It could be argued that the current Golden Age of Television began in Summer 2007 with the first episode of Mad Men. Period drama about employees of 1960s New York advertising agencies at first glance didn’t look like something that could attract audience, but it immediately began to epitomise everything associated with today’s state of television drama – exponentially increased quality of rating, and the networks and show creators’ willingness to abandon yesterday’s formula and find new ways to have their story told.
And the story that starts in the first season is a story worth being told. It begins in 1960, in a world very different from our own, with Sterling Cooper, ad agency, just like the rest of American society, being dominated by white men at the expense of everyone else. This includes nominal protagonist Don Draper (played by Jon Hamm), who represents anything members of such society could aspire to – charismatic look, genuine talent, well-paid job near the top of corporate hierarchy and perfect family with the home in the suburbs run by former model Betty Draper (played by January Jones), now turned into perfect housewife. That perfection is, however, mere illusion, since it turns out that the Draper has secrets that go beyond occasional extramarital affair, and actually threaten to reveal him as conman and pathetic coward. His story is intertwined with the stories of his colleagues, including boyish-looking but utterly unlikable Pete Campbell (played by Vincent Karthesier), who tries to be him; and Peggy Olson (played by Elisabeth Moss), young, unattractive employee who tries to rise above her assumed role of secretary and part-time provider of sexual favours for her male co-workers and become actual copywriter.
Show’s creator Matthew Winer very wisely chose advertising agency for plot setting, because this allows not only an interesting insight into worldviews and social mores of America six decades ago, but also represents an interesting opportunity to show how all those changed in 1960s. First season, however, doesn’t have much of a plot, and serves mostly to introduce the audience to this strange setting and characters, but, despite lack of "important" events, does so in a remarkably successful way.
Starring: Jon Hamm, Elisabeth Moss, Vincent Karthesier, Januaty Jones, Christina Hendricks
Created by: Matthew Weiner
Number of episodes: 13
Pro: superb and fascinating recreation of the past, fascinating characters, excellent cast
Contra: lack of traditional plot
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RATING: 9/10
