Jump to content
IGNORED

Mad Men

Jim Miles

By Jim Miles
in Film, TV & Radio

 Share

Recommended Posts

  • 2 weeks later...
Ste Pickford

Ste Pickford

Posted
Posted
Why the hell they've stuck it on the BBC4 ghetto is beyond me.

Only watched the 1st episode, quite enjoyed it. Got another three or so recorded.

BBC4 isn't a ghetto - it's probably the best channel on TV. I was drawn to this show *because* it was on BBC4, as that indicated to me it was going to be very good.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 3 weeks later...
johnT

johnT

Posted
Posted

Episode 7 was brilliant. Seeing Roger getting pissed then vomiting after toiling up the stairs at work, followed by Don's triumphant smile about it at the end was fantastic.

I love this programme now - it's a bit like the West Wing in that each episode can take 10 minutes or so to really pick up, but once they do it's just brilliant.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 4 weeks later...
lordcookie

lordcookie

Posted
Posted

Well I've finished the series now and whilst it is clearly a good show I'm not sure it is a great one (yet). I liked the slow burn nature (too often now shows shoot their loads too quickly - Nip/Tuck had about 6 seasons worth of storylines condensed into a single season) but it still felt like this was purely grounding for future seasons rather than telling a truly compelling story of its own. Despite the revelations about Don's past, the affairs, blackmail etc it lacked a bit of drama.

I thought all the characters were great and I enjoyed how they teased backstory out of each of them.

I had noticed Peggy getting fatter throughout the series but it was pretty subtle until the last few episodes and the way this is not used as some dramatic plot during the series was a refreshing change

. Campbell is still my favourite though. In a single episode your feelings for him can change two or three times. He is a dickhead but there is still something strangely endearing about him.

Season 2 will be the real test for the show though. The cultural and political shifts of the time should come more into play and I'm hoping some of the seeds sewn in season 1 will not be left just to simmer.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
johnT

johnT

Posted
Posted

I had noticed Peggy getting fatter throughout the series but it was pretty subtle until the last few episodes and the way this is not used as some dramatic plot during the series was a refreshing change

.

Do you really think so? I felt there were a few snide comments directed towards her, it was this that really made me notice she was putting on weight.

I've still to watch the last two episodes, but I thought it has been fantastic so far.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
lordcookie

lordcookie

Posted
Posted

Do you really think so? I felt there were a few snide comments directed towards her, it was this that really made me notice she was putting on weight.

I've still to watch the last two episodes, but I thought it has been fantastic so far.

True, but they made snide comments about nearly all the women in the series so I'm not sure that was a huge giveaway.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 1 month later...
FishyFish

FishyFish

Posted
Posted

Link...

At the TCA panel for Mad Men, the show’s creator, Matt Weiner, revealed that the series will air for just four more years. The plan is for the show to jump into the future approximately two years every season, which means that the story will end in 1969. It’s certainly going to be quite interesting to see the transformation of the show over the coming seasons as it exits the 50’s and enters the 1960’s.

Mad Men joins a list of recent series setting end points for their runs (Battlestar Galactica-4 years and Lost-6 years to name a few.) Though I would love if my favorite show could go on and on, I understand and agree with this policy. I think all shows would improve dramatically if their respective creators have a diagram of where it begins and where it ends.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
lordcookie

lordcookie

Posted
Posted

I don't like that idea at all. There were so many undeveloped and unanswered threads at the end of the first series that surely jumping two years ahead would avoid. Although if Joan is in a full blown lesbian relationship with her room mate I don't care what they do with the series.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 2 weeks later...
pledge

pledge

Posted
Posted

Not long until season 2 now, starts next Thursday in the US. I got the Blu-ray of season one last week. The picture is fantastic (I watched in SD when it aired) and really shows how much effort they put into the sets and costumes. It does hightlight how some of the cast a more attractive than others (Peggy particularly looks a lot worse in HD, compared to Joan and Betty who still look great) The audio is even better though as it has a DTS HD soundtrack for those that care about that sort of thing. There's commentary on every episode (sometimes more than one), so I'm quickly watching it all again before next week.

The AMC ste has been updated with photos of how the cast look after the two year jump. Well I think they are. Paul is sporting a new beard and looks very different but the rest look more or less the same. The fashions should really change quite quickly for the younger members of the cast as it enters the 1960s. There's also some nice wallpapers http://www.amctv.com/originals/madmen/downloads/

Link to comment
Share on other sites
pledge

pledge

Posted
Posted

I've enjoyed both the first two episodes. Pete's interaction with Don was really interesting, funny how Pete's view on the relationshiphas changed but Don's hasn't. The only thing that felt a little off was

the party at the start of episode 2. I know they have jumped forward in time but I would have liked that changing views through the 60s to have been a little more gradular. The whole black girlfriend section seemed a bit obvious, although Joan's rebuttal back in the office was a great scene.

Oh and the bit when

Peggy didn't want to even say goodnight to her baby

was just cold.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 2 weeks later...
Jim Miles

Jim Miles

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I felt that latest episode (S02E03) was very mixed. The whole thing about the guy opening someone else's paycheck and the raise just seemed so lacking in the kind of subtlety I've come to expect from the show and I don't really believe the riding club subplot - it just seems like a cheap way of forcing character development on Don's wife.

I loved all of Sal's screen time though. I hope we see more of him.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
pledge

pledge

Posted
Posted

Yeah it seems too much of a trying to show what Betty would do in a very similar situation to Don's in the first season. They did succeed in making an intentionally dislikable character in that comedian though.

Him biting his fist when the fat woman said she didn't have the stomach for his comedy was fantastic.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue. Use of this website is subject to our Privacy Policy, Terms of Use, and Guidelines.

  I accept