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.

I like Helen Bishop. She reminds me of my aunt Ruth. Sharp-tongued and doesn't take any guff from men, or women.

But, yeah, the amount of misogyny skeeves me. Also pisses me me off because my dad is in the age bracket and he never would have spoken of/to a woman the way most of those guys are. While they may be showing us how they think it was, not every single male was a skirt-chasing letch bent on female subjugation. So, I'm kinda resentful on my dad's behalf.

While they may be showing us how they think it was, not every single male was a skirt-chasing letch bent on female subjugation.

Yeah, just like the fact that not everybody smoked. That drives me up a wall.