There are two main dramatic thrusts at work in ‘Mad Men’ (at least at this point, in season two): One, will Don Draper ever get his shit together, stop cheating on his wife, and open up about his mysterious past? (Spoiler alert: his real name is not Don Draper.) Two, how will our characters and their lives buttress and collide with the tumultuous historical events swirling around this period. The two complement each others in certain ways, and the show always walks a fine line in terms of what it’s telling us (about history, about the characters) and what it’s keeping from us. I'm not saying that a big pretty red bow is placed on top of every story line, but there is a sense and feeling that almost everyone and every thing will be okay, even if certain characters are just simply moving on to something new, with the exception of Betty Draper, who seemed to take a hit for the team. These final seven episodes of one of the greatest shows ever created, reminds us of that fact, pure and simple. The series finale, which has been widely discussed almost as much as the finale of ' The Sopranos', leaves us with an image of Don Draper that seems to tell us that this character has been met with as much success as he's had failures, but he has finally found his place in the world, and who he really is, which is followed by one of the most famous ads to ever come out. There have been a ton of theories on how fans and critics should interpret this, but I'm guessing that the true fans of the show know the true outcome, which is a good one.

Presenting a historically authentic rendition of the 1960s, Mad Men provides insight into the developing social mood of the United States throughout this time period. Presenting an ego-driven world of clashing personalities, there is a whole assortment of dramatisation and well-acted scenes for you to sink your teeth into. An award-winning sensation Commentaries. As with the other seasons of Mad Men, each and every one of this season's 13 episodes contains at least one commentary. The best tend to be those of creator-writer Weiner, typically paired with either cast or crew, who talks about the nuts and bolts of characters and motivations. Often the actors' commentaries tend to be chattier, and so perhaps more "entertaining," but also more narcissistic and with more of a party atmosphere. While they're cute, the ones with the children actors are largely useless. The list of commentaries includes: Unlike many drama series on television today, it isn’t necessary to suffer through the first few hours of ‘Mad Men,’ waiting for the story to hit its stride. From the opening volley of the first episode, viewers are thrust into the sexist, racist, and anti-Semitic culture that dominated American corporations in the early ‘60s. Business executives were WASPs, housewives were the naïve property of their husbands, and working women were secretaries, sex objects, and office play things. Weiner doesn’t pull any punches, exposing the show’s fictional firm for what it is -- an impenetrable boys’ club whose existence is fueled by other successful boys’ clubs. As a result, the show’s plotlines, character development, and central themes generate plenty of unsettling reactions that make it difficult to root for the whole of Sterling Cooper’s greedy and distasteful workforce. Earth Day 1970 (HD, 3 Mins.) - This focuses on the start of the movement that wanted to make the planet better, ecologically. Season Four - Audio Commentaries, Marketing the Mustang: An American Icon, Divorce: Circa 1960 Part 1, Divorce: Circa 1960 Part 2, How to Succeed in Business Draper Style and 1964 Presidential Campaign.Establishing Mad Men (HD, 62 minutes) -- If eighteen hours of commentaries aren’t enough to satiate your supplemental appetite, then cast your eyes upon this meticulous, high-def look behind-the-scenes. Covering the writing of the first episode through the careful design of each set and costume. Plenty of interviews are included and the cameras are granted a rather revealing glimpse of the production team pulling together each episode of the show. This is a must watch for any ‘Mad Men’ fan and should probably be viewed before breeching the show’s commentaries. An Era of Style (HD, 21:44) This is a historical overview of the fashion styles of the late ‘50’s and early ‘60’s (“one of the most important times in fashion history,” says the show’s costume designer). It’s just as snappy as the feminist documentary, with a lot less heft. Still, it’s a lot of fun to watch (and anyone who loves the show, should) and a great little doc, but could have done with a longer running time.

This is a comprehensive set, with so many extras it will take you just as long to get through them as it will to watch the entire series.

Still, ‘Mad Men’s’ second season is compulsively watchable (and makes way for its even crazier third season), beautifully photographed, expertly written (largely by series creator Matthew Weiner, a ‘Sopranos’ vet), and wonderfully acted. It’s now that I’ll say that when I started watching the show, in preparation for this review, I was afraid it would be all machismo swagger, a kind of period ‘Entourage.’ I’m sure others fear this too. But what I was so impressed by, from the very beginning of season one, was that the women characters are the most fully fleshed out and interesting, particularly Joan and Peggy. While the show may be called ‘Mad Men,’ it’s the women that keep you watching. And joining Hamm in his seminal role as Draper is a stellar cast of endearing actors and actresses, featuring Elisabeth Moss as Peggy Olson, Vincent Kartheiser as Pete Campbell, January Jones as Betty Francis, and so many more names you will become closely attached to over the course of this encapsulating 92-episode epic. Waldorf Stories": 1) Aaron Staton, Jay Ferguson and Danny Strong; 2) Weiner, Brett Johnson and Scott Hornbacher