Mad Men: Season 4

Season overview

Season four of Mad Men spans the period from November 1964 through October 1965. The narrative centers on the professional and personal transition of the main characters to a new advertising agency, Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce, which is characterized by a more modern environment than their previous workplace. The primary arc of the season focuses on the internal struggles of Don Draper as he navigates a profound identity crisis. Throughout this timeframe, Draper experiences a period of significant existential despair. His personal life is marked by a reliance on alcohol, which reaches a debilitating level, and he engages in a pattern of frequenting relationships with women described as having loose moral character. These developments highlight the mounting pressure and psychological instability facing the protagonist as he attempts to maintain his professional standing while grappling with his personal demons. The season captures the atmosphere of the mid-sixties as the agency attempts to establish itself in a competitive industry while its lead creative figure descends into a state of personal turmoil.