The critically acclaimed series, Mad Men, returns to the TV screen with a two hour premiere on April 7th, 2013. The premiere was written by the series’ creator and executive producer, Matthew Weiner, and its succeeding episode will be directed by Jon Hamm, the actor who portrays the show’s illustrious protagonist, Don Draper. According to Weiner, the anticipated sixth season will be the show’s second to last. The impending end of the show influenced Weiner’s ideas and helped construct the basis of the story for the upcoming season.
While we were unsure of Peggy Olson’s status in Mad Men, due to her departure from the Sterling-Cooper-Draper-Pryce agency, Weiner assures viewers of her return in the new season. However, we shouldn’t have high expectations of Olson resuming her personal or professional relationship with her ex-boss, Don. Additionally, the self-destructive path on which Pete Campbell seemed to be, in the preceding season, won’t lead him to commit suicide in the next season. Weiner admits that the depressive turn Pete’s storyline took wasn’t a conscious decision he made. Nevertheless, we’re curious to see Pete’s character development, and if his personality and outlook on life improves in the forthcoming seasons. And if it doesn’t? We hope he gets punched again.
Mad Men left us with a lot to contemplate with last season’s ambiguous conclusion, as we were forced to debate whether or not Don would cheat on his passionate, capricious wife. He finally succumbed to his wife’s wishes and allowed her to chase her dreams of becoming an actress, which we speculate, might end up creating troubles or challenges in their marriage. Whatever the outcome may be, Weiner recommends viewers to revisit season five’s final moments in preparation for the next season, as it will lay a foundation for what is to come.
Weiner claims that the last two seasons of the show will be the seasons that have the most reflection of today’s society, in terms of economic activity. Check out what he says below.
“There’s always the intention to have it have something to do with the world we’re in right now. That’s only because I only can write from what I know. And for some reason or another, this season feels particularly related to where I feel that we are right now as a country and as a society…There’s been a bit of blow to our self esteem. None of the economic realities of the ’60s, of any of the years that we’ve done the show, reflect what’s going on right now. It was really a boom time for the economy, for job creation, and American industry. But I think that the social order, the blow to our self-esteem and turning inward as we deal with the loss of something. The loss of our–now I’m being super-vague about it. I’m not prepared to talk about it.”
Knowing the series will be ending soon puts a damper on things, but we’re excited to go back to the ’60’s and explore and evaluate Mad Men’s new story arcs, characterizations and contemporary themes when it premieres this spring.
What do you think is in store for the characters of Madison Avenue? How do you feel about the series coming to an end? Will it be one you’ll miss?
