I don't get Mad Men

[DigDog]

Right, i've kept it for myself for a long time, but it needs to come out.

I've watched the first two seasons of Mad Men, and a couple episodes of season 6, but i don't get the show.

Earlier in these few years i enjoyed .. (to name the most diverse)..House, Harry's Law, Garrow's Law, The Killing, Big Bang, Suits, Hannibal, House of Cards, and many more i don't recall; i also enjoyed films such as Page Eight and Drive, i love Kurosawa, and so on, and i consider myself somewhat well-educated and appreciative of good acting and good scripts. But Mad Men .. i just don't get what the meat of the show is.

For example, the "opening" scene, "It's Toasted!" in episode 1, was well received afer a slow introduction, but that bit (which would focus on the brilliance of Don Draper as a marketing genius) seems just a drop in an ocean of .. not really sure what.

Is it period drama? Sure a "look how the sixties were, wow so different" show is ok, but it needs a hook, something to keep you captivated for the -many- hours this show drags on for. And what is it?

Because it ain't the marketing, there's very little of that. Is it the characters? Ok so they have a bit of drama, but it seems more "realism" than storytelling. One thing is if some main character in a show has a heart attack, but when this doesn't affect the story line, it's little more than fluff. I care about what happens because of that heart attack, not about the heart attack itself.

So here, if you can, explain it to me like i'm 10yo. I really feel im missing out here.

 

[darkswordsman17]

I agree OP. I can see the quality that goes into making the show, but there's just not enough there to make me want to watch it. I gave up on it a long time ago because I just didn't care about the story or the characters, and knew I wouldn't ever so I didn't want to bother investing the time in it.

I always thought it needed to just go into full on Nip/Tuck level of insanity. But then I think Breaking Bad is overrated because its a middling tedious family drama most of the time with a few moments of entertaining crazy shit.

 

[HamburgerBoy]

Breaking Bad is overrated because its a middling tedious family drama most of the time...

naw

 

[RossMAN]

Breaking Bad > Mad Men

 

[rga]

I was never a big fan of Mad Men either. I mean, I'll watch it if it's on, but it's not like I'm scheduling my evenings to see it or recording it for later when I can't.

I just started watching Breaking Bad. I'm a few episodes through the second season now. I'm really enjoying it, but I can't believe that Walter is not more suspect than he is.

 

[Hugh Jass]

Mad Men is waaaaaaaaaaay overrated.

 

[darkswordsman17]

naw

Boil down the show, if its not Skyler its Jesse, but 50% of every episode is one of those two bickering with Walt about the dumbest shit. Then various other family stuff that barely matters and just serves as a point for more bickering about stupid shit and tedious conversations between characters that don't advance anything and serve no purpose since they already showed us everything involved.

The thing that makes the show is the crazy shit. With each season they basically have less and less of it and push it to the start and end with the middle being just filler shit where we see the same old characterizations with some meh attempt at heartfelt stuff until they finally can have some crazy shit happen.

They've drawn out the show so much its gotten stupid. There's so much junk that was meant to change the characters that really doesn't unless it serves the plot (Skyler suddenly on board with things, Hank and his wife's shit). Jesse has one major moment like every season that's supposed to change him, but is still the same character because they don't actually advance things, they leveled everything off way too much after the first season.

The show is one of the best dramas on TV but its still really fucking flawed. I personally can't really stand dealing with the tedious drawn out bickering bullshit it has been. Only reason I watched through season 4 is it was something to watch while I worked out. I fast forwarded through most of the episodes in season 4 because there just wasn't anything that actually happened that was worth watching over half of the time.

Breaking Bad > Mad Men

Absolutely. Its not even close.

 

[AreaCode707]

Clothes.

 

[steve wilson]

I'm with the OP... I watched it because of the massively high ratings it got on IMDB. Watched 2 episodes and was left scratching my head. Maybe I just don't get it or maybe it's just crap.

I too love shows like House, Suits etc... I just don't get why people love it.

 

[NFS4]

I've watched the first two seasons of Mad Men, and a couple episodes of season 6, but i don't get the show.

OP FAIL!

The show builds upon the previous seasons. One doesn't simply walk into season 6 expecting to understand things after missing three previous seasons. Things are just getting started in seasons 1 and 2... the shit really hits the fan for Don in Season 3.

Seriously, how is this even a thread?

 

[Jeeebus]

OP FAIL!

The show builds upon the previous seasons. One doesn't simply walk into season 6 expecting to understand things after missing three previous seasons. Things are just getting started in seasons 1 and 2... the shit really hits the fan for Don in Season 3.

Seriously, how is this even a thread?

I've never watched an episode of Mad Men, but a show should not need three seasons to pull you in. For me, I watched the first episode of a show like Justified and was like... "OMG DVR this series NOW!"

Might give a show 1/2 - 1 season, but definitely no more than that to spark my interest.

 

[Wyndru]

Mad Men just makes me wish I could drink and smoke at work.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

It's my favorite show currently. Honestly I put Mad Men and possibly Boardwalk Empire above Breaking Bad. Mad Men still going strong and Breaking Bad is running out of steam IMO. Boardwalk Empire is in full stride but just 3 seasons in. Will it hold up as well? We'll see.

 

[DigDog]

srsly i knew someone would say "dude, you stopped watching *JUST* as it as getting good".
Matey, if a show isn't good after two episodes, much less after two seasons, that show is not good.

I suspect that those who watch it have a very low threshold of tolerance for (as swordsman put it) "crazy shit"; they probably never did themselves any of that stuff the show is full of so it gobsmacks them how un-PC they can be.

@oilfield

Ok but ... what is it that you like? could you kindly explain to me what is it that i don't get?

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

OP FAIL!

The show builds upon the previous seasons. One doesn't simply walk into season 6 expecting to understand things after missing three previous seasons. Things are just getting started in seasons 1 and 2... the shit really hits the fan for Don in Season 3.

Seriously, how is this even a thread?

I quit watching halfway through season 1. Was bored with it. I went back to watching it because I was bored one day and it just clicked for me. It's weird how it takes a little to hook you in.

 

[Murloc]

The thing that makes the show is the crazy shit. With each season they basically have less and less of it and push it to the start and end with the middle being just filler shit where we see the same old characterizations with some meh attempt at heartfelt stuff until they finally can have some crazy shit happen.

They've drawn out the show so much its gotten stupid. There's so much junk that was meant to change the characters that really doesn't unless it serves the plot (Skyler suddenly on board with things, Hank and his wife's shit). Jesse has one major moment like every season that's supposed to change him, but is still the same character because they don't actually advance things, they leveled everything off way too much after the first season.

The show is one of the best dramas on TV but its still really fucking flawed. I personally can't really stand dealing with the tedious drawn out bickering bullshit it has been. Only reason I watched through season 4 is it was something to watch while I worked out. I fast forwarded through most of the episodes in season 4 because there just wasn't anything that actually happened that was worth watching over half of the time.

I understand where you're coming from but most drama serials are a bit like that and breaking bad is doing it well. At some point it will jump the shark but I don't think it already has.
It isn't as cool as prison break but whatever, you can't win every time.

 

[purbeast0]

the add generation won't get it. the show is amazing. there aren't many shows that have characters as complex as madmen.

 

[SheHateMe]

I can't get into Mad Men either, you are not alone.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

Was hooked halfway into season 1, then it got slow but picked up again.
Roger sterling is such an awesome character. I'm going to start wearing vests because of this guy.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I've never watched an episode of Mad Men, but a show should not need three seasons to pull you in. For me, I watched the first episode of a show like Justified and was like... "OMG DVR this series NOW!"

Might give a show 1/2 - 1 season, but definitely no more than that to spark my interest.

Mad Men pulled me in after the first 10 minutes of the first episode.

 

[Baked]

Breaking Bad > Mad Men

What the hell? No Costco coupon book for you!

I like how everyone is raving about breaking bad, but I couldn't get myself to get thru two . It's sooooo boring.

 

[W.C. Nimoy]

I like it from kind of a weird angle- it's like getting to open a somehow fresh NIB appliance or electronics from years ago. An episode of Bewitched, but clean & nice looking, & without the restrictions, and more talent. Weak I know, because the stories are more & more contrived, character integrity getting abused, especially lately I've been rolling my eyes a lot.

But for instance Roger Sterling, that guy more than anyone is not of this time. Beyond costume & slick hair, somehow that guy's face is straight out of the 60's and I don't even know what that means, but some actors don't as much. And I've seen that actor in other stuff too.

Guess I just like watching it for no good reason, & will stick with it to the end.

 

[Red Storm]

I also don't really get it (as in I couldn't pin point exactly what makes me like it), but unlike the OP I actually like the show and enjoy watching it.

Guess I just like watching it for no good reason, & will stick with it to the end.

This sums it up perfectly for me too.

 

[poofyhairguy]

The story of Madmen is the story of those who manufacture reality. We are so used to a bombardment of sophisticated advertisements, subliminal and emotional manipulation, and Gorden Gecko's "Greed is Good" culture (selling cigs with hot women anyone?), but it had to start somewhere. Someone had to up the ante from basic jingles, slogans, and show tunes. Mad Men is the story of those who invented the soft culture of America that eventually spread to the world.

On top of that Mad Men is a commentary on both the culture of that time (aka everyone smoking and being a litterbug) and the changes in society (Don having to deal with a woman that has a real career). Mad Men is like Great Gatsby the TV show- dozens of little lights in the distance for the viewer to either find deeper meaning or take at face value.

Mad Men is slow paced (the only way to really let things come to a boil) and has season or show themes that if you can't appreciate take away some of the more powerful plot points. The irony is that the TV show of the 60's seems made for the 60's in its pacing. A modern viewer needs in a single episode a dozen zombies to get shot, or a meth lab blowup, a family getting murdered at their wedding, or some OMG bitch backstabbing her BFF best friend by sleeping with her on-again-off-again boyfriend.

I keep telling my sister to watch it, and she keeps trying, says its great art, but then says its too boring to stay committed to. This is the same reason why every big movie needs a ton of CGI and ever-constant action.

 

[nickbits]

It took me a few episodes to get into it and I enjoy the show but I'd say it falls below being a true favorite of mine.

The only reason I watched it in the first place is because everyone at work was raving about it (I work for an ad agency).