Huffpo ran this sort of ridiculous post earlier this week, where the author argues that “Mad Men” is better than “Game of Thrones” for a variety of mostly silly reasons. For instance, the sex on “Mad Men” isn’t as weird as the sex on “Game of Thrones,” “Mad Men” takes place in a more identifiable time period, and because “Mad Men” is more relaxing on a Sunday night. These are all preposterous reasons for preferring one over the other. It’s like comparing apples to oranges: Both are fruit, both are delicious, and I’d gladly watch either Christina Hendricks or Emilia Clarke eat one.
That is to say, personally, I could not choose a favorite. I’d probably choose the first season of “Game of Thrones” over the first season of “Mad Men,” but in their current seasons, I like them about equally. I watch them both, and I watch them both on Sunday night, because in both cases, the Internet will likely ruin them by Monday night.
Maybe I’m in the minority, however. Maybe others actually have a preference, a preference more well reasoned than “because ‘Mad Men’ is more relaxing on a Sunday night.” If you had to choose, which would pick as your favorite: “Mad Men” or “Game of Thrones”? Why?
Here’s a poll, simply because I’m curious as to which is more preferred among the Warming Glow readership.
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I have not had the chance to watch either. Full cable isn’t in budget (I know that is pathetic) and I was drunk in college when Mad Men started so I missed the first two seasons before I ever thought about watching it.
I’m just now getting around to watching Breaking Bad season 1 o DVD.
i believe you are the only person in this age group that wouldn’t accidentally happen upon these shows online accidentally… that is awkwardly wholesome to me… but good on ya… i will now NOT go back to watching Leaving Las Vegas on any form of illegal online service… cause that is bad…
Paul from the Gump: Watch every episode of Breaking Bad, then try watching Mad Men. You will find it is difficult because BB is fantastic and Mad Men is meh.
@Kalbuck
I knew Breaking Bad was going to be awesome. However, I now find myself only like 4 episodes in and I know none of the supposedly really awesome shit has happened yet, but I already know that I have underestimated the awesomeness this show is going involve.
As soon as Walt kicked that asshole jock in the leg for picking on Walter Jr., I knew I was in love with Breaking Bad. I think that happened within those first four episodes, right?
@ jj
I felt the same way. I think it was the first episode. Followed by blowing up the Bluetooth dbag’s car in the third.
BTW, the guy who played Bluetooth dbag was on NBC’s “Perfect Couples”
I don’t watch Mad Men, but if I did I have a hard time believing I’d like it more than GoT. Also, GoT has dragons, therefore GoT > Mad Men.
I think there needs to be a picture of Dany with Drogon on her shoulder captioned: “I have a dragon, your argument is invalid.”
I also do not watch Mad Men, or Breaking Bad, nor have I seen an episode of The Wire. But I can stamp my UpRoxx cred with just about everything else you tools like: Community, Parks & Rec, Archer, Justified, Walking Dead (love/hate/HATE relationship), Happy Endings, Game of Thrones. Also Tosh.0, though I only guess that, because it would be redundant to talk about Tosh.0 on the Internet. It’s creepy how close my tastes are to the preferred tastes of these sites, and I know I’m not influenced because I don’t watch things like Mad Men. Also creepy: I’m nearly 40 and most of you folks on here are probably 25.
I have to imagine that most avid TV watchers — the kinds that go to TV-dedicated websites and talk about each episode, that is — are unfond of Tosh.0… if not necessarily because of Tosh’s comedy, but rather the cheapness of the show’s format. It is just an edgy America’s Funniest Home Videos, after all.
I’m gonna go ahead and argue that Tosh.0 is better than America’s Funniest Home videos. No laugh track, no winners for doing stupid shit and Daniel Tosh makes the show, not the videos.
Oh it’s definitely better/funnier, but it’s still essentially the same show, with very minor differences like the laugh track and awards. Same basic, cheap, crowd-sourced format. Not that it’s necessarily a bad show; I just wouldn’t imagine that it’s very common for people who enjoy well-written scripted stuff like Community and GoT to also enjoy Tosh.0.
One is just a glorified soap opera about some guy who bangs chicks and makes poor life choices during a turbulent time in American history, the other is the most epic piece of low fantasy that that it has ever been my privilege to view. Props to John Hamm and Christina Hendricks’ titties but GoT gots my eyeballs, Mad Men doesn’t.
Right, so this won’t tear me apart at all. Game of Thrones.
If it was Game of Thrones vs. Breaking Bad, that would tear me apart.
Can I pick Breaking Bad?
Game of Thrones by far. Mad Men is good but… c’mon.
Also – The Huffington Post is a fucking joke for this kind of stuff. They put up articles about Khloe Kardashian and shit like that. Disregarding that writers’ opinion.
Fantasy is for 9 year old nerds. Game of Thrones panders to those nerds who have grown up to love violence and tits too.
Mad Men, on the other hand, is a great show.
(Totally just trolling, though I don’t watch GoT because I’m really not into fantasy bullshit).
the question i have, are you saying “Mad Men” in its prime vs “Game Of Thrones” in its prime? or are you saying “Mad Men” now vs “Game Of Thrones”
no… actually screw that, either way the proper answer it “Game Of Thrones”
Game of Thrones won’t be in its prime until next season (3).
AG is speaking the truth! Storm of Swords blows your mind so much more than anything happening in the first two books/seasons. And I must say that halfway through Dance with Dragons, if we have a fifth or sixth season of the show, it will be quite a mindfuck too.
Game of Thrones. I pay extra to watch it, and I already know what is going to happen.
How is Mad Men more relaxing? Mad Men is the story about how people are miserable no matter how successful they become, professionally, financially, sexually whatever. Game of Thrones is about a badass fantasy world with dragons and lots of naked chicks; escapism at its finest.
Agreed. If you’re looking to TV as a means of escaping the humdrum details of your life, I’d have to think a drama set in a bland office is really the best call.
if christina hendricks had topless scenes in mad men I’d vote for that, and Game of Thrones is a better story all around, better characters, dragons, zombies, pirates, vikings, knights, thieves, imps, hot chicks, whats not to love about game of thrones?
I think smoked brisket is way better than French toast.
Blasphemer.
What about French brisket?
I remember they had that french toast crunch breakfast cereal. Also, I am fat.
Now I want some fuckin’ frrrrrrrench toast.
smoked brisket sandwich with french toast as the bread.
/I’m fatter
“How’s everyone’s French toast?”
“Smelly and ungrateful. But this American toast is delicious!”
…
@Patty Boots
Were you just Wigging Out at a bachelorette party?
its game of thrones
this gif of Bert
then mad men
if that bert gif was king of the seven kingdoms…..i county of kings…..would bend the knee
Apples and oranges, indeed. And, quality-wise, I’d say they’re equal.
But I have to give an edge to GoT, because I’m always more excited to watch and discuss it. Also, I love the books. Also, direwolves and dragons and general badassery.
I just got GOT season 1 on DVD and I can’t wait. That being said. Comparing a story about 60s advertising executives with a medieval type fantasy show that includes DRAGONS and such is effing idiotic.
Having never watched a single episode of Mad Men, I can truthfully say GoT is much better.
I echo comments above in that yeah, this is no contest. Breaking Bad is better than Mad Men, so it would be between BB and GoT. And then…Ooh, no I can’t decide! *fakes blush, waves fan in face*
I love both shows but I give a slight edge to GoT. Maybe Don and Roger needs to pillage the Y&R offices with broadswords and warhammers.
i dunno as a huge fan of the books the first 2 episodes of GOT have been pretty underwhelming.
Both shows inspire love but I am obsessed with Game of Thrones.
I recently sat down with my brother and got him to watch a Game of Thrones episode from the first season. He walked out of the room halfway through. His leaving remark was, “Huh, you like Dr Who too.” On Sunday I sat down with my father and watched the first episode of the current series of Mad Men. “Tripe” was his succinct appraisal. In conclusion: Families suck.
Game of Thrones > Mad Men, and it’s not even remotely close. About the only show I think I could take over GoT would be Justified (unfortunately have not yet gotten into Breaking Bad).
NastyEmu put it best; with GoT, I already know what’s going to happen and I still pay extra to see it. Though I’ll always envy the ability of the Mad Men guys to drink and sexually harass while on the job as they pleased without fear of repercussions, that show on the whole strikes me as nothing more than a glorified #WhiteWhine.
C’mon, Dustin. Picking the right breast versus left is easy…whichever breast happens to be on your throwing/writing/eating hand. Better grip, more manueverability.
Justified.
That article boiled down to “I don’t want anything too unfamiliar.”
Mad Men is on my “to watch” list, so I can’t compare, but anyone who doesn’t think GoT is spectacular is just wrong. Part of me does wish GoT stayed as a period piece (rather than going fantasy — just because the reality was so damn good), but the first couple episodes this season have me excited to see where the fantasy will go.
Game of Thrones, Game of Thrones forever. Don may fingerbang random women to display his dominance (admittedly awesome) but Khal Drogo ripped out a guys throat and gave someone a Golden Crown. Plus Tyrion (more witty than Roger Sterling), Dany (more of a bad ass than Joan), Direwolves and Dragons, plus Cersei (infinitely more interesting than Betty).
And Davos, next week, everyone will love him, I swear.
Also, you love to hate Joffrey even more than you love to hate Pete, right?
Davos or Jon Snow would be Peggy I suppose, and they are better. GoT just has more characters than Mad Men and they are all just as, or more, interesting
I am late to the Mad Men party, now on Season 3 on Netflix, but it just feels like nothing ever really happens. They drink, they cheat, even the big events like pregnancies and weddings happen off screen. The same could never be said about Game of Thrones.
That being said, there should be a spin off of both where Roger Sterling and Tyrion Lannister go on a road trip together.
This. Mad Men is well written and keeps my interest, but sometimes I can’t help but feel like… who gives a shit? Oh no Don’s going to lose an account vs HOLY SHIT THEY CUT OFF SEAN BEAN’S HEAD!
Nothing ever really does happen in Mad Men. The drama is always resolved. What is the worst thing to happen on that show?
Basically – nobody ever dies. That’s the standard we hold our serial dramas to now; if they can take a risk and kill a major character, that is the boldness we now expect.
How many horses does Mad Men cut in half? Exactly. Easiest argument ever.
The correct answer is Breaking Bad.
I just never could get into Mad Men.
As obsessed as I am with GoT, the answer is Mad Men. Matt Weiner can make a budget meeting interesting television.
WOW 55% for GoT, I wasn’t expected that, but it’s great. I think both shows in depth of plot and characters are pretty amazing, but Game of Thrones is definitely more entertaining to me. But then, I’m a fantasy nerd, so my opinion is biased.
That being said, I still think Breaking Bad is the best current drama on TV.
I like both series from what I’ve seen. I haven’t seen the entirety of either series (I’ve watched Mad Men on-and-off and I don’t have HBO), but I’ve seen a higher percentage of Mad Men. I don’t think it’s fair to compare the two series as they each offer a very different type of story. I’d prefer to compare shows in the same genre or have the same core story. Personally, I think it’s better to compare a show like Rome to GoT than say a crime saga or workplace drama. Rome and GoT at least have a similar central core story focusing on a massive power struggle between noble house for complete control of the nation and how a diverse set of characters deals with the drama that ensues.
I like Thrones much better but would bang either show.
Drop Tyrion Lannister in Mad Men and Zoe Bartlett is getting pregnant. Drop Don Draper in Game of Thrones and there’s no one that wouldn’t kill him, including Joffrey.
I gotta go with GoT and I don’t really think it’s close either. Mad Men’s strengths are its wit, acting, and production values. GoT has all of those in spades, plus a greater number of compelling characters, and a LOT more stuff happens. Mad Men has a tendency to drag.
I think that Mad Men is the superior show. I think it has better and more subtle acting, and it explores more complicated themes in a way never done on tv. I think GoT is honestly a much easier show to do well (set design not withstanding). And while Mad Men will never have the body count of BB or GoT or the Wire, it can be just as devastating. That being said,, I’m not sure I could watch and rewatch Mad Men as often as I do GoT. While both are excellent and groundbreaking transcendent television, Mad Men wins the quality card, but i prefer GoT .
GoT. Mad Men is some great television, but game of thrones is another level of awesomeness. advertising drama vs. fantasy epic? an easy decision. if you asked me to pick between GoT and breaking bad however, bb wins that every time.
I’m laying down an all tomato. Either Game Of Thrones wins this, or I’m spreading VD to the next person I meet.
I would give it to Game of Thrones, but last season’s Mad Men’ episode of , “The Suitcase”, is probably the best hour of drama I’ve ever seen. That episode alone catapults the whole series to the stratosphere.
Thrones!
I was going to keep it concise but now I feel like expounding…mostly because it’s Friday and I’m killing time until I can leave.
Game of Thrones feels like a movie every week. It’s got a greater scale, unpredictability, special effects (but not for the sake of special effects), and great acting.
Mad Men, which I like, doesn’t feel like an appointment to me, it feels like something I can DVR and watch anytime. It has great acting, a grasp of its era, and a lot of style. But the stakes feel so much smaller there. Worst thing that happens is they lose an account, someone gets fired, or divorced.
The ultimate decider for me: I’ve had many, many more “holy crap” moments from GoT than Mad Men. And GoT has only had one season.
This is like asking me if I prefer vagina or… vagina.