I'm glad you enjoyed it! I do think that Don Draper/Tony Soprano/Walter White comparisons are partly a function of how they're all the leads in uber-prestigious character dramas. In terms with what I'm familiar with, I'd sub out Don Draper for Angel every time to make a real Trio of Sociopaths. The same traits that look surface-heroic (Angel is a cute dork and the CHAMPION) on a fantasy-series are pointedly dangerous in a mafia story (Tony exudes Italian bonhomie and it sustains and justifies his brutality.)
Meanwhile, Don's womanizing, selfishness, and corporate alliances are under a serious microscope in a drama. In a comedy, it's DEE-liteful ala Jack Donaghy or even Mr. Big. BTW, this is all to Mad Men's credit. It has the fun of a 1960s stylish movie but it deconstructs and exposes the bad archetypes in the "Touch of the Mink"/"Move Over Darling" Carey Grant Doris Day rom com without just bleakly obliterating the individuals in some prosaic "All white men were evil and could never learn a teeny bit from the changes occurring in society if they were born before 1955." Because a later birth date doesn't confer goodness, so much as a benefit from past decades of human intelligence especially the 1960s.
I compared Don and CJ in this post. You commented at the time. I think I should have linked to past stuff in this essay where I referenced it- but I lacked the patience and attention to detail. Although reading over the Don/CJ essay, I would have written stuff differently if I knew what was coming up and of course, writing meta is good writing practice so I have issues reading my earlier stuff. ;-)
Meanwhile, Don's womanizing, selfishness, and corporate alliances are under a serious microscope in a drama. In a comedy, it's DEE-liteful ala Jack Donaghy or even Mr. Big. BTW, this is all to Mad Men's credit. It has the fun of a 1960s stylish movie but it deconstructs and exposes the bad archetypes in the "Touch of the Mink"/"Move Over Darling" Carey Grant Doris Day rom com without just bleakly obliterating the individuals in some prosaic "All white men were evil and could never learn a teeny bit from the changes occurring in society if they were born before 1955." Because a later birth date doesn't confer goodness, so much as a benefit from past decades of human intelligence especially the 1960s.
I compared Don and CJ in this post. You commented at the time. I think I should have linked to past stuff in this essay where I referenced it- but I lacked the patience and attention to detail. Although reading over the Don/CJ essay, I would have written stuff differently if I knew what was coming up and of course, writing meta is good writing practice so I have issues reading my earlier stuff. ;-)
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