LITTLE ROCK — Mad Men returns with new episodes at 9 p.m. today on AMC. The series has won back-to-back Emmys as TV’s best drama and is nominated again this year. I’ve seen the first new episode and fans should be pleased.
For most viewers, a retro series set in a New York advertising agency in the 1960s is either nostalgia or a revelation. It’s somewhere in between for me. I went from age 12 to 21 in the ’60s, so I wasn’t privy to the mysterious workings of the business world. But the domestic scenes, decor and the milestone news events ring true for me.
The series is set in the rapidly changing world when the stodgy Eisenhower years were transforming into a more vibrant (and frequently chaotic) decade. Revolution was in the air - social, political and cultural.
This is the canvas upon which the world of Mad Men is painted.
In Season 3, the examination of the human condition continued as characters faced the realities of dramatic change in the country - from the birth of civil rights to the assassination of a president.
These changes were reflected in their personal lives. Corporate politics, homosexuals in the workplace, frustration and betrayal all contributed to the feeling of loss of familiar surroundings.
All of this was centered on our chief protagonist, Don Draper, played with brooding introspection by Jon Hamm.
The inevitable confrontation with his wife forced Don to reveal the truth about his past and his real identity. His marriage imploded.
The resale of the advertising agency Sterling Cooper by British parent company Putnam, Powell and Lowe left Don and his partners facing the uncertainty of forming a new firm. What’s next?
Season 4 focuses on the lives of the men and women of Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce as they continue to evolve. Relationships are redefined and the characters are forced to face themselves and the world around them in new ways.
Here’s a reminder of who’s who in the outstanding ensemble.
Don Draper
(Jon Hamm). Don’s revelation to Betty caused her to reject him and seek a divorce. Meanwhile, Don had to deal with the disbandment of Sterling Cooper. As everything in his life that defined him was stripped away, Don rallied several former partners to launch a new firm and now faces the process of re-examining his world and himself.
Roger Sterling
(John Slattery). Son of the founder of Sterling Cooper, Roger embodies the veneer of wealth and status of the 1950s. Those times are waning. Roger now faces the challenges of a new, young bride and the opportunity to regain control ofhis life.
Betty Draper
(January Jones). Betty was already staggered by her husband’s infidelities when she discovered that the man she married was a fraud. Seeking security, Betty found herself increasingly drawn to Henry, who dotes on her, and filing for divorce from Don. With a new baby and a rebellious daughter, her life faces challenges.
Pete Campbell
(Vincent Kartheiser). Head of accounts at the new firm, Pete was contemplating going elsewhere until a personal appeal from Don and Roger convinced him to join.
Peggy Olson
(Elisabeth Moss). A talented copywriter, workingclass Peggy has struggled to reconcile her career ambitions with her personal desires. She initially declined to join the new firm, but ultimately accepted after Don expressed his admiration and respect for her work.
Joan Harris
(Christina Hendricks). The confident and efficient office manager marrieda doctor and resigned from Sterling Cooper. When her husband enlisted in the Army, Joan had to return to work and agreed to help when Roger asked for her assistance in launching the new agency.
Lane Pryce
(Jared Harris). Lane spent last season increasingly at odds with Sterling Cooper employees and his unhappily relocated wife. Upon discovering the London parent company was selling Sterling Cooper and his years of loyalty amounted to nothing, Lane joined the new agency.
Harry Crane
(Rich Sommer). Harry was named head of the one-man television department at Sterling Cooper. When the company was sold, Harry faced losing his job and decided to risk everything and join the newagency.
Sally Draper
(Kiernan Shipka). Dealing with increased stress at home with the death of her grandfather and her parents’ broken marriage, Sally became increasingly disobedient, fighting with her brother Bobby and refusing to acknowledge her new brother, Gene.
TV Week, Pages 85 on 07/25/2010