‘Mad Men’ Watchers Guide: When Does Each Season Take Place & The Historical Events That Occurred
What To Know
- All seven seasons of Mad Men began streaming on HBO Max on December 1, 2025, marking the show’s return to a major streaming platform.
- The series explores major historical events such as the 1960 Presidential Election, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the assassination of President Kennedy.
- Each season is anchored in a specific time frame, with storylines reflecting the era’s shifting social norms, and cultural milestones.
All seven seasons of the acclaimed series Mad Men began streaming on HBO Max on December 1, 2025. Before it launched on HBO Max, the influential show by Matthew Weiner was not currently available to watch on a major streamer, so this is a big moment for many folks.
Running from 2007 to 2015 on AMC, Mad Men was a stylish drama set inside one of New York’s most prestigious advertising agencies, a series that helped define the era of prestige television. Starring Jon Hamm as the enigmatic Don Draper, the show became a cultural touchpoint as it moved through the turbulent 1960s, exploring shifting social norms, workplace politics, and the personal reinventions that shaped both its characters and the decade itself.
For those who are new to the show, or for anyone preparing to rewatch and needs a refresher, here is a quick guide to each season of Mad Men, outlining when each season takes place and how the characters respond to key cultural moments and historical events that shape the world around them.
AMC / Courtesy: Everett Collection
Season 1: March 1960 to November 1960
In Episode 1, “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes,” the FDA’s approval of the first oral contraceptive, a.k.a. the pill, becomes a major focus as Peggy Olson (Elisabeth Moss) struggles to access birth control, which was not readily available for single women.
The most prominent historical event of the first season is the 1960 Presidential Election between Nixon and Kennedy. The firm Sterling Cooper becomes invested in the campaign of Vice President Richard Nixon, believing his success will be good for business. In Episode 12, “Nixon vs. Kennedy,” Sterling Cooper has a viewing party for the election, during which Nixon is in the lead over Kennedy. The episode ends with Nixon’s concession speech.
Season 2: February 1962 to October 1962
Episode 1, “For Those Who Think Young,” of the second season kicks off with Jackie Kennedy’s famous White House tour on February 14, 1962, a moment that unfolds across a myriad of characters watching the broadcast from their own corners of the country.
In Episode 9, “Six Month Leave,” the death of Marilyn Monroe dominates the headlines, leaving the secretaries at Sterling Cooper in tears and prompting Joan Holloway (Christina Hendricks) to grieve privately in Roger Sterling’s (John Slattery) office. Peggy even notes how fortunate they were that Playtex passed on their Jackie/Marilyn campaign—otherwise, the entire concept would have needed to be shelved indefinitely.
AMC / Courtesy: Everett Collection
Episode 11, “The Jet Set,” sends Don Draper (Jon Hamm) and Pete Campbell (Vincent Kartheiser) to an aerospace convention, where Don is shaken by a grim slideshow illustrating the escalating dangers of the Cold War.
The Cuban Missile Crisis looms throughout much of the season and comes to a head in Episode 13, “Meditations in an Emergency,” when Betty Draper (January Jones) discovers she is pregnant against the backdrop of global uncertainty.
Season 3: March 1963 to December 1963
In Episode 12, “The Grown-Ups,” Carla (Deborah Lacey) and Betty watch in horror as reports confirm that President Kennedy has died from a gunshot on Friday, November 22, 1963. Don and Betty struggle to help their children process the devastating news, while Roger’s daughter grapples with the fallout from her sparsely attended wedding.
Season 4: November 1964 to October 1965
In Episode 7, “The Suitcase,” the Ali vs. Liston fight from May 25, 1965, plays on the radio in the background as Peggy and Don sit in a bar discussing their work relationship.
Episode 10, titled “Hands and Knees,” features Don buying tickets for his daughter Sally (Kiernan Shipka) to see the Beatles at Shea Stadium, a historic concert that was held on August 15, 1965.
AMC / Courtesy: Everett Collection
Season 5: May 1966 to April 1967
In Episode 4, “Mystery Date,” Sally becomes haunted after reading about serial killer Richard Speck, who was caught on July 17, 1966.
Episode 5, “Signal 30,” is framed by the events of the shooting spree at the University of Texas at Austin, which happened on August 1, 1966.
Season 6: December 1967 to November 1968
The assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. serves as a central plot point in Episode 5, “The Flood,” illustrating how the tragic events of April 4, 1968, reverberate through the office and impact the characters and their families.
AMC / Courtesy: Everett Collection
Season 7: Part 1: January 1969 to July 1969; Part 2: April 1970 to November 1970
Peggy, Don, Harry (Rich Sommer), and Pete are seen gathered in a hotel room to watch the moon landing in Episode 7, “Waterloo.” This event occurred on July 20, 1969. The scene then shifts to the point of view of several characters as they watch in wonder at the majesty of man.
Jaimie Trueblood/AMC
In Episode 10, “The Forecast,” the realities of the Vietnam War hit the Francis household head-on when Betty and Sally’s friend Glen (Marten Holden Weiner) announces that he will be shipped off to Vietnam after joining the army.
The iconic “Hilltop” commercial that the show gives Don credit for first aired on July 8, 1971, closing out the series.
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