. This season he returns briefly only to re-enlist. Joan is shocked and hurt. He'd rather risk his life than spend any amount of time with his family.

In episode five Lane and Pete fight over the Jaguar account. It's a race to the bottom, but Lane is the winner.

Heinz doesn't love Peggy's pitch in episode six. She tries to pull a Don to turn it around, but no one does it quite like Mr. Draper. Roger tries LSD. The only person better might be Bert Cooper. Megan and Don fight as she's upset that the line between work and wife blend. She's knows it's not fair to the team that he can pull her out of work and leave everyone else behind. Don just wants somebody submissive. She quits to become an actress in episode eight.

Betty can be so petty and immature. In episode nine she sees a sweet note from Don to Megan, and she has to lash out. In this case she tells Sally about Don's first wife. Betty is hurt and wants others to hurt others. She doesn't care that's she's doing this to her daughter. All it does is drive Sally away.

S5E4: Jon Hamm, Vincent Kartheiser, Aaron Staton play Don Draper, Pete Campbell, Ken Cosgrove

Episode ten continues to hint that Lane has money problems. He's hiding it from his wife and she keeps spending. Part of it is living in two countries in addition to paying to be a partner. He's getting desperate, and he's proud. That's a dangerous combination, especially when he's the financial officer for SDCP.

Jaguar is back and that's everyone's focus in episode eleven. Pete's unhappy he doesn't get more credit. Peggy questions Don. He lashes out in response. Would he verbally attack a male colleague like that? Part of is that, Don isn't a good mentor and Peggy wants that. She finally decides to change jobs. Don doesn't take it well. He's taken her for granted, and he realizes it. That doesn't change how he reacts.
Also, a member of the dealers' group wants a night with Joan. Don is firmly against that, but the other partners approach her. She asks for a five percent stake. While Don tells her she has no obligation, she reassures him she knows what she is doing.

Don finds out about Lane's deception in episode twelve. He confronts Lane directly, giving him a chance to address it. Adding insult to injury, Lane's wife buys him a brand new Jaguar. Lane's despondent, and Jaguar's reputation for reliability throws a wrench in his plans.

Part of this season is chasing youth. Don and Roger have both married their much younger secretaries. Don no longer understands the youth market. Pete seems to be chasing youth based on his interests and the girls that catch his eye. The final episode provides a nice moment with Don expressing his confidence in Peggy. She finally realized she'd always be in Don's shadow at SDCP, and the only way to further her career was to cut the ties with a fresh start.

I don't know if I like season five or four more. I lean towards five, but this is such a good show.

Season 6:
Don and Megan begin the season on vacation in Hawaii. Megan has achieved some level of fame.

Episode three shows that Peggy is doing well at CGC, though she's trying to balance her work with being a likable boss. Pete's philandering catches up to him. Trudy is disappointed that he couldn't be discrete about it.
The episode also shows how Don grew up in a brothel. It appears like a way to excuse Don's infidelity, or explain his behavior, but this is season six. Seems like the show is trying to rewrite history or at least lessen the impact of his faults. Why didn't it introduce these aspects of his past seasons ago?

S6E6: Jon Hamm, Kevin Rahm play Don Draper, Ted Chaough

In episode six SCDP prepares a stock launch, set to make all the partners quite rich. Coincidentally Don dumps Jaguar dealer Herb who had a night with Joan, and in turn that's the end of the Jaguar account. That ruins the stock offer launch and upsets everyone, though Don was unaware they were going public. Its comes back to Don's selfishness. If he knew about the stock offering that would make him rich, would his treatment of Herb have differed?
Ted and Don end up in a bar, realizing Chevrolet wants to pilfer their ideas and give them to a big firm. Don has the idea of combining to get the contract.

The merging of companies begins in episode seven. SDPCGC is quite a name. Ted begins a creative meeting without Don. Ted points out that forty minutes late is too much. He won't wait for Don. There's a competition between them, more on Don's end. At the same time Don has this power play relationship with his neighbor Sylvia (Linda Carellini). Is this Don's method to feel a sense of control while the office is in flux?

Episode eight is the most comedic episode of the show with "Aunt Ida" making an appearance.

S6E6: 1968 Chevrolet Corvette

In episode ten Don, Roger, and Harry travel to Los Angeles to meet clients while the partners back home try to reduce the number of letters in the company name. They land on Sterling Cooper & Partners. Joan tries to land Avon on her own to bolster her partner position, but she's going outside of her lane.

Ken wants out of Chevrolet. They're demanding, and in episode twelve he gets shot. Pete gets the account, but he's paired with the always eager Bob Benson. Pete feels threatened, wanting him gone. Bob manages to get Pete first. Ted asks Don for help with a client, and Don sets him up to fail. Don claims he's looking out for the agency, but it's always what's best for him personally.

S6E13:
Christina Hendricks, Robert Morse, John Slattery, Jon Hamm, Harry Hamlin, Kevin Rahm, Vincent Kartheiser play Joan Harris Bert Cooper, Roger Sterling, Don Draper Jim Cutler, Ted Chaough, Pete Campbell

Don wants to move to Los Angeles in episode thirteen. It seems like he just wants to leave his current problems behind. I'd guess he's also tired of the hierarchy and the lack of power he has with so many levels in SC&P. He's also stealing Stan's idea to start an agency from the ground up. Ted also wants to go to Los Angeles, hoping to put distance between himself and Peggy.
Don makes a great pitch to Hershey about his imagined childhood before telling them about his real upbringing. It's sabotage, but to what end? The partners ask him to take time off due to his erratic behavior.

While this is still a great season, it has less direction. Two companies fight over space in the office, and now Peggy is caught between Don and Ted. Don's been distracted. He has a new marriage, and he's never liked rules, preferring to come and go as he pleases.

Season 7:
The final season was split into two parts with the first seven episodes airing in spring of 2014 and the last seven episodes airing in spring of 2015. This was done to drive viewership and stretch the series, though it's basically two seasons.

In episode one Peggy is doing well as Don's replacement. Roger might be spiraling. Is it because Joan rejected him at the end of last season? While Don may be on sabbatical, he's working through Freddy who is passing on Don's work as his own. Don's secretary is feeding him information from the office, but he hasn't told anyone outside of the office that he isn't working.

Don confronts Roger in episode three, wanting to work again. Roger drags his heels and doesn't inform anyone which creates confusion when Don surprises everyone at the office. Everyone below him is happy, everyone above isn't. They can't fire him as they'd have to buy out his shares. They wanted him to quit on his own. They agree to bring him back but he has to agree to several stipulations that are geared to him losing his partnership if he slips up. Don's willing to sign anything if it means he can return to work.
Everything Betty's children do is an acute insult aimed at her. At least, that's how she sees it. I suppose she represents outdated ideas, what the generation before her expected from women and children.

In episode four Peggy is calling Don into her office. He can't be happy about what amounts to a demotion. He's graceful in front of Peggy but soon refuses to work. Bert puts a point on it. Don thought the agency would beg him back, unable to continue. They didn't and the office continued without him. Freddy is the one that gets through to Don, telling him to do the work. Freddy is an example of what can go wrong.

S7E6: Jon Hamm, Elisabeth Moss play Don Draper, Peggy Olson

Lou Avery came in as Don's replacement, in episode five he's relishing his power over Don. Don can no longer come and go as he pleases, working for a guy that doesn't have the passion or creativity for the work. Don's respected and Lou is a joke. Lou doesn't like that.

In episode six Don and Peggy are working on Burger Chef. They reach a frank moment where they voice their insecurities.

Cutler wants Don out completely in episode seven. Roger swoops in at the last minute to sell SC&P to their rival McCann Erickson in an effort to save Don's job. It seems a bit too easy while also making the partners millionaires.

S7E7: Christina Hendricks, John Slattery, Jon Hamm, Kevin Rahm, Vincent Kartheiser play 
Joan Harris, Roger Sterling, Don Draper, Ted Chaough, Pete Campbell

McCann Erickson wants to move SC&P into their main office in episode eleven. Don hatches a plan to move the core to California and start over again, but that doesn't work out. No one seems to like the move from SC&P other than Pete and Harry. Don's in a room with a bunch of directors. He isn't the center of attention and doesn't get to command the room. It's so corporate and stifling for Don.
They also don't know what to do with Peggy. Joan is told that she's a woman and men won't accept her as a boss. The new company is squarely misogynistic. The person that promises to fix Joan's situation later insinuates he wants to work with her for only one reason. Head of the company Jim Hobart offers Joan no help, insulting her along the way. He'll buy her out for half the cost of her shares. Roger tells her to take it. The fight isn't worth it. Don disappears, and Roger tells Hobart that's how Don works. Hobart isn't happy with anyone at SD&P.

S7E14: Jon Hamm plays Don Draper

The final episode almost feels like a spoof with Don having shed his physical possessions and working with a couple of mechanics. We see the conclusion for everyone. It's solid end to the show. This does feel like a final season from the beginning. We know the end is near, and this is a bit scattered while maximizing tension for characters as they're put in stressful situations.

The last season strips Don of everything. He loses the control he desires in the office and deserts it, heading west to a new frontier. Don finally admits to someone what happened in Korea. The final image is Don at a retreat, looking peaceful. A Coca-Cola ad soon plays and that's the end of the series. We know it's Don's ad and we also know that McCann has that account. Maybe Don found peace, maybe not, but we know he went back to advertising and found lightning in a bottle at least one more time.

How do you rank the seasons of this show? It's tough between five and four at the top, really it's tough to rank any of these seasons. I think you could argue nearly any season as the best. I'd land at 5,4,3,6,1,2,7.

Few shows can maintain such quality for seven seasons. So many of these characters seemed happier when the office was smaller. The more they try to get ahead and become important, the greater the stress becomes. In the last two seasons, we don't see as much copy which is disappointing. I liked the creative side of the show, and how life bleeds into art. It's easy to rank the later seasons as better just because there's so much narrative underpinning by that point. The last season is nice as closure, but it does feel scattered. It doesn't offer what I love about this show; 60s culture, style, and creativity.

For seven years we watched these characters struggle professionally and personally, led by the charismatic Don Draper. He's a creative genius that craves control. Part of what he enjoys about the job is bending people to his will. Through him we saw what happened behind the ads, and how our favorite brands attempted to sell us.