Mad Men - Season 1-7 [Blu-ray]

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Birth of An Independent Woman (HD, 43:09) This is, bar none, the highlight of the entire set, special features-wise. It’s a really wonderful, two-part documentary examining the roles of women in the world, before and during the period that ‘Mad Men’ is set. Occasionally they try to shoehorn the show into conversation in weird ways (“You wanted to be called Mrs. Draper,” one feminist theorist says), but man, this is a snappily edited, intellectually stimulating, and 100 percent engaging documentary, drawing from a number of leading feminist organizers, professors and theorists. If you don’t think that ‘Mad Men’ is one of the most smartly feminist shows on television (it has one of the most female-heavy writing staffs on television), then this should clear that right up. Essential. All the extras presented on this set are also on the DVD version. Thankfully, there are a whole bunch (and here they’re in sparkly HD).

Everything in ‘Mad Men’ has an almost three-dimensional level of texture, from the different fabrics (and metals and plastics) used in both the costumes (particularly Joan’s outrageous getups) and the set design, to the way everyone’s hair is so expertly coiffed. This texture is wonderfully strong here. Skin tones look amazing. Colors vibrantly pop. Shadows are deep and inky. Everything looks divine. Performances continue to be top notch throughout this third season. Hamm brings a nice touch of subtlety to Draper's inconsistencies, as well as a sort of jaded persona that is perfectly in keeping with someone with too many conflicted emotions roiling around his subconscious. One of the stronger performances this season is Bryan Batt's Sal Romano. The closeted gay character could have become a camp classic in lesser hands, but Batt offers such a full blooded portrayal, one full of self loathing and also a certain nobility, that Sal becomes instantly sympathetic, especially as the machinations of the third season's plot arcs play out in sometimes devastating ways. Catch how Batt's doleful eyes completely reveal everything you need to know about Sal's miserably repressed life when Draper catches sight of him with a young male bellhop in the season's premiere episode.

This award-winning show was pure class from start to finish and if you haven't seen it yet, now's your chance. And joining Hamm in his seminal role as Draper is a stellar cast of endearing actors and actresses, featuring Elisabeth Moss as Peggy Olson, Vincent Kartheiser as Pete Campbell, January Jones as Betty Francis, and so many more names you will become closely attached to over the course of this encapsulating 92-episode epic.

Mad Men Illustrated (14:01) looks at the work of the wonderfully named Dyna Moe, whose illustrations mimic the opening title graphics look of Mad Men. Show your advertising skills by building your own collection of Mad Men merchandise to show off to your friends and family. There aren’t any technical issues, either. There is a fine layer of grain, however, which actually adds some authenticity to the show, and in a way adds to the period detail. Clearing the Air: The History of Cigarette Advertising is split into two parts, Part 1 running 25:28 and Part 2 19:58. As any aficionado of this series will tell you, smoking occurs virtually nonstop by almost all of the characters, and this fascinating documentary ties that all in to the history of ads for tobacco products. An Era of Style (HD, 21:44) This is a historical overview of the fashion styles of the late ‘50’s and early ‘60’s (“one of the most important times in fashion history,” says the show’s costume designer). It’s just as snappy as the feminist documentary, with a lot less heft. Still, it’s a lot of fun to watch (and anyone who loves the show, should) and a great little doc, but could have done with a longer running time.Divorce: Circa 1960's (HD; 1:19:36 cumulative) is an interesting three part documentary which charts the course of the growing divorce "problem" of mid-sixties America, something that's alluded to frequently in Mad Men with the subplot of Betty and her new husband. Copious film clips are utilized as well as various talking head experts on the subject. Advertising the American Dream (HD, 20 minutes) -- This marketing featurette explores the many ways American advertising has evolved over the decades. It digs into the early beginnings of product propaganda ushered in by the execs and firms of the early ‘60s and looks at their influence on modern materialism, culture, and merchandizing.