Home > Mad Men > Season 2 « TV Series Page Mad Men: Season 2 (2008) SEASON: Season 2 Season 1 Season 2 Season 3 Season 4 Season 5 Season 6 Season 7 Want to see Episode List Season 2 Mad Men Critics Consensus The second season of Mad Men delves deeper into the personal lives of its characters without sacrificing the show's trademark droll humor and period atmosphere. 100% TOMATOMETER Critic Ratings: 27 97% Audience Score User Ratings: 508 NEW More Info × Close Want to see Super Reviewer Submit Super Reviewer Edit Review Episodes 1 For Those Who Think Young Air date: Jul 27, 2008 The second season opens with Don butting heads about personnel matters with Duck, who wants "younger creative talent;" the staff is up in the air about its approach to an airline-company account; Betty bumps into a former roommate who has begun a surprising new career; Joan is at a loss about where to put the new copy machine. More 2 Flight 1 Air date: Aug 3, 2008 Paul throws a party, then throws his work colleagues for a loop when he introduces them to a special guest; Peggy pays a dinner visit to her family; Duck uses an unorthodox approach to land an airline account, which puts the firm on a conflict-of-interest course. More 3 The Benefactor Air date: Aug 10, 2008 Problems surface on the set of a commercial shoot while Don plays hooky from the office; ever-ambitious, career-minded Harry musters support for a sponsorship plagued by controversy; Betty steps in to help Don when he arranges a dinner to placate his upset clients. More 4 Three Sundays Air date: Aug 17, 2008 Peggy's family entertains a new priest assigned to their parish; Freddy and Ken wine and dine a client; the agency staff pitches in to prepare for an under-the-gun pitch meeting. More 5 The New Girl Air date: Aug 24, 2008 Joan might have found Don a perfect secretary; Peggy comes to the rescue when Don finds himself in the middle of personal issues between a TV comedian and the man's wife; Pete and his wife see a fertility specialist to deal with her inability to conceive. More 6 Maidenform Air date: Aug 31, 2008 Don and Duck attempt to make peace at the office; Peggy tries to find a way to participate in the high-level after-hours meetings being held by the executives; one of Duck's family members visits his office. More 7 The Gold Violin Air date: Sep 7, 2008 Don steps up in class and purchases a new set of wheels that is more appropriate for a big-time executive; Pete, Harry and Ken put their heads together to land new accounts; a serious error by Don's secretary could reflect poorly on Joan; the staff reacts to the new objet d'art in Cooper's office. More 8 A Night to Remember Air date: Sep 14, 2008 Father Gill tries to convince Peggy to volunteer her talents to a church project; Duck and Don team to woo a foreign-beer client by marketing to a new demographic; Harry turns to an unlikely source for help when his department is overloaded with work. More 9 Six Month Leave Air date: Sep 28, 2008 Freddy Rumsen strikes out during a pitch meeting with his team; ever-eager Pete seizes a chance to exploit an opportunity at the office; an old friend is the beneficiary of Don's loyalty; Sara Beth proves to be a welcome ally for Betty. More 10 The Inheritance Air date: Oct 5, 2008 Betty visits her ailing father; Paul's girlfriend, Sheila, advises him about his civic responsibilities; Pete's mother tries to put the kibosh on an important family move that he and Trudy are planning. More Show More Episodes Mad Men: Season 2 Photos View All Photos (52) Tv Season Info Following a first-series finale in which housewife Betty Draper (January Jones) comes to the realization that her ad-exec husband, Don (Jon Hamm), may be having an affair, Series 2 dives headlong into the couple's marital strife.Professionally, Don is flying high as a junior partner and creative director at the Sterling Cooper ad agency, but his home life is rapidly deteriorating. After Betty kicks him out for apparent infidelity, Don moves into a hotel and is only able to see his children with Betty's permission. At Sterling Cooper, the long-simmering power struggle between Don and Herman Phillips (Mark Moses) reaches a boiling point, as the impetuous director of account services negotiates a deal with a British firm that he believes will finally give him the upper hand. A subtler power play is made by Peggy Olson (Elisabeth Moss), who seems to have recovered nicely from the shocking birth of her child by married account exec Pete Campbell (Vincent Kartheiser). The product research that Peggy conducted while serving as Don's secretary during Season 1 eventually leads to her promotion as the agency's first female copywriter, and even her own office. Other employees also confront emerging social issues of the day: Creative copywriter Paul Kinsey (Michael Gladis) breaks social taboos by dating a black woman, while art director Salvatore Romano (Bryan Batt) secretly struggles with his homosexuality. And romance remains tricky for secretary Joan Holloway (Christina Hendricks)---whose doctor fiancé proves controlling and abusive---and her ex, Sterling Cooper partner Roger Sterling (John Slattery), who embarks on yet another extramarital love affair with yet another young secretary. Genre: Drama Network: AMC Premiere Date: Jul 27, 2008 Creator: Matthew Weiner Exec. Producer: Matthew Weiner Cast Jon Hamm as Don Draper Elisabeth Moss as Peggy Olson Vincent Kartheiser as Peter Campbell January Jones as Betty Draper Christina Hendricks as Joan Holloway John Slattery as Roger Sterling Michael Gladis as Paul Kinsey Bryan Batt as Salvatore Romano Aaron Staton as Ken Cosgrove Rich Sommer as Harry Crane Jared Harris as Lane Pryce Robert Morse as Bertram Cooper Alison Brie as Trudy Campbell Mark Moses as Herman 'Duck' Phillips Melinda McGraw as Bobbie Barrett Joel Murray as Fred Rumsen Gabriel Mann as Arthur Patrick Fischler as Jimmy Barrett Maggie Siff as Rachel Menken Peyton List as Jane Siegel Myra Turley as Katherine Olson Audrey Wasilewski as Anita Olson Respola Missy Yager as Sarah Beth Aaron Hart as Robert Draper Kiernan Shipka as Sally Draper Colin Hanks as Father Gill Crista Flanagan as Lois Sadler Talia Balsam as Mona Sterling Sarah Drew as Kitty Romano Denise Crosby as Gertie Rosemarie DeWitt as Midge Anne Dudek as Francine Hanson Paul Keeley as Elliot Lawrence Rich Hutchman as Bud Campbell Laura Regan as Jennifer Crane Matt McKenzie as Crab Colson Patrick Cavanaugh as Smitty Jack Impellizzeri as Off. Hahn Edmund L. Shaff as Chester Rockingham Peter Jason as Len McKenzie Steve Stapenhorst as Hunt Schilling John Getz as Dr. Eric Stone Alexandra Paul as Pauline Phillips Jan Hoag as Edith Schilling Marguerite Moreau as Vicky Elizabeth Rice as Maragret Sterling Seamus Dever as Chuck Darian Weiss as Mark Phillips Nick Toren as Tilden Katz Michael Dempsey as Marty Hasselbach Gina DeVivo as Patricia Phillips Sam Page as Greg Harris Scott MacArthur as Jim Julia Carpenter as Joyce Jerry O'Donnell as Gerry Respola Jennifer Siebel as Juanita Christopher Carroll as Monsignor Cavanaugh Gerald Downey as Greg Harris Sarah Wright as Susie David Bowe as Dr. Adams Catherine Grace as Tootsie Yates John Thaddeus as Driver Miranda Lilley as Judy Campbell Kim Swennen as Marcy Patterson Julie McNiven as Hildy Jesse Henecke as Griz Patterson Mark Kelly as Dale Greg Felden as Webb Jonathan Strait as Harold Wadro Deborah Lacey as Carla Benjamin Seay as William Redd Chris Carroll as Monsignor Cavanaugh Show More Cast News & Interviews for Mad Men: Season 2 Marvel’s Iron Fist Breaks Tomatometer Record with Biggest Sophomore Bump View All Mad Men: Season 2 News Episodes 1 For Those Who Think Young Air date: Jul 27, 2008 The second season opens with Don butting heads about personnel matters with Duck, who wants "younger creative talent;" the staff is up in the air about its approach to an airline-company account; Betty bumps into a former roommate who has begun a surprising new career; Joan is at a loss about where to put the new copy machine. More 2 Flight 1 Air date: Aug 3, 2008 Paul throws a party, then throws his work colleagues for a loop when he introduces them to a special guest; Peggy pays a dinner visit to her family; Duck uses an unorthodox approach to land an airline account, which puts the firm on a conflict-of-interest course. More 3 The Benefactor Air date: Aug 10, 2008 Problems surface on the set of a commercial shoot while Don plays hooky from the office; ever-ambitious, career-minded Harry musters support for a sponsorship plagued by controversy; Betty steps in to help Don when he arranges a dinner to placate his upset clients. More 4 Three Sundays Air date: Aug 17, 2008 Peggy's family entertains a new priest assigned to their parish; Freddy and Ken wine and dine a client; the agency staff pitches in to prepare for an under-the-gun pitch meeting. More 5 The New Girl Air date: Aug 24, 2008 Joan might have found Don a perfect secretary; Peggy comes to the rescue when Don finds himself in the middle of personal issues between a TV comedian and the man's wife; Pete and his wife see a fertility specialist to deal with her inability to conceive. More 6 Maidenform Air date: Aug 31, 2008 Don and Duck attempt to make peace at the office; Peggy tries to find a way to participate in the high-level after-hours meetings being held by the executives; one of Duck's family members visits his office. More 7 The Gold Violin Air date: Sep 7, 2008 Don steps up in class and purchases a new set of wheels that is more appropriate for a big-time executive; Pete, Harry and Ken put their heads together to land new accounts; a serious error by Don's secretary could reflect poorly on Joan; the staff reacts to the new objet d'art in Cooper's office. More 8 A Night to Remember Air date: Sep 14, 2008 Father Gill tries to convince Peggy to volunteer her talents to a church project; Duck and Don team to woo a foreign-beer client by marketing to a new demographic; Harry turns to an unlikely source for help when his department is overloaded with work. More 9 Six Month Leave Air date: Sep 28, 2008 Freddy Rumsen strikes out during a pitch meeting with his team; ever-eager Pete seizes a chance to exploit an opportunity at the office; an old friend is the beneficiary of Don's loyalty; Sara Beth proves to be a welcome ally for Betty. More 10 The Inheritance Air date: Oct 5, 2008 Betty visits her ailing father; Paul's girlfriend, Sheila, advises him about his civic responsibilities; Pete's mother tries to put the kibosh on an important family move that he and Trudy are planning. More Show More Episodes Critic Reviews for Mad Men Season 2 All Critics (27) | Top Critics (20) | Fresh (27) | Rotten (0) The overall result was as beautifully acted, written and filmed as ever - and as quietly enjoyable. Sep 10, 2018 | Full Review… James Walton Daily Telegraph (UK) Top Critic Mad Men sure knows how to marinate. Jul 27, 2008 | Rating: A- | Full Review… Ed Bark Uncle Barky Top Critic "Mad Men" may be the slowest-moving drama on television, but as with a great baseball game, the leisurely pace gives you more time to marinate in the details. Jul 27, 2008 | Full Review… Alan Sepinwall Newark Star-Ledger Top Critic How did this snazzy little chamber piece achieve its aura of sliced-bread perfection? Jul 27, 2008 | Full Review… Troy Patterson Slate Top Critic Here's the rare series that lives up to the advertising hype. Jul 27, 2008 | Full Review… Hal Boedeker Orlando Sentinel Top Critic You're always wondering what's going to happen next. Jul 27, 2008 | Full Review… Verne Gay Newsday Top Critic It's a Mad Men hallmark that sets the show head and shoulders above its prime-time peers. Jul 27, 2008 | Full Review… Rob Owen Pittsburgh Post-Gazette With just two seasons, AMC's Mad Men has already cemented its place on any list of the best television programs of the '00s. Jul 27, 2008 | Full Review… Brian Tallerico HollywoodChicago.com Highly acclaimed for its superb writing, compelling characters, and subtle, sophisticated story development, Mad Men is more than just the best TV of 2008. Jul 27, 2008 | Full Review… Sarah Hentges PopMatters Mad Men sizzles, simmering with erotic tension and crackling with cynical wit. Jul 27, 2008 | Full Review… Matt Roush TV Guide Mad Men is a nuanced and engrossing show. Jul 27, 2008 | Rating: 8.5/10 | Full Review… Eric Goldman IGN Movies Mad Men could hardly be hotter. Jul 27, 2008 | Full Review… Brian Lowry Variety Top Critic View All Critic Reviews (27) Audience Reviews for Mad Men: Season 2 Mar 15, 2019 With solid performances and the ability to take the characters in so many different directions, "Mad Men" continues to use sharp wit and sexual tension to establish itself as one of the greatest TV shows of the 2000s. Ryan C Sep 06, 2018 Puntaje Original: 7.5 Mad Men logra magistralmente desarrollar complejos y bien marcados personajes; así también resaltar la ambientación de la época. Ayrton C Mar 02, 2017 The first season of "Mad Men" contained some of the greatest character drama I had ever seen on television. This second season, while not becoming totally irrelevant by any means, severely lacks the "punch" of that original slate of episodes. In terms of the overall plot, this second season focuses on pretty much the same characters as the first. Donald Draper (Jon Hamm) is always at the center of things, while secretary-turned-copywriter Peggy Olson (Elisabeth Moss) gets a lot more screen time in this season. Up-and-comer Pete Campbell (Vincent Kartheiser) and dutiful (but frustrated) Draper wife Betty (January Jones) also garner major plotlines of their own. The usual supporting cast is present, augmented by new ad man Duck Phillips (Mark Moses). The trouble with this season is that whereas the previous season emphasized the period (1960s) and the location (Madison Avenue ad agency), this season focuses almost exclusively on the characters themselves. That first season was just so slick and allowed the viewer to feel as if they truly were living in that 1960s time period. In this second season, though, that period luster seems to wear off in the face of almost a soap-operatic slew of plotlines. Though disappointed by the sophomore effort of "Mad Men", I'm not giving up on this interesting show quite yet. It still intrigues me just enough to keep clicking the "PLAY" button again and again. In the third season, though, I just hope that the focus shifts again to the time/locale (what I feel to be the hallmark of the show) instead of trying to be strictly about the individual characters. Zach K Dec 01, 2015 speechless best show ever Angela J Jul 07, 2015 It's gotten to the point that the show's acute reflection of modern times, the droll humour, the immaculate period setting and the fascinating personal lives of the characters are reasons enough to return episode after episode, regardless of plot advancements. Andy P Nov 28, 2014 Si pasaste por la primera temporada, en la segunda te darás cuenta que estas frente a una de las mejores series que has visto. Cuando uno creía que Don Draper era el alma de Mad Men te encuentras con que el elenco restante gana protagonismo y transforman a la serie es una serie de explosiones emocionantes que te adentrará en este mundo muy raro. Daniel B Nov 19, 2014 Storyline is more engaging. Pacing is perfect. Internal conflict of Betty are interesting to see. Swayamdeep S Aug 25, 2014 More compelling to watch as it shows the intricate transitions of the characters in their career and personal lives. Marvin B Jul 09, 2014 The continuing adventures of alternate universe Darren Stevens and Larry Tate in a world where Samantha is not a witch, Uncle Arthur works in the art dept, and Endora is a decades younger and hot secretary. George I Apr 02, 2014 This is by far one of the best shows I've seen. It is an addicting show because it is well written and directed. The actors and actresses are all fantastic, and I am totally obsessed with the 1960s home decor and clothes! Eric H See all Audience reviews News & Features 150 Erotic Movies Ranked worst to best! 2019's Most Anticipated 63 movies coming up this year 200 Essential Movies Chosen by RT staff! 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