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Mad Men

92 episodes · 7 seasons · AMC · 2007

Mad Men is 92 episodesabout 4 days of television. There is nothing worth skipping — The Essentials keeps all of it.

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The Essentials

Ninety-two of ninety-two. Mad Men has no filler in the usual sense - it is a character show where the plot is a by-product, so the 'weak' episodes named in rewatch lists are the quiet ones, and the quiet ones are the show. One published list names 'The Milk and Honey Route' as skippable; it is the penultimate episode and it carries Betty's diagnosis. Watch it in order.

92 of 92 episodes3d 20h to watch
The speed run

Nineteen of ninety-two, for someone who stalled somewhere in the middle and wants to reach the end. This is the plot spine - the identity, the agency, the marriage - and it is an honest trade rather than a free one: Mad Men's subject is the texture between these hours, and a run this fast keeps what happens while losing most of what the show is about. Bridges cover the gaps.

19 of 92 episodes3d 1h saved19h to watch
Out of the typing pool

Twenty-three of ninety-two. Peggy Olson starts the series as a secretary on her first day, and this is the thread that follows what she does about it - the cleanest arc in the show, and the only one with a real beginning, middle and end. A thread through an ensemble show, not a way to watch Mad Men - the series cross-cuts less than most, which is why this works at all, but you will be missing everything happening in the other offices. If this is your first time, take The Essentials instead.

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The account man

Twenty-one of ninety-two. Roger Sterling is the name on the door and the one man in the building who has never had to try. This is what the next seven seasons do about that. A thread through an ensemble show, not a way to watch Mad Men - the series cross-cuts less than most, which is why this works at all, but you will be missing everything happening in the other offices. If this is your first time, take The Essentials instead.

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Running the floor

Nineteen of ninety-two. Joan Holloway runs the office and everyone in it knows the building would stop without her; the question the series asks is what that is actually worth in a room where the titles belong to men. A thread through an ensemble show, not a way to watch Mad Men - the series cross-cuts less than most, which is why this works at all, but you will be missing everything happening in the other offices. If this is your first time, take The Essentials instead.

19 of 92 episodes3d 1h saved19h to watch
The house in Ossining

Nineteen of ninety-two. The other half of the show, in the suburbs, where almost nothing happens on purpose. Betty Draper's thread is the hardest one to like and the one the series is most quietly serious about. A thread through an ensemble show, not a way to watch Mad Men - the series cross-cuts less than most, which is why this works at all, but you will be missing everything happening in the other offices. If this is your first time, take The Essentials instead.

19 of 92 episodes3d 1h saved19h to watch
The climb

Twenty-one of ninety-two. Pete Campbell wants in - to the partnership, the clients, the family name's worth, the life next door - and this is every episode where he gets nearer or further from it. A thread through an ensemble show, not a way to watch Mad Men - the series cross-cuts less than most, which is why this works at all, but you will be missing everything happening in the other offices. If this is your first time, take The Essentials instead.

21 of 92 episodes2d 23h saved21h to watch

By season

Every episode

In airing order. Faded episodes are the ones The Essentials skips.

Season 113 episodes · 13h · 13 in The Essentials
01×01Smoke Gets in Your Eyes
2007-07-19 · 60m

At an advertising agency in 1960s Manhattan, the creative director has problems coming up with ideas for a tobacco account and crosses swords with the female head of a large department store that she wants to take in a new retail direction.

01×02Ladies Room
2007-07-26 · 60m

Betty sees a specialist about her ongoing physical problems; a managing partner leans on Don to get involved in the Richard Nixon presidential campaign; Peggy gets some unwanted attention from a copy writer.

01×03Marriage of Figaro
2007-08-02 · 60m

Pete's return from his honeymoon stirs up conflicted emotions about his bachelor-party dalliance with Peggy; Don and Rachel's business relationship shifts; Betty sets tongues wagging when she invites the neighborhood divorcée to her daughter's birthday party.

01×04New Amsterdam
2007-08-09 · 60m

Pete oversteps his bounds in dealing with a valuable client, puts his foot in his mouth and gets a lesson from Don in toeing the company line. At home, he gets pressure from his newlywed bride to buy their own apartment unit.

01×05Five G
2007-08-16 · 60m

Don wins a prestigious award and gets his face splashed on a prominent industry periodical, which triggers some fallout from his past; Ken gets a short story published in a national monthly magazine, inspiring jealousy among his colleagues.

01×06Babylon
2007-08-23 · 60m

Peggy offers superb suggestions during a focus-group session, and her ideas are so well received that her future at the agency looks much brighter; Don asks Rachel's advice about an ad campaign for Israeli tourism.

01×07Red in the Face
2007-08-30 · 60m

A boys' night out for Roger and Don ends badly as Roger's erratic behavior damages their relationship; Pete encounters problems on the home front as he and his bride continue to adjust to being married.

01×08The Hobo Code
2007-09-06 · 60m

Don's mysterious past comes back to haunt him; Peggy celebrates her new work success, but not all of her colleagues and co-workers are pleased or impressed; Salvatore's relationship with a client is questioned.

01×09Shoot
2007-09-13 · 60m

A rival ad agency tries to poach Don from Sterling Cooper, and they involve Betty in their campaign to land him; romantic rivals vie for Peggy's affections. Also, the agency steps up its Nixon presidential campaign in an attempt to counter successful Kennedy promos.

01×10Long Weekend
2007-09-27 · 60m

Don is distraught about losing an important account, so Roger, stuck in the city on Labor Day, tries to cheer him up; Joan and her roommate paint the town.

01×11Indian Summer
2007-10-04 · 60m

Peggy is assigned a difficult project; Don seizes the opportunity provided by Roger's latest work woes; a frustrated Pete develops more problems at home and in the office; Betty seeks new relief for her mounting frustrations.

01×12Nixon vs. Kennedy
2007-10-11 · 60m

The Sterling Cooper staff pulls an all-nighter watching Nixon-Kennedy election returns; an ambitious Pete directly challenges Don.

01×13The Wheel
2007-10-18 · 60m

Peggy's colleagues are irked when she's given a new job opportunity; Don's work responsibilities get in the way of his home life; Betty uncovers a surprising secret.

Season 213 episodes · 13h · 13 in The Essentials
02×01For Those Who Think Young
2008-07-27 · 60m

The second season opens with Don butting heads about personnel matters with Duck, who wants "younger creative talent"; the staff is up in the air about its approach to an airline-company account; Betty bumps into a former roommate who has begun a surprising new career; Joan is at a loss about where to put the new copy machine.

02×02Flight 1
2008-08-03 · 60m

Paul throws a party, then throws his work colleagues for a loop when he introduces them to a special guest; Peggy pays a dinner visit to her family; Duck uses an unorthodox approach to land an airline account, which puts the firm on a conflict-of-interest course.

02×03The Benefactor
2008-08-10 · 60m

Problems surface on the set of a commercial shoot while Don plays hooky from the office; ever-ambitious, career-minded Harry musters support for a sponsorship plagued by controversy; Betty steps in to help Don when he arranges a dinner to placate his upset clients.

02×04Three Sundays
2008-08-17 · 60m

Peggy's family entertains a new priest assigned to their parish; Freddy and Ken wine and dine a client; the agency staff pitches in to prepare for an under-the-gun pitch meeting.

02×05The New Girl
2008-08-24 · 60m

Joan might have found Don a perfect secretary; Peggy comes to the rescue when Don finds himself in the middle of personal issues between a TV comedian and the man's wife; Pete and his wife see a fertility specialist to deal with her inability to conceive.

02×06Maidenform
2008-08-31 · 60m

Don and Duck attempt to make peace at the office; Peggy tries to find a way to participate in the high-level after-hours meetings being held by the executives; one of Duck's family members visits his office.

02×07The Gold Violin
2008-09-07 · 60m

Don steps up in class and purchases a new set of wheels that is more appropriate for a big-time executive; Pete, Harry and Ken put their heads together to land new accounts; a serious error by Don's secretary could reflect poorly on Joan; the staff reacts to the new objet d'art in Cooper's office.

02×08A Night to Remember
2008-09-14 · 60m

Father Gill tries to convince Peggy to volunteer her talents to a church project; Duck and Don team to woo a foreign-beer client by marketing to a new demographic; Harry turns to an unlikely source for help when his department is overloaded with work.

02×09Six Month Leave
2008-09-28 · 60m

Freddy Rumsen strikes out during a pitch meeting with his team; ever-eager Pete seizes a chance to exploit an opportunity at the office; an old friend is the beneficiary of Don's loyalty; Sara Beth proves to be a welcome ally for Betty.

02×10The Inheritance
2008-10-05 · 60m

Betty visits her ailing father; Paul's girlfriend, Sheila, advises him about his civic responsibilities; Pete's mother tries to put the kibosh on an important family move that he and Trudy are planning.

02×11The Jet Set
2008-10-12 · 60m

Don takes a business trip to Los Angeles, where he hooks up with some interesting new acquaintances; Peggy's in the mood for an office romance; Duck contemplates the future at Sterling Cooper.

02×12The Mountain King
2008-10-19 · 60m

An old friend and Don renew acquaintances; Pete's personal problems impact a major account; Joan introduces her fiancé around the office.

02×13Meditations in an Emergency
2008-10-26 · 60m

As the second season ends, things get bumpy at Sterling Cooper while Don is away; Betty receives some upsetting news.

Season 313 episodes · 13h · 13 in The Essentials
03×01Out of Town
2009-08-16 · 60m

In the third-season opener, Pete and Ken are among those affected by the corporate changes at the firm. Meanwhile, Sal accompanies Don on a business trip to Baltimore, where both men succumb to the powers of persuasive seduction.

03×02Love Among the Ruins
2009-08-23 · 60m

Betty's father pays a visit; the Drapers dine with the stuffy new British boss (Jared Harris) and his snobby wife; the firm contemplates whether to accede to an unusual request from a client; Roger takes charge of arranging a wedding; and Peggy's personal involvement in a campaign leaves her greatly affected.

03×03My Old Kentucky Home
2009-08-30 · 60m

A mandatory overtime session leaves the writers trying to stave off late-night boredom; Roger throws a party, and Joan and Greg host one of their own; and Sally and Grandpa have a run-in.

03×04The Arrangements
2009-09-06 · 60m

Don crosses paths with his father-in-law (Ryan Cutrona); Peggy searches for a new roommate; and a new client with money to throw around is very excited about doing business with the firm.

03×05The Fog
2009-09-13 · 60m

Concern over Sally's behavior causes Don and Betty to act; opportunistic Pete tries to work a new angle into his business dealings; and an odd dream has a strange effect on Betty.

03×06Guy Walks Into an Advertising Agency
2009-09-20 · 60m

A surprise visitor shows up at Sterling Cooper; Sally gets spooked by something (or someone); and Joan is the recipient of some surprising news.

03×07Seven Twenty Three
2009-09-27 · 60m

Betty becomes involved in local politics; a troubling incident leads Don to begin thinking about his future; and Peggy is on the receiving end of an exquisite gift.

03×08Souvenir
2009-10-04 · 60m

Don decides to include Betty on a company business trip; Pete lends a hand to a neighbor in his apartment building.

03×09Wee Small Hours
2009-10-11 · 60m

Client satisfaction proves to be difficult for both Don and Sal; Betty decides to host a fund-raiser.

03×10The Color Blue
2009-10-18 · 60m

Sterling Cooper celebrates a company milestone; Peggy competes with Paul for an account.

03×11The Gypsy and the Hobo
2009-10-25 · 60m

Sterling Cooper welcomes back a prodigal client; Betty and the children take a trip; Joan and Greg make plans for their future.

03×12The Grown-Ups
2009-11-01 · 60m

A candidate makes an impression on Don; Peggy's taste in men proves questionable; and Pete faces a major decision about his career.

03×13Shut the Door. Have a Seat.
2009-11-08 · 60m

In the third-season finale, Don has a pivotal meeting with Connie (Chelcie Ross); Betty is the beneficiary of some interesting advice; and Pete has a serious sit-down with some clients.

Season 413 episodes · 13h · 13 in The Essentials
04×01Public Relations
2010-07-25 · 60m

In the Season 4 opener, Don's reluctance to talk about himself jettisons a prestigious trade-paper interview that the company was hoping would be a boon to business. Meanwhile, the "wholesome" manufacturer of two-piece swimsuits wants to hire the firm but doesn't want a sexy ad campaign; Pete and Peggy stage a stunt in an effort to secure more money from a meat-company client; and Roger plays Cupid for Don.

04×02Christmas Comes But Once a Year
2010-08-01 · 60m

The agency's Christmas party is nearly spoiled by the late arrival of a surprise and not-so-welcome visitor.

04×03The Good News
2010-08-08 · 60m

Don plans a jaunt to Acapulco, while back at the office, Lane and Joan get into a serious disagreement.

04×04The Rejected
2010-08-15 · 60m

When Pete receives an edict from Roger and Lane, he finds himself confronting personal dilemmas at work and on the home front. Meanwhile, Peggy befriends Joyce, a photo editor at Life magazine, who invites the copywriter to a party at a downtown loft, where Peggy gets hit on from a number of sides. And Faye's self-deprecating remarks at a focus-group meeting don't sit well with Don.

04×05The Chrysanthemum and the Sword
2010-08-22 · 60m

Don and Pete disregard Roger's expectations in an effort to land an important new client.

04×06Waldorf Stories
2010-08-29 · 60m

Peggy and her new creative partner don't see eye-to-eye; Don pitches a client under an unusual set of circumstances.

04×07The Suitcase
2010-09-05 · 60m

A rapidly approaching deadline causes consternation and throws things into a tizzy at the agency.

04×08The Summer Man
2010-09-12 · 60m

Peggy and Joan are forced to deal with some insulting office behavior; Don and his date Bethany (Anna Camp) have an uncomfortable encounter with Betty and her husband at a fancy restaurant. Later, during a late-night business meeting, Don invites Faye (Cara Buono) to dine with him, and dinner turns into a bit more than either had expected.

04×09The Beautiful Girls
2010-09-19 · 60m

A romantic gesture in the form of a thoughtful gift could lead to professional problems for Peggy.

04×10Hands and Knees
2010-09-26 · 60m

Betty is a bit unsettled when a surprise visitor stops at the Francis home.

04×11Chinese Wall
2010-10-03 · 60m

An all-hands meeting is called at Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce, and the gossip starts to fly about an important client leaving the agency and that possibly more will follow. Meanwhile, a competing firm attempts to poach select SCDP employees; Peggy has a passionate romp with Abe and later tries her hand at wooing the Playtex people.

04×12Blowing Smoke
2010-10-10 · 60m

While trying to navigate a crisis, Don encounters an old friend.

04×13Tomorrowland
2010-10-17 · 60m

In the Season 4 finale, a surprising opportunity rears its head for both Don and Peggy, leaving them with life-altering decisions to make.

Season 513 episodes · 13h · 13 in The Essentials
05×01A Little Kiss (1)
2012-03-25 · 60m

Don is greeted with a surprise; Roger and Pete clash; and Joan has a run-in with a houseguest.

05×02A Little Kiss (2)
2012-03-25 · 60m

Don is greeted with a surprise; Roger and Pete clash; and Joan has a run-in with a houseguest.

05×03Tea Leaves
2012-04-01 · 60m

Peggy receives new responsibilities as the firm makes a concentrated push to increase business. Later, Don and Harry go the extra mile for a big client.

05×04Mystery Date
2012-04-08 · 60m

Don has an encounter with someone from the past; Joan comes to a momentous decision. Meanwhile, Roger increases Peggy's workload.

05×05Signal 30
2012-04-15 · 60m

Lane makes an interesting friend; Pete plays host to an assortment of guests.

05×06Far Away Places
2012-04-22 · 60m

Peggy has a tough time during a particularly formidable pitch; Don calls on a potential client.

05×07At the Codfish Ball
2012-04-29 · 60m

Don, Roger and Pete team up to rustle up some new clients; Sally lends a hand to a relative.

05×08Lady Lazarus
2012-05-06 · 60m

Peggy reluctantly harbors a secret; Pete steps up for a friend; Don gets a surprise.

05×09Dark Shadows
2012-05-13 · 60m

Don's competitive nature comes to the fore; Roger pursues some new clients; Sally is met with a challenge.

05×10Christmas Waltz
2012-05-20 · 60m

Christmas proves rewarding to many at the agency; Harry does a good turn for a friend.

05×11The Other Woman
2012-05-27 · 60m

Don deals with a challenging pitch, while Peggy ponders taking a trip.

05×12Commissions and Fees
2012-06-03 · 60m

Don receives an intriguing lead and follows up on it.

05×13The Phantom
2012-06-10 · 60m

Season 5 concludes with opportunities abounding for everyone at the agency, while Pete encounters an interesting stranger on a train.

Season 613 episodes · 13h · 13 in The Essentials
06×01The Doorway (1)
2013-04-07 · 60m

Don launches a new campaign in the sixth-series opener.

06×02The Doorway (2)
2013-04-07 · 60m

Roger receives some unnerving news; and Betty welcomes a houseguest.

06×03The Collaborators
2013-04-14 · 60m

Don has a difference of opinion with a client, while Peggy has problems motivating the staff.

06×04To Have and to Hold
2013-04-21 · 60m

The partners try to keep a secret campaign under wraps, while Joan gets a visit from an old friend.

06×05The Flood
2013-04-28 · 60m

Peggy plans for the future, while Roger courts a potential client.

06×06For Immediate Release
2013-05-05 · 60m

Roger changes tack to make new business; Pete has an awkward run-in with a client.

06×07Man with a Plan
2013-05-12 · 60m

Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce tries to placate competing clients; Pete is blindsided by an unexpected guest.

06×08The Crash
2013-05-19 · 60m

Don is disrupted by a surprise visitor; Peggy looks for inspiration.

06×09The Better Half
2013-05-26 · 60m

Roger is plagued by a recurring dream; Joan goes to the beach.

06×10A Tale of Two Cities
2013-06-02 · 60m

The agency works to keep a client; Joan is caught off guard.

06×11Favors
2013-06-09 · 60m

etty plans for Sally's future, while Peggy encounters trouble at home.

06×12The Quality of Mercy
2013-06-16 · 60m

The partners disagree on a new campaign; Don takes a day off.

06×13In Care Of
2013-06-23 · 60m

In the series 6 finale, Don has a problem.

Season 714 episodes · 14h · 14 in The Essentials
07×01Time Zones
2014-04-13 · 60m

The Season 7 opener finds Don making a new friend, and Joan meeting a client for drinks. Elsewhere, Peggy hears some impressive new work, and Roger experiences a strange phone call.

07×02A Day's Work
2014-04-20 · 60m

Peggy receives flowers at the office; Pete navigates the politics of new business; Joan is put in an awkward situation.

07×03Field Trip
2014-04-27 · 60m

Don takes an impromptu trip; Betty has lunch with a friend; Harry lobbies for a cause; the partners consider a questionable asset.

07×04The Monolith
2014-05-04 · 60m

Sterling Cooper & Partners prepares for a guest; Don calls an old friend; Roger confronts problems at home; Pete underestimates Peggy.

07×05The Runaways
2014-05-11 · 60m

Don gets a visitor from his past; Stan embarrasses a superior; Peggy helps Ginsberg with a problem; Harry discovers a new ally at the agency.

07×06The Strategy
2014-05-18 · 60m

Peggy does research for a pitch; Pete is invited to join an exclusive club; Joan seeks time spent with a friend.

07×07Waterloo
2014-05-25 · 60m

Don receives a troubling letter; Pete butts heads with Cutler; Roger gets an unexpected phone call; and a risky venture entails a new future for Peggy.

07×08Severance
2015-04-05 · 60m

Don tries to track down a friend; Joan struggles to solve a problem with an account; Peggy is set up by an unlikely person.

07×09New Business
2015-04-12 · 60m

Roger gives Don some unwanted advice; Peggy and Stan disagree over an account's personnel; Harry asks for Don's blessing.

07×10The Forecast
2015-04-19 · 60m

Roger pawns off a project onto Don; Joan goes on a business trip; Peggy and Pete clash over how to deal with an account emergency.

07×11Time & Life
2015-04-26 · 60m

Don comes up with a big idea; Roger asks Joan for help with a clerical error; Peggy has a hard time with casting for a commercial.

07×12Lost Horizon
2015-05-03 · 60m

Don receives a reward for his work; Joan butts heads with a coworker on an account; Roger dodges a big decision.

07×13The Milk and Honey Route
2015-05-10 · 60m

Don has trouble sleeping; Pete is blindsided by a friend; Henry arranges a family reunion.

07×14Person to Person
2015-05-17 · 60m

The stories of Don Draper, his family and his coworkers come to an end in the series finale.

Common questions

How many episodes of Mad Men are there?

Mad Men has 92 episodes across 7 seasons — about 92 hours of television.

Which episodes of Mad Men can I skip?

Very few — Mad Men is tightly serialised, and The Essentials keeps 92 of 92. The honest answer is to watch nearly all of it.

How long does it take to watch Mad Men?

About 92 hours for all 92 episodes. The Essentials keeps every one of them, so that is the whole commitment.

Does Mad Men have filler?

Very little. Mad Men keeps 100% of itself in the curated path — it is best watched in full.

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