一個時代的終結:再見《廣告狂人》

When it premiered in 2007, Mad Men opened a window into the advertising industry and also the US during the tumultuous 1960s.

2007年首播的《廣告狂人》不僅是人們瞭解廣告業的一扇窗，也讓觀衆有機會一睹美國喧囂的六十年代。

On May 17, AMC aired the last episode of the series, with protagonist Don Draper (Jon Hamm) welcoming a new day with new ideas and new hope. The story, which revolves around the high-level executives and staff at a fictional advertising agency in New York City, has redefined how complex a TV drama can be.

當地時間5月17日，《廣告狂人》最終季的最後一集在美國AMC電視臺上放出：主角唐•德雷帕（喬•哈姆 飾）即將開啓嶄新的一天，不變的是他依舊充滿希望、靈感不減……該劇圍繞紐約一家虛構的廣告公司裏的高層和員工展開，劇情之複雜更是堪稱美劇新高度。

Mad Men successfully brought audiences into its world with lush nostalgic settings, costumes and characters. It unfolds in a time when everyone reads Readers' Digest and cocktail hour is important to business. It's also a time when Americans are experiencing civil rights marches, the Vietnam War protests, a changing youth culture, the mainstreaming of feminist thought and the rise of black power.

華麗而懷舊的背景、服裝以及人物設計，《廣告狂人》將觀衆帶入了另一個時代。那時的美國人，人人都讀《讀者文摘》，雞尾酒會是談生意的重要環節；那時的美國，民權遊行正如火如荼、反越南戰爭運動轟轟烈烈、青年文化瞬息萬變、女權思想晉升主流、黑人力量開始崛起……

The drama cleverly weaves all these changes into its storylines.

而這一切，都被《廣告狂人》巧妙地編入其中。

For example during much of the series women only work as assistants who organize their male bosses' affairs, but few are allowed to have any opinions of their own. Peggy Olson (Elisabeth Moss) is an exception. She rises from being Draper's secretary to becoming a copywriter. But although her creative advertising ideas are appreciated, hardly any man in the office would like to date her.

比如，在《廣告狂人》的很多劇集中，女性大都只能擔當助理，幫男上司打理事務，鮮有話語權。伊麗莎白•莫斯飾演的派奇•奧爾森卻是一個特例，她從德雷帕的祕書起步，最終成爲了一名廣告人。但是儘管她充滿創意的廣告點子備受讚賞，卻很少有男同事願意邀她約會。

For those who are not conscious of these historical issues and cultures, the narrative itself is engrossing enough. Don Draper is not in any sense a decent man. He's mean, vindictive, and always circles around different women, from prostitutes to wealthy businesswomen. But he's undeniably attractive. Due to his cynical awareness of what the American public wish for, he's quite successful at his job, always coming up with brilliant ideas for his clients.

就算有些觀衆對這些歷史、文化問題並不感興趣，該劇的故事情節也足夠引人入勝。唐•德雷帕從不是什麼正派人士，他爲人刻薄、報復心強，身邊鶯鶯燕燕不斷，從風塵女子到多金女商人都曾與他曖昧不清。但他的魅力毋庸置疑。精明如他，對美國公衆的“痛點”洞若明火，於是在工作上成就滿滿，總能爲客戶提供卓見高招。

Draper's work lives on the fading fumes of the American dream. We watch as he sells this dream to the public in his position as an ad man.

德雷帕作爲廣告人而獲得的成功也依附於那個美國夢形成繼而破碎的年代。《廣告狂人》中也讓觀衆見證了他作爲一個廣告人如何實現自己的美國夢。

Some were disappointed by the show's finale, as it leaves several questions unanswered. But the idea of exploring this vital period of American history through the lens of the advertising industry, a smart script, brilliant details and solid acting, all makes Mad Men one of the most exciting dramas on TV.

尚有謎題沒有解開的大結局也許有些不盡人意，但是通過電視劇鏡頭立足廣告業進而透視那一段特定時期的美國曆史，高明的劇本、精彩的細節以及演員紮實的演技，都足以證明《廣告狂人》是史上最精彩的美劇之一。