(April 5, 2012) -- AMC’s Mad Men, a period drama about the smoke and alcohol filled rooms of the advertising world in 1960s New York, premiered for its fifth season late last month. While most shows generally decline in quality over time, Mad Men avoids this fate and seems to only be getting better each season.

Season five is set in June 1966, with the both hated and beloved anti-hero Don Draper newly remarried, and the country in the midst of race riots. The advertising company Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce is struggling financially and is inadvertently forced into hiring their first black employee.

The two-hour season premiere opened to over three and half million viewers, a record for the show. The increased popularity of Mad Men is no surprise to longtime fans and fanatics. The costume and set designs, cinematography, acting and writing are all some of the best on TV.  No details are overlooked, including period-appropriate hair styles, clothes and furniture. The show also incorporates the popular music and literature and important historical events of the time to add to the authentic feel of the show.

Unlike most American TV shows, Mad Men is extremely nuanced and subtle. The seasons always start off slow, with multiple storylines progressing throughout the 13-episode season. The show never tries to preach about the era or the politics of the time; instead, it lets the viewers come to their own conclusions.

In the same way, there are no “good” or “bad” characters on Mad Men. Each character is both flawed and sympathetic in their own way, but no one is purely good or evil. As much as the viewer may dislike the former Mrs. Draper, they can also understand her actions (such as letting her pre-teen daughter smoke cigarettes) because they are a product of the times.

Like any good show, the setting and time-period are not the most appealing or interesting parts of Mad Men. Above all else, the show is about good storytelling and themes and messages of the show are just as resonant and important today as they were in the ‘60s. Mad Men portrays the struggles of ordinary people an era that is often romanticized in a realistic and relatable way, without losing any of its charm.