Mad Men, and why I love it

Being the "Netflix generation" means I get to binge my favorite shows on a whim, and that's what I've been doing the past few weeks. This time, it's none other that contemporary favorite - Mad Men. No, I didn't watch a season a day. No, I didn't procrastinate everything else I had to do. Yes, it's been worth it. 

Cigarettes, Alcohol, and a ton of hair product. The elements that make up Don Draper. 

I won't lie, this wasn't my first attempt to get into Mad Men. I'd tried before, finishing an entire season before letting it fade away from memory. This time however, things seem different. I know what you might be thinking "Oh the advertising major is watching the advertising show, how clichéd", but it's so much more than that. In fact, my favorite part of the show isn't even the fact that it's an advertising-based show. 

What intrigues me is the time-travel-like feeling I get when I put on a new episode. The show's ability to follow America's past, in so many ways, is what gives it the edge. Be it a political event or a cultural shift, the show capitalizes on it and finds a way to show the world how advertising was affected. It shows the world how change truly is the only constant when it comes to this industry, and how adapt or die holds special meaning at the agencies. 

While it's been a delight to watch Mr. Draper take on the world with his vigour, zeal, and ideas; the real pleasure comes in watching the supporting cast stand by him (and against him) as they grow. I'm looking at you Peggy, Roger, Pete, Joan, and some others. Character development, sets and scenes, dialogues, and everything else tie-in perfectly to make this show such a masterpiece. 

It's allowed my non-advertising peers to look into the past of advertising and wonder how marvellous advertising truly can be. Admittedly, it puts creative on the pedestal, and mocks account management. If only the world could peek into the doors of an agency today.