Mad Men - Layers of Meaning

Start your 2 month free trial of Skillshare by going to skl.sh/lfts16
Mad Men, a show about mid-twentieth century American advertising, skillfully employs text, subtext, and symbolic imagery to emotionally sway the audience. In this video, we break down the acclaimed season 1 finale, "The Wheel", to uncover how the show's protagonist, Don Draper, utilizes all the meaning-making tools at his disposal to make a sale, even as the show's creators use those same tools to evoke a response in us.
Listen to our podcast episode on Mad Men: apple.co/2BCv8SJ
Support this channel at: / lftscreenplay
Like LFTS on Facebook: / lessonsfromthescreenplay
Follow me at: / michaeltuckerla
LFTS Merch: standard.tv/collections/lfts
Video Produced by: Michael Tucker ( / michaeltuckerla )
Written by:
- Tricia Aurand ( / triciajeana )
- Brian Bitner ( / brianbitner )
- Alex Calleros ( / alex_calleros )
- Michael Tucker
Edited by: Alex Calleros
Become a channel member here on KZbin: / @lessonsfromthescreenplay
Check out my kit, from screenwriting books to gear: kit.co/LFTS/screenwriting-books
LFTS Recommended Reading List: www.lessonsfromthescreenplay....
Translate this video: kzbin.info_vide...
Thanks to Diego Rojas for composing original music for this video. Check out more of his work:
🎵 / diegorojasguitar
🎵 diegorojas.bandcamp.com/releases
TwinSmart's Marxist Arrow is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (creativecommons.org/licenses/...)
Artist: www.twinmusicom.org/
With the company Twin musicom licensed under the Creative Commons license Attribution (creativecommons.org/licenses/...)
Artist: www.twinmusicom.org/
#MadMen

[@LessonsfromtheScreenplay]

*What other TV shows would you like us to cover in a future episode?* Start your 2 month free trial of Skillshare by going to skl.sh/lfts16

[@762x69]

Season 4 of the Wire

[@TheLazyReviewer]

The sopranos a character analysis on Tony Soprano

[@puzzleofmizuki]

Mr. Robot! Specifically S4 E7!

[@padraigdon1657]

Like to see The Sopranos Video :)

[@DaddysFlipside]

Six Feet Under

[@maxmooreish]

Don Draper is the best at selling happiness but the worst at grasping it.

[@goofygoosed]

damn that was good

[@fatninjacatmatt]

Can’t dip into your own supply

[@kalstonii]

Sales is embellishing the reality. Happiness is naivete of reality

[@freddogrosso9835]

Who was really happy in that show? Cosgrove? Sterling?

[@imperfect_dan7519]

That is until the end. It may not be lasting happiness but he did find it

[@sebastianconrad6823]

This show is highly rated yet still underrated

[@kaitlyn__L]

Big agree.

[@alejandradelcid3143]

Its the weirdest show i ever watched but my favorite

[@rgng]

Under-appreciated*

[@jashshah1033]

@@alejandradelcid3143 how is it weird?

[@fabc1966]

Cool call-back to Joan's line to Duck 👍

[@russellgarifulla1114]

KZbin doesn't have enough Mad Men essays.

[@anastasiageorge1279]

!!!

[@davidtheberge1231]

It needs 96 of them. The best show

[@Adrianlovesmusic]

but there is a lot of Marvel

[@JustFloatinAlong]

The Take has a handful of good ones on Mad Men!

[@haute03]

Agreed. It's wild because there's so much material to do a video essay on and yet.

[@maxhydekyle2425]

You could analyse basically every episode of Mad Men this deeply. Everything is so well written and so perfectly acted. Every line has multiple meanings and every story is actually multiple stories.

[@TheAARBAND]

Highly recommended Matt Zoller Seitz's book if you haven't read it already. Perfect companion piece to the show

[@kckazcoll1]

@@TheAARBAND thanks for this recommendation!

[@TheAARBAND]

@Henrique amazon probably sell it - please pay for it if you're going to download it, support creators!

[@poodleman3356]

you are exagerating man

[@kanakangi]

So true. Every scene every eye movement tells a story

[@maxhydekyle2425]

Don's pitch was so good he even sold himself on it.

[@rottensquid]

That's always his secret. As the show goes on, he loses his mojo because he finds himself unable to fool himself anymore. He sold himself this "good life" the way he sells that carousel, Lucky Strike, etc. But the problem with advertising is that sooner or later, you realize that the product sold to you on all these grandiose fantasies doesn't deliver. Cigarettes DO cause cancer, the happy memories promised by the carousel weren't really happy at all... products aren't the answer to the big hole in your heart. Nor is a picture-perfect marriage to a beautiful blond, a big house in Ossining, two kids, or a baby blue Cadillac. The whole show is a slow reveal of the profound falseness of advertising, as a metaphor for the cost of self-delusion.

[@fieldofsenses]

one of the deepest, most nuanced, detailed and well written series i've ever watched. calling it a masterpiece ain't enough.

[@vc6218]

The writers fucking did that! MASTERPIECE!

[@dinothegonzo]

Just thinking about Don Draper's "The Wheel" pitch makes me teary eyed. It's how universal the lonely prison Don has built for himself.

[@scottslotterbeck3796]

Well put. We make decisions without knowing all of the ramifications of those decisons. As Joni Mitchell put it, you don't know what you've lost 'till it's gone.

[@frankcolumbo9615]

“Don’s” aka:Dick’s, theft of another’s identification and living a lie can only exist in solitary confinement or risk Public Exposure, humiliation, ruin and the legal ramifications (federal charges: Army Desertion)

[@TiffanyTurquoise]

Kodak and Hallmark commercials were always great at summoning waterworks for me.

[@catherinedankens9823]

One of my fave scenes in the whole show

[@sleepingsleepsleep]

Well. I just realized I haven't absorbed even half of the meaning in this show.

[@LessonsfromtheScreenplay]

There is a _lot_ of meaning going on, it's hard to get it all on the first pass.

[@skipcubic4567]

Even after 3 or 4 viewings, you'll still miss things.

[@dayofthelords8371]

How many tiiiimes 😭😭

[@andreylucass]

You should write something every season to fully understand

[@Schmidtelpunkt]

The funny thing is: I think I got everything of it. I just would not have been able to express it in words. Which I think is the perfect indicator of something being art. But also shows a quality of this channel.

[@evandrobatista7086]

There is a saying in Brazil that says: "In a blacksmith's house, his tools are made of wood". Which means, in general, that a great business manager is a bad manager of his own life.

[@yoyoyodaboy]

I like that a lot

[@yonisali3879]

That is why opposites attract. Both sides covered.

[@PastaBasepot]

en casa de herrero, cuchillo de palo

[@nicolasdemedeirosboppre8046]

There is a quote*

[@user-yk5xu8gr1e]

Like in my country its... theres always darkness beneath the lamp....

[@CocktailsConsoles]

OMG “The Wheel” was one of the BEST episodes! So emotional and evocative!

[@mastermindmartialarts]

so, so good. Truly an amazing and unforgettable episode

[@smarkslowplay3512]

I felt so bad for Don in the empty house. So heartwrenching. He makes mistakes, but we want him to improve and do the right thing

[@randywhite3947]

It’s my favorite episode

[@barrymoton1]

Can I just talk about your absolute brilliance?! You are able to break down these concepts for people thriving to attain that level of artistic/intellectual prowess. I hope all the likes, subscribe notifications, and private messages serve as a source of affirmation for you and your team. I'm sure you've been told this before, but I TRULY want you to know that.

[@LessonsfromtheScreenplay]

[@themothermarkos]

This guy has it dead on. There's a whole community of people who have been saved by these endeavours that want to achieve this level. I went to university for four years but none of that captured the cathartic soul of creating the way you guys do.

[@barrymoton1]

@@LessonsfromtheScreenplay do you/y'all do any consultation work?

[@wong03333]

Wow i don’t think I can give a better compliment

[@4KToday]

When there’s that one KZbinr who has NEVER released a bad video!

[@rufaiajala]

@Rahul Manne what does this mean? 😅

[@matuk3200]

I think Don is more cynical than he seems. He did not "discover" his family. He thought he had discovered the formula for it. He was melancholic about a concept he can't understand.

[@scottslotterbeck3796]

Yup. He wanted his family as well as his various lovers. He felt ordinary rules didn't apply to him.

[@bradmarchant7822]

very interesting! Don has always been a sorta fake it till you make it kind of character, but always hallow in the middle. so what you say makes perfect sense.

[@Ikaros23]

@@scottslotterbeck3796 he is a intelligent/shallow and a machiavellian. And he know how insecure and shallow and selfabsorbed most humans are. Betty was no better than him, she just wanted the image of the perfect alpha man. Not a real man with scares.

[@partycitydumpster]

@@BlazeOrangeDeer you nailed it. The pitch scene where he shows the photos feels empty and tragic for Don, while being hopeful and full of yearning for us. The photos communicate nostalgia for others (nostalgia for someone else's life is a wild phenomenon), but they are props to him. He wants to feel nostalgic about them, but he continually prioritizes other things over his family. They're missed opportunities, they represent yet another period of time when Don wasn't fully present in his life or committed to his family.

[@lukesmith1818]

I forget the episode but there's one where Don vanishes and calls Betty to say "I had to do some thinking." She snaps back that that must be nice for him. That's his problem. His instinct is to get away instead of stick around and work things out with a family to support him. The expectation from his end is that if he just has time he will figure it out when in fact its driving people further away.

[@762x69]

Literally said oooh. Been waiting for this and I didn't even know it. Might even have an old-fashioned later 💁🏽‍♂️

[@LessonsfromtheScreenplay]

🥃🥂

[@josemsalvadorg.5623]

@@LessonsfromtheScreenplay You see the episode and particularly the carousel scene once and love it, but don't know why entirely.

[@PeterZeeke]

nothing beats an old fashioned www.podbean.com/eu/pb-2zusw-dfba77

[@dyg_bonvi]

This is mad. I literally just finished watching Mad Men two days ago. This channel is a true blessing.

[@LessonsfromtheScreenplay]

I love it when we nail the timing ;)

[@seaque.]

i watched the finale on the same day the video got released :)

[@emilymartinez6061]

i finished it last month! This was the fix I needed lol. I need to find another show like it

[@BaffledApe]

Same here, just 2 days ago. Now I'm looking for the analysis and explanation as to why I became so engrossed. I think I've found out why in this video. Thank you 'Lessons From The Screenplay' :)

[@daviswendye]

@@emilymartinez6061 good luck with that!

[@ebbyc1817]

"And it takes us to a place, where we ache to go again" God. This took me right back. Mad Men hit me in a place that few other shows have. From the first episode to the last.

[@KainedbutAble123]

The Wheel may be one of the greatest hours of Television ever produced.

[@LeonardoDiCapri-Sun]

Wow what weird timing... I'm in the middle of writing an essay about photography in the film One Hour Photo (2002) and what Harry and Don say in this episode reminds me of what Robin Williams' character says about what a photo can communicate to another person: 'I was here. I existed. I was young, I was happy, and someone cared enough about me in this world to take my picture.'

[@scottslotterbeck3796]

Powerful thoughts.

[@michaelluciano1980]

This may be the only episode where Harry Crane has a redeemable personality 😂😛

[@BlueisNotaWarmColour]

He was the nicest guy at the office in the beginning. By the end, he was the worst.

[@wintaffy23]

He really does put the junior in junior executive

[@willd6215]

Ha I love Harry

[@bulaluigi]

A lot of characters start out awful and improve, but he went the other way

[@kaitlyn__L]

@@BlueisNotaWarmColour I find that so captivating. He starts out as a slightly naive emotionally vulnerable guy who isn't as sleazy as the other guys in the office. He ends up turning into Homer Simpson.

[@Graenelolz]

I rewatch Mad Men in its entirety at least once every year since 2012/13. I never stop being amazed at the episodes and always pick up another layer and little cues. Best show ever.

[@Juan_Teppa]

"The Suitcase" might be one of the best episodes in the whole series. Personally, is still one of my favorites. This was a brilliant essay.

[@viniciusbicudo6266]

the moment when don hang up the phone with stephanie and peggy is already staring at him...Gets me every time

[@JiveTAB]

Soooooo stoked for this one. I watched all of Mad Men because, in my favorite course during college, we spent two entires classes analyzing a single episode. Few TV series have so much that can be analyzed as Mad Men.

[@LessonsfromtheScreenplay]

Ooh that's cool-which episode?

[@JiveTAB]

@@LessonsfromtheScreenplay 01.06 "Babylon" -- it was a textual criticism course, and my professor laid down a very strong argument that the entire episode is framing Don as a woman, doing so subtly in the first half of the episode, to the point of literally framing him in a shot through the bodies of women in the second half. It was incredible, and I'm so glad it convinced me to watch the whole series after graduating college.

[@JiveTAB]

@@LessonsfromtheScreenplay By the way, I wrote my original comment before even watching your video, but great work, as always!

[@ProjectileBurn]

@@JiveTAB This is wild, need to watch the episode again!

[@scottslotterbeck3796]

@@ProjectileBurn So well written. If I could write as well, well, I'd be in a writer's room!

[@adamkandalaft3307]

Please break down more episodes. There are so many good ones like this one throughout the show that has different themes and meanings. Your breakdowns are very thorough and enlightening, so as an avid mad men fan i really appreciate them.

[@sandranorman5469]

If you can buy or rent the seasons from your library -go to the analysis by Wiener. It will make you think about every “ Mad Men” episode you ever watched and go back and watch it again.

[@joshgoodman9882]

This show is the show that truly cuts the deepest to the difficulty of becoming happy.

[@hunter9mm]

Is it on Netflix?

[@joshgoodman9882]

HunterFTW they JUST removed it! Should be picked up by another streaming service soon!

[@efroster123]

Josh Goodman they did WHAT??!!

[@joshgoodman9882]

IAME-MAN I know! But there will be a huge bidding war over this one. My bet is it goes to HBO Max.

[@kckazcoll1]

on Stan in Australia

[@responsiblejerk2328]

The most brilliantly written show in TV history. They should have entire semesters of film school studying these scripts.

[@scenealizer]

Me: (Has not seen Mad Men) LFTS: (Uploads an analysis of Mad Men) Me: Right I know what I’m watching tonight

[@delaneystorm]

It is far better than I expected. Dashes any romanticism of the era and highlights timeless issues.

[@LessonsfromtheScreenplay]

haha, Godspeed!

[@maxhydekyle2425]

You're in for a treat

[@jenniaaponte1429]

Fasten you’re seatbelt. #bestshowontheplanet

[@LeoBan99]

Life changing show.

[@thef1dude501]

Mad Men is the only show that I went out of my way to buy the DVD's for all seasons, I don't think we'll ever get another Mad men

[@scottslotterbeck3796]

Maybe not. Such a great combination of retro and yet timeless themes.

[@battle_born]

We won't.

[@munnak3695]

So this series is just about men crafting advertisements but also struggling tk be happy ? Is that it ?

[@CriticalCulture]

The greatest television show ever made.

[@jenniaaponte1429]

FlareNetworkC THE BEST!

[@kckazcoll1]

I agree!

[@michelmurphy7152]

Yes!

[@jonasseorum5471]

Shared number 1 spot with the Sopranos

[@smarkslowplay3512]

Check out Succession, predecessor

[@hellopaolo]

Mad Men is full of subtexts and symbolism. Everything pretty much has a meaning without being flashy - just regular mundane workplace and home life. Every rewatch is peeling layers meaning and of course your more mature worldview and empathy also helps each time. Soooo poetic. Brilliantly written. Sublimely acted. And of course the most impeccable props, make up and costume.

[@yumihan6132]

I was so caught up on Don's storyline that I completely missed Betty's. Your videos are truly amazing. Please do one on the Don-Peggy dynamic, too!

[@rottensquid]

Right! This is such a great analysis of Betty's story. It's all buried in subtext, because Don doesn't talk, and Betty isn't allowed to speak up. Until she finally does.

[@satviktejasvi9228]

Even though I've watched this show twice, it feels like I haven't watched it at all. This is a show that never stops giving. Thanks for the video!

[@LessonsfromtheScreenplay]

I feel the same way!

[@ShadowedAgony]

I love when people talk about this show.

[@thescreening5329]

Love how they used a mock ending of Don coming home this episode, it really helps you understand a character’s expectations

[@RomanZolanski123]

I love how the sentiment is repeated in Leonard’s speech in the finale. It’s bad to come home and your family has gone without you. It’s worse to come home, your family’s there and they look right through you.

[@just_doug]

This is one of my favourite scenes in any series or film, being analysed by one of my favourite youtube channels. Today is a great day.

[@TrupimOkiemTV]

This material made me want to binge watch Mad Men again. Sorry, Final Space, I loved first season, but get in line.

[@bradmarchant7822]

Although this was the episode that truly hooked me for life on this series (every episode to this point was also good, but this felt flawless), I want to give an honorably mention to my favorite symbolism is season five episode five. Pete and his Leaky faucet. That one is my personal favorite!

[@brianbitner]

Yes! I brought that up when we were brainstorming this. That one always stuck with me.

[@emilewagenaar8397]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/rn24fYeiaNOAm7s an essay i liked about that episode

[@Flutterbyby]

🥰

[@isakenstrom3375]

Haven't seen that episode yet but there is an Elementary episode in which a leaky faucet is present and Sherlock uses it as a metaphor too.

[@luizfelipesturza6556]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/mXqZp2trbbGYirc The ending of season 5 is one of the greatest moments on TV in my opinion.

[@Mrn0sferatu]

You really shouldn't die before watching Mad Men I mean really. A true masterpiece.

[@skipcubic4567]

This scene was tied with the ending of season 5 for me in terms of how much I was moved by it, with Nancy Sinatra's You Only Live Twice playing in the background as Don slides back into the darkened corner of his old life and away from the literal spotlight his wife stands in.

[@MyRitieli]

Same. And Megan starring in a Beauty and the Beast themed ad. Don is leaving the fairytale that he tried to live in the whole season.

[@Ratchet2431]

And the Hershey's pitch in the finale of season 6.

[@kaitlyn__L]

Ugh, all the musical choices are so good. But yes, that scene was especially strong.

[@spoonman73]

@@MyRitieli I had a bit of a crush on Megan lol. Was so pissed at Don for cheating on her.

[@CarlosVasquezmdq]

In that scene I understood Don completely, i mean he want to be like a (james bond 007 Sean Connery You only live twice) even when in the serie that movie maybe does not even exists, here the director plays with all of us, we understand the meaning of the scene (don walking away the set).Then the bar scene is excelent, the best end for season 5. Then all fall apart, its just like real life tied up in a chapter.

[@jualiet2212]

This is my favorite thing about Mad Men, and also the reason why I could every episode over and over: Every sentence that is spoken, means at least three things at the same time.

[@SYNTHSTRUMENTALS]

I love Mad Men, so much timeless wisdom in it. I'm still using lessons learned from the show and quoting it in life situations all these years later.

[@IvanLendl87]

Mad Men is the most well written show I’ve ever seen. It’s brilliant. Love analysis of any aspect of that show. Well done 👏

[@LeviBulger]

Mad Men is a clinic on subtextual storytelling. Greatest show ever IMO.

[@blangblang3hunna591]

I can watch Mad Men material being broken down like this ALL DAY. Truly the greatest TV drama ever

[@dustmighte]

The whole thing at the Kodak pitch was so moving I actually burst in tears more or less at the same time as Harry

[@LeoBan99]

Everytime I see the scene of "Daddys is coming" I get fooled just to be brought back to the reality of Don's life. I love this series, my fav of all time.

[@NaiveDJack]

I remember Mad Men also being used for what they called 'reverse sci-fi', it creates an imaginary past to talk in depth about present issues: and you can all see them peppered in even some singular shots. Environment, race, gender, sexuality, all these characters are not real - but they connect us through time. The episode during the Moon landing stuck with me most in that sense, but I'm sure everyone has their favourite.

[@alexkasper5029]

One of my favorite examples of subtext on Mad Men (and there are SO many) is in the season 5 episode Lady Lazerus. A big part of Don's season arc is focused on his relationship with Meghan and how when they married he felt like they had this deep connection, that they were so similar. Her youth made him feel younger and it was invigorating. But these feelings slowly fall away as he realizes that in reality they are so fundamentally different and he is shaken by it. At the beginning of the episode, they are working on a pitch (I can't remember what for) that is aimed at a younger audience. He thinks it would be great to use music that has a Beatles quality to it, early Beatles, young wholesome and optimistic. The younger team members are amused by the fact that Don thinks that the Beatles still sound like that, their music has evolved into something much more experimental that reflects both what is exciting about the changing times but it is also darker. The characters don't need to explain that, their amusement at Don's disconnection with the younger generation says everything you need to know. And for the audience who are unfamiliar with the Beatles, the payoff comes at the end of the episode. The episode in general shows the characters dealing with change in their lives, coming to terms with the reality of relationships in particular. At the end of the episode Meghan comes home and has bought the new Beatles album Revolver for Don to listen to and tells him to listen to the last track bc to her, and her generation, it is something totally new and exciting. Don puts on the record and goes straight to the last track, "Tomorrow Never Knows". I still think that song sounds exciting and like nothing else, but I can imagine for the older generation in the 60s it was terrifying. It includes snippets of music played backwards, dreamlike lyrics from the Tibetan Book of the Dead, psychedelic in the extreme. The band who wrote "I Want to Hold Your Hand" is unrecognizable in this song and it shows that the world Don is familiar is evolving into something unrecognizable as well. He can't endure listening to the entire song and yanks the needle off the record in disgust. But the song resumes seconds later as the credits roll. He wants to stop the reality this song represents, but it cannot be silenced. It is one of the best moments of subtext that shows that Don's relationship with Meghan is doomed. What she sees as exciting he finds terrifying. It also shows that Don, who has always been able to control his environment and communicate in a way that resonates with what is happening now is losing his power and that is a scary reality. He in the past embraced progress as positive bc he understood its importance to the world he understands. The realization that progress could leave him behind is hard for him to face. He can try to resist it, but time move forward regardless. Apparently AMC had to pay millions for the rights to use the song but it was totally worth it. It has such powerful subtext and communicates when pages of dialogue never could.

[@sanathrajesh5580]

I’ve watched Mad Men about two times at this point, and I learn something new on every single rewatch.

[@jeremiahgallagher]

Great job. Somehow Mad Men has been talked about a lot and was one of the biggest shows in the world, but I think still wildly underrated. I feel like you may be able to do this with so many of those episodes. Incredible writing, acting and directing every week. Phenomenal show

[@raphaelaube7527]

This video's text : analysis of an episode of Mad Men about nostalgia This video's subtext: i miss Mad Men

[@smpdevelopments]

mad men has so many moments which completely blow you away in a subtle way. I just love what they did with this show

[@Tysonyar]

This has always been my favorite episode of Mad Men. I have not seen it in 10 years and I still remember the line, “it’s not a wheel; it’s a carousel.” This is one of the best written episodes of television ever.

[@daraamadea4413]

You know a show is great when people keep talking about it even years after its finale.

[@andypahwa]

wow, this was incredibly well done - very smart minds plucked these scenes and edited this beautifully

[@beatrizfernandes1506]

Thank you so much! I loved Mad Men, it's one of the few shows that I'm willing to rewatch as many times possible because of how good it is, and how well concived the episodes are.

[@losalfajoresok]

I watched this year for the first time Mad Men and in this episode turned an instant classic for me. Amazing show.

[@lost1croc]

I have probably watched the entire series 9-10 times all the way through and yet I discover another hidden layer every time. The subtleties, that’s where the magic is in a show or movie.

[@makmart5298]

Thank u so much for this video! By breaking this episode down, I see so many details I overlooked and it still makes me emotional. Mad men works so well through subtext in silently twinging at my heart

[@ambientq7299]

Beautiful analyst. I just finished watching Mad Men couple of months ago and I can't get enough of scouring for these kinds of video's. Really makes me appreciate the series more. Well done.

[@AledOwen07]

LFTS + Mad Men = Instant click, Instant like. Perfection!

[@SALEEM95507]

Damn man right after they took it off Netflix.. that hurts

[@SALEEM95507]

BrandonScott RobinsonMusic yeah I know..

[@kckazcoll1]

it is now streamed on Stan in Australia, not sure about the rest of the world though

[@tenzero5274]

BrandonScott RobinsonMusic why what’s wrong with mad men

[@Koschiiii]

Its on Amazon Prime

[@user-uv6iw1yg3j]

I just finished season 5 and they decided to take it off damn

[@tommycundy]

Fantastic video essay! I've watched many on Madmen and I clicked this out of habit but this was honestly put together like a Don Draper pitch - bravo!

[@SubhojitDey]

I often found myself confused to why i'm watching a show which is almost like a more subtle soap opera but i kept coming back to it somehow.

[@simonakatsman974]

I love the new love that Mad Men is getting lately. This show is so underrated.

[@x0xtran9x0x]

I need Michael to do this full-time. Someone please just sponsor him for life.

[@josephgavrilides8383]

My favorite show of all time! Thank LFTS team! I never thought you would’ve made a video about this.

[@davidstevens3934]

The idea of having Betty use her therapist to call out Don is so clever. Well, all of it is really. Great show.

[@rubyangel9707]

Once again, you have produced an amazing lesson. Like a good advertiser, you capture the emotions and thoughts that we the audience cannot express.

[@LessonsfromtheScreenplay]

:D Thank you!

[@efroster123]

Michael, you’re on a roll! Keep up the amazing, inspiring work. ‘Mad Men’ is one of the my favorite tv shows of all time.

[@LessonsfromtheScreenplay]

Thank you! The whole team is really doing great work, and we've got some more videos we're excited about coming your way!

[@hellopaolo]

Mad Men is full of subtexts and symbolism. Every episode gives you new surface to scratch because you know it’s gonna be more profound. Everything has a meaning without being flashy - just regular mundane workplace and home life. Every rewatch is peeling new layers of meaning and of course your more mature worldview and empathy also helps each time. Soooo poetic. Brilliantly written. Sublimely acted. And of course the most impeccable set design, props, score, make up and costume.

[@dpoisonedburritos]

This essay is so brilliant. Well told, edited, everything. I'm in awe.

[@joshuapatrick682]

Still my favorite live action drama. There’s a reason it was the highest rated show for its run... powerful stuff man. What we don’t know about Don yet is that he’s a narcissist and a sociopath so he still seems redeemable at this point.

[@aghasarmad]

You forgot the biggest subtext of the show - Don as an advertiser sells dreams, dreams which he himself couldn't live.

[@Ikaros23]

He do have the product’s and lifestyle. It’s just that the products don’t give you mental health, or a perfect family.

[@Kim-mg6bo]

I remember watching that episode during the original airing and I was brought to tears. Thanks for the detailed explanation of subtext.

[@kobiosama]

Madmen is best written show highly acknowledged but yet not many people have watched it. One of my favorite indeed. Character growth, writing. Its so good.

[@esotericsean]

Yes! Right from the start of this video I was hoping you'd mention the carousel episode. I went out and bought a working carousel and have been shooting slide film ever since I saw this episode of Mad Men. Such a good show. Thanks for making this, Michael. :)

[@daraamadea4413]

Honestly I cried so much at this episode but now your explanation makes me cry even more.

[@EdShank]

You are not just a great writer and editor, but CRAZY insightful! I look forward to each new post and this one certainly did not disappoint. Keep up the good work.

[@NotAurichu]

I’m so salty this show left netflix before i could finish it :( I only had one season left 😭😭😭

[@haeschensk8er]

omg same! also had left only 1 season. ended up watching the rest here: www.putlockers(dot)io/tvshows/mad-men i have 0 problems with the site, but im using an adblocker as well

[@scottslotterbeck3796]

Try your local library. I binged the whole thing without spending a dime. One of the top TV series of all time. Up there with The Wire.

[@dinothegonzo]

I just checked. It's no longer on Netflix. Now I have to find a way to watch everything again...and I just saw it for the third time last year.

[@kaitlyn__L]

@@dinothegonzo oh no! That's true for the UK as well.

[@kckazcoll1]

I'm in Australia and it is now on Stan

[@saravanakumarmuthusamy9769]

No matter what anyone says, for me, this is the greatest show of all time. I have watched it four times so far and each time, I've learned new things. Matthew Wiener and his team of writers along with the brilliant cast, the costume designing, pretty much everything about this show is of high quality.

[@JustinRM20]

Nothing I’ve watched recently managed to surpass Mad Men. Recency bias lasts only briefly, before I realize what my favorite show is. It’s become sort a comfort food, amazing what a compelling show does to you.

[@aquaticflames]

I’m always excited when I see a new vid from you. Especially this one since for once I’ve seen the whole show/movie you’re talking about.

[@vivianwakoff]

I've been literally waiting years to see you tackle Mad Men! It was worth the wait!

[@SCBLGamingFilm]

i've learnt more from LFTS than i ever learnt in film school

[@scottslotterbeck3796]

That's why he has 1.2 million+ subscribers.

[@jesusregalado9765]

Tú canal es de lo mejor es todo KZbin, saludos desde México.

[@brunoschaves_]

I miss this show SO MUCH!!! Thank u so much for this video!!

[@LiriMarelly]

Dude this just made my day, have been waiting for this for so long... Amazing video btw!

[@durdydurds301]

dons arc in this particular episode is also mirrored in harry cranes subplot as he struggles with his infidelity. the moment where he realizes the gravity of his fault during the presentation and is brought to tears of remorse is a great deviation from dons character - harry can fix things if he tries bc he wants to, whereas dons reluctance to change will always hinder his ability to love.

[@Composerben555]

This is a great video, thanks for making it. As someone who has worked professionally in movie soundtracks for most of my life, I must make a correction. Music is almost entirely emotional subtext, not text. Once in a while, a song is chosen as background for a bar scene, cafe, etc. that might be considered only “text.” But even then, we are making very deliberate decisions about how the characters are feeling in that environment, other characters or about the situation. There is as much intention, detail and depth to editing/writing the music as there is to writing a screenplay.

[@michaelmarent9469]

*subscribed* loved it, love these types of channels

[@deedeedan8681]

All the videos from this channel are so freaking good its ridiculous!!!!

[@alisterfolson]

Binged the series... Let's it 'settle' for a day.... Proceeds to watch any documentary videos on it

[@00andreoliveira]

Mad men is the greatest show ever

[@LessonsfromtheScreenplay]

It is very good, I have to agree.

[@williamkistler3660]

Michael, the form of this video is low-key brilliant. You stir nearly as effectively as the episode did. Well done.

[@LessonsfromtheScreenplay]

Thanks William! The team works hard to try to make the videos special :)

[@jmbwithcats]

This analysis is put together so beautifully, bringing back to life the genius and power of the story, it brought tears to my eyes.

[@humanvoice369]

I was in advertising. And this show made it easier for me to let go of it. Kind of like a laxative 😂

[@yojetsharma7549]

The Wheel is why and how I started this beautiful show.

[@davidmckesey7119]

I have only watched 2 episode the pilot and the wheel. I Am afraid it's so good the other episodes can't live up. Because I bet it doesn't get bad

[@Ratchet2431]

@@davidmckesey7119 Wait to see The Suitcase.

[@kaitlyn__L]

@@davidmckesey7119 there's definitely a lot of other episodes that live up or even surpass those two! Although I agree they're both very strong. "The Good News" is one of my favourites, but it's also very melancholy.

[@eoinkiddle8233]

I have been waiting for this vide for YEARSSSS

[@nickadams99]

My favorite video of yours so far; never seen the show, never have I ever been so engaged in a video!

[@MrHEC381991]

5:21 Every time I see a married woman sitting by themselves with a glass of wine in a show/movie, sh*ts about to get real.