Sammeet Telang

I normally watch a lot of shows that have a lot of action, sex, nudity, violence and excitement and when I watch a show like Mad Men which has none of those content I would usually not watch it. However, I watched the very first episode of the series and I have to say that I am presently surprised. Even though the show does not have any violence or nudity, it does have a lot sex and their are some shocking moments throughout the run of the series. So, if those of you do not know what the show is about it is set in the 1960s and focuses on the advertising agency business of Sterling Cooper. The main character of the show is Don Draper who is a creative director of the agency who is good at his work at the same time he is also a womanizer and an alcoholic. He also has family a wife, Betty Draper and has two young children. Even though the show focuses on Don Draper it also revolves around the other principle characters such as Peggy Olsen, Pete Campbell, Joan Holloway and Roger Sterling to name a few. These characters also have their own story arc and are flesh out in the series. Mad Men also revolved around themes like Masculinity, Sexism, Racism, Misogyny, Identity and the cultural workplace which made it feel authentic. The show is also known for depicting historical events and it authentic realism of what 1960s America was like as people view that era as the good old days or beautiful. But, the show also explore on the not so clean and innocent. The show is also at its best when the Don or any of the other characters are pitching an idea or commercial ad for a product, brand or company and each and every when the show does that it is absolutely captivating. The show also delves around the merits and demerits of advertising for example, creativity of advertising is a most notable feature of its merit whereas the some of the products that they are promoting selling are cigarettes and sodas which can cause serious damage to individuals health. The craftsmanship of the show is also magnificent from its directing, writing, cinematography, costume, makeup and the practical sets are all outstanding and also the performances of the ensemble cast is marvelous. Matthew Weiner and his team have made masterpiece and monumental achievement. Hence it is one of the greatest television series of all time.

What to say to show that has slowly evolved season after season and all of a sudden becomes a true juggernaut of television. That would be Breaking Bad, regarded as one of the greatest television show of all time and Walter White played magnificently by Bryan Cranston whose characters transformation from a good family man to one of the most ruthless drug kingpin and villain of the series fascinating to witness. Vince Gilligan the creator of the show described Walter White's transformation as "taking Mr. Chips and turning him into Scarface" and that has been the main objective that the show has been following to the very end and had achieved that. It is truly the paragon of character development. Gilligan and his team of writers have done an excellent job of making the characters feel real as the supporting characters are also amazing. For instance Jesse Pinkman played Aaron Paul, is Walter White partner in manufacturing crystal meth, Skylar White (Anna Gunn), Walt's wife who aids Walt in dealing of his money, Hank Schrader (Dean Norris) who is Walt's brother in law and is the one investigating who "Heisenberg is", which turns out to be Walt, Gustavo Fring (Giancarlo Esposito) who hires Walt and Jesse to produce meth and later becomes Walt's enemy, Mike Ehrmantraut (Jonathan Banks), who is Frings right hand man, Marie Schrader (Betsy Brandt) Hank's wife and Skylar's sister and Walt White Jr.(RJ Mitte) Walter and Skylar's son. The whole cast is great in what they bring to their characters and how fleshed out they in the series. The directing, writing, cinematography is also outstanding in the show as it creates a detailed aesthetic to the show. Breaking Bad is universally one of the best television shows that has ever been produced and is a genuine masterpiece. I could say a lot more but I have said enough. Again one of the greatest shows ever made.