Comments on: Mad Men mimics The Sopranos http://thesheaf.com/2009/11/mad-men-mimics-the-sopranos/ the University of Saskatchewan student newspaper Fri, 12 Mar 2010 05:48:10 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Fox http://thesheaf.com/2009/11/mad-men-mimics-the-sopranos/comment-page-1/#comment-728 Fox Sat, 05 Dec 2009 06:28:49 +0000 http://thesheaf.com/?p=2057#comment-728 Excellent comparisons to THE SOPRANOS, which represents the best of what television and film has to offer. MAD MEN shares much with THE SOPRANOS not just in content but form as well. Both shows thrive best entirely in subtext. There is no 'episodic' plot each week, unlike may of today's 'quality' dramas. Characters arrive and take full human shape. As rich and alive as these characters are to us, the real genius is that instead of ever pounding us over the head with clear-cut scenes or on-the-nose dialogue, these characters' lives unravel just as real lives do, slowly and eerily and barely discernible ways.They stumble into uncharted territory with few intimate friends or heartfelt principles to guide them. Their relationships are littered with lies and confusion; their old tricks are powerless to deliver them from the kind of isolation that inevitably leads to self-destruction. This it what makes THE SOPRANOS and now MAD MEN such a joy to watch - they rewards your interest for paying attention. Excellent comparisons to THE SOPRANOS, which represents the best of what television and film has to offer. MAD MEN shares much with THE SOPRANOS not just in content but form as well. Both shows thrive best entirely in subtext. There is no ‘episodic’ plot each week, unlike may of today’s ‘quality’ dramas. Characters arrive and take full human shape. As rich and alive as these characters are to us, the real genius is that instead of ever pounding us over the head with clear-cut scenes or on-the-nose dialogue, these characters’ lives unravel just as real lives do, slowly and eerily and barely discernible ways.They stumble into uncharted territory with few intimate friends or heartfelt principles to guide them. Their relationships are littered with lies and confusion; their old tricks are powerless to deliver them from the kind of isolation that inevitably leads to self-destruction. This it what makes THE SOPRANOS and now MAD MEN such a joy to watch – they rewards your interest for paying attention.

]]> By: Carrion http://thesheaf.com/2009/11/mad-men-mimics-the-sopranos/comment-page-1/#comment-676 Carrion Thu, 26 Nov 2009 23:51:25 +0000 http://thesheaf.com/?p=2057#comment-676 So... What's your point? They're both great. Weiner is 39 episodes in without any crime or murder and more importantly, a very original style or talking and movie making. If it's thematically united like the Sopranos, fantastic. Why not shoot for greatness? Existential alienation is the great subject of our time. And honestly, for me, Don is so much closer to us, even with the period. He is a middle class businessman with a life like mine-- filled with a lack of power. There were a million attempts to mimic the Sopranos. Weiner is the only one who has come close. I say we celebrate it. There is nothing like it on TV nor has there ever been. So… What’s your point? They’re both great. Weiner is 39 episodes in without any crime or murder and more importantly, a very original style or talking and movie making.

If it’s thematically united like the Sopranos, fantastic. Why not shoot for greatness? Existential alienation is the great subject of our time.

And honestly, for me, Don is so much closer to us, even with the period. He is a middle class businessman with a life like mine– filled with a lack of power.

There were a million attempts to mimic the Sopranos. Weiner is the only one who has come close. I say we celebrate it.

There is nothing like it on TV nor has there ever been.

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