Mad Men: Season 5

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 24 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 315 Ratings

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8.8

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8.8	User Score Universal acclaim based on 315 Ratings

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Mad Men: Long Weekend

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Season Details & Credits

AMC | Season Premiere Date: March 25, 2012

Starring: Vincent Kartheiser, John Slattery, Jay R. Ferguson

Summary: After a long 17-month hiatus, Mad Men return for its fifth season.

Creator: Matthew Weiner

Genre(s): Drama, Action & Adventure

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Season 5 Episodes

tbd
S5:E13. The Phantom
Air Date: June 10, 2012
tbd
S5:E12. Commissions and Fees
Air Date: June 3, 2012
tbd
S5:E11. The Other Woman
Air Date: May 27, 2012

See all Seasons and Episodes

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

Alan Sepinwall

Mar 22, 2012

The premiere suggests that the only other show that belongs with it in the discussion for the best drama on television is the same one we were talking about last season. At the top level, there is "Breaking Bad," and there is also--finally, thankfully, exceptionally--Mad Men, and then there is everything else. Read full review

100

Robert Bianco

Mar 22, 2012

This is such a gorgeous show to watch (at least for anyone fond of mid-'60s clothes and design) that it's easy to forget how beautifully these actors play their roles and how true-to-life they and the writers make these characters seem. Read full review

100

Tom Gliatto

Mar 26, 2012

The show still tends to go suddenly flat--it's hard to tell whether the party is supposed to be dead or it's just incompetently staged--but Hamm is always superb as Don. [2 Apr 2012, p.37]

Tim Goodman

Mar 15, 2012

Mad Men stays relevant and exciting by moving forward. Read full review

Robert Lloyd

Mar 23, 2012

It works because it's less about who we were then--it's a fantasy of who we were then, really--than about who we are now. Read full review

Sarah Rodman

Mar 23, 2012

The episode, written by series creator Matthew Weiner, is a model of efficiency and nuance. Read full review

Brian Lowry

Mar 15, 2012

Each time-lapse introduces more wrinkles in the show's world, but the premiere offers a sketchy road map of what's to come, and won't expand Men's footprint beyond its solid arthouse niche. Read full review

SEE ALL 24 REVIEWS

User Score

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8.8

User Reviews

Knicksfan7

Mar 26, 2012

Mad Men is pure genius! This show is beautiful, realistic, interesting, incredibly intelligent, and most of all ITS ADDICTING! I've been in love with this show from day one, and from the first episode of season 5 (which was amazing of course) this brilliant work by Matthew Weiner and theMad Men is pure genius! This show is beautiful, realistic, interesting, incredibly intelligent, and most of all ITS ADDICTING! I've been in love with this show from day one, and from the first episode of season 5 (which was amazing of course) this brilliant work by Matthew Weiner and the all-star cast is surely bound to win its 5th straight emmy. The wait is finally over and what a way to bring us back to our favorite drama and back to the 1960's. Any positive adjective you can think of describes Mad Men. This show is absolutely brilliant and i cannot wait till next sunday! Cheers to another award-winning season!… Expand

12 of 14 users found this helpful122

cybero103

Mar 27, 2012

I am so happy that Mad Men is back! This was a fantastic episode and though I agree with some other reviewers that it was not the best episode, I still feel it stands strong in the running with some of the best. I cant wait to see what this season brings!

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

PeriMenopausal

May 23, 2012

Far Away Places aka The LSD episode is one of the finest hours of TV I've seen all season. Ranks with The Suitcase as among this series' best. Emmys all around.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

seancriswell

Jun 13, 2012

This is the best show on TV right now, and in my top three shows ever. So any criticism I have comes with the asterisk that I'm putting it up against the best hours of TV ever. With greatness in entertainment I always like to watch it a couple of times and let it simmer for a while before IThis is the best show on TV right now, and in my top three shows ever. So any criticism I have comes with the asterisk that I'm putting it up against the best hours of TV ever. With greatness in entertainment I always like to watch it a couple of times and let it simmer for a while before I call it the best ever. With that being said I am having a hard time remembering a better season of this show. "At the Codfish ball", Far Away Places", and "The Other Women" will definitely be in my top 10 episodes ever of this show. "Commission and Fees" and "Christmas Waltz" were superb as well. The only episode that fell a little flat for me, surprisingly enough, was the finale. I felt that it covered no new ground with Don. Who didn't know that Don would have trouble being faithful the minute Megan quite the firm. On the same level the guilt he would feel after Lane's suicide would parallel the guilt he felt after his brothers. Maybe because he's my least favorite character, but I also felt that Pete's arc came up way short. This has always been the character I love to hate, but this year I just hate him. Even Roger, who is probably my favorite character, and who's storyline this year has been brilliant came up short. I could care less what happens between him and Megan's mother. Overall this season was more than worth the wait and as usual I will be counting down the days till Mad Men is back.… Expand

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

maclaughlin

Oct 8, 2012

Another great season for, arguably, the best show on television. Some of the character arcs, Lane and Peggy's especially, are heartbreaking. Others, like Joan's, are thought-provoking. As always, the characters are beautifully written and wonderfully acted. Betty's role was diminished, whichAnother great season for, arguably, the best show on television. Some of the character arcs, Lane and Peggy's especially, are heartbreaking. Others, like Joan's, are thought-provoking. As always, the characters are beautifully written and wonderfully acted. Betty's role was diminished, which was a relief. Don's character has evolved, either permanently or temporarily, which kept his role from feeling stale and repetitive. My only complaint would be the handling of Megan's character; it never felt that the writers had as clear a vision for that character, to differentiate her from other characters, but that's a small complaint. Overall, a very satisfying season.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Andyknuth219

Aug 25, 2012

This is an amazing show. It's nice to finally see a show with real actors on tv that play such great characters.

Andy www.funnyordie.com/andy_knuth

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

AriadneG

May 12, 2012

This is one of the most painful collapse of a series I have ever seen. Everything I loved in Mad Men has simply disappeared. It had taken four seasons to build meticulously the psychology of characters such as Betty and Pete, and in a flash all this work was swept away with grotesque andThis is one of the most painful collapse of a series I have ever seen. Everything I loved in Mad Men has simply disappeared. It had taken four seasons to build meticulously the psychology of characters such as Betty and Pete, and in a flash all this work was swept away with grotesque and implausible solutions. Betty that becomes obese in a few months is simply meaningless. Pete, who had learned to love his wife, who had built a complicity with her and had become an adult, is now again an **** without interest. Undecided about whether to turn to soap opera or sitcom, Mad Men has lost his artistic identity, as pointed out, moreover, by a direction more and more flat and uninteresting. There remain only the jokes of Roger and the hotness of Megan, and nothing else. I am astounded by the fact that everyone seems to be excited about this series.… Expand

3 of 14 users found this helpful311

SEE ALL 25 REVIEWS

Seasons & Episodes

86

Series Overview
Season 7.5

83
- Season 7.5 Overview
  Air Date: April 5, 2015
Season 7

85
- Season 7 Overview
  Air Date: April 13, 2014
Season 6

88
- Season 6 Overview
  Air Date: April 7, 2013
Season 5

89
- Season 5 Overview
  Air Date: March 25, 2012
- tbd
  S5:E13. The Phantom
  Air Date: June 10, 2012
- tbd
  S5:E12. Commissions and Fees
  Air Date: June 3, 2012
- tbd
  S5:E11. The Other Woman
  Air Date: May 27, 2012
- tbd
  S5:E10. Christmas Waltz
  Air Date: May 20, 2012
- tbd
  S5:E9. Dark Shadows
  Air Date: May 13, 2012
- tbd
  S5:E8. Lady Lazarus
  Air Date: May 6, 2012
- tbd
  S5:E7. At the Codfish Ball
  Air Date: April 29, 2012
- tbd
  S5:E6. Far Away Places
  Air Date: April 22, 2012
- tbd
  S5:E5. Signal 30
  Air Date: April 15, 2012
- tbd
  S5:E4. Mystery Date
  Air Date: April 8, 2012
- tbd
  S5:E3. Tea Leaves
  Air Date: April 1, 2012
- tbd
  S5:E2. A Little Kiss Part 2
  Air Date: March 25, 2012
- tbd
  S5:E1. A Little Kiss
  Air Date: March 25, 2012
Season 4

92
- Season 4 Overview
  Air Date: July 25, 2010
Season 3

87
- Season 3 Overview
  Air Date: August 16, 2009
Season 2

88
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: July 27, 2008
Season 1

77
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: July 19, 2007