Mad Men

[Scream]

Anyone else watch this show? Just picked up season 1 on DVD and have watched 3 episodes. It's fairly entertaining, although I wonder if there is ever going to be any more depth to it beyond constantly trying to show us all the things that were screwed up in 50s America. I think it's great that someone is showing the dark side of the "good old days" of the 50s, but I'm hoping that setting and attitudes of the age are not all the show is about for 13 episodes.

Anyway, it's keeping me watching, so I guess it's doing something right. :)

[scorpion4589]

I do try and watch it regularly. I saw the 1st seasons episodes on DVD and try to keep up with the new season.

note: the 1st season is set in 1960.

[Scream]

Ya, the feel of the show is that time period between McCarthyism and Kennedy, when America was just on the cusp of it's social revolution in the 60s. It's interesting, as the period before and after that have been explored a lot, but not the time in between that this show is set in. The attitudes toward women and ethnic minorities are not surprising, but it's the first show I've seen that highlights them so blatantly. And all the little things. People routinely drive drunk, and it's acceptable. Kids crawling around in the cars with no restraints (I can remember doing that myself as a child). Bosses making sexual/advances comments to their female employees, in front of other employees no less. Hard to believe that such a short time ago all these things were acceptable. We've come a long way in so many ways.

I'm about halfway through the first season, and the characters are starting to get very interesting. I like that none of them are perfect people. All of them flawed in their own ways. There's some depth there. And you've gotta love how EVERYONE smokes, and smokes a lot. Even the pregnant woman. It's a bit shocking by today's standards, but was very acceptable then. The packaging for the first season is actually shaped like, and opens like, a Zippo. :)