TV Show Recap: Mad Men

Story by Greg Bright 

| Published Sep 20, 2010

“Mad Men,” the Emmy Award winning drama, came back for its fourth season July 25. Unless you have a life, you already know this. Because we are in this awkward period where no other show has new episodes except “Mad Men,” I’m here to recap what has been going on with it the past four seasons.

If you’ve never seen the show, it centers around Don Draper and (to a slightly less extent) Peggy Olsen. We start season one in 1960. Don is the head of creative at Sterling Cooper Advertising Agency and Peggy Olsen is his secretary. In a nutshell, the first three seasons consist of Peggy rising within the creative department under Don’s guidance and Don failing miserably at being a father and husband.

Now we start season four, Don and Peggy and all the important characters have left Sterling Cooper and joined Sterling Cooper Draper Price (what a beautiful way to end season three, by getting all the important characters back without seeming cheesy. The writers constantly amaze me). Don is now divorced and his wife is married to another man. Peggy has grown up, looks radiant, has a boyfriend and has really become independent and somewhat feisty.
Single Don must deal with the fact that though he is still attractive to almost all women and still able to get what he wants, he must deal with the consequences of what he wants. Women now want more from him and Don doesn’t want to give them more than his penis. Jon Hamm (Don Draper) steps up his game this time around, meticulously showing every wrong step Don makes while he spirals out of control. This could lead to boring episodes, but with these writers it doesn't.

It’s mind blowing how they can effortlessly bring in new characteristics and new flaws without it seeming forced. Elizabeth Moss as Peggy Olsen hopefully will get an overdue Emmy for her role this season. While normally she is just able to keep up with Jon Hamm in scenes, this year she is able to hold her own.

“Mad Men” continues to dazzle in its fourth season with a new energy that is just too much fun not to watch. Now, stop listening to me use every positive adjective I can think of and go watch it for yourself.

Greg can be reached at Gregory32389@gmail.com