'Mad Men': Must They Be Unhappy All the Time?

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Mary C. Curtis

National Correspondent

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I'm contradicting myself, I know. "Mad Men" is great because its fictional world nods knowingly at America of the 1960s, the dramatic changes and social movements from feminism to civil rights. That was my take last season. But after watching the first show of the new season, I'm thinking, "More escapism, please." The characters aren't just flawed, they're unpleasant and mean. That may be true to the tale, but as bedtime viewing goes, it's none too soothing.

Peggy Olson, the secretary-turned-copy-writer, once made her way through an all-male advertising jungle, talent barely hiding awkward uncertainty. The new Peggy -- all ambition -- gets caught up in a media stunt that nearly explodes. All's well that ends in more hams sold.

Betty Draper is out for revenge. She's got a new husband -- and a disapproving mother-in- law in the bargain. Yet she can't resist any chance to stick it to the ex who wronged her. Her uninterested mothering has morphed into full-blown neglect. When last seen, little Sally Draper was upchucking cranberries at the Thanksgiving table.

The zingers from Roger Sterling, my sentimental favorite, are edgier than usual. The subject of a running joke? A one-legged Korean War veteran.

Don Draper was always the most elusive of protagonists, but he drew the line somewhere. This year, there's no line: He snaps at Peggy, clients, a reporter (an unforgiveable sin) and gets abused by a prostitute for good measure. Let's hope he find himself before he loses the rest of us.

Creator Matthew Weiner acknowledges the dark period of turmoil and violence with this season's 1964 starting point. (A reference to the murders of civil rights workers in Philadelphia, Miss., from the mouth of blond arm candy no less, sets the tone.)

I hope the series that survived on its look before the story caught up won't forget what made it famous. A little light on the dark side, please. The cast of characters can suffer – or else we wouldn't recognize them – but let them do it with wit, style and just a hint of redemption so we can empathize instead of holding them at a distance.

Even 1960's New York City contained a few good men and women.

Click here to follow Mary C. Curtis on Twitter.

Filed Under: Woman Up, Culture

Tagged: betty draper, don draper, mad men, matthew weiner, peggy olson

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Elaine

Sweet potatoes. . . and marshmellows :)

July 29 2010 at 1:49 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Rog

I quite agree!

July 28 2010 at 12:34 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

uspkf

great show very few good shows on tv anymore

July 27 2010 at 10:37 PM Report abuse Permalink +1 rate up rate down Reply

ziegler21wp

Dear Ms. Curtis,

Of course, there were good men and women in 1960's New York ( would like to think that my working class parents were very good people), but many of them weren't in the advertising business and didn't live in Westchester. Young women like Peggy were working in an environment so hostile to a woman's success that her accomplishments at this fictional ad agency seem quite extraordinary. If she's cranky and feeling the need to push the envelope, well, this is pretty realistic to the time. Indeed, the professional world open to young women who graduated from college in the late 1960's wasn't noticeably better. The threat of total nuclear war was a dark shadow and the rise of civil rights movement while inspiring to some was threatening to others. I am happy to go elsewhere for my escapism; I like Mad Men because it tells some truths about the time and reminds me that we have made progress in so many areas of American life since those not so good old days.

July 27 2010 at 6:44 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to ziegler21wp's comment

Linda Marmorale

You are so very right, having lived through that period myself, this show is pretty realistic. It is the first show in a very long time I actually enjoy watching.

August 04 2010 at 4:00 PM Report abuse Permalink -1 rate up rate down Reply