Season five of Mad Men is yet another stunning, surprising, engrossing and fully realized set of 13 episodes and another testament to this golden age of television we’re currently experiencing. It stands tall among the four seasons that have come before it and it anticipates further greatness to come from Weiner and company.
The Blu-ray Discs
Season five’s 13 episodes are spread across three discs and are all granted 1080p high definition transfers in 1.78:1 aspect ratios. Like previous Mad Men Blu-ray releases, this one is a consistent visual knockout, showing off the best photography on TV with vibrant colors, abundant fine detail, and sharp, crisp images. The 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio soundtracks are also stellar, preserving dialogue crisply in the fronts and offering a nice showcase for the show’s killer music choices.
Special Features
Commentary fans, rejoice, as each episode comes equipped with two each, one for the creative team and one for several actors. Featurettes include a piece on the series’ memorable quotes, a look at artist Giorgio de Chrico, whose work inspired season five’s ad campaign, and an exploration of the show’s scoring. A couple extras put the time period in context, with looks at Truman Capote’s “Party of the Century” and the introduction of Daylight Saving Time. A gallery of Newsweek covers offers further historical perspective.
The Bottom Line
The genius of Mad Men just keeps coming, and season five easily earns its place next to previous seasons on the shelf.
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