In a recent interview, actress Elisabeth Moss revealed that she would say yes to returning for aMad Menreboot, and though her sentiment was sweet, I hope this potential project never actually happens.Mad Meninitially premiered in 2007 and ran for seven successful seasons on AMC. Set in the 1960s in New York City,the show follows Don Draper, a skilled ad man who must balance his high-stakes job, his tumultuous personal life, and the rising counterculturein America. Notably,Moss plays Peggy, the ambitious secretary who earns a spot as an ad man herself.
Moss recently appeared onWatch What Happens Live! with Andy Cohenwhere she explained thatshe would not only be open to returning for aMad Menrevival, but would almost definitely say yes to it. Her reasoning behind this is that, as an actress, she dislikes leaving behind her favorite roles. She believesMad Menis one of the best projects she has ever worked on, so returning to Peggy would be a no-brainer.Moss’s comments do not confirm any sort ofMad Menreboot, which is a good thingconsidering the show’s perfect ending.
Hollywood loves to bring back beloved projects, butMad Menis a series that should not get a reboot. Over the course of seven seasons, audiences watched Don tackle countless issues, from company rebrandings and marital spats to social dilemmas and traumatic memories.All of this culminated into a strong final season, where Don was finally forced to confront the changesthat had been taking place for years. In the last episode, Don has run away from his life and finds himself at a spiritual retreat where, finally, he seems to find some semblance of peace.
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In many ways, “Person to Person” wasthe ideal ending forMad Men.Not only did Don get to break out of his gilded cage at home and at work, but the other characters also found solace. Peggy earned the job she deserved, Joan got to start her own company, and Pete left advertising completely. Plus,the final scene hinted at an ambiguous future that made perfect sense forMad Men,and Don’s character. When his spiritual retreat turns into the iconic 1971 Coca-Cola commercial, audiences are made to wonder if Don’s breakthrough brings him back to advertising after all.
AMad Menreboot is also ill-advised because the show’s ending came full-circle. The first season kicked off in the year 1960, where the straight-laced traditions of the 1950s were still popular, but were slowly being ushered out by new ideals.Mad Menseason 7 ended in 1969, nearly a decade later. For those who have seen the show, it is an understatement to say that the development from season 1 to 7 is astonishing. The clothes, the settings, the ideals, and society have all changed. In this way,Mad Menperfectly encapsulates the turbulence of the 1960s.
IfMad Mengot a revival, this perfect representation of the 1960s would be tainted.
Mad Men’stime period is not just a set piece either, but is truly pivotal to the story as a whole. Through Don’s eyes, viewers see how the silent trauma and high expectations of the 1950s broke down in favor of free expression and the deterioration of certain societal norms. Don’s marriage goes from picture perfect to publicly thorny. Peggy goes from invisible secretary to opinionated career woman. IfMad Mengot a revival, this perfect representation of the 1960s would be tainted. The story is less aboutMad Men’scharactersin general, but about their experiences in this specific decade.
Of course, aMad Menrevival could happen whether viewers like it or not, and truthfully, there are a lot of avenues to go down. The most obvious idea would be to revisit the original characters in 1979, ten years afterMad Men’sending.There is also the possibility of a spinoff series following beloved characters like Joanor Sally. A new project could even turnMad Meninto an anthology,where a new set of characters exist in a new decade, but are part of the sameMad Menuniverse, featuring cameos and references to the original cast.
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As much as aMad Menrevival would be nostalgic, the better option is to simply make a new television series that evokes the same feelings asMad Men.In line with the anthology idea,producers could create another show centered on a specific type of job in a particular era of American history.Series likeThe Marvelous Mrs. Maiselhave done this successfully, so there’s no reason why another show couldn’t either. Perhaps diving into the Wall Street businessmen of the 1980s, or something similar, could be a way to honorMad Menwithout ruining the series' integrity.
At this point, there has been no news about aMad Menreboot. The potential is certainly there, but no one has definitively picked up the series with the intention of bringing it back. That being said,Mad Mencould certainly come back at some point in the near future.Like Moss, Kiernan Shipka has publicly stated her interest in returning to herMad Mencharacter, and there’s no telling where other actors might stand.Jon Hamm has seemed less thrilled with the idea, but that likely wouldn’t stop a Peggy spinoff or a sequel following Sally in L.A.
Moss’s comments make aMad Menrevival more likely.By openly stating her desire to return toMad Men,producers may start considering thisas an option. Additionally, audiences who are interested in this type of project could start rallying for it as well. Moss’s recent interview is far from a guarantee, but once the idea is put into someone’s head, it could grow into something massive. Ultimately, I think aMad Menrevival would go against what the show originally intended, but there are ways to make a potential return more compelling than just revisiting the same old characters.
