I started watching Mad Men recently thanks to the generous loan of the Season One and Two DVDs from my old school friend and fine, upstanding gentleman Mr Andy Plummer, with whom I met up with for the first time in nearly ten years recently. Of the last two times I saw Mr Andy Plummer, the first involved the pair of us, drunk as skunks, consuming a pound of Tesco Value Mild Cheddar cheese between us at about 3 o’clock in the morning. No bread, no crackers, just cheese. It seemed like a fantastic thing to do at the time. The second time involved someone (I forget exactly who, though I know for certain it wasn’t me) vomiting copiously out of a mutual friend’s bedroom window onto the corrugated plastic roof of their student house’s conservatory. The next morning involved dangling a mop out of the window and attempting to remove the… actually, this is completely beside the point, not to mention disgusting so I shall leave the rest to your imagination.

Anyway, Mad Men. I didn’t know anything about it prior to watching it save that it was set in the 60s, featured the delectable and hefty-bosomed Christina Hendricks and involved a character named Don Draper. Beyond that, I just know that a lot of people whose opinion I trust and respect were going crazy over it, so I figured I probably ought to check it out.

I’m glad I did. I’m taking my time getting through the series as it’s the sort of show that you have to pay attention to. The characters featured, while mostly obnoxious, chauvinistic pigs, are all individual and interesting, and you end up liking them against your better judgement. Or if not “liking”, then at least being interested in seeing what happens to them next. Draper, in particular, has a lot of baggage which may go some distance to explaining why he is the way he is.

The upshot of the characters being such arses all the time is that when one of them does show some humanity and vulnerability, it’s extremely affecting. Towards the end of the first season (trying to avoid spoilers here for those who intend to watch it), one character takes very ill, for example, and the fact he’s shown to be a human being with real emotions as he faces his own mortality is a deeply affecting, poignant moment.

One of the best things about the show is its casual acceptance that it is the 1960s and Life Was Different Then. Characters drink and smoke to excess without a second thought. No-one has ever heard of “drunk driving”, or if they have then no-one cares. Parents get their kids to mix their cocktails. Disciplining children through the medium of giving them a good hiding is accepted and even, in some cases, encouraged. And there are constant references to events that really happened throughout the time period. But it never feels like the show is ramming “IT’S 1960!!” down your throat—it feels like a natural, organic setting and after a few episodes of culture shock, you’re right there with them. Just make sure you come out again afterwards.

If I could level a criticism at the show it’s that I’m not sure where it’s “going”. It’s very character-driven and there doesn’t appear to be much of an overarching “plot” as such. This is fine, as I’m a fan of character-driven material, and the developments through which even minor characters in the show go are fascinating, entertaining, often amusing or tragic to watch. I’ve certainly found myself flip-flopping back and forth on a number of characters, thinking they were arrogant, greasy, disgusting assholes one minute and figures to be pitied the next.

Where it’ll all end, I have no idea. But I’m certainly enjoying the ride so far.