Mad Men 'For those Who Think Young' - Episode 1 Season 2

Late Late Show
To fellow 'Mad Men' fans, I feel your pain. Why on earth the show is aired so late at night, I do not know. I know we live in an age where recording your favourites isn't a problem but if you want to see it when it's on (just before midnight on Monday nights on RTÉ One) – it is. This partly explains why our 'Mad Men' blog is only kick-starting now, apologises to anyone who missed it. Anyway there's enough negativity in the air this Budget Tuesday without letting it bleed into our blog so here goes...

Twist and Shout
'Mad Men' is back and oh how I have missed that stylish 60's world of unPC behaviour, immoral morals and fabulous fashion. And what a stylish opening. We weren't the only ones preparing ourselves for the Second Season of one of the best looking shows on TV ever (there I said it). Featuring all the regular characters prepping and preening themselves for another day at the office, sink or saddle, depending on gender and marital status. Not that we needed any reminder, but the beats of Chevy Chekers 'Twist and shout' was a gentle indicator of the world we were about to re-enter.

Two Years Later
Two years on and this world is already vastly different to the one we left behind at the end of Season One. The world of fast-living and hedonistic devil-may-care hard-partying is gone. There is a new focus on health – it may have taken an insurance physical to get Draper to visit the Doc but he's there nonetheless. A 36-year-old man then was very different to a 36-year-old 'guy' today. The smoking, drinking and stress have already begun to take their tole on the Ad Man and he's begun a new life marked by blood pressure tablets. The strains are making their mark in the bed room too, which clashes with Betty's saucy Valentine's plans.

Sisterhood
Women's rights issues not only exist now but are beginning to be heard as we notice Peggy's career take two steps forward. Of course there's the obligatory men's-club one step back (nasty fat farm comments) but our girl is still making progress. So is Betty – she has a new found confidence, let's hope its here to stay.

The Young Ones
There's a palpable fear of youth hanging in the air at Sterling Coopers. The hard-partying Boys Club, who were the first generation of Ad Men, have had it so easy for so long they forgot to look over their shoulders. The next generation are waking them up by snapping at their heels. In fact the whole country is looking and sounding younger – "The President has a baby in the White House" – and there's a focus on development, not only in technology but also in terms of social issues.

Jackie O
Even Draper's taste in reading has changed, Frank O'Hara's 'Meditations in an Emergency' being his latest indulgence. Hard to believe that only forty years ago everyone read, constantly. They also had TV at the time but truth be told, there was a limited amount of programming on offer (as was highlighted by Jackie O's tour of the White House, which everyone seemed to watch). Still, can't help but wonder will the time of the book ever return to those glory days? Wonder who Draper sent his book to, any ideas? What other direction changes do you foresee in Season Two? Drop us a line below with any 'Mad Men' thoughts.

Hard to believe we've returned to the wonderfully recreated 60's world of 'Mad Men'. It's good to be back.

Taragh Loughrey-Grant

'Mad Men' is on RTÉ One on Mondays at 11.55pm.