For seven seasons, Mad Men was one of the most engrossing shows on television. Set in 1960s New York, the series explored the world of a top advertising firm and one its sharpest creative minds, Don Draper. It was an interesting, exciting and insightful period drama that grew into a television phenomenon.
After Mad Men went off the air, a void was left that few shows could fill. While nothing can quite capture the magic of that show, there are some that fans will likely enjoy. From fellow period pieces to the complicated protagonist, to shared themes of inequality, these are some of the shows you should watch if you like Mad Men.
Updated by Colin McCormick on March 31, 2020: Mad Men remains one of the most binge-worthy shows in recent memory and these days, everyone is looking for the latest show to keep them busy. So if you just got through revisiting the 1960s with Don Draper and company and are looking for a new show to replace it, we do have a few more gems that might fit the bill. From flawed protagonists to shared themes to the period setting, here are some more shows to watch if you like Mad Men.
Breaking Bad
Mad Men and Breaking Bad very much come from the modern era of television shows with complex protagonists. We think we’re rooting for Don Draper and are happy to see him succeed. However, he continually proves that he is not a good man worth cheering for.
Walter White in Breaking Bad is a similar character, one who has our initial sympathy only to venture down a darker and darker path as the series continues. Breaking Bad has that same binge-worthy quality that will have you on the edge of your seat for what will happen next.
House
There is something so interesting about a character who is such an unlikeable person in so many ways yet is endlessly intriguing. Don Draper certainly has these qualities and so does Dr. Gregory House in the medical drama House.
Like Draper, House is not really a people person. He is rude, blunt and arrogant yet he is also extraordinarily good at his job. It’s fascinating to see a character juggle these two sides of their personality and see how much we as the audience will put up with.
The Dick Van Dyke Show
The 1960s setting for Mad Men sets the show up to explore all kinds of interesting areas. From the family dynamics of the era to the pop culture touchstones to the big events of the time, it is a look back at a different era. That is what makes The Dick Van Dyke Show such a great show to check out for fans of Mad Men.
The Dick Vann Dyke Show focuses on a television writer which is a life that resembles Don Draper’s one work life. What’s really interesting is seeing a show that was made during the era Mad Men is set in. it makes for a fascinating comparison.
Six Feet Under
Despite taking place in the exciting and colorful world of advertising, Mad Men often deals with much darker subject matter. One of the main themes of the show is mortality and how characters cope with that. While the show handles that subject matter well, it pales in comparison to Six Feet Under.
The acclaimed HBO show ran for five seasons and followed a family who worked at a funeral home. The frank, honest and often beautiful way the show addressed death made for a captivating series. It is also widely regarded as having one of the best finales of all time.
Californication
Mad Men deals a lot with Don Draper’s addictions and how they control his life. He drinks himself into many bad situations and his womanizer gets him in even more trouble. These problems reflect the protagonist of the comedy-drama Californication.
David Duchovny stars as an alcoholic writer who spends his days womanizing and feeding his destructive behavior. Though maybe a bit lighter than Mad Men, the show presents a seedy life for the main character and does not shy away from depicting addiction in an unpleasant way.
Suits
Suits is a legal drama set in a fast-paced, high-stakes law firm. The show centers around Harvey Specter, the firm’s brilliant but reckless top lawyer, and Mike Ross, a young drop-out who conned his way into a job at the firm.
Harvey and Mike feel like they could combine to make a character like Don Draper. Harvey is the arrogant but talented man of business while Mike is the man with a secret to hide. Add to that the high-class professional world of lawyers and it feels a lot like Mad Men.
The Sopranos
The Sopranos is the groundbreaking drama about mobster and family man Tony Soprano. The series follows Tony’s often violent exploits as he juggles the dangers of his job with the impact his life of crime has on his family. As he struggles with these responsibilities, Tony begins seeing a therapist.
Tony Soprano helped pave the way for complex characters like Don Draper. Don is often not an easy protagonist to root for but he is fascinating to watch. Both shows also explore what it is like to share a life and have a romance with a man like this.
Better Call Saul
Though Breaking Bad is one of the most acclaimed shows of all-time, Better Call Saul manages to be a brilliant and worthy spin-off that survives on its own merits. The series follows Saul on his gradual journey from ambitious injury lawyer to criminal fugitive.
Like Don Draper, Jimmy McGill, aka Saul Goodman, is a man making a name for himself in a difficult professional world while hiding a secret that could derail him. The more we explore these deceptive characters, the more fun they are to watch.
Rectify
Rectify is a small, little-seen drama that nonetheless received great acclaim when it was on the air. The Southern Gothic story centers on Daniel Holden, who is released from prison after being exonerated from a murder decades earlier. Though free, many people, including some of his family, still doubt his innocence.
The quiet, tense, and riveting drama is another series that explores the tortured mind of a man whose past haunts him. Daniel and Don are very different men but they share a similar struggle, which is compelling to experience.
The Americans
The Americans is a highly-acclaimed FX drama which was one of the most intense series on television for six seasons. Set during the Cold War, the series followed two Russian spies who infiltrate the US while building a family together.
In this series, the dark secret is shared by husband and wife but is made no easier for them to deal with. The suspense and intrigue of the show are quite different from Mad Men, but the exploration of relationships and secrets is similar.
Call The Midwife
This BBC drama is another period piece, taking place in 1950s London. The series follows a young midwife starting her position in the new city and being faced with the life-and-death struggles of the job.
One of the most interesting and well-done aspects of Mad Men is the exploration of a woman’s life at this time. Though set in very different worlds, both series explore the difficulties even the most talented and accomplished women faced in this era.
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is a unique and entertaining period comedy that is going into its third season this year. Set in 1950s New York City, the series follows a housewife who pursues her dreams of being a stand-up comedian.
The time period and New York setting certainly help give the series a distinct Mad Men vibe. Besides that, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel also does a great job depicting the oppressed lives of housewives and women trying to make it in a male-dominated profession.
BoJack Horseman
BoJack Horseman is an animated comedy-drama unlike anything you’ve seen before. The Netflix series follows an anthropomorphic horse who is a washed-up actor living in Hollywood. As he tries to make his comeback, he continues to deal with his many personal demons.
While it might seem strange comparing a character like Don Draper to a cartoon horse, these characters and their journeys are quite similar. They both find varying levels of success but seem unable to stop sabotaging themselves. The shows are very moving looks at self-destruction.
Masters Of Sex
Masters of Sex is another period drama also taking place in the 1950s. Based on real events of the Masters and Johnson’s research on human sexuality, the series explores the relationship between the two colleagues who conducted that influential research.
Along with the time period, Masters of Sex shares a number of similar themes with Mad Men. Both shows spend much of their time exploring human relationships and their complexities. They also both explore the lives of professional women at the time.
Halt And Catch Fire
Halt and Catch Fire is yet another period drama, though very different from any explored on this list so far. This series takes place in the 1980s in Silicon Valley and focuses on a small group who are attempting to build a revolutionary computer system.
Though a very different period, Halt and Catch Fire similarly explore this era and the professional landscape, just as Mad Men so successfully does. It follows determined and obsessive professionals in a fascinating professional world.
