Here at Hecklerspray, we are an esteemed bunch of distinguished gentlemen (with the odd stylish woman thrown in for good measure). We've been known to put on a suit, slick on the Brylcreem and slap a lady on the derriere ? we're only human after all.
So it's no surprise then that we are all big fans of the retro endeavours of Mad Men, in all its charcoal-suited glory. It's also no surprise that we're not the perfect specimen of humankind either; just look at Stu – you\’ll often find him strolling through underpasses licking homeless people (apparently to know what failure tastes like). It's this thinly-veiled underbelly of man that makes Mad Men such a compelling viewing experience.
The inhabitants of Sterling Cooper aren't quite what they seem, and Season three continues to chip away at the 1960?s antiquated attitudes towards society. So it's not exactly another bombastic sensory bombardment of cheap action, ad-break cliffhangers and smoke monsters.
Season three starts with the entire regular cast returning and, most pleasingly for some, Don Draper?s (Jon Hamm)?woes become even more prominent. With him truly at the focus of the series, his relationship with his wife Betty (January Jones), takes a good chunk of the season three drama. If you haven't caught the sublime first or second series of Mad Men, then don't feel threatened about jumping straight into the latest series, it doesn't take long to catch-up on.
When last we left the advertising agency on Madison Avenue (hence the title ?Mad Men?), the Drapers were back together again with a small bundle of joy on the way. What a wonderful life that child can look forward to. There's also some corporate shenanigans for the audience to invest in, and some tough decisions that the characters have to face ? in particular Peggy Olsen (Elisabeth Moss), who goes through some interesting changes over the course of this season.
The show’s sociological aspect fascinates most throughout, analysing how attitudes began to change and develop and taking a look?how seminal events in modern history rippled through the lives of the characters. In the time of JFK, it literally stopped everything dead, placing characters that we've grown to appreciate (if not necessarily like) in an infamous event that we're all familiar with. It's dark but riveting stuff.
And that's the beauty of Mad Men. It's like a stiff whiskey. It's slick, smooth to look at, but rough on the inside and goes down with a kick. It's not easy viewing but endlessly compelling and refreshing in what is an era of television that is overwrought with clich?.
We go back to a time when the men were xenophobic, misogynistic chain smokers who drank all day.?And you wonder why your grandparents smell like they do.
Extras: Now, we're not usually one for praising DVD features (mainly because they're rubbish), but the audio commentaries that are available for each episode are a must-listen to any fan of the show. Most of the main cast get involved and it really is an indispensable insight into the makings of such a beloved series. This is one of the most comprehensive DVD sets around.
?Spray Rating: 5/5
Follow hecklerspray on Twitter