Author Topic: Mad Men Season 1 Complaint (Read 2688 times)

EDGECRUSHER · « **on:** December 27, 2010, 02:57:19 AM »

I have the first 3 seasons on DVD and with the flu and the blizzard, now is a good time to finally watch this show. I have just finished season 1, and while it isn't great, I do sense potential greatness. However, is a good chunk of the show always going to revolve around Betty Draper? Fucking terrible storylines for her. They are all boring and I just don't give a shit. It reminds me of Dexter whenever they have stories for all the not-Dexter characters and how much of a waste of time they are.

The joy of DVD is I can just FF through her bullshit. Season 2 just started, I hope to see less of this time waster and more drinking.

SCB · « **Reply #1 on:** December 27, 2010, 04:27:07 AM »

Having watched every episode the last couple of months, four seasons, I can help set your expectations.

-Don Draper, who is the main character, isn't likable or meant to be someone good. But, his story does get more interesting the more you get to know him and his past. You'll never love him like Dexter, but you'll be interested in his life and the people that work with him.

-Betty Draper becomes one of the most hated characters ever down the road. Her stories are never that interesting, but most of them involve Don, which you should be interested in.

-The show isn't must see episode to episode, but has many moments of greatness, especially the drinking. It gets better.

Torgo · « **Reply #2 on:** December 27, 2010, 04:06:34 PM »

Quote from: EDGECRUSHER on December 27, 2010, 02:57:19 AM

I have the first 3 seasons on DVD and with the flu and the blizzard, now is a good time to finally watch this show. I have just finished season 1, and while it isn't great, I do sense potential greatness. However, is a good chunk of the show always going to revolve around Betty Draper? Fucking terrible storylines for her. They are all boring and I just don't give a shit. It reminds me of Dexter whenever they have stories for all the not-Dexter characters and how much of a waste of time they are.

The joy of DVD is I can just FF through her bullshit. Season 2 just started, I hope to see less of this time waster and more drinking.

I'm not done with Season 1 yet, but yeah I hate January Jones. Her best scene was when the little boy she was babysitting walked in on her on the toilet, and then they awkwardly sat on the couch while he drooled over her, then she gave him some of her hair. WTF was that about?

Leatherface · « **Reply #3 on:** December 27, 2010, 07:00:03 PM »

Quote from: Torgo on December 27, 2010, 04:06:34 PM

I'm not done with Season 1 yet, but yeah I hate January Jones.

You are gay.

Seriously though, Betty Draper is a super bitch, and JJ (that's what what we January Jones fans call her) is great at playing her.

SCB · « **Reply #4 on:** December 27, 2010, 07:45:28 PM »

She's actually most likable in season 1, gets progressively worse after that where you lose any sympathy for her.

EDGECRUSHER · « **Reply #5 on:** December 27, 2010, 08:05:01 PM »

I don't need to like a character to be entertained by them, so I have no problem with Don being a tool. I would also welcome "JJ" being despised, as long as it is entertaining. She has just been a bore so far. The acting has been fine, her storylines are just useless to me though.

Oh, and I am 3 episodes into Season 2. Where the hell is that baby?

Leatherface · « **Reply #6 on:** December 27, 2010, 11:42:04 PM »

Quote from: SCB on December 27, 2010, 07:45:28 PM

She's actually most likable in season 1, gets progressively worse after that where you lose any sympathy for her.

So true. I think I used to feel bad for her, but that all changed once she made the full transition into Super Bitch.

BobbyR · « **Reply #7 on:** December 28, 2010, 09:53:56 AM »

after reading this thread I'm glad I've never seen this show.
Thanks Edge

EDGECRUSHER · « **Reply #8 on:** December 28, 2010, 08:08:00 PM »

Halfway through Season 2 and I am still waiting for the greatness to kick in. I know it isn't a show with any fast developments, but I don't think I have seen one episode yet which I would call "can't miss". I feel I can skip the rest of the 2nd season, immediately start watching the 3rd season and feel as if I hadn't missed a beat.

I expected better. So far, this show is not even half as good as Breaking Bad.

SCB · « **Reply #9 on:** December 28, 2010, 09:27:00 PM »

Thats how every episode and season is. It's never going to be a must see thing. It's Don Draper floating through a life he takes for granted.

Breaking Bad owns this show. But it also owns most other shows.

EDGECRUSHER · « **Reply #10 on:** December 28, 2010, 10:08:10 PM »

Does it get better or should I just stop right now?

SCB · « **Reply #11 on:** December 28, 2010, 10:16:39 PM »

I think every season is better than the previous one. It's never going to kick into overdrive. But I think you can skip the rest of two if you're not feeling it and see how three feels. Three picks up a lot more and four has a lot of memorable episodes that you want to talk about with others, some not so much. You should definetely watch the last quarter of three to begin 4.

Leatherface · « **Reply #12 on:** December 28, 2010, 11:45:35 PM »

Quote from: EDGECRUSHER on December 28, 2010, 10:08:10 PM

Does it get better or should I just stop right now?

If you ain't feelin' it yet I would stop watching it. I love the whole Mad Men world, and I think season 3 is my favorite, but if you're not into any of the characters by now or care what happens to them, that's probably not going to change. This show is not for everybody.

EDIT: Are you a fan of 60s music or interested in the 60s at all? If you're not, I can see how you wouldn't be into this show. I love the whole 60s vibe, and I can't wait to see how the show and characters change as they get deeper into the decade.

EDGECRUSHER · « **Reply #13 on:** December 29, 2010, 12:09:49 AM »

I did like Season 1, but I feel myself fast forwarding through parts of Season 2 more and more frequently. Pretty much everything with the wife. I will finish the rest of it and then see how 3 feels. I like Draper and most of the office staff, but the slow pacing towards Don's personal life is almost worse than Dexter.

Leatherface · « **Reply #14 on:** December 29, 2010, 12:42:45 AM »

Quote from: EDGECRUSHER on December 29, 2010, 12:09:49 AM

I did like Season 1, but I feel myself fast forwarding through parts of Season 2 more and more frequently. Pretty much everything with the wife. I will finish the rest of it and then see how 3 feels. I like Draper and most of the office staff, but the slow pacing towards Don's personal life is almost worse than Dexter.

I recommend you keep watching then.

Handsome Padje · « **Reply #15 on:** December 29, 2010, 05:48:59 AM »

Every scene is important. If you're fast forwarding through scenes involving Don's wife, I don't think you'll ever understand why Don is acting the way he is (and why she's reacting to that)

Leatherface · « **Reply #16 on:** December 29, 2010, 12:19:16 PM »

Quote from: Handsome Padje on December 29, 2010, 05:48:59 AM

Every scene is important. If you're fast forwarding through scenes involving Don's wife, I don't think you'll ever understand why Don is acting the way he is (and why she's reacting to that)

I've never fast forwarded a show I watch. That is a bit odd. At least go back and read the re-caps, Edgecrusher.

BobbyR · « **Reply #17 on:** December 29, 2010, 12:54:30 PM »

I sometimes fast forward the various CSI's when they do the music montages of them working in the lab.

EDGECRUSHER · « **Reply #18 on:** December 29, 2010, 06:46:49 PM »

I'm not really FFing through whole scenes, just 10 second blocks of her being pouty. I have seen enough where I know everything that happens in every episode. Pete Campbell is a whiny tool. Good character.

SCB · « **Reply #19 on:** December 29, 2010, 07:15:56 PM »

Lots of good Roger stuff through out the show.

EDGECRUSHER · « **Reply #20 on:** December 30, 2010, 03:11:05 AM »

He is probably my favorite character. No-nonsense drinker who bangs as many women as possible. Great man.

Of course, he has never done anything as brilliant as Draper fingering that Barrett woman in the restaurant, telling her what to do as it pertained to business, and then wiped his hand on her dress. A manlier man, there isn't.

EDGECRUSHER · « **Reply #21 on:** December 30, 2010, 03:12:43 AM »

I have discussed this with my friend who has watched every episode, and basically the show just isn't meant to be watched the way I am doing it. It would've been best if I had just seen it from the start and let every episode sink in for a week. So, I am watching them a bit slower now. By the 5th season, I can watch it the way it was intended to be.

SCB · « **Reply #22 on:** December 31, 2010, 01:34:02 AM »

There's a great flashback episode in season 4 on how Don and Roger first met.