When Mad Men first aired in 2007, it took the world by storm with its stylish depiction of 1960s Manhattan, the glamorous daily life at a Madison Avenue advertising agency, and the misadventures of the charismatic Don Draper, played by Jon Hamm.
The show ran for seven seasons on AMC, single-handedly revitalizing the mid-century period drama and, along with it, creating a desire among viewers for more thought-provoking and visually stunning productions.
A list of shows like "Mad Men" may not fully capture its electrifying elements, but it will do the trick if you're looking for a more prestige drama with a broad ensemble of engaging characters.
"Mad Men" would not have been such a big hit without the iconic performance of Jon Hamm as Don Draper, and the same can be said about "The Sopranos" and James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano. Tony, the leader of a New Jersey mafia family, is a morally gray protagonist, and the audience is constantly confronted with whether or not to sympathize with him.
Like Don, he is emotionally incomprehensible, recovering from a messy childhood and building walls around himself that even years of therapy cannot crack. Both characters are constantly taking one step forward and two steps back as they struggle to evolve and become better versions of themselves.
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If you're anything like Bert Cooper, one of the advertising partners in Mad Men, played by the late, great Robert Morse, the moon landing stands out as one of the most important scientific achievements of the 1960s. So "For All Mankind" is almost as much a part of the space race as it is of the era.
It shows the potential for such an event to have a major ripple effect throughout history, with the first season depicting the immediate aftermath of the moon landings and the second and third seasons depicting their long-term impact on the 1990s.
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At the end of "Mad Men," Manhattan was a bit dark and gloomy. Deuce starts where Mad Men ended, depicting the seedy underworld of New York City, including drugs, sex, and crime.
Over three seasons, "Deuce" spans nearly two decades to follow the trajectories of two Italian-American twins (both played by James Franco) caught up in the mob and Candy, a Times Square sex worker brought to life by Maggie Gyllenhaal, The film is depicted with frequent jumps in time.
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Part of the appeal of Mad Men is its spotlight on the most glamorous business of the era it depicts: the Manhattan advertising agencies of the early 1960s represented the height of style and status for working professionals.
In a similar vein, "Halt and Catch Fire" depicts the personal computer world of the 1980s, a time that was changing the world. Undoubtedly influenced by the success of Donald Draper, played by Jon Hamm, Lee Pace plays the puzzling lead role.
Watch on AMC Plus
Don Draper, who appears to be a staid upper-class man from a conservative era, was one of the most sexually liberated characters in Mad Men and would have appreciated the kind of work seen in Masters of Sex would have. [31] [32] In this HBO racy series, Michael Sheen plays a doctor named William Masters. Its approach to highlighting the very real limitations of the 1950s in sex education and gynecology is fascinating, and it elegantly connects them to the issue of gender studies. But as well as being intelligent, it is not afraid to delve into the more genteel side of things, and it also displays a cheeky sense of humor that runs counter to its protagonist's often uptight demeanor.
Buy it on Amazon or Apple
What "Mad Men" does for New York, "Magic City" does for Miami. In this film about the glamorous and vibrant Miami after the Cuban Revolution, Jeffrey Dean Morgan plays Ike Evans, the owner of one of Miami's most successful hotels, the Miramar Playa.
The show details the day-to-day drama of the people who live and work around Miramar Playa and Evans' frequent interactions with the mobsters who have established a strong foothold in Miami Magic City had enough charm and energy to air five times, but the Starz network it aired only twice.
Watch on Peacock
If you like the story of Don Draper (an orphan) who uses his unique talents to rise above poverty and forge a new path, you'll love Beth Harmon (Aniya Taylor-Joy) in "The Queen's Gambit."
Despite growing up in a strict orphanage, Beth finds an affinity for chess that shapes her life; look out for the stunning 1960s production and costume design, and Taylor-Joy's surprisingly compelling character study.
Watch on Netflix
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