Photo: Courtesy of AMC

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Mad Men (AMC, 2007–2015)
Premise
Suave Don Draper (Jon Hamm) excels as '60s NYC adman while boozing, womanizing, concealing real identity.

Beating Heart
Thorny, tender affinity between Don and Peggy Olson (Elisabeth Moss), mousy secretary turned Draper protégé turned badass boss lady.

Cultural Touchstone
"Carousel scene": While pitching ad concepts to Kodak for new slide wheel, Don wrenchingly illustrates point about nostalgia's power with shots of his own forsaken family. Also, Draperism "If you don't like what's being said, change the conversation," now thoroughly meme-ified.

One to Watch
"The Suitcase" (season 4). Don loses sole friend he's honest with; Olson-Draper tensions culminate in stunning moment of connection. Unfolds at strange, haphazard pace of good fiction, real life.