Mad Men
We live in an age of television and film where bigger supposedly means better and a visual spectacle is almost always preferred over expertly-executed character development. The computer plays an all-too-important role in current motion picture.
Fortunately there are still shows like Mad Men on AMC. Premiering it's 4th season on July 25th, Mad Men has gone from a nice show on a lesser-known channel to an absolute powerhouse. If you're not up to speed on the premise of the show, here is a quick primer from AMC:
"Set in 1960s New York, the sexy, stylized and provocative AMC drama Mad Men follows the lives of the ruthlessly competitive men and women of Madison Avenue advertising, an ego-driven world where key players make an art of the sell.
The series revolves around the conflicted world of Don Draper, the biggest ad man (and ladies man) in the business, and his colleagues at the Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce Advertising Agency. As Don makes the plays in the boardroom and the bedroom, he struggles to stay a step ahead of the rapidly changing times and the young executives nipping at his heels."
If your favorite shows are 24 and Prison Break, you might be a little bored with Mad Men. Episodes are centered around the complex interpersonal relationships of the characters, gender roles and sexuality, the cut-throat advertising business on Madison Avenue and fundamental family values. Don Draper is the protagonist that you hate at times, but love at other times. He's the man every woman swoons over and every man envies.
Watch the above clip and you'll get a sense for the quality of the writing.
What are you waiting for? Put Season 1 in your Netflix queue and start catching up.
