The wait has finally ended. As of last week, Mad Men is back on the air. Following a seventeen-month hiatus, the tremendously popular and acclaimed show about advertising executives working on Madison Avenue in the 1960s returned for its fifth season with a two-hour premiere episode. While Mad Men may not appeal to all audiences, it is still arguably one of the most popular and lauded shows of our time. The anticipation for the fifth season was enormous. Thanks to ingenious advertising, the producers managed to build up hype while revealing essentially nothing about the new season, and Sunday’s premiere had the highest number of viewers in the show’s history. Thankfully, it did not disappoint and reinforced the many aspects of the show that make it so popular.
The season premiere was not the most dramatic or exciting episode that Mad Men has produced, but it fully served its purpose of catching viewers up with the characters’ lives, introducing new plot-lines and revealing the changing world of the late 1960s. It fit very well with the general tone of the series. One of the great aspects of the show is that it never aims to be melodramatic or sensational. Yes, it is a highly intense drama, but it is a drama grounded in reality. The brilliant writing, acting and art direction lends the show a completely believable and realistic tone. It is a nuanced, thought-provoking look into the interwoven lives of a group of people, how they react to each other and their struggles to be happy in a society which largely dictates their choices.
Mad Men is not a show about the 1960s, but this historical setting is fundamental to the show’s progression. We only find out about historical events through the characters’ perspectives, giving us varied outlooks that are unique to the period and often quite shocking. Unlike many contemporary films and shows set in other periods, it does not aim to stereotype, glamorize or change aspects of the past. It is a completely blunt depiction of life in the 1960s, and it is fascinating to see the many ways that society has progressed since then and the many, often unfortunate, ways in which it has not.
The season premiere focused on aspects of the changing times and the turbulence of the mid-to-late-60s. The episode begins with a shot of a civil rights protest in New York City and quickly moves to a scene in an office building of young white men jokingly throwing water bombs out a window onto the protesters. This opening effectively revealed the changing nature of society as well as the common, and frequently negative, reactions to these changes.
The art direction, sets and costumes of Mad Men are impeccable. Besides being historically accurate, each outfit, interior and set is tailored to reveal aspects about the characters and their lives. In fact, the costumes and sets are one of the principal reasons for the show’s popularity. Older viewers remember living in that time and can remember wearing similar dresses or sitting on a couch that was the same distinct color, while younger viewers appreciate the window into a bygone era. While many of the costumes and sets are indeed beautiful, and viewers may pine over Joan’s sheath dresses, Betty’s glamorous evening gowns or Don’s tailored suits (indeed Mad Men has spurred a huge trend of retro fashion), the show is also honest. The young, hip crowd is starting to experiment with their clothing, paralleling their experimental and freer lifestyles. The prim, conventional dinner parties hosted by Don’s first wife Betty starkly contrast with the comparatively wild and provocative party hosted by Don’s second wife Megan.
Megan is the prominent new character on the show, resulting from her and Don’s impulsive marriage at the end of season four. Besides also being beautiful and glamorous, she is the complete opposite of Betty. She is carefree, in tune with the times, very assertive and seems to understand Don. Whether or not their marriage will last remains to be seen, but for the first time in a long time Don appears to be happy, something that alarms his coworkers. Indeed, most of the characters on the show are not happy or completely satisfied with their lives. Mad Men, therefore, should not be watched by people looking for a light-hearted show; it can be fairly depressing.
It does not aim to be a dark or depressing show, and thanks to the writing there is also well-crafted comic relief; it is simply revealing the complex realities of life for these people, many of whom are trapped by the norms of the time. The acting on the show is superb; all the characters seem completely realistic and natural and represent a diverse range of personalities and outlooks. Each of the characters struggles to find some satisfaction and happiness in their lives, and many fail. So far in season five we see Roger and Jane’s marriage falling apart, as he realizes that she is simple and shallow, while she now resents being married to an old man. Peggy is frustrated by her work; she believes she is under-appreciated and overworked. Joan desperately wants to return to her job and is paranoid that she will not retain her power and importance after taking time off to care for her new baby. While she loves her child, she also misses her old way of life and is emotionally strained. Pete Campbell is also frustrated by his position at work and realizes that the American dream of living with his wife and child in the suburbs is perhaps not what he wanted after all.
The general theme of the season premiere was the struggle to gain, regain or retain power, influence or some semblance of happiness. Betty, the notoriously troubled housewife, and her husband Francis were noticeably absent from the episode, which was slightly disappointing but also built anticipation for this coming week’s episode. Besides being a fabulous look at the changing culture of the sixties, the season premiere reminded viewers of why they fell in love with the show and whetted appetites for the rest of the season.
