Mad Men, the acclaimed period drama that first aired in 2007, is being recommended as essential viewing for fans of The Sopranos. The series, set in a Manhattan advertising agency during the 1960s, has been praised for its deep character studies and exploration of morally flawed anti-heroes.
Award-Winning Success
Mad Men ran for seven seasons from 2007 to 2015, winning 16 Emmy Awards and five Golden Globes. It made history as the first basic cable series to win the Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series, a prize it claimed in each of its first four seasons. On Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds a critics' score of 94% and an audience score of 95%.
Why Sopranos Fans Will Love It
Both series focus on deeply flawed lead characters balancing work and personal lives, exploring family relationships, identity, and the pressures of success. One reviewer stated: "Masterpiece creation. It is so good that every Sopranos fan should watch it. Both shows are deeply character-driven studies of morally flawed anti-heroes wrestling with existential crises." Another added: "Excellent TV series. Thoroughly engaging and one of the best TV shows I have ever seen."
The Story and Cast
Created by Matthew Weiner, Mad Men follows Don Draper (Jon Hamm), a senior executive and creative director at a Manhattan advertising agency, as he struggles to keep his personal life separate from his career. The cast includes Elisabeth Moss, Christina Hendricks, John Slattery, January Jones, Vincent Kartheiser, and Kiernan Shipka. The series originally developed by Weiner in 2000 was picked up by AMC as its first original drama, becoming one of the channel's biggest successes.
Streaming Availability
Mad Men is available to stream on Disney+. The series remains regarded as one of the greatest television dramas of all time.
