DVD Review: Mad Men Season 2
Carl Hott & Bill Kelley III - Virginian-Pilot
Jul 17, 2009
Blu-ray widescreen and DVD widescreen, 2008, not rated
Best extra The truckload of commentaries offer a thorough look behind the inner workings.
What makes Don Draper, the mystery lothario family man at the center of "Mad Men," tick? That's one of the tantalizing questions answered on this season's multi-award-winning series.
Season two didn't disappoint: Long-suffering housewife Betty Draper (January Jones), faced with her husband Don's infidelities, leapt from a childlike serenity to rebellious adolescence. Meanwhile, young, sexually liberated office worker Peggy (Elisabeth Moss) evened the playing field in an era rife with sexism. A slowly unfolding portrayal of the early '60s in all its cigarette-smoking, alcohol-swilling glory, it examines cultural/personal shifts and inward/outward appearances with a flair unlike any other show.
The gorgeous Blu-ray picture and sound are welcome. The depth and sharpness are evident with the high fashion, showing the smallest details.
The high-definition featurettes on fashion and a two-part look at women's push for equality add helpful context, while the "Time Capsule" spans all of the discs, providing footage and discussion of important historical events of the era. And to really keep you occupied, there are multiple commentaries for each episode from writers and cast.
- Carl Hott/Bill Kelley III
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