Mad Men’s Ugly Decline: How The Series Changed For The Worse

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The last two seasons of the Emmy-winning show Mad Men became more difficult to watch as the series concluded. Over its seven seasons on AMC, the show followed the story of the advertising firm Sterling Cooper and its changes on Madison Avenue.

The television series Mad Men, which ran for seven seasons from March 1960 to November 1970, followed the life of Don Draper (played by Jon Hamm). Don was the Creative Director at the advertising agency Sterling Cooper and perfectly captured the stylish and sophisticated image of the 1960s.

Watching Mad Men is like looking into a very different world. It’s surprising to see how commonplace smoking and heavy drinking were in the workplace, and to realize that behaviors considered unacceptable today were simply considered normal back then.

There’s a lot to admire about Mad Men and its depiction of the 1960s, particularly when compared to today. The show’s look remains stylish and timeless. However, just like the 1960s eventually ended, Mad Men also declined in quality over time.

Mad Men Got Ugly As The 1970s Got Closer

The show Mad Men took a noticeable turn in season 6 as the fashion and attitudes shifted to reflect the growing hippie culture and rebellion of the 1960s. This change was particularly evident in characters like Stan Rizzo and the tragic Michael Ginsberg.

On Mad Men, Stan Rizzo and Ginsberg, members of Don Draper’s advertising team at Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce, were more in tune with youth trends than their colleagues like Don and Roger Sterling. Throughout season 6, their styles evolved from neat and tidy to bolder and more unkempt, with brighter clothes and longer, messier hair and beards.

During the final season of Mad Men, which took place from January 1969 to November 1970, the characters at Sterling Cooper & Partners started reflecting the bolder, less polished styles of the new decade. Even Roger Sterling embraced the change, sporting a noticeable handlebar mustache. Hairstyles became more extreme – growing longer or, like Pete Campbell’s, thinning – and the refined fashion of the 1960s gave way to louder, more flamboyant looks.

Throughout the series Mad Men, Don Draper remained a stylish exception to the increasingly casual trends of the 1970s. While others adopted a more relaxed, “hippie” look, Don’s classic style stayed largely the same, with only minor adjustments like slightly wider ties and a bit more hair volume. He consistently maintained an appearance that suited him well.

The Sad End Of Sterling Cooper Was Also Ugly

As the show Mad Men moved into the 1970s during seasons 6 and 7, the advertising agency Sterling Cooper began a gradual and difficult decline. The agency’s eventual breakup was a messy process.

From season two of Mad Men onward, the show consistently followed the fate of Sterling Cooper. The agency went through several changes – first being acquired by Putnam, Powell, and Lowe, and then by McCann Erickson. These takeovers ultimately led Don Draper and his colleagues to break away and establish their own firm, Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce.

Despite some wins, Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce found it difficult to attract major new clients and keep the ones they had. In season 6 of Mad Men, they merged with Cutler Gleason & Chaough, becoming Sterling Cooper & Partners, but the combined firm wasn’t successful.

Roger Sterling tried a last-ditch effort to sell Sterling Cooper & Partners to McCann Erickson while still keeping his firm independent, but it didn’t work. McCann Erickson ended up taking over completely and shutting down SCP. Don Draper managed to avoid working directly for McCann for a decade, but eventually, he had to join them anyway.

As Sterling Cooper & Partners declined in 1970, the final chapter of Mad Men felt particularly disheartening and unpleasant.

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2025-10-30 02:19