MovieChat Forums > Mad Men (2007) Discussion > Seriously, what's the appeal?

Seriously, what's the appeal?

posted 7 years ago by !!!deleted!!! (64929284)
21 replies | jump to latest

I've never watched this when it was new. So now I got to Season 1 on Netflix. I've just finished episode 8 or something.

I'm NOT trolling, but I really, really don't understand the mass appeal of this show.

Ho-hum, at that time in America corporate men sexually harassed women, smoked a lot (everybody did), and frequently committed adultery.

I mean, we get it. Do we need it shoved down our throat (no pun intended) over and over and over?

And these characters, ugh, they are awful. I keep asking myself, why should I care for what happens to these annoying or arrogant or devious people or all of the above?

Does the show do a good job bringing back the 60's? Sure, sure. Is there some good acting? Yeah, some (but not earth-shattering). Are some of these people good-looking. Yeah, some.

So what?

Someone who likes this show please argue in favor of it, I'll see if I reconsider it, but frankly, at this time I'm about to give up.

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a.k.a. Annamaris - Go Colorado Buffaloes and Denver Broncos!

[–] Jhines01 7 years ago

Who ever said it had "mass appeal"?

It appeals to people who are interested in advertising, life in the sixties, and complex characters living their lives in an annoying, arrogant, and devious manner.

I would certainly never "argue in favor of it," except to say that I found it full of period detail, very engrossing, and the best television series I ever watched.

[–] !!!deleted!!! (64929284) 7 years ago

Mass appeal as in a show that has a reputation for being one of the best in television. I'm aware that not everything is for everyone so it's probably not the show's fault but in my humble opinion the reputation is undeserved.

I just wish someone would tell me how and why it will improve and I should stick around... but so far I find myself rather uninterested.

--------
a.k.a. Annamaris - Go Colorado Buffaloes and Denver Broncos!

[–] mgreen9715 7 years ago

Everyone has their own taste and their beliefs in what "one of the best in television" means.

if someone has to convince you that it'll improve and try to talk you into sticking around chances are you're a lost cause. Just some common sense for you.

[–] Thomasina 7 years ago

I just wish someone would tell me how and why it will improve and I should stick around

I suggest that rather than asking others (especially strangers) to tell you what you will and won't like, you should work on developing more confidence in your own preferences. Since you've already observed that 1) a lot of other people like this show and 2) not everything is for everyone, the only missing piece is you--but nobody here knows you, your interests, or your likes and dislikes, except you. It doesn't matter if 99 people love Mad Men; if you're the 100th person and you hate it, then you hate it. Have the courage of your own convictions. You don't have to go looking for other people's opinions to convince you otherwise.

[–] baileythedog 7 years ago

I just wish someone would tell me how and why it will improve and I should stick around... but so far I find myself rather uninterested.

After posting world's most intellectually lazy commentary on the show you're now hoping that someone spoon feeds you rationale under the threat of you not sticking around to finish out the series?

Pass.

[–] Critomaton 7 years ago

It appeals to people who are interested in advertising, life in the sixties, and complex characters living their lives in an annoying, arrogant, and devious manner. - Jhines01

Very good (succinct yet thorough) explanation of the show's appeal - at least, its appeal to you and me.

I'd say the show has mass appeal - it's won lots of awards and is considered by many (including yourself) to be the best series they've ever watched. So far (I'm only on S2E13), I can see it possibly dethroning Breaking Bad at the top of my list of dramatic series. But Breaking Bad got more compelling over its run, which is rare; I hope Mad Men can hold up the same way.

I doubt if any more detailed explanation of the show will appeal to the OP. If the show hasn't grabbed their interest by S1E8, I doubt it ever will, but there's nothing wrong with that.

[–] Jhines01 7 years ago

Exactly.

[–] catbookss 7 years ago

Unlike you, I watched it as it aired.

Ho-hum, at that time in America corporate men sexually harassed women, smoked a lot (everybody did), and frequently committed adultery.

I mean, we get it. Do we need it shoved down our throat (no pun intended) over and over and over?

And these characters, ugh, they are awful. I keep asking myself, why should I care for what happens to these annoying or arrogant or devious people or all of the above?

This was pretty much my take, which is why I bailed on it after watching the first 2-3 episodes. Luckily, a friend whose opinion I respect convinced me to give it another try, so I picked up again on episode 4 or 5, and have become one of the show's biggest fans ever since.

Like JHines, this remains the best, most nuanced, tightly written show I've ever seen; it's my gold standard.

The character development is extraordinary, as is the acting. The key to it is that you must pay close attention, to everything.

Soon I realized I had to not only watch each episode, but also watch the encore showing, which aired right after the first airing, because there's so much subtle detail I'd otherwise miss, and it mattered. Then I started turning on CCs, for the same reason. There is no filler.

Over time, even the most despicable characters gain depth, and the viewer understanding of them. It's like an onion that slowly, gradually, is unpeeled.

[–] InspectorPuncher 7 years ago

If season 1 doesn't do it for you, I recommend jumping to season 3.

[–] !!!deleted!!! (64929284) 7 years ago

If the above is a serious answer (it could be, since it seems like some of the subsequent seasons are rated higher than season 1), is this something that can be done without missing much and without losing track of the slow-evolving plots?

--------
a.k.a. Annamaris - Go Colorado Buffaloes and Denver Broncos!

[–] Jhines01 7 years ago

No.

[–] InspectorPuncher 7 years ago

You would be out of the loop but I bet you'd be able to piece it together. I just found season 4-7 feels like a different show (more 1960s than late 50s) with the same actors, but you should watch season 3 because there are major plot twists that set up the rest of the show. It relies more on plot than the shock of casual racism and sexism or seeing a pregnant woman drink and smoke.

[–] Jhines01 7 years ago

The story of Don Draper's life from his birth to his hiring by Roger Sterling is told in a series of flashbacks apparently randomly scattered throughout the early seasons. Watching episodes or seasons out of order will create confusion.

Sure, you could piece it together, but why make it more difficult than it already is to follow the nuances of the plot?

[–] InspectorPuncher 7 years ago

If the OP isn't liking the show and the options are piecing it together or giving up on the show, I recommend piecing it together.

[–] Real_Ex_Kav 7 years ago

This sounds terribly pretentious, but you gotta try looking under the surface. Nobody thinks this is the best show ever because of the smoking, drinking and adultery. It might help finishing the whole season and then think about what you actually saw, although episodes like "Babylon", "5G", "New Amsterdam" or "Marriage Of Figaro" should've already showed you that this show is about more than bringing back the 60s or something like that.

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http://bit.ly/1bggYnC

[–] liamc2112 7 years ago

The storytelling, the characters who aren't black and white and at times aren't even particularly likeable.

The humour, the real life events, the advertising, the pitches.

The thought that goes into every shot, the slow moving plot that goes against everything else on TV. The season long build up of someone finding out dons secret only for the answer to be "who cares".

The music, the setting, the acting, the attention to details from Matt wiener and the superb writing from the whole cast and production values from everyone.

Peggy Olsen, the suitcase, roger sterling. Jon Hamm.

What's the appeal? Not sure

[–] !!!deleted!!! (64929284) 7 years ago

You don't need to be sarcastic. Like I said, I'm not trolling, I'm asking seriously, and the answers have been helpful to encourage me to give the show another chance.

--------
a.k.a. Annamaris - Go Colorado Buffaloes and Denver Broncos!

[–] Real_Ex_Kav 7 years ago

Ehm nobody was being sarcastic

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http://bit.ly/1bggYnC

[–] !!!deleted!!! (64929284) 7 years ago

What's the appeal? Not sure

After a post lavishly praising the show, that line was obviously sarcastic.
I'm sorry for you that you didn't notice it.
Unless you are also being sarcastic, haha.

--------
a.k.a. Annamaris - Go Colorado Buffaloes and Denver Broncos!

[–] liamc2112 7 years ago

That line may have been sarcastic, the rest of the post wasn't.

Not every TV show is for everyone, this one just may not be for you.

To quote Andy Bernard from The Office "have you ever had something that you wanted to like, but just couldn't... like Mad Men"

[–] TrapLordRonSwanson 7 years ago

Because it reminds us of better times. How life was so simple back then. How life should be. When men were men, not these effeminate sissy boys you see today.

Wendy? Darling? Light, of my life!