The season opens with someone asking the question, “Who is Don Draper?” The line is a bit tongue-in-cheek, since that is the core question of the series and it is here asked to the man himself. More than any other, this season needs Don to recognize that question. At the end of Season Three, Don abandoned Sterling Cooper to create a new agency. When the season opens, Sterling Cooper Draper Price has been active for a year, and the change is evident.
Don Draper is more of a creation than anything else. He was Dick Whitman many years ago before he adopted this new identity. From that, he constructed the man he wants to be: the one with the successful job, prestige and Norman Rockwell-esque family. Now that is all starting to shift. The world is constantly evolving, and that means Don must evolve.
This season is more difficult for him because he’s not as confident. The firm isn’t an instant success, he is not as successful with women and, most importantly, the only person in the world who knows the true him is now sick.
"Mad Men" has always maintained a high level of quality. Every character is perfectly realized, and its themes are so fascinating. With Season Four, it feels like a new show but still the same. The new environment and struggles revitalized something that wasn’t even close to being stale. There is such a brilliant focus on the characters, and it is always evident there is more to learn.
The best episode of the season — and the series, and maybe all of TV — was called “The Suitcase.” The episode takes place all during one night where Don makes Peggy, SCDP's star copywriter, stay after work to brainstorm an ad. It’s her birthday, and Don is putting off doing something as well. It was solely written by series creator Matthew Weiner and it encapsulated all the best parts of the show — ingenious dialogue mixed in with a story that has the characters beginning to realize who they really are, even as they're juxtaposed with a world suggesting otherwise.
From that point, the series continues on the best emotional arc for Don Draper, all leading up to a shocking point of the finale. That moment is well earned, jarring and a step in the right direction for the show. The series is not afraid to put its characters in new environments to progress the show and its arcs. It’s unclear where they are all going to end up, but after four years, this show still has a level of confidence and payoff where that’s not something to worry about.
It’s hard to pick a season, but this one might just be the best of the series. What an incredible journey so far.
The show has always been great about creating bonus features. Weiner and company are so dedicated about capturing the time period, and the DVD sets usually show that process. This one has a long documentary on how divorce was handled during this time. There is also a fun one where businesses are using Don Draper’s tactics to sell their own products. There is also a look at the rise of the Ford Mustang and the 1964 presidential campaign. There are also a bunch of commentaries. It's a great collection of footage to give you a greater appreciation of the time and the story.
Season: 5 Yaps
Extras: 4.5 Yaps