Mad Men Season One - Review

By
Ethan Griffin
7.5

10

0
7.5

10

Mad Men Season One

The first season of madmen is full of details, we’re in the 1960s and the race for the president of the United States of America is between Nixon and Kennedy. We’re not watching those who were fans of Kennedy, we’re on the Republican party's side because of Don Draper, played by Jon Hamm, who has done a wonderful job with this very special TV character.

Don works in Sterling Cooper in Madison Avenue, an advertising company, at the very top of its game thanks to his presence, great pitches, and charming smile.

The storyline begins with Don having one of those writer blocks and asks one of the waiters at the bar (who’s a black busboy) about his smoking habits, trying to find muse in their conversations.

Don’s wearing a very fancy suit and gets asked if the waiter is causing him any trouble, which is a typical act of 60s racism but Don doesn’t care. He leaves the bar and goes to his girlfriend’s place; she’s a modern illustrator that seems to have a carefree soul and wants her relationship with Don to stay casual with no strings attached.

Don Draper, the lead of the show, has two very clear sides, one at work (which seems to be one of the most important things to him) and one outside of work where his hidden-past haunts him.

Sterling Cooper is filled with men who are allowed to express their sexism and harass women, having silly excuses to drink plenty of alcohol in the middle of the day and smoke cigarettes all the time, it is part of who they are.

https://revyou.com/uploads/thumbnail-960/1603212307165Mad_Men_Season_One-2.webp Mad Men Season One - Review

The company is owned by Bert Cooper who works, markets for and sponsors Nixon and right below him is Roger, Don’s boss who befriends and trusts Don and Joan, the head of the office’s female secretaries who introduces, tutors, coaches, and bullies Don’s new assistant Peggy.

Peggy is a simple suburban girl who graduated from a top-notch secretary school and misunderstands her job as a secretary for her boss’ mistress but Don makes sure to tell her that this would be impossible on the first episode so she sleeps around with an ambitious annoying account manager named Pete Campbell, who’s about to get married and wants to be Don (the creative director) or at least wants to get his approval so badly.

There are also a couple more interesting characters in Season 1. Rachel Menken, who’s a new client at Sterling Cooper; this woman seems to very different, she’s strong, she’s independent and wants to be treated like a man but she eventually falls in love with Don Draper anyway even though she put him in his place and showed him how sexist he is on their very first meeting.

And Betty Draper, Don’s wife who suffers from insecurities and feels trapped in this housewife’s life with a husband that barely tells her anything about his past or future.

The first season of Mad Men is bold, diverse, and filled with great shots and a brilliant plot. You will not regret buying this.