MAD MEN (TV SHOW)

MAD MEN
All Seasons
Format: Netflix
Genre: Drama, American, historical fiction

Rating: 9 out of 10. 

SPOILERS.
Why have I not posted in so long? Was it because I forgot this blog? Actually, no. I just didn't think getting through one season of Mad Men was going to give me the proper perspective on this show, it's characters and their relationships. I never would've thought shy, sweet Peggy would've turned into the boss ass bitch she is. I never Donald Draper would be reduced to anything less than the God of advertising, but he is. The depth and complexity of these character over seasons is why I spent so long trying to bring this to you. Because this show was worth watching 7 seasons and demanded that I bring you my best due diligence. To fully let you know about this show, instead of summarizing it chronologically, I think talking about the man, the myth, the legend...

DONALD DRAPERaka also Dick Whitman

Donald "Don" Draper starts the show as the Creative Director for the Madison Avenue advertising company of Sterling Cooper. His real name is Richard "Dick" Whitman, and he was a poor farm boy with a tragic upbringing. Escaping his life, he joins the Army and finds himself in the Korean War. Donald Draper was his Lieutenant and who he was serving under to try to build a field hospital. They come under enemy artillery attack and Whitman causes them to blow up, thus, making him switch dog tags with the real Donald Draper. He is then suppose to go meet his family, aka the Whitmans, to give over the body of Pvt. Richard Whitman. At this point, Don works numerous jobs as a car salesmen and a fur salesmen while going to City College at night. He meets Betty, who is a model and they get married. He also tricks Roger Sterling, who was drunk, into giving him a job at Sterling Cooper. Don is revered at Sterling Cooper, and is pretty much god-mode to everyone. Even though he's a chainsmoking, alcoholic (so 60s.) Everything seems like little daily business hick-ups until their rival firm, McCann Erickson looks like they are breathing down their neck. So Bert Cooper, Roger Sterling, Lance Pryce and Pete Campbell become partners and bring along Peggy Olson, Joan Holloway and Harry Crane to make a new firm starting off in a hotel and moving their way up to the Time-Life Building. Don has been doing good, making shit burn, keeping people on board, divorcing his wife Betty and marrying his secretary named Megan until around season 6. Then he becomes pretty much a freelancer and also gets divorced from Megan. Don finishes the entire show at a commune and is undergoing easy breathing exercises and regaining the confidence and control in his life that he has lost in the journey.

Don is an interesting man. He is haunted from his past and how he feels ashamed of his past. He is the song of a whore and a cheating man and lived in poverty, a stark contrast to his outwardly appearing "perfect family" circa 1950s style. The show is a great portrayal into 20th century America and the way that ideal are shifting from this family lifestyle and now the 1960s. Don has even gone on to say that "People tell you who they are but we ignore it, because we want them to be who we want them to be." Don is trying to fuse the old past down and the new Don. He looks perfect in the beautiful world that he has built, however is a dark man falling into a pit of despair and is unable to merge the old Don with the new Don to stay ahead. Its ironic because Don is an ideal. He wants to be Don. 

This show is interesting because most of the characters on the show are outsiders and need accepted and Don has been trying to lie and convince everyone that he is an insider. Don's life is mirrored throughout the show with important historical events to show the pass of time as well. I mean for gods sake, Don lets Peggy pitch Burger Chef while the moon landing is happening, which is ironic because it shows of the changing of times. 

This show has so much complexity and rather genius and thought into every single elements that you will continue to analyze the show. Like...how I definitely know that if I was anyone in the show.. I've got to be Joan. Or I wish I was.