Mad Men

Overview

Set in 1960s New York, Mad Men explores the glamorous and ruthless world of Madison Avenue advertising. The series centers on Don Draper, a mysterious and highly talented creative director at the Sterling Cooper agency, who hides a dark, fabricated past while navigating the shifting social mores of a rapidly changing America. As he climbs the corporate ladder, he struggles to maintain his professional dominance while his personal life unravels through infidelity, alcoholism, and existential dissatisfaction. Beyond Draper, the show provides a panoramic view of the era, tracking the professional and personal evolution of characters like the ambitious Peggy Olson, the cynical Roger Sterling, and the poised but trapped Betty Draper. Through its meticulous period detail, the series examines themes of identity, gender politics, consumerism, and the pursuit of the American Dream, capturing the tension between the traditional values of the 1950s and the turbulent cultural revolution of the late 1960s.