Mad Men

I finished watching the first season of Mad Men. Great show. As I look back on the whole 13 episode season, maybe the plot was a little slow, but each episode felt full. All the major developments were foreshadowed a few episodes prior (if not through the whole season). The acting is universally strong and the characterizations are rich.

Of course the real star of the show is the world itself. For being just 50 years ago, it seems entirely different. It's hard to imagine drinking at the office, let alone having full bars in each executive's office and constant glasses of whiskey. The smoking is continuous and no one has to go outside to do it and no one complains about smoke in their face. The women are subjugated sex objects. Virtually everything most of the men say would qualify as sexual harassment today. It demonstrates how "environmental harassment" really is a problem. All of the men are adulterers, racists, and hiding from something.

Those were the days. Great show.