[Obfuscation]

Mad Men is probably my favorite show solely on the basis of the writing alone. Genius most of the time. Combined with those performances. I'm right there with you in the addiction area. Pop in one disc and boosh. Before I know it I went through an entire season without wanting to stop.

[WOOLCOCK]

Mad Men was a strange one for a while with me. When I got around to starting it I made my way through Seasons 1-3 with ease because the writing was super, the setting and presentation immaculate and the acting was top notch. However a lot of storylines moved in a fairly slow burn style which meant whilst I continued to enjoy and watch the show, it still hadn't fully clicked as 'must see'..to the point where it would be half 2 in the morning and I'm still considering watching one more episode. It wasn't like I wasn't enjoying/appreciating the show, but it just hadn't really grabbed me to the point where there was a fixation.

That all changed with seasons 4 and 5 however, especially Season 5. Maybe it was just my memory being a little off but a lot more of the character development and storylines seemed less subtle and complex and more symbolic and easy to relate to. Things like Peggy trying to become a strong independent woman in a man's world and having to question where her career was growing and then seeing how someone like Joan can't escape from the 'eye candy' label she's subjected to and who realises in many ways she probably longs for the independence and opportunities Peggy will have in life. Then you take in Pete's harrowing depression and sense of loneliness especially in relation to someone like Don, and you've got a brilliant built character arc breaking down everything you thought made the character happy...and realising how empty he truly is.

Of course that's without talking about Don and Roger and how they struggle to adjust to what we know is a new culture sweeping society that they're out of touch with. How Lane also has inner demons and problems caused by a stressful job and the demands of a family he can't fail to support. Even Sally and her relationships with Betty, Don, Glen and other figures in her life felt more developed and understandable in the later seasons.

[Desecrated]

Can see how 1/3 is slower from 4, and the first episode I've seen in 5. Maybe just the loss of Betty as a total regular has given the show more energy, different side of Don shown. And, my total crush on Megan. Roger's 'three quarter life' crisis, the occasional bits of comedy mixed with drama, emotion and story. They've built it up for those 3 seasons, and in season 4, everything just clicked together. And based on that first episode of season 5 I've watched, it seems only to get better. But I wouldn't think 1-3 slowly 'drags/burns' on. It came across as storytelling, revealling Don bit by bit, his secrets, his life. And his marriage slowly decaying. But with that over, they've focused on other characters, and it brings the show more to life.

[JoeRulz]

I think the Season 4 of Mad Men is the most complex piece of TV drama ever. Pure brilliancy.

[Bubz]

Mad Men is incredible. I wasn't sure just how good I thought it was after the first couple of seasons, but after seasons 3,4 and 5 it might be my favourite show ever. The writing is the best I've ever seen, every single character is so amazingly written, the acting is outstanding and the show is full of symbolism (especially in season 5) and it's so complex but at the same time it's not hard to 'get' if that makes sense.

[Seabs]

Mad Men deserves all the praise it gets, which in fairness is a lot of praise. The Last season was legit one of the best seasons of a TV Show I've seen. Feels like it's really found it's place since Season 4 and hasn't looked back. Not that the earlier seasons aren't fabulous either. Get the feeling it's a show that I'd appreciate a lot more if I rewatched it from start to finish again once it ends because the character development is incredible. Peggy in Season 5 compared to Peggy in Season 1. Out of this world. Don't know if I'd say it's better than Breaking Bad but I definitely prefer it to Breaking Bad. BB's too constantly serious and there aren't enough light hearted characters to relieve from the heavy stuff like Mad Men has.

[8 Ball]

Worth checking out Mad Men then? Have no idea what it's about, what's the general plot?

[JoeRulz]

What have we just said?

[8 Ball]

That you enjoy it. Nothing about what its about.

[Patrick Bateman]

Just check out the first episode.