The Show
Wait a second: Didn't AMC used to be our TV destination for really bad old movies that nobody under the age of 80 ever heard of? What are they doing with a great, edgy show like Mad Men? Well, for starters, HBO passed on it, pitched as it was by one of the primary creative forces behind their just-ended cornerstone The Sopranos. (No, I don't understand that one, either.) But their loss was basic cable's gain as the world got to know Madison Avenue advertising man (or "Mad Man" for short) Don Draper (Jon Hamm), the epitome of urban cool in the early 1960's, a simpler time of three-martini lunches and The Big Idea.
For two seasons now, the series has given us an up-close view of The American Dream during its golden age, exposing the illicit sex, lies, alcohol and tobacco that were apparently being enjoyed with reckless abandon. The show is also a guilty pleasure as a comfortably distant portrait of the bygone male-centric, politically incorrect lifestyle, fraught with discrimination of every sort. Some consider it an exaggeration, and perhaps it is, but they only have an hour (including commercials) to make their point each week.
Editor's Note: Vote 5 Stars for Big Picture Big Sound's very own Joe Lozito for a walk-on role in the upcoming season of Mad Men here.
In Season Two, Don's uncanny knack for his job continues to advance his enviable career, although his extracurricular activities get him in hot water both at home and in the office. The most interesting subplots revolve around Don's co-workers, wrestling with relationships, dark secrets and quaint but delicious corporate politics. Extensively researched and brilliantly written, this sophomore season is every bit as good as the first, and I'm counting the days until the premiere of the third.
The Picture
I noted a very faint haze over the 1.78:1 image, but in general, the look is gorgeous, crisply delivering the fine textures of the period clothes, trappings, etc. Blacks can be a little severe and backgrounds a little mushy, but subtle skintones are spectacular. Shadowy areas of the frame or the grill of an old TV speaker can get a little twitchy, but not so frequently as to be a serious problem. The picture is so sharp in fact, I also noticed for the first time the special effects in a scene between Don and wife Betsy (January Jones) needed to add the autumn foliage since the show is shot in the endless summer of Los Angeles.
The Sound
Mad Men is one of TV's finest dramas, but it's still a drama, so some of you might be thinking that DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 is unnecessary. I say if Lionsgate wants to mix/master for high-resolution 7.1 (as they did for Weeds), and your system can handle it, why not? Don't expect a lot of explosions or car chases, but the fidelity is consistently first-rate. Vintage music plays an important role, sometimes over a scene, sometimes mixed down into the background, always giving new life to old songs. And while there's not a lot of rear-channel usage or discrete multichannel activity, all scenes have a well-crafted, readily believable fullness.
The Extras
Incredibly, there are two commentaries on each episode in this set, almost every one featuring Mad Men creator/writer/director Matthew Weiner. He is joined by his fellow scribes, directors, and most of the stars, and even guest stars. Also included is a brief Mad Men Season 2 "Music Sampler," eight truncated Dolby Digital stereo cuts totaling about four minutes. The two-part "Birth of an Independent Woman" highlights the changing place in society for the fairer sex way back when (43 minutes total, in HD). "An Era of Style" provides a 22-minute overview of '60s fashion (also in HD) hosted by the show's costume designer. And "Time Capsule" interactive 1960s history primer serves up background information on topics specific to each episode via the remote control.
Final Thoughts
One of those intelligent, daring shows that renew our faith in small-screen drama, Mad Men is must-see TV for anyone not offended by deliberate political incorrectness. I can't imagine it looking or sounding any better than on these Blu-rays, and the generous commentaries might be a new high-water mark for TV on disc.
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