Late to the party - Mad Men

[PeggyOlsensFabulousRollerBoots]

I've just finished binge watching it and absolutely loved it! It took me a while to get the ending, but when I did... it feels like the entire series was planned just so it could end that way!

I'm a bit bereft now. What can I watch to fill the gap? I've seen Halt and Catch Fire and Boardwalk Empire suggested on other threads but it's been a while (!) since those were posted so has anything been on since that's worth binging on? The Sopranos is on at the moment, so I'm recording that. I've got VM, Disney + and Prime so nothing on Netflix please!

Mad Men is my all time favourite TV show. Have you watched The Americans? Several series, also excellent.

It’s amazing from start to finish, and yes, the writers had the totally perfect ending in mind from the start.

I rewatch the whole seven series every few years.

I’ve also just binge watched it after watching it first time round (and forgetting a fair amount of the plot since then). 100% agree it’s one of the best TV series made in recent years.

I watched exactly the same 2 things after bingeing MadMen during lockdown! Halt and Catch Fire was so very wonderful too.

(Can you really not tolerate a free trial of Netflix - for Money Heist? Nothing else on TV has ever been so exciting …)

Presumably you’ve done Game of Thrones? It seems to be on Now TV - so if you have that you could also take in all three seasons of The White Lotus.

But the most unmissable TV of all time is I May Destroy You. (iPlayer)

And the most, most, most wrenchingly emotional is My Brilliant Friend. (Now TV.)

Think it is my favourite series. I actually struggled a bit with the ending, anyone care to summarise? I thought it got a little slow and confusing towards the end in terms of what was real and what was his imagination / dream if that makes any sense?

yeh me too, got confused with the ending

One of my all-time favourites. I've watched it 3 times now. This blog is excellent and goes into detail about all the cultural and historical references. You'll also find lots more fans discussing it in the comments. https://www.theguardian.com/culture/series/notes-from-the-break-room

Mad Men is absolutely brilliant. I've just started re-watching it from the beginning.

A very different style of show but from a similar era and an absolute masterclass in costume and set design, just like Mad Men, is Marvelous Mrs Maisel. It's a great fun watch and the outfits and furniture etc are just beautiful.

The Americans is not mentioned enough - it’s great and also has a fantastic ending!

If you haven't seen Succession yet then DO. It's utterly superb.

Also Six Feet Under was a fantastic show.

I've got The Americans in my watchlist too!
No Netflix for now. I've got an account which I've been meaning to reactivate since the first lockdown!

Jon Hamm was perfect as Don. The guy who played Roger Sterling auditioned for the part - what a different show that would have been!

Its incredibile and that ending just wow

Loved Mad Men too. You could try State of Happiness on IPlayer if you are happy watching with subtitles (it’s Norwegian). About the Norwegian oil industry from late 60s to mid 80s.

Our friends and neighbours with John hamm is good especially if you are missing John

I adored Mad Men. I cannot think of one duff performance/character/scene/line.

I'd recommend Succession. Best thing I've ever seen on telly.
Also agree with Mrs Maisel for a similar period vibe (and it's funny and moving as well). And State of Happiness evokes its period(s) very well and is gripping and absorbing. A proper saga.
Set longer ago, and darker (it's a crime/cop set-up), but also brilliantly realised in terms of the period and milieu, is Babylon Berlin.

Succession absolutely, if you haven’t already seen it. Although - I would say it’s worth spacing out seasons or episodes so you have plenty of time to mull over every verbal and visual detail, and read endless reviews as you’re working through the unfolding story.

Totally agree. It's almost too good to rush through, as much as it's tempting to do so. then you really need to re-watch it from scratch because so much of the very subtle wit and humour and keeping track of who is double crossing who) can be missed the first time. It really is a deliciously dark work of complete genius. The ending was sublime.

And that dynamic between Tom and Greg. 😂Just superb.

I really enjoyed State of Happiness (as mentioned upthread) too.

Yep. Some of the lines, the (cruel) jokes and the currents between people are blink-and-you'll-miss-it.

No spoilers but I had to stop State of Happiness (at an obvious point).

Probably a testament to how absorbing and convincing it all was. Posters have said on other threads that it’s worth going back to - but I just can’t, yet.

I do know what you mean. It can be fairly traumatic viewing!

Just to say that I got my first post deleted as I realised it had a spoiler in for anyone who hasn't watched Mad Men and may have been planning to!