Mad Men - Season One Blu-ray DVD Review

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DVD Release Date - June 01, 2008
Description:

A drama about one of New York’s most prestigious ad agencies at the beginning of the 1960s, focusing on one of the firm’s most mysterious but extremely talented ad executives, Donald Draper.

Review

Where to begin?

Much has been said about this wonderful series, practically everyone has said you “must” check it out, that you would love it immediately. After I watched the first episode I knew right then, this show was special, something that could be very good.

After watching the first season, I’m proud to say that Mad Men is a show I love, no, Mad Men is a show I that I fell in love with. The cast is great, the writing is superb, and the setting (1960’s ad agency) is very interesting to me.

I am “twentysomething”, I didn’t grow up in these times, this is a new world to me. No show in a long time has resonated so deeply, so profoundly to me as this show has. In fact, I don’t want call it a show, it’s a brilliantly constructed work of art. Every piece of dialogue, every move of the camera, has me captured and enthralled to the core.

The main character, Don Draper, is a man’s man. He has his stuff together, well kept, very secure, and takes nothing from nobody. In this day in age, when your watching television or cinema, every man you see is the complete opposite of Don Draper.

Don Draper starts out this season as a junior partner at this advertising firm called “Sterling Cooper Advertising Agency”. As an “ad man”, he has to broker some pretty big deals. Don usually gets in some tough situations, you think he cannot possibly get out of, and boom, he takes control, commands the room, and wins their bids. I personally, could do with seeing more of this The man is amazing.

With every good hero, there must be a villain, and that “villain” would be Pete Campbell. Don Draper is a man who came from nothing, and made himself who he is. He knows who he is, and how he got there. Pete Campbell would be the opposite. A man groomed from power. His family is very rich, powerful, and well know. As such, things come easy to and for him, and he expects the world to be given to him. What makes Pete likable, is despite where he came from, or grew up, he still gets no respect, no-one really likes or approves of him, they put up with him, but thats about it. The actor has this part down very well, and I eagerly anticipate more Pete scenes, even though I do not like the character, he is quite fun to watch.

When watching this show, you have to remember the time period. People smoked all the time, there were no cell phones, no internet, no interruptions. A more, innocent time, and a time when women were not respected in the workplace. I bring this up because, there is another “hero”, a female who goes by then name “Peggy Olsen”. She isn’t the most attractive women, she knows this, and it does not stop her. She is head strong, she knows what she wants, and she goes for it, not taking no as an answer.

What makes Peggy so down to earth, so lovable is the way she carries herself, how she makes her own place in the world. Rarely is it seen when a woman comes in, is told no, and proceeds to blasts through those barrierrrs. She does this with style, not by sleeping with the boss, or any other things which would cheapen her hard earned victories.

As a writer, and someone who loves stories, I can tell you, it’s not the story that keeps people interested, it’s not the fancy settings, the special effects, any of that. What draws you into a world, is the characters. How they relate to the world in front of them, how they go against all odds and come out or go down. It’s the moments in the characters lives that have us think about how we may act in our own time of need, what choices we may make, and how we would react in a similar situation. The characters here handle things with such ease, and very well. Many times throughout the series, I kept asking myself, how is he going to get out of that, what’s going to happen.

This is a show that rewards, a show that only gets better with repeat viewings, like a good vintage wine. It is one of the reasons I love television. I hope they continue this series for many seasons.

This show is as good, or maybe even better than “The Sopranos”, which is a show that I hold with the higest of regards. A show that also borders on art, and another show I feel is timeless. Mad Men is right there with them, and I wish them the best of success.

Images From the Show

Favorite Quotes -

Don Draper: What you call love was invented by guys like me to sell nylons.

Rachel Menken: It’s hard to get caught in a lie.
Don Draper: It wasn’t a lie, it was ineptitude with insufficient cover.

Roger Sterling: I bet there were people in the Bible walking around, complaining about “kids today.”
Don Draper: Kids today, they have no one to look up to. Cuz they’re looking up to us

Midge:(to Don on the phone) I want you to pull my hair and ravish me and leave me for dead.

Don: Mourning is just extended self-pity.

Don Draper: I hate to break it to you, but there is no big lie, there is no system, the universe is indifferent.

Pete: The president is a product. Don’t forget that.

Roger Sterling: Look, I want to tell you something because your very dear to me and I hope you understand it comes from the bottom of my damaged, damaged heart. You are the finest piece of ass I ever had and I don’t care who knows it. I am so glad I got to roam those hillsides.
Joan: Stop it.

Video - 5/5

One of the best looking blu-rays in my collection. Everything is sharp, deep colors, beautiful contrast, and well shot.

Audio - 5/5

I love the music in this series, so much so I went out and bought the soundtrack the very next day. (you can find a link below), this is the first show that makes me want to watch the credits, the music is chosen very well.

The audio is everything you want it to be. The voices are crisp, deep, and rich. The acoustics are fantastic, at times, I thought I was there.

Supplements - 5/5

I haven’t had the time to view all the supplements. I have listened to a few of the commentaries on some of the episodes I went back and watched, however there are 23 (yes 23!) commentaries on this blu-ray, adding up to over 18 hours in length, no small feat.

There are a few other supplements as well, my favorite being “Establishing Mad Men”, its about an hour long, and goes deep into detail about the various aspects of making the show. Interviews, talks with the writers, the sets, the costumes and more.

Overall - 5/5

This a great release, it has to be one of my most coveted possessions in my house.

Overall Rating - 5/5 Stars

Video - 5/5
Audio - 5/5
Bonus - 5/5
Story - 5/5

This release, if summed up into one word would be “perfect”.

This is a product of love. I hope you buy this, and I hope you keep watching this amazing show. Tell your friends, tell your co-workers, tell the world.

Bottom Line?

Buy it. This show is Beautiful, Sexy, and Smart. Brilliantly done in every aspect of production. You will not be disappointed.

Want to buy this? Please click one of the links below (the best price you can find).

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