Just watched episode 1 of season 1 of mad men

candlegrease

What a load of vacuous, condescending rubbish - I was actually taken aback!

Anyone agree? Does it get any better?

pickarooney

Don't ask. You'll just get the following responses

1. Keep watching. It's a slow burner
2. You're not watching it right
3. It's not for you/you don't get it
4. You're totally right

If you've formed such a strong, negative opinion after only one episode it just comes across as someone looking for a fight.

flower tattoo

I hated it too. Everyone has been raving about it but I don't get it. I watched the first few episodes then realised I wasn't enjoying it at all, I also didn't understand how the new secretary ended up sleeping with the guy who was getting married. Why did he just appear on her doorstep announcing he loved her when he'd only met her that day??

Jelle1880

flower tattoo wrote: »

I hated it too. Everyone has been raving about it but I don't get it. I watched the first few episodes then realised I wasn't enjoying it at all, I also didn't understand how the new secretary ended up sleeping with the guy who was getting married. Why did he just appear on her doorstep announcing he loved her when he'd only met her that day??

Probably because he realises he's not happy in his marriage, which was only arranged so he could get her daddy's cash ?

It's a very slow start, but I love it.
The character development is among the best I've ever seen.

I must say, took me a few episodes to get into it though.

Orizio

Ridiculous thread.

Penn

If you didn't at least like the scene where Don comes up with the tobacco advertisement, then chances are, the show isn't for you. It's not to everyone's taste, that's for sure.

Wossack

gets better

ending of one of the series in particular, is one of my most memorable tv moments (and I've watched alot of telly)

candlegrease

I'll wathc the next 3 episodes of season 1 to give it a fair chance so

dubmick

I watched two episodes and gave up. I picked it up again about a year later and got stuck into it. Really looking forward to the next season (delayed until next year).

It's in my top five tv series. Give it another go and thank me later!

martybike

I wish they'd stick to the business side of things. Don's private life bores me to tears.

Faith

It is a slow burner. I enjoyed the first episode, but I wasn't convinced I liked it probably until the end of the first season. Love it now though!

coylemj

Completely hooked. January Jones, send me the pillow that you dream on!

I only picked it up on series 2 on RTE so I bought the DVD of series 1. It has two versions of the very first episode, the regular one that was transmitted and a second version with a voiceover by Matthew Weiner introducing the characters as each one makes his/her first appearance, it was fascinating stuff.

amacachi

Really don't get the whole giving it a few episodes thing, thought it was brilliant from the start. Started it last night and up to the 10th episode

moonboy52

Mad men is such a good show.

It portrays that period of time so well.

Easily one of the finest TV shows of all time.


Stick with it OP

pickarooney

amacachi wrote: »

Really don't get the whole giving it a few episodes thing, thought it was brilliant from the start. Started it last night and up to the 10th episode

Whatever about that, I can't understand the logic of the people (and they are many) who dismiss the show as terrible/sexist/whatever just because the characters are. It's like refusing to watch Mississippi Burning because it's racist.

amacachi

pickarooney wrote: »

Whatever about that, I can't understand the logic of the people (and they are many) who dismiss the show as terrible/sexist/whatever just because the characters are. It's like refusing to watch Mississippi Burning because it's racist.

I'm guessing such people have never watched an 18s film. :pac:

metrovelvet

pickarooney wrote: »

Whatever about that, I can't understand the logic of the people (and they are many) who dismiss the show as terrible/sexist/whatever just because the characters are. It's like refusing to watch Mississippi Burning because it's racist.

That is too funny. Mad Men is using the past to talk about the present. I watch that show and dont see that much has changed tbh.

Snoopy1

I agree with you OP. i hated the first episode, and havnt watched anymore.
Maybe i will watch one more, just to change my mind or re confirm my opinion

johnny_ultimate

I don't know if a pilot has ever hooked me straight off - even stuff like The Wire, The West Wing, Breaking Bad took me a few episodes to totally get on board. Freaks & Geeks might be an exception.

But I was hooked on Mad Men quicker than most. I loved the setting more than anything. Season one though has loads of fantastic episodes and moments in its own right, and the whole 'the ad campaign of the week ties in to the main narrative' structure gave the series an interesting focus. Obviously sticking with it pays major dividends later down the line, but I always thought Mad Men had a more satisfying week to week delivery than some other shows.

But at least watch another episode or two. These people are vapid because that's what they're meant to be. It all pays off. If you really hate it, quit. But if you dismissed some series after a single episode, I'd imagine there'd be a lot of good television you're missing out on.

Snoopy1

Ok, downloading series one, and i will stick with a couple more episodes!!

pickarooney

For comparison's sake, Breaking Bad took about 4 minutes to hook me completely. I could just feel it was going to be immense.

PhiloCypher

I think alot of people find the 60's setting and sexual politics of the time abit of a culture shock to their noughties sensibilities and thus don't give the show the time it needs to grow on them , the unfamiliar setting and sedate pacing certainly threw me intially, it wasn't ill I was hip deep in season 2 that the show clicked for me and was subsequentely able to rewatch and enjoy season 1 .

To draw a drinking analogy Mad men is like your first night out on the beer you'll struggle with that first pint but once you've aquired the taste you'll be knocking back the rest with jager bomb chasers .

pickarooney

How do these same people cope with gangster movies or sci-fi??

dr gonzo

Mad Men is a character driven show, if you're inclined to give up after one episode then you never can/will like it or any similarly paced show.

Im shocked that some people might not like it for the sexist aspect of it, ive never heard something so moronic.

krudler

Barrington wrote: »

If you didn't at least like the scene where Don comes up with the tobacco advertisement, then chances are, the show isn't for you. It's not to everyone's taste, that's for sure.

the scene where he pitches the ad for the

photo carousel

is one of the best moments in the entire show

pajunior

dr gonzo wrote: »

Mad Men is a character driven show, if you're inclined to give up after one episode then you never can/will like it or any similarly paced show.

Im shocked that some people might not like it for the sexist aspect of it, ive never heard something so moronic.

I think I heard that 9 out of the shows 12 writers are women.

Really explains why the women have such deep yet subtle characters.

metrovelvet

pajunior wrote: »

I think I heard that 9 out of the shows 12 writers are women.

Really explains why the women have such deep yet subtle characters.

The producer is mattew weiner, same as Sopranos. Look at the women in both shows, and it ain't pretty, especially mothers.

One set in the 60s, one is contemporaneous. Any difference really in the sexism?

Barna77

I'm about to finish season 4. As said above, yeah, gets better and better .

Now the wait for season 5.

pickarooney

metrovelvet wrote: »

The producer is mattew weiner, same as Sopranos. Look at the women in both shows, and it ain't pretty, especially mothers.

One set in the 60s, one is contemporaneous. Any difference really in the sexism?

What do you mean by "it ain't pretty" as regards Dr. Melfi and Meadow?

Meadow was one of very few characters whose life had any shred of positivity about it. She was pretty much the only person who stood a chance of escaping the depressing cycle of violence which consumed everyone else in The Sopranos.

Weiner was only one of a handful of writers and producers on The Sopranos and even then only in the later seasons. He was in no way the creator of the Sopranos - that was David Chase.

The whole point of Mad Men isn't to glorify the sexism inherent in 1960s society, which will surprise nobody, but to illustrate the effects of great change in that same society and the driving forces behind it. I genuinely don't understand how anyone who isn't being wilfully obtuse can come out with nonsensical non-sequiturs like "the show is sexist.'

metrovelvet

pickarooney wrote: »

What do you mean by "it ain't pretty" as regards Dr. Melfi and Meadow?

Meadow was one of very few characters whose life had any shred of positivity about it. She was pretty much the only person who stood a chance of escaping the depressing cycle of violence which consumed everyone else in The Sopranos.

Weiner was only one of a handful of writers and producers on The Sopranos and even then only in the later seasons. He was in no way the creator of the Sopranos - that was David Chase.

The whole point of Mad Men isn't to glorify the sexism inherent in 1960s society, which will surprise nobody, but to illustrate the effects of great change in that same society and the driving forces behind it. I genuinely don't understand how anyone who isn't being wilfully obtuse can come out with nonsensical non-sequiturs like "the show is sexist.'

I dont think the show is sexist in that it advocates sexism as a way of life or anything like that, but I dont think anything has changed all that much, and the show illustrates that we have deluded ourselves into thinking it has, it may even be worse now because its more insidious and we think we are in an age of progress. The same **** still happens, and not all that rarely either.

But if you look at the characterisation of women, particularly mothers, look at Tony's mother and look at Betty it gets kind of Hitchcock. I dont know if this is anti mother or if this is touching on a taboo most of us grew up with -the whatever you do dont upset mom taboo' which made her immune to critcisim and anything that might upset mum. So ... when you touch upon a taboo and present it and make it possible to critsize and reflect on what in life is untouchable, that always holds appeal and ratings.

Meadow was the only one with a chance- I say Peggy Olsen will be the only one still standing at the end of MM.

pickarooney

Don't give up on Sally just yet.

metrovelvet

pickarooney wrote: »

Don't give up on Sally just yet.

I think we are going to see a lot of interesting things happen with Sally.

KeanSeenan

Metrovelvet threw in a huge spoiler in that post, if the threadmaker stays on with the show, you might wanna change it.

lizlemon

I am so jealous that you have almost 4 seasons to watch :-)

Just finished season 4 and can't wait for 5, though I think it may be awhile!! :mad:

metrovelvet

KeanSeenan wrote: »

Metrovelvet threw in a huge spoiler in that post, if the threadmaker stays on with the show, you might wanna change it.

Did I?

I don't know how to do that spoiler thing. Can you pm me with what spoiler I revealed?

nc6000

metrovelvet wrote: »

Did I?

I don't know how to do that spoiler thing. Can you pm me with what spoiler I revealed?

I see it is gone now. I wasn't too impressed when I read it earlier on. I'm halfway through Season 3.

dr gonzo

krudler wrote: »

the scene where he pitches the ad for the

photo carousel

is one of the best moments in the entire show

I dont remember that scene, what was going on in it?

pajunior

dr gonzo wrote: »

I dont remember that scene, what was going on in it?

The very end of Season 1. Possibly his best and most dramatic pitch to date.

Spoiler: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2bLNkCqpuY

Battleflag

Finished the whole thing only last week, loved some of the characters but i thought they ended alot of the storylines very quickly such as:

peggy's baby

Its good enough just to watch Jane walk away in nearly every episode!

TaraFoxglove

I like Mad Men, I do. I've watched from the first time it aired on RTÉ back in 2008.

But one thing I've have always disliked about the show is that I find it very heavy-handed in portraying the era. Very *adopts patronising tone* "This is what the '60s was like, kids". Focussing on Don and the fam leaving rubbish behind after a picnic, that kind of thing.

Oh and January Jones is a diabolical actress. She looks the part, that's about it.

TaraFoxglove

pickarooney wrote: »

Meadow was one of very few characters whose life had any shred of positivity about it. She was pretty much the only person who stood a chance of escaping the depressing cycle of violence which consumed everyone else in The Sopranos.

Meadow started out that way, showing early promise, but in the end she ended up back in Jersey, dating the son of one of her father's associates and wanting to pursue law to aid her father. So she didn't turn out too well in the end.

metrovelvet

TaraFoxglove wrote: »

I like Mad Men, I do. I've watched from the first time it aired on RTÉ back in 2008.

But one thing I've have always disliked about the show is that I find it very heavy-handed in portraying the era. Very *adopts patronising tone* "This is what the '60s was like, kids". Focussing on Don and the fam leaving rubbish behind after a picnic, that kind of thing.

Oh and January Jones is a diabolical actress. She looks the part, that's about it.

Jones....she is terrible but it would take some skill to earn pathos for Betty. I like the scene where

she shoots the pigeons.

amacachi

FFS will yous use spoilers!?

TaraFoxglove

amacachi wrote: »

FFS will yous use spoilers!?

What, for the Sopranos stuff? The Sopranos finished airing four years ago, I think we're past requiring spoilers by now.

Barna77

Only one episode left of season 4

I'm wondering if Coca Cola's 125th aniversary ad, looking so retro, has anything to do with MM's success

livinsane

Barna77 wrote: »

Only one episode left of season 4

I'm wondering if Coca Cola's 125th aniversary ad, looking so retro, has anything to do with MM's success

I just finished watching Season 4 last night. Kept the final episode for a few days just to stretch it out. I only started watching the show a few weeks ago and tore through the four seasons.
Probably better for my health that I have a break from it...too much drinking and smoking while it's on....advertising works!

Uncle Mclovin

I watched the first few episodes and didn't like it but every kept saying give it time, give it time, so I watched the entire 1st series and unfortunately for me I still didn't like it.

I can see why people might like it. Some of the characters are excellently portrayed and the setting and costumes are amazing but its just not for me.

If you watch shows like The Shield etc before watching Mad Men the chances are you'll be let down because they were so high paced and brilliant at the same time while Mad Men is totally different.

I think also peoples expectations from Mad Men are set way too high by people and as a result some people are let down by it.

pickarooney

TaraFoxglove wrote: »

Meadow started out that way, showing early promise, but in the end she ended up back in Jersey, dating the son of one of her father's associates and wanting to pursue law to aid her father. So she didn't turn out too well in the end.

Both she and Patrick were studying law, were they not? I'm pretty sure it was actually him that inspired her to take up law. I don't see how that's a poor outcome in anyone's book

TaraFoxglove

pickarooney wrote: »

Both she and Patrick were studying law, were they not? I'm pretty sure it was actually him that inspired her to take up law. I don't see how that's a poor outcome in anyone's book

Don't you remember her reasons for doing so? To defend people like her father.

And it was pretty clear to me on occasion that Tony and Carmella were disappointed with the way things turned out too, with her back in Jersey. Tony wanted Meadow to break free so that he could ease his conscience and convince himself that he was correct in the life he chose. Remember the look of slight envy on Carmella's face when she hears how well former troublemaker Hunter was doing at the end?

sara_q

Absolutely love it. On the last 2 episodes of season 4. Am slow to watch them as once they're over thats it til god knows when.

pickarooney

TaraFoxglove wrote: »

Don't you remember her reasons for doing so? To defend people like her father.

And it was pretty clear to me on occasion that Tony and Carmella were disappointed with the way things turned out too, with her back in Jersey. Tony wanted Meadow to break free so that he could ease his conscience and convince himself that he was correct in the life he chose. Remember the look of slight envy on Carmella's face when she hears how well former troublemaker Hunter was doing at the end?

Right enough, but do you not think she was happy? She had all the choices in the world, in fairness. She got a far better deal than Adriana, for example.