Mad Men! Very late starter. Enthralled ...

[PerditaProvokesEnmity]

Until last weekend I'd only watched about half of one random episode. It has completely taken over my nights and days. I'm coming to the end of Season 4 and the real world's going to seem strange and unfamiliar by the end of Season 7.

Anyone else? Or, if no one wants to play, was there ever a particularly engaged thread I can seek out in the archives?

@IcedPurple - I've been thinking about what you said yesterday ... It's the constant, random, joyless extra-marital couplings I find boring, rather than the character himself.

Main problem is I lose faith in any writer who bases the story of a man on the "prostitute with a heart of gold" trope - and here they've used a whole bordello. So although the oscillation between Dick and Dom is really well thought out and constructed (as Xuli says above) I just don't believe it. To me that whole backstory reads as artificial.

Oh dear; I realise this means I'm not buying into the thing that's fundamental to his "journey". And of course a story needs extremes for characters to move away from or towards - I get that.

Also, sadly, I don't find him wildly attractive. Too solid, physically. And the rictus is deeply off-putting.

But I love the depth and intelligence of his advertising vision! Wish there was more of that and less of his hand up some woman's skirt.

Don not Dom!

I have also been trying, and failing, to encourage dd into advertising, !

Well, the idea of Don having a "journey" is a bit of a moot point really. I don't think he does. Back to what a PP said earlier - people don't change.

The advertising world part is the best bit. His pitches in the earlier seasons are excellent. And would work today.

I think a book by a top advertising man was an influence.

His back story brings a lot of necessary tension. And the scene where he breaks down in front of a client and what happens next, is how an agency would deal with him. No client alone.

Also loved Bert Copper’s eulogy to Miss Blankenship

She was born in 1898 in a barn. She died on the thirty-seventh floor of a skyscraper. She’s an astronaut.

'She was born in 1898 in a barn. She died on the thirty-seventh floor of a skyscraper. She’s an astronaut.'

I often think of that quote. SO lovely. What an amazing way to describe the life of an older woman who no one took that much notice of. Mad Men is full of gorgeous little moments like that which take you by surprise

I watched it for the first time last year and was hooked. I think the first few series are extraordinary.

Perhaps unfashionable but my favourite episode is still the epic showdown between Betty and Don, when she discovers his secret.

There are some nice character profile compilations on YouTube that I watch occasionally when I want to get a quick Mad Men fix!

I'm ridiculously fond of Roger Sterling and Bert Cooper ...

Perhaps unfashionable but my favourite episode is still the epic showdown between Betty and Don, when she discovers his secret.

I love that scene too, despite the presence of January Jones (I think she's a gorgeous woman but a terrible actress). Don seemed to almost physically shrink before our eyes, like a deflating balloon.

Few years since I’ve watched but I love Lane Pryce and his storyline.

Thats an interesting choice ColonelNobby

@Lottapianos

'I think Don Draper is one of the greatest TV characters ever'

Completely agree. Brilliantly written and performed, and it scares me how much I relate to him!

ColonelNobbyNobbs - what Lotta said is close to how I feel about Lane ... (Though maybe not "greatest" in this show. He'd need his own.)

If I were a man I wouldn't mind Roger's life and fizzy, petulant, strangely loyal personality - but I'd probably be Lane.

I've started watching again with my dad who's not watched before. Only watched the pilot and dads face when he realised Don was married. I can't wait to see his reactions as the show twists and turns

It's my favourite show of all time. I think I started when it was in it's third series when it was shown on BBC2 but have rewatched it from the start 3 or 4 times since. The latest was at the start of lockdown and it's a real comfort watch. The main leads are immensely watchable, warts and all and the attention to detail of the sets and the costumes is amazing. And the soundtrack too. It's all so very evocative.

I actually think January Jones plays Betty beautifully as someone who seems to have it all but is so brittle and unhappy.

Have you watched Mrs America? One of the Mad Men writer's has worked on this and it has a similar authenticity albeit a later timeframe.

Terribly sad though, Colonel, and I too liked Lane's character. I do wish he'd confided in Don about his problem (trying to avoid spoilers).

Fantastic series
This is us is also fantastic best tv shows ever

I always like the most depressing story in anything!! That’s just the storyline I think of immediately and first when I think of MM. Just stuck with me. So sad! Jared Harris is fantastic too.

Poor Lane .

Never really that interested in Don tbh other than the Dick and his wife parts. Love Joan and Peggy obviously.

I have a picture of Peggy on my office wall for inspiration (final series). She really does have a 'journey' in the way that Don doesn't.

Well ... now I understand the rationale behind 701 and 702! Outstanding finale to the first half. All these years I've longed for a grown-up Buffy ...

Fell asleep at about 3.30 this morning in the middle of 702 Ep 10. Really trying to make these last few episodes last as long as possible ...

I love it for the period touches, the dresses the women wear, the general vibe of the period (I am enjoying Mrs America for the same reason). One thing that struck me watching it was the amount of drinking and smoking that went on in the office in those days, no 14 units a week for these people. I seem to remember there was even a scene in a doctor's surgery where the doctor was smoking!

The smoking is crazy. Glad we don’t have that anymore.

I liked Lane but didn’t like the father story line.

I personally think a lot of workplaces would run a lot more smoothly if you could just have a lunchtime or afternoon drink and thrash it out.

As always, a minority had to ruin everything for the rest of us.