'The Walking Dead' Vs 'Mad Men'

When one decides to start creating a perfect television show, there are a number of pieces that need to fit together. You may have the perfect story, but the stars could be wrong. Maybe the cast is perfect together, but the show just does not feel right. There are many pieces of this television show puzzle that need to fit together, though some of these are more important than others. The cable network AMC has managed to snag not one, but two, prime examples of shows that put these elements in play in both "The Walking Dead" and "Mad Men."

At first glance, AMC's "The Walking Dead" and "Mad Men" could not seem more different. On the surface, this may be true. "The Walking Dead" is set in present time during a zombie apocalypse, whereas "Mad Men" is set during the 1960s and follows a group of Madison Avenue ad executives. Upon closer inspection, these two shows have so much more in common than just airing on AMC.

Your lead character plays a very important factor to any show's success. This not only refers to the character that was written down on paper, but also the actor that portrays that character. "The Walking Dead" and "Mad Men" both require tough men to lead their respective packs. It would not take much to imagine Rick Grimes, the small town Sheriff who wakes out of a coma and into a zombie apocalypse, lead the men of Madison Avenue. Just the same, Don Draper, the ruthless ad executive who is in charge of the Madison Avenue mad men at Sterling Cooper advertising agency, could easily fill in for Rick if the need ever arises.

Rick Grimes and Don Draper have many similar traits that make them ideally suited for the leader role. "The Walking Dead" may feature flesh eating zombies, but the core of the show is its heart. Rick Grimes must find his family. He must then protect them, and a group of survivors, from the undead hordes. In each and every episode, Rick Grimes displays acts of heroism to protect those he cares about. He does this, not only with his strength, but his wit. Rick may be a little rough around the edges, but with his confidence and the quick wit he possesses, he could whip those ad boys on Madison Avenue into shape.

Don Draper does not have to worry about zombies attacking his 1960s family, but he does have to worry about his fellow ad executives. These "Mad Men" are willing to do almost anything in order to take what is his. Don Draper is a physically formidable man, easily capable of handling himself against the undead. Like Rick Grimes, it is his wit that truly allows him to excel in the cut-throat advertising business. From the very beginning, Don Draper has always had a full plate to deal with. If it was not a fellow ad executive out to get his job, then he was dealing with his increasingly complicated personal life. Having a wife with three kids at home is tough, but it is tougher when you also have a few outside affairs to worry about as well.

A show's leading characters are an important part to this formula, but they are by no means the only important part to this formula. Take both AMC shows' use of setting as a character. In "The Walking Dead," modern day Atlanta looks like a war torn third world. This gives viewers a sense of familiarity, but also adds in a hint of the unknown. The ominous feel of this dead major city adds to the suspense of the television show. "Mad Men" also uses the time period as a character within the show. The first thing viewers notice about all the characters in AMC's "Mad Men" is the chain smoking. It seems weird to see this amount of smoking, but the 1960s were a different time. They also had different problems, which the writers make sure to add into the storylines. You can see a neighbor of the Draper's working on a Kennedy campaign, or any of a number of major social issues that come up in the show.

As with many shows, these are just a couple of the strengths possessed by great shows like "The Walking Dead" and "Mad Men." Though both shows will generally cater to a different audience, the core elements to television making are still in place. AMC has realized this fact, and has become a major competitor in the entertainment arena because of it.

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