30 Day Geek Out Challenge – Day 20

Last Updated on September 3, 2023 by Jenn | The Nerd Mom

Megan over at A Geeky Gal blog created this challenge for fellow geeks to share all about what makes them nerdy. You can see her completed challenge post here.

What series would you recommend to anyone?

Well, if by anyone, you mean any adults, then my answer is Mad Men. Because it’s not a kid-appropriate show, so if you really wanted something for anyone, it isn’t really.

I was hesitant about Mad Men. If you’d asked me if I was interested in a show about a man working at a NYC advertising agency in the 1960s, I would have said that was completely not my thing.

In fact, my husband did ask me when he started watching it and my first reaction was “Ew, I’m not watching it with you.”

I am a lover of sweeping, romantic fairy tales and epic sci-fi. How could I get into the 1960s advertising scene?

Truth be told, it’s really great stories and great characters that suck me in, and Mad Men excelled in those areas.

The acting is phenomenal and the imperfect characters are so enthralling. I cared about the 1960s advertising guy, even though he was a womanizer and a shitty dad. He was also somehow extremely easy to sympathize with.

Our family values hard work, loyalty, and responsibility. We believe in being kind but tough. We are empathetic towards others’ hardships but we also believe that nothing comes for free and you have to work for what you want. Mad Men really deeply examines these themes.

After watching a few episodes, I was quickly hooked and no longer let my husband watch without me, much to his chagrin.

We would binge multiple episodes at a time, barely able to stop watching.

My point is, if geeky old me could grow so attached to the show, I think anyone could. That is why I would recommend it to anyone. Don’t write it off just because at first glace the concept doesn’t appeal to you. It didn’t appeal to me either and I was blown away.

And thank you to my husband for getting me to watch it, despite my initial stubborn refusal.

You know the drill! What series would you recommend to anyone?