re: Does Mad Men get a lot better after the first season?

season 5 is GOAT but season 1 is pretty much what it is throughout. they get creative in season 6 but it's pretty much a similar, though at times not easy to predict, structure throughout. loads of character development, tho. just finished the whole series for the first time, and it moved into my top 5 shows of all time.

so if you don't like season 1, i'd say don't waste your time.