Just started Mad Men

quote:

---

Is Mad Men the most boring popular show of all time?

---

There's not a lot of action, no.

Watch it through the end of the 1st season. If you're not into it by then, it's probably not your cup of tea.

I love it. I didn't get into it until about the third season (I marathoned the first two). I also loved the Sopranos. I just really like the writing and character development in Mad Men.

I'm not crazy about Breaking Bad though (yes, I realize this makes me a leper ). I watched about 4 episodes and it just wasn't my thing. I don't doubt that it's an award winning show though.

This show has it all:

Impeccable writing
Perfect cast/acting
Great setting
Interesting characters

I find it fascinating that Matthew Weiner managed to make a show compelling without anybody dying or getting shot.

quote:

---

I have watched 5 episodes. And it's ok but damn it is boring as hell.

---

It's one of my favorite shows now, but man it was hard to get through the first season. Didn't get better until pretty much the end and then really hit its stride in the 3rd season IMO

I respect the show but I really don't enjoy it. I am caught up with what's on Netflix but it had taken me almost 2 years. Just not a show I ever rush to watch despite really liking most of the characters and respecting how well it's written.

It had/has a great premise and all and some great talent involved, but frick the writing is mediocre. I get that they put a lot of subtle details into the background, but if the storylines aren't interesting, I don't give a frick how the dress on the lady in the background relates to the mediocre story you are telling.

These two things extend from that writing:

1. They spend way too much time on characters I don't give a frick about. They need to have each episode focus on only these 4 characters: Roger, Don, Pete, and Peggy. If a character isn't interacting with them, then I don't give a frick. Joan is a solid character, but if she isn't interacting with one of those 4, she has no purpose. None. It's obvious that those four are who Christina Hendricks has the best chemistry with, so leave it be. I don't care about Joan's mother or who that Jewish dude's dad wants him to date or Betty's new husband or fricking Betty for that matter. Focus on your main 4 and let everyone support them rather than try the True Blood method of forcing everyone who shows up on set into a 8 episode long story.

2. None of the events that occur seem to matter because we see 2-3 days in their life and then next episode, it's a month later. All of the best, well-written shows on tv slow it down a bit so that every action that's worth putting on tv has a direct consequence.

That's one of the qualities I really appreciate about Breaking Bad (SPOILERS IN THE PARAGRAPH).

They ended the first episode with Walt throwing the D up in Skyler and the second episode started with him spraying in them guts. Yeah that's just one thing, but it felt like I was watching a true reality show that was just paused and then resumed rather than fast forwarded. I feel that all of the little actions will have consequences rather than oh this decision doesn't matter. I didn't like how in the season two finale that they jumped forward 6-7 weeks, but whatevs.

SPOILERS OVER.

Anyways, Mad Men is probably the most poorly written good-great show on tv. The idea itself is top notch (following various people in the marketing industry at different stages of their personal and professional lives in the 60's) and the cast is amazing, but frick the writing is so lazy. I get that the show is suppose to be about identity, but jesus it's like they are trying on new personalities for each character each month/episode like they are going through puberty rather than as adults in the business world and then they are wasting time on characters no one cares about in stories that have no purpose.

quote:

---

Anyways, Mad Men is probably the most poorly written good-great show on tv

---

WTF? Mad Men is much better written than Breaking Bad. The characters in Mad Men are actually developed and not plot devices designed to frustrate or satisfy the main character's wants. The acting on Mad Men is top notch, but Breaking Bad- particularly Cranston/Paul- is just phenomenal.

quote:

---

I get that the show is suppose to be about identity, but jesus it's like they are trying on new personalities for each character each month/episode like they are going through puberty rather than as adults in the business world and then they are wasting time on characters no one cares about in stories that have no purpose.

---

SPOILERS




































We just watched a season where the theme was that you can't change who you are no matter how hard you try. We saw Don cheat on his wife (again), be a super prick in the office (again), drink way too much (again), treat his kids like shite (again). The magnificent final sequence in the finale was all about him trying to change, to be honest about who he is and where he came from. He gets cut down for his efforts, but maybe he will be okay with that. Pete is still a selfish prick and will never be blessed like Don Draper or even Bob Bennett. Joan still doesn't get respect in the office. Peggy still can't control her destiny and is still terrible at picking men. Roger is still a child. Harry Crane is still the absolute worst.

shite, the only character who did actually change was Betty and that's because she finally acted like a real human being this season.



















SPOILERS OVER

I'm halfway through season 4 and I love it.

quote:

---

I have watched 5 episodes. And it's ok but damn it is boring as hell

---

then perhaps well written dramas are not your thing

quote:

---

We just watched a season where the theme was that you can't change who you are no matter how hard you try.

---

I felt the last season had more to do with accepting who you are instead of trying to change it. The last scene was Don finally accepting who he was and trying to make peace with it.

Ofcourse, that might change within the first five minutes of the next season.