I've been watching the Mad Men marathon all day, and I need someone to explain to me how I am supposed to appreciate this. It is so bleak and negative and I don't like any of the characters. What am I missing?

Am I supposed to like Don?

I had a similar reaction, quester.

For me it's not so much about ''liking'' the characters, but I enjoy how fucked up the whole thing is, and I think the writing is sharp.

I forgot that was on today, no wonder my TiVo has had red-eye all day.

I Netflixed Mad Men a while ago and just got the first disc on Friday, so I've watched the first three episodes. I know what you guys mean, no one in this show is exactly likable. Yet, I want to keep watching. I think because the story is compelling, even if the people are all pretty much asshats.

I know what you guys mean, no one in this show is exactly likable. Yet, I want to keep watching. I think because the story is compelling, even if the people are all pretty much asshats.

This describes every drama I've ever seen on HBO.

and I don't like any of the characters.

You don't like Peggy? Or Joan? Or Don's bohemian girlfriend on the side?

I like that the characters are flawed and interesting. You understand everybody's motives. You see the flaws of the era and the sexist, racist, anti-semitic, homophobic culture. Nobody's completely irredeemable. Nobody's untainted.

It's very sharply written and it looks beautiful, and the stories were very compelling.

I find it depressing and just makes me thank Gloria Stienem and Betty Friedan!

I find it depressing and just makes me thank Gloria Stienem and Betty Friedan!

I think you're supposed to think of them. I really like that they don't soft peddle (so to speak) an idealized version of the era. It allows them to address those issues honestly, and - of course - there are clear resonances with today.

quester,

I had a really hard time with MM for the first half or so of the series. The misogyny is what really got me. I just didn't find it at all enjoyable. In fact, I was pretty depressed. I told my beau, "you have until a Black cleaning lady shows up and then I'm out."

However, when Draper's mystery started getting deeper and some of the men's lives became obviously miserable, that's when I started become more interested.

I did eventually come to like Don, but he doesn't make it easy all the time. And I like Peggy a lot. And poor messed up Betty(not always. Sometimes she thinks she's all that.) I think Joan is sexy.