Mad Men has a fantastic ensemble cast and because of that determining a true lead role isn't the easiest. However, two characters very much dominate the show with their stories and that is Don Draper and Peggy Olson, who are certainly the main characters from the start to finish.
While most people might automatically assume that Don is the lead role, simply because he gets the most screentime it isn't actually that simple. Throughout the show, Peggy's story becomes just as important and therefore an argument can certainly be made that Mad Men is actually all about her.
Don: His Personal Life
While Mad Men does highlight things going on in Peggy's life, it goes nowhere near into the same detail as it does with Don Draper. His personal life is showcased incredibly close with lots of focus on his love life, his past, and his family.
He brings a lot of other characters to the show from Betty and Megan to Sally and Bobby which is why he is the lead character of the show. Nobody else gets as much focus as Don outside of the working world and that's due to him being the lead.
Peggy: She Develops
The key to any great lead character is that they change and develop over the course of the show. This is one way that Peggy is actually the lead character over Don because she does change. Where he arguably stays very similar, repeating the same mistakes continuously until he seeks help at the very end, Peggy does not.
She might start out as a timid girl who thinks she has to sleep with Don to progress in work, she quickly changes and adapts to her surroundings. Just like Don, she makes a catalyst of errors, but Peggy learns from them each time and actually changes her character to reflect that.
Don: Opening Credits
The opening credits of a show are always important because they give a feel for what the show is all about, and traditionally they do focus on who the lead role is. Mad Men's opening credits don't actually show anyone from the series, but it does feature a black silhouette of a man falling down from a building.
This is clearly a reference to Don Draper, with the man supposedly being him. It showcases all the influences in his life from woman to drinking, and the fact he is falling symbolizes that his life is spiraling out of control which fits his character.
Peggy: Don Is The Antagonist
Television quite often likes to make great lead characters from people who are not necessarily nice people. Someone like Walter White is a perfect example of this, but so is Don Draper. Fans loved him but he spends his time cheating on his wife, hurting people he loves, and breaking the rules.
At times he really is the antagonist to Peggy's story, which makes her the lead protagonist and the main character. She does everything by the book and is one of the nicest characters in the show which is why audiences are supposed to root for her more than Don.
Don: He's The Creative Genius
While the brilliance of Mad Men is all in the character development and the personal situations going on in their lives, the advertising element does also play a part. This is what is used to push the overarching storyline, and it is Don Draper who is at the heart of that.
He is the man who helps drive things forward for the company with his creative genius and that isn't just in terms of signing different brands but also keeping the entire company afloat. Because of his importance, it is hard to see anyone as the lead role outside of him.
Peggy: Her Upward Trend
There is one huge difference between the storylines of Don Draper and Peggy Olson throughout Mad Men and that is how their lives and careers change. For Don, his life progressively gets worse throughout the show. He has failed marriages, loses the respect of his children, and eventually has a full mental breakdown.
Peggy, on the other hand, starts at the bottom and goes through some struggles but eventually comes out as a strong character with a great job, career prospects, and a new relationship. She basically takes Don's spot from the start of the show, and that is why the story really is all about her.
Don: Narration
While the show isn't narrated by someone's thoughts in the same way that something like Dexter is, there are moments where narration happens in Mad Men. Whenever that happens, there is only ever once voice that can be heard.
Don Draper is always the character that does the narration for the show, and that's because everything that happens in Mad Men is done through his perspective. Because audiences are taken through this world in his eyes, that is why he is so likable, even when he does terrible things and is also why he's the true lead.
Peggy: Changing Times
The time period that this show is set in is one where women are still seen as people who are beneath men and because of that, the advertising world is dominated by males. However, Peggy Olson is the character that really showcases that the changing of the times is happening.
She is the person that the show uses to emphasize that moment, going from someone who just works on Don Draper's desk to being in charge of him creatively at one stage. It's that big change and the fact she ushers in a new era in life around the world that makes Peggy the core character to Mad Men's story.
Don: He Influences Peggy's Story
The main reason that Don Draper is the lead character and not Peggy, is because it is him that influences her story. Every bit of success Peggy has is ultimately down to Don as he is the one who constantly pushes her and puts her in positions where she can thrive.
He clearly sees something in Peggy and mentors her, even if at times he doesn't do it in the best manner. When that element is mixed in with how much he is showcased, it is clear that Mad Men is all about Don Draper.
Peggy: Her Full Journey
The main reason that the show is ultimately about Peggy Olson and not Don Draper is the fact that it gives audiences her full journey. Mad Men begins with Peggy's first day on the job and it could be argued Don only is shown as much because he is the one she works with.
Mad Men then focuses heavily on everything Peggy does. From her troubles with love to the difficulties, she faces at work. Things start low for her but end in a great job with Stan as her boyfriend, bringing her journey to a full circle, which is why she is the lead character of the show.