The Mad Men Season 4 premiere begins a brave new world for the show. After the Mad Men Season 4 premiere, hopes are that the new season lives up to the promise last year’s finale set up. Most everyone agreed that the Season 3 finale rewrote all the rules, and put the show in uncharted territory. Not only did it have its main couple finally divorce, it put Don Draper and all the other regulars into a brand new company. Fans are still buzzing about these twists today, but, starting with the Mad Men Season 4 premiere, the twist now has to pay off.
The familiar comfort of Sterling Cooper is now all gone, as the old office has been left behind. After living under British rule for a whole season, only to be sold once again, the mad men and women finally had enough. As such, Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce was born, starting a new era for the series.
When the Mad Men Season 4 premiere begins, SCDP will likely have bigger offices than the hotel room at the end of last year. But the changes go even deeper for Don Draper, who is now divorced, while Betty Draper has gone off with another man.
The series didn’t need to change this much, as it was still an Emmy-winning phenomenon regardless. But, by turning everything upside down, the show has proved it will not rest on its laurels. However, the Mad Men Season 4 premiere, and Season 4 in general, now has to prove it was the right move.
It was one thing to shock the audience with so much upheaval, but now they must show that SCDP can provide as much intrigue as Sterling Cooper. They have already defied the rules by having three straight award-winning seasons, without any long slumps. Having four straight, with one in a brand new setting, would be truly noteworthy.
The last time a series changed its concept so radically was when Lost introduced the flash forward. But it had to do so after a troubled third season, as part of setting an end date. After Lost changed its rules forever, it got wavering fans back for good until its big finale. However, Mad Men Season 4 is more risky, since it didn’t need to pacify fans before changing things.
If the show finally starts to struggle, critics will complain that it’s because they ruined a winning formula. Still, the Mad Men Season 4 premiere will have the same people and characters, only in a new setting.
Don has often said that people don’t change, and the series has proved him right. Therefore, the gang should be still the same lying, cheating, politically incorrect people that fans love – it’s just a question of how they’ll mess things up this time.
The Mad Men Season 4 premiere officially opens a new era in ’60s advertising Sunday night on AMC.
Sources
Victoria Advocate- “Mad Men embraces a fresh start for Season 4”
