Mad Men discussion thread

[herbert henry1908]

It took me a while to see the brilliance of this show.

Initially I found it a little slow and well , boring.

But as the seasons have gone on its only got better.

The amazing thing about this show for me is its so atypical to what's on TV these days. It truly is slow burn TV. Much like some of the great films of the 70s.

If you haven't seen it , patience will get rewarded.


Roger Sterling ( played by John slattery) is truly one of the best characters on TV today.

I think many here would have loved to live in this era. The last when men were truly men.


Anyway , the penultimate season starts on Monday our time.

 

[Pete Cash]

Very good show. In my top three current shows. Also there are still men like Don draper you have to consider even then most men weren't like him. He is the definition of alpha male.

It also introduced me to old fashioneds which are now my favourite alcoholic beverage.

 

[Springs]

I hear nearly every generation is the last one where 'men were men'. I'd say a lot of the men around here are better men than a lot of 'men' around in the 60s.

And doesn't Don Draper cheat on his wife?

 

[Fire]

Awesome show.

 

[MSIH]

Great show. Probably my favourite current show, until Curb Your Enthusiasm hopefully returns.

There's still alot of gimpy men in the show, so yeah can't fully agree with the "men were men" angle. Pete Campbell certainly isn't a man to be championed. Wussy, sleezy manchild.

 

[herbert henry1908]

When I say 'men were men' I don't mean it necessarily is a positive sense.

Just that this was really the last generation of men that were the sole providers , the gender lines were a lot clearer then.

 

[Pete Cash]

Its quite an interesting concept in the show even. Joan and Peggy both have somewhat rejected gender roles. Joan just couldn't handle being the stay at home wife and obviously Peggy is the new modern girl with control of her sexuality and career. Its what mad men does so well. It shows this different era without being preachy about it.

A less quality show might not play it so straight or have it implicit that the society was backwards. I mean there is a bit of that. Its hard as a modern viewer not to be shocked by the sexism and the racism but its certainly not played as a morality tale or for ironic laughs at those folks from the 60s.

I always laugh at the picnic scene after don buys the new car (season 2 or 3) and he finishes a drink and just literally chucks it away and they leave their mess everywhere.

 

[Springs]

When I say 'men were men' I don't mean it necessarily is a positive sense.

Just that this was really the last generation of men that were the sole providers , the gender lines were a lot clearer then.

Ah I understand now. You mean the traditional men-provider, women-housewife dynamic.

 

[herbert henry1908]

Its quite an interesting concept in the show even. Joan and Peggy both have somewhat rejected gender roles. Joan just couldn't handle being the stay at home wife and obviously Peggy is the new modern girl with control of her sexuality and career. Its what mad men does so well. It shows this different era without being preachy about it.

A less quality show might not play it so straight or have it implicit that the society was backwards. I mean there is a bit of that. Its hard as a modern viewer not to be shocked by the sexism and the racism but its certainly not played as a morality tale or for ironic laughs at those folks from the 60s.

I always laugh at the picnic scene after don buys the new car (season 2 or 3) and he finishes a drink and just literally chucks it away and they leave their mess everywhere.

With Joan though you really saw her marriage break down because of her rejection of the typical housewife role.

So her refusal to embrace that role has real consequences in that day and age.

Peggy as well has had massive struggles with that role. Her hidden pregnancy , her constant fights with her mother.

 

[herbert henry1908]

Ah I understand now. You mean the traditional men-provider, women-housewife dynamic.

Exactly.

Its really the last generation that these typical roles were almost exclusively played out that way. And after thousands of years of it being that way , which is what makes it interesting IMO.

 

[Pete Cash]

Of course because they are fighting a social role. Its not easy

Joans relationship broke down because of a number of factors. Her husband being a rapist selfish prick being high on the list. The change in the era means she no longer has to accept such antics from her husband.

 

[Fire]

Peggy's mum is a dickhead.

 

[JAMES_FOO]

Peggy has it rough, shes ugly as sin along with some kind of social dysfunction. I still need to finish the series to find out if she ever gets it on with Draper