Image via Complex Original
This Sunday, at 9 p.m. on AMC, Matthew Weiner's Mad Men returns for its sixth season. As each season of the show has been better than the last, expectations are high. Early reports indicate that the two-hour premiere won't disappoint.
What is disappointing, though, is the gap between the ratings and the conversation about Mad Men. Despite being one of the most respected and talked about show on the air, it's not one of the most watched (that would be everything on the TV hospice that is CBS). Thankfully, AMC won't cancel the show. Still, it would be nice if more people watched art as dynamic, moving, and unpredictable as Matthew Weiner's chronicle of inevitable despair and era-defining change in the ad world of the 1960s. (That it feels unpredictable and inevitable is just one incredible paradox that speaks to the idiosyncratic quality of the show.)
So, please watch the show. We've prepared this recap of the first five seasons so that you can watch this Sunday. Please understand that in no way are the following 73 slides of GIFs a substitute for the experience of watching the show. The day that GIFs replace programming like Mad Men is the day we shut off the lights and walk away.
In the meantime, enjoy this appetizer before Sunday's feast.
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Compiled by Ross Scarano (@RossScarano)
It's 1960. Meet Don Draper. He dreams up ad campaigns at Sterling Cooper, and is very good at it.
It's 1960. Meet Don Draper. He dreams up ad campaigns at Sterling Cooper, and is very good at it.
[via Pichaus]
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One thing he's not very good at: Staying faithful to his wife, Betty.
One thing he's not very good at: Staying faithful to his wife, Betty.
Betty isn't happy, despite her well cared for home and two children, Sally and Bobby. (You only need to pay attention to Sally; Bobby is a doofus who will be played by four different actors.)
Betty isn't happy, despite her well cared for home and two children, Sally and Bobby. (You only need to pay attention to Sally; Bobby is a doofus who will be played by four different actors.)
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Betty sees a shrink (but really it's mostly about Don and the shrink conspiring against her in a patriarchal cabal).
Betty sees a shrink (but really it's mostly about Don and the shrink conspiring against her in a patriarchal cabal).
[via Kitten In Spaghetti]
Don should see a shrink, as he has some very particular identity issues.
Don should see a shrink, as he has some very particular identity issues.
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(But nobody knows this. Not at first, anyway.)
(But nobody knows this. Not at first, anyway.)
For instance, Peggy Olson, Don's secretary, doesn't know, though she and Don are becoming close.
For instance, Peggy Olson, Don's secretary, doesn't know, though she and Don are becoming close.
[via Karmelka]
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She also has to deal with Pete Campbell, consummate creeper, and his advances.
She also has to deal with Pete Campbell, consummate creeper, and his advances.
[via Run With Them]
Peggy and Pete sleep together. For Pete it's a fling; soon he's engaged.
Peggy and Pete sleep together. For Pete it's a fling; soon he's engaged.
[via Lady Macbeth Lives]
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Meanwhile Don is sleeping with everyone, including: Rachel Menken, owner of a department store, and Midge Daniels, badass beatnik.
Meanwhile Don is sleeping with everyone, including: Rachel Menken, owner of a department store, and Midge Daniels, badass beatnik.
[via Mercuryfish]
Wait! Things are bad for Peggy-she's pregnant.
Things aren't bad for everyone. For instance, Peggy has become a copywriter because of how well she performed in a test study on lipstick. Wait! Things are bad for Peggy—she's pregnant. (But she doesn't know it!)
[via Fine Leather GIFs]
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And Roger Sterling isn't doing so hot. He can't stop having heart attacks.
And Roger Sterling isn't doing so hot. He can't stop having heart attacks.
[via Beaver Paralyser]
And then Pete discovers the Don Draper/Dick Whitman secret!
And then Pete discovers the Don Draper/Dick Whitman secret!
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And then Betty learns that a friend of hers has a cheating spouse, which makes her question Don!
And then Betty learns that a friend of hers has a cheating spouse, which makes her question Don!
[via Madgiffing]
And then Peggy gives birth to a baby!
And then Peggy gives birth to a baby!
[via Smoke Gets In Your Eyes]
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Later, Peggy tells Pete about the baby, the first of many blows that he will receive over the course of the series.
Later, Peggy tells Pete about the baby, the first of many blows that he will receive over the course of the series.
[via Smoke Gets In Your Eyes]
Love is in the air; Roger divorces the mother of his daughter and marries his young secretary, Jane.
Love is in the air; Roger divorces the mother of his daughter and marries his young secretary, Jane.
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And Joan gets engaged to a medical student named Greg Harris. He's a bastard. He rapes Joan, but she stays with him. (More on that in later seasons, don't you worry.)
And Joan gets engaged to a medical student named Greg Harris. He's a bastard. He rapes Joan, but she stays with him. (More on that in later seasons, don't you worry.)
[via Mad Men World]
Don continues to fuck around, though Betty is growing increasingly suspicious.
Don continues to fuck around, though Betty is growing increasingly suspicious. She throws him out of the house.
[via Little Blonde Somethings]
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Don cuts out for California, ostensibly on business.
Don cuts out for California, ostensibly on business.
[via Captainmarvelsandamerica]
In California, he reconnects with Anna Draper, widow of the real (and dead) Don Draper. Anna is one of the only people who gets and loves Don/Dick.
In California, he reconnects with Anna Draper, widow of the real (and dead) Don Draper. Anna is one of the only people who gets and loves Don/Dick.
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He also falls in with a bunch of bougie nomads that amuse/disgust him. He leaves.
He also falls in with a bunch of bougie nomads that amuse/disgust him. He leaves.
Back in New York, he attempts to patch things up with Betty. Betty accepts his apology and informs him that she is pregnant with their third child.
Back in New York, Don attempts to patch things up with Betty. She accepts his apology and informs him that she is pregnant with their third child.
[via Madgiffing]
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At a party thrown by Roger and Jane, Don meets Conrad Hilton, who could bring much money to the firm, if Don can negotiate his weird habits and mind games.
At a party thrown by Roger and Jane, Don meets Conrad Hilton, who could bring much money to the firm, if Don can negotiate his weird habits and mind games.
While Don's talking business, Betty catches the eye of silver fox Henry Francis, who works for Governor Rockefeller. They make eyes all over each other.
While Don's talking business, Betty catches the eye of silver fox Henry Francis, who works for Governor Rockefeller. They make eyes all over each other.
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Betty gives bith to a baby; she names it Gene, after her father (who just so happened to hate Don).
Betty gives bith to a baby; she names it Gene, after her father (who just so happened to hate Don).
[via The TV Screen]
Because she's married (the '60s were a joke), Joan will be leaving the firm to be a housewife to her sonofabitch husband Greg, aka the Surgeon Rapist With the Shaky Hands.
Because she's married (the '60s were a joke), Joan will be leaving the firm to be a housewife to her sonofabitch husband Greg, a.k.a. the Surgeon Rapist With the Shaky Hands.
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Lane Pryce, the man on the ground at the agency, is told by his bosses that Sterling Cooper will be sold. Again.
Lane Pryce, the man on the ground at the agency, is told by his bosses that Sterling Cooper will be sold. Again.
Don takes many meetings with Conrad Hilton, who waxes crazy about putting hotels on the Moon.
Don takes many meetings with Conrad Hilton, who waxes crazy about putting hotels on the Moon.
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Betty tries to see the silver fox Henry Francis again, going so far as to organize a fundraiser for Governer Rockefeller in her home.
Betty tries to see the silver fox Henry Francis again, going so far as to organize a fundraiser for Governer Rockefeller in her home.
Reaching her breaking point with Don, Betty goes through his desk and discovers his past as Dick Whitman.
Reaching her breaking point with Don, Betty goes through his desk and discovers his past as Dick Whitman.
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And then, President Kennedy is assassinated.
And then, President Kennedy is assassinated.
The Surgeon Rapist With the Shaky Hands decides to join the Army. Because they'll take him. But what will Joan do?
The Surgeon Rapist With the Shaky Hands decides to join the Army. Because they'll take him. But what will Joan do?
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Betty asks for a divorce.
Betty asks for a divorce.
[via Smoke Gets In Your Eyes]
In a final meeting with Connie, Don discovers that Sterling Cooper and Puttnam, Powell, and Lowe is going to be sold to another firm.
In a final meeting with Connie, Don discovers that Sterling Cooper and Puttnam, Powell, and Lowe is going to be sold to another firm.
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Don, recalling a memory from his impoverished and painful rural childhood, gets the gang together to break off and start their own firm: Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce.
Don, recalling a memory from his impoverished and painful rural childhood, gets the gang together to break off and start their own firm: Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce.
[via Beth Brousil]
An attempt to promote the firm via a profile of Don Draper in Advertising Age backfires when the result paints DD as a man who isn't there. Real talk.
An attempt to promote the firm via a profile of Don Draper in Advertising Age backfires when the result paints DD as a man who isn't there. Real talk.
[via You Are Superfantastic]
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As his divorce becomes a reality, Don Draper's life becomes a world of shit.
As his divorce becomes a reality, Don Draper's life becomes a world of shit.
[via Falselashes]
He goes back to Cali to see Anna Draper. While there, he hits on her niece, but she only tells him that Anna has cancer and is going to die. This destroys Don (and the viewer, too).
He goes back to Cali to see Anna Draper. While there, he hits on her niece, but she only tells him that Anna has cancer and is going to die. This destroys Don (and the viewer, too).
[via Captainmarvelsandamerica]
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Pete finds out he's going to become a father. Because he is ferocious when it comes to his work, he turns this into a business opportunity, using his father-in-law to land a big account.
Pete finds out he's going to become a father. Because he is ferocious when it comes to his work, he turns this into a business opportunity, using his father-in-law to land a big account.
A photo editor at Life befriends Peggy and takes her to a party, where she meets a radical reporter named Abe. They're hot for each other.
A photo editor at Life befriends Peggy and takes her to a party, where she meets a radical reporter named Abe. They're hot for each other.
[via MadisonAve1964]
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Don hits rock bottom when he learns that Anna has died. Peggy helps him through the long and terrible night, making for the best episode of the show ever ("The Suitcase").
Don hits rock bottom when he learns that Anna has died. Peggy helps him through the long and terrible night, making for the best episode of the show ever ("The Suitcase").
[via Ivyarchive]
Slowly bouncing back, Don begins dating Faye Miller, a consumer research consultant working SCDP. She's cool.
Slowly bouncing back, Don begins dating Faye Miller, a consumer research consultant working SCDP. She's cool.
[via Smoke Gets In Your Eyes]
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Roger and Joan have hurried and hot sex after dinner one night. Joan becomes pregnant.
Roger and Joan have hurried and hot sex after dinner one night. Joan becomes pregnant.
The vacation goes swimmingly; the kids respond to Megan well, something Don notices.
The vacation goes swimmingly; the kids respond to Megan well, something Don notices.
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He also notices that he's in love with Megan, so he proposes. She says yes.
He also notices that he's in love with Megan, so he proposes. She says yes.
[via Smoke Gets In Your Eyes]
The second is Michael Ginsberg, a Jewish copywriter with great ideas and a caffeinated personality. He's also a Holocaust survivor.
The second is Michael Ginsberg, a copywriter with great ideas and a caffeinated personality. He's also a Holocaust survivor. Probably something awful is going to happen to/because of him.
[via Uproxx]
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Don's not much affected by anything work-related. He's too in love with Megan, who sings him a wonderful song at his 40th birthday party.
Don's not much affected by anything work-related. He's too in love with Megan, who sings him a wonderful song at his 40th birthday party.
[via Keepitclassy]
So, Pete puts on his Don pants and pursues an affair with Rory, from Gilmore Girls. Only now her name is Beth Dawes, and she's not stable.
So, Pete puts on his Don pants and pursues an affair with Rory, from Gilmore Girls. Only now her name is Beth Dawes, and she's not stable.
[via Uproxx]
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She receives electroshock therapy, because it's the '60s and men are the worst.
She receives electroshock therapy, because it's the '60s and men (in this case, her husand) are the worst. Beth remembers nothing.
[via Greyjoss]
Joan is having a rough time re: men as well. Her douchebag husband has enlisted for another tour in 'Nam because it makes him feel like a man. She tell him to step off; he files for divorce.
Joan is having a rough time re: men as well. Her douchebag husband has enlisted for another tour in 'Nam because it makes him feel like a man. She tell him to step off; he files for divorce.
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Peggy's doing well in that department, though. She and Abe, the lefty journalist, are moving in together-even though her mom is being all Catholic about it. Whatever.
Peggy's doing well in that department, though. She and Abe, the lefty journalist, are moving in together—even though her mom is being all Catholic about it. Whatever. Dance on, young folks.
[via James Gerrard]
Betty, who by now is a character you just hate, is fat. It's more disconcerting than satisfying.
Betty, who by now is a character you openly despise, is fat. It's more disconcerting than anything else.
[via Donnalu]
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And having sex with Megan's mom. (Which Sally stumbles upon.)
And having sex with Megan's mom. (Which Sally happens to witness.)
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And Megan, well, she's decided she needs to get back to her real passion: acting.
And Megan, well, she's decided she needs to get back to her real passion: acting.
Lane Pryce is pursuing his real passion: being worried. He's in deep financial trouble (read: crazy debt) and sees no way out.
Lane Pryce is pursuing his real passion: being worried. He's in deep financial trouble (read: crazy debt) and sees no way out.
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