Mad Men "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes"

There were always superficial reasons for me to like Mad Men.  I like suits, cigarettes, and liquor plus the 60’s intrigue me, but the trailers never grabbed my imagination.  I assume the main reason Mad Men didn’t appeal to me involves seeing the time period and wanting the show to be a noir.  I want to see mystery, violence, and corruption.  Now I’m one episode into the show and I am curious to see what comes next.

After being introduced to the double life leading, chain smoking, liver floating, suit wearing Donald Draper I’m intrigued, but I don’t know where this show is going. (I know I harped on Oblivion for being predictable, but stick with me here).  I’m apprehensive that this show could delve into the horrible pit of Soap Opera.  Then again, I have many friends with good taste advising me to watch this show almost every time I see them, so I guess Mad Men might be good.  With that in mind, let’s get down to business.

I like how mysterious the creators keep Draper through the first episode.  He’s often shown as a silhouette or only half lit which creates visual mystery and denotes a character with something to hide.  In the middle of the episode we learn that Draper has a purple heart, and then he dreams of a battle, no flash-back occurred so I assume that the explosions heard were from the same battle where he was injured.  I wonder what happened to him over there.

Trying to take over Don’s job is Pete Campbell.  He’s soon to be married, but openly, and quite discourteously, makes advances on his female co-workers.  Don has to save his new secretary, Peggy, from his advances early in the episode.  Later, Don tells Pete he won’t get far in their business because nobody likes him, which was an awesome scene because, really, Pete’s an ass.  The only good moment from his character so far was when he admitted he still had a lot to learn.  Yes you do, Pete.

Tension between the sexes is notable in this episode; so far Mad Men almost seems like a meditation on how the 60’s were different from today.  The women are expected to be secretaries or house wives that flirt with the powerful men.  I don’t know if the battle of the sexes was this extreme back in the real 1960’s, but I almost got culture shock from just watching this show.

I’m still unsure about Mad Men, but I find myself excited for Thursday because I get to watch the next episode.  Guess I’m hooked?  Maybe?  The show still has a chance to fail, but I’m interested.  I’m going to go smoke some Lucky Strikes and sip on some whiskey.  Excuse me ladies and gents.