Through and through a storytelling masterclass. The stakes have never been higher, and while a lesser show might’ve been too focused on plot in an effort to make this exciting or intense, season 4 finds the perfect balance between story and character, and the result is a season that feels momentous in narrative, while also being the best look at these people we’ve come to love watching. At its core, this is a much darker run than its predecessors, never afraid to tackle the more challenging aspects of its characters. A consistent ride of startling vulnerability and the humanity that outlines this seductively wicked world. Each and every episode is chock full of this resonant drama, and thus, this season soars the whole way through; hit after hit, winner after winner. I was sold from the get go and it only went up from there. And by the end, it’s no surprise Mad Men carved out its own place in the all timers television landscape. An utter triumph in all departments.