(no subject)

[theweaselking]

Shorter Mad Men: "Look at these uncivilised and backwards savages. Aren't they uncivilised, backwards, and savage?"

I do not get the appeal of this show, at all. It got marginally better in season 2, but 1 and 3 are pretty much endless paeans to "look how amusingly backward they are. Isn't it wonderful that we're not so backward?"

Comments

[cuddlycthulhu.livejournal.com]

I didn't like it because I found just about every character on the show unappealing in some fashion, which is one of the reasons why my wife likes it so much.

has never actually given it a shot

[goblinpaladin.livejournal.com]

Watch Deadwood, get the same thing- plus more whores and swearing.

Re: has never actually given it a shot

[unnamed525.livejournal.com]

Everything's better with whores and swearing.

[theweaselking.livejournal.com]

Deadwood was actually a good show, not just an endless horror show about how terrible people were.

[theweaselking.livejournal.com]

By which I mean, there were bad people, but the "good people" weren't pointedly terrible assholes for no reason.

[goblinpaladin.livejournal.com]

Okay- get the same thing, plus an actually good show. I fucking love Deadwood, so if someone is just after 'oooh, backward' then they can get that together with actual quality television.

[chrisrw109.livejournal.com]

Deadwood was an awesome show, if only for the use of 'cocksuck' as so many parts of speech. Verb, Adjective, Noun, Proper Noun.

Seriously adored that show.

[pope-guilty.livejournal.com]

So it's Blazing Saddles for the 1960's then.

[eididdy.livejournal.com]

I'm guessing if it was as obviously satirical as Blazing Saddles, Weasely wouldn't have the problem he does with it.

[publius1.livejournal.com]

NEWS AT 11: PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT TASTES

[theweaselking.livejournal.com]

11:05: THESE PEOPLE ARE WRONG AND THUS SCARY.

[torrain.livejournal.com]

11:10: LOVE YOU ANYWAY HUSH AND LET ME WATCH.

[jaundicedaye.livejournal.com]

The show lost its appeal for me after a few episodes, but the reason why I loved it for that time is that these were the people I was supposed to grow up to be. In the late 50's and early 60's an advertising executive was the epitome of the American dream. This show peeled the veneer off the edifice. I do think it would have been better as a film than a series, but it does have value.

[kafziel.livejournal.com]

I think that was in large part the hook for the series, but it's the ongoing character drama and politics is actually what's kept me really interested. The era is really more just a framing device and style than it is driving the narrative, and that I see as a good thing.

[sophia8.livejournal.com]

Agreed. Plus the design values are terrific - just look at how the costume colours often seem to be co-ordinated with the setting. And then there's the music; though there are songs from the period, much of it's been written for the series. You'll find lots of great Mad Men music clips on Youtube

[torrain.livejournal.com]

Yes. That.

(I know, I know, backwards savages; but really, if you don't let yourself get distracted by that, then what's actually going on is interesting.)

(also ohgod his foot)

[andrewducker]

The foot thing was really unpleasant.

But the show is just so well written, and I have sympathy for pretty much all of the characters, even if they are unpleasant.

Maybe I just have too much sympathy.

[ladypeyton.livejournal.com]

Unpleasant, yes, but also hysterically funny.

(I obviously have no soul)

[almostwitty]

The BBC has a show called Life On Mars, where a 21st century cop ended up travelling back to the 1970s and gazing in amazement at what went on back then.

It made a star out of a particularly sexist bullying cop, so much so that it got its' own sequel, Ashes To Ashes.

Oddly, the US version tanked despite having Harvey Keitel.

Never underestimate the power of nostalgia.

[quotation.livejournal.com]

Life On Mars, the BBC version, is much better than you describe.

The US version was made of dog poop. In the case of its finale, it was dog poop in space.

[sandchigger.livejournal.com]

Dog poop on fire in space.

[gothpanda.livejournal.com]

THAT IS WHAT I THINK TOO!!!!

There was a scene in season one that lasted 10 minutes that was about returning a chip/dip bowl. TEN MINUTES. I vowed never to watch the show again in revenge for wasting ten minutes of my time. I do not understand the appeal of the show except for the presence of Christina Hendricks, who was better as Our Mrs. Reynolds.

*hops off soapbox, goes to watch Firefly*

[matgb]

I tried to watch an episode when I discovered that BoSaffBridg was in it, but I didn't even find her attractive in it, let alone want to watch the rest.

And what's with the horribly stereotypical Brits? Meh, some people like to watch weird stuff. As long as they don't try to stop me watching my favoured weird stuff, we're good.

[ladypeyton.livejournal.com]

I love it because it reminds me of my childhood, which was beautiful and civilized and also fairly hellish.