Mad Men: The Complete First Season

Review By: Brian DePasquale
BrianDePasquale @TheCinemaSource.com

Finding the root of success for AMC’s Mad Men is as simple as drawing parallels to the world once dominated by Tony Soprano. The show’s creator, Matthew Weiner, functioned as a writer and producer on HBO’s hit series and many of that program’s strengths echo through the advertising halls of his latest exercise. The Sopranos famously saved HBO from the depths of ratings hell, bringing more viewers to the channel and establishing itself as the most successful cable series in television history. Executives at AMC have seen a similar light at the end of their dismal tunnel and the results are bringing the company high critical praise, new advertising revenue, and 16 Emmy nominations for its celebrated first season.

The show finds its home in Manhattan, above the streets in the high rises of Madison Avenue during the 1960’s advertising boom. The main characters work at a successful mid-level firm that works on campaigns for everyone from cigarette companies to the GOP. The narrative bounces back and forth between conflicts inside and outside the office and offers a wide variety of observations about the lifestyles of the various characters involved. Scenes offer clever glimpses into a culture virtually untapped by the silver screen.

Taking a careful look at the structure of Mad Men however, one can piece together some similarities derived from Weiner’s previous work. The main character is Don Draper, a brilliant but deeply flawed ad man with superior talents at both inking the deal and getting the girl. Like Soprano, he is married with two kids, has plenty of females on the side, and has a troubled childhood past. As the series begins, he has a very important role in the company. When someone above him has health troubles, top-rank does not seem too far off. There are also some familiar arcs in the workplace. Pete Campbell is that runt of the litter character that desperately seeks love and admiration from Don. Like a cleaned up Christopher Moltisanti, he makes rash, immature decisions and carries within himself deep resentment towards others’ success.

Pointing out these aspects of the show should not give the impression that it is unoriginal. Mad Men takes the formula and then gives it a fascinating kick. Part of the magic of the program, the essence of what makes it so fun to watch, is the way the writers are able to carry multiple ideas into a single scene, a single conversation, or even a single line. Mad Men is a master course in the development of subtext, building its ideas at a deliberate pace, adding doses of modern relevance without forgetting its status as a period piece.

This narrative complexity functions as the framework for a show that is stylish and often beautiful. The cinematography is straight from the visual world of Douglas Sirk, full of ...