The Legacy of Mad Men: 10 Prestige TV Shows that Explore the Human Condition
Following the conclusion of The Sopranos, Mad Men picked up the torch for prestige television in 2007 with layered storytelling, fascinatingly damaged characters, and impeccable period style. Set at an advertising agency in the 1960s, the show explored an America on the cusp of massive social change from the perspective of the people committed to preserving the status quo. Given our current cultural fascination with an imagined past in which women knew their place and white heterosexuals always knew best, the charming, complicated, boozy, and deeply damaged Don Draper looks a lot less like an artifact now than he did nearly 20 years ago—a reminder that good shows never really lose their ability to speak to us.
Mrs. America (2020) is a show that, like Mad Men, explores the complexities of the human experience during a pivotal moment in American history. Set in the 1970s, the show dramatizes the fight over the Equal Rights Amendment, a moment both high and low in the hope for equity and autonomy. The incredible supporting cast, including Cate Blanchett, Rose Byrne, Uzo Aduba, and Elizabeth Banks, brings to life the people who shaped the world we live in today. Stream Mrs. America on Hulu.
Halt and Catch Fire (2014-2017) is a show that largely flew under the radar during its four-season run, but offers a heavily fictionalized portrait of the rise of personal computers in the 1980s. The charismatic and manipulative lead, Joe MacMillan, played by Lee Pace, is a character who resonates with audiences. With its sick opening sequence and well-developed characters, Halt and Catch Fire is a show that comes up on any number of critical best-of lists. Stream Halt and Catch Fire on Prime Video.
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2017-2023) is a comedy-drama that, like Mad Men, explores the world of advertising, but in the late 1950s. The show follows the title character, Midge Maisel, a New York housewife who discovers a talent for stand-up comedy. With its warm and funny tone, great performances, and dialogue, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel achieves something rare in being a show about comedy that's actually funny. Stream The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel on Prime Video.
The Hour (2011-2012) is a show that charts the rise of a fictional BBC current affairs program, led by women and premiering in the middle of the 1956 Suez Crisis. With a brilliant cast and impeccable period style, The Hour explores the internal politics and rivalries of the office, as well as the real-world drama of the time. Stream The Hour on Tubi.
Masters of Sex (2013-2016) is a show that, like Mad Men, explores the complexities of human relationships and the workplace. Set in the mid-1950s to the late 1960s, the show follows the story of sex research pioneers William Masters and Virginia Johnson. With its style reminiscent of Mad Men, Masters of Sex impresses by being far less lurid than its title suggests, instead approaching sexuality with a deep earnestness. Buy Masters of Sex from Prime Video and Apple TV.
The Queen's Gambit (2020) is a show that gets a spot here largely for its impeccable 1960s period vibes. The coming-of-age period drama stars Anna Taylor-Joy as chess prodigy Elizabeth Harmon, fighting to become a champion on a global stage in an era where her talents were often dismissed. With its well-developed characters and moral complexities, The Queen's Gambit is a show that resonates with audiences. Stream The Queen's Gambit on Netflix.
The Sopranos (1999-2007) is a show that, like Mad Men, explores the complexities of the human experience, but in the world of organized crime. With its layered storytelling and complicated characters, The Sopranos is a show that works as well as it does because the mob serves as a stand-in for just about any job in America. Stream The Sopranos on HBO Max.
Succession (2018-2023) is a darkly comic show that, like Mad Men, explores the complexities of the human experience, but in the world of media conglomerates. The show follows the Roy family, owners of Waystar RoyCo, as they navigate the chaos and backbiting that ensue when patriarch Logan suffers a stroke. With its layered storytelling and complicated characters, Succession is a show that resonates with audiences. Stream Succession on HBO Max.
Good Girls Revolt (2015-2016) is a show that takes place in the offices of a Newsweek-esque publication in 1969, exploring the social, political, and cultural mores of the American middle-class in the 1960s. With its well-developed characters and moral complexities, Good Girls Revolt is a show that resonates with audiences. Stream Good Girls Revolt on Prime Video.
Industry (2020-present) is a show that brings us right up to the minute, taking us across the pond to London, and exploring the world of investment banking. With its well-developed characters and moral complexities, Industry is a show that resonates with audiences. Stream Industry on HBO Max.
