Don Draper was one of the big names in advertising in New York in the 1960s. A master manipulator, he has enemies waiting for him to fall.
Created by Matthew Weiner in 2007, Mad Men enters the Atlantic Ocean via the AMC cable channel, which then begins to create the original in-house series. The first attempt is a master stroke. A historical series, but terribly modern in its subject matter, Mad Men is a classic drama that skillfully challenges the figure of an anti-hero.
But the series also offers a gallery of characters, each of whom deserves to have their own spin-off. In addition to John Ham, a true revelation in the role of Don Draper, Mad Men has also made it possible to glorify the talent of Elizabeth Moss thanks to the role of Peggy Olson. Here are 5 good reasons to rediscover the series.
1. Mirror series
Matthew Weiner depicts his series in the late 1960s, which really fits the United States at the end of the era. The transition to the 1970s is a war approach, with rising tensions between the Vietnam, Eastern and Western blocs and the approach of the first major economic crises. It also marks the end of a style, such an elegant style of the sixties, that shifts to the colorful colors and hippie fashion of the 1970s that the series goes as a form of rejection. Of course, in the story of the end of the Golden Age, Weiner echoes our time and highlights the transition that is taking place on all political and cultural levels … after entering the 21st century.E Century.
2. Cinematographic aesthetics
With the millimeter reconstruction of the 1960s, from the scenes to the costumes and hairstyles, Mad Men is a constant wonder for the viewer. From a purely aesthetic and production level, it enters directly into the pantheon of beautiful series. Each episode contains perfectly composed footage where the lighting, framing and the actor’s performances combine perfectly to convey the whole story in one shot.
John Ham in the role of Don Draper
3. The relationship between Don Draper and Peggy Olson
Peggy starts the show as Don’s secretary, and she is given the role because Joan (Christina Hendrix) knew Don didn’t want to sleep with him. And while Peggy and Donnie have never been romantically involved, their friendship – which has grown over the seasons – is one of the most romantic relationships we’ve seen on TV. Don fell in love with Peggy, but in a completely different way. He took her under his wing, protected her, became her mentor. He knows how to be very strict with him sometimes, but the connection that unites them is almost indefinable because he is intense.
4. Writing on the board
Everything in the series means something, a stack of documents in the background, up to the character’s tie. The writing is like a book. This is a literary journey, as each episode comes before delving into these characters. Each episode feels like a new chapter, and each scene feels like a new page. Matthew Weiner and his team of writers refined their characters and worked on them as living material. Fascinating and therefore sometimes unpredictable. This is how we see episodes dedicated to supporting characters and some focusing only on the lead role. They are the ones who direct the action (and its urgency) and not the other way around, as a life scene whose outcome is impossible to predict.
5. The Golden Age of Television
Mad Men is part of a blessed period when serial creations reached a true artistic peak with series such as Breaking Bad, The Wire, The Sopranos … All of these series marked a turning point in the history of television with the participation of anti-heroes or “difficult”. Men, “as American journalist and critic Brett Martin called them in his book Suffering men. Matthew Weiner together with Don Draper paints not only a portrait of a tormented man, but also a liar whose fall is certain. A melancholy and existential portrait of an advertising genius who can sell gloves to an Eskimo and who is a bit of a world king but never finds meaning in his life. Sharp and grand.
Mad Men leaves the Prime Video catalog on July 2nd.
Source: allocine
Camila Luna is a writer at Gossipify, where she covers the latest movies and television series. With a passion for all things entertainment, Camila brings her unique perspective to her writing and offers readers an inside look at the industry. Camila is a graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a degree in English and is also a avid movie watcher.
