Mad Men is easily one of the greatest television series of our time. Airing from 2007 to 2015, Mad Men used an advertising agency to explore the changing social landscape of the 1960s, including the civil rights movement and the rise of the counterculture. It also explores universally controversial topics like racism, sexism, and power in the workplace.
It uses our modern lens to criticize various aspects of the 60s, typically depicting its male protagonists as particularly problematic - mere relics of their time. Media buyer Harry Crane is one of those protagonists. These are five things about Harry that would never fly today (and five that would).
Not Fly: Casual Sexism
Like most of the male characters on Mad Men, Harry sometimes practices casual sexism and misogynistic tendencies. He starts the series as a somewhat noble figure, but once his job in the media department begins to take off, he starts to get a big head.
With his big head comes an inflated ego, and with his inflated ego comes from instances of outright sexism. It's not a good look on the otherwise commendable Harry, and it makes him come across as a major d-bag.
Fly: Devoted To His Wife
In a show full of casual misogynists, Harry Crane remained one of the halfway decent ones. While he did partake in the office jokes, he also remained faithful to his wife and seemed to genuinely love her.
While most of the office, including the boss, seemed to be cheating on their spouses with every woman who walked into the office, Harry remained devoted and faithful. It helped him stand out, and it proved his adorable innocence.
Not Fly: Constant Cheating
That is, until the later seasons when Harry was outwardly proud of cheating on his wife. He often brags about how many women he sleeps with and seems completely disconnected from his once-loving and peaceful home life.
Granted, this type of flagrant cheating wasn't condoned back then either, and Harry is portrayed in a negative light for doing so. Cheating is simply not acceptable - never has been and (likely) never will be.
Fly: His Ambition
Harry is arguably one of the most ambitious men in the office, even if his work is rarely acknowledged or respected.
He realizes the monumental importance of television and caves himself out a little spot as the "media guy." He genuinely wants to bring more money into the firm and does all he can within his sphere of influence. It's one of Harry's greatest character traits, even though his efforts are often humorously rebuffed by characters like Don and Roger.
Not Fly: '50s Hair
This goes for most of the males of Mad Men, but their retro hairdos would never fly today. There's nothing inherently wrong with a classic haircut, but there are certain ways to style it so you don't look like a time traveler straight from the 1950s.
Most of the males in this show have that signature slicked, impeccably combed, and over-gelled hair that was so prominent throughout the 50s, and it should really stay there.
Fly: Helping People
Selflessness and helping others are always in fashion, and Harry can act in a selfless manner when he wants to. This is most evident in season five's Christmas Waltz when Harry meets Paul Kinsey in a coffee shop.
Kinsey had reluctantly become a Hare Krishna after falling on hard times, although he still writes TV scripts in his free time. Respecting his hustle and his work, Harry gave Paul a plane ticket to Hollywood and $500 to start a new life.
Not Fly: '70s Style
In a similar vein with the '50s hair, Harry's outlandish '70s style would absolutely not fly in modern office culture.
Well, it might, but the person wearing it would look ridiculously out of place. Harry is one of the male characters to fully embrace the cultural zeitgeist of the late 60s and early 70s, like his wavy hairdo (complete with massive sideburns) and loud suits. He dresses like Saul Goodman, but at least Saul does it ironically.
Fly: Regretting One Night Stands
Back when Harry was still a good guy, he committed a drunken one night stand. Of course, the one night stand is not to be commended, but his reaction to it is. Immediately upon realizing his mistake, Harry acts in a genuinely remorseful manner and presumably comes clean to his wife.
It's another reminder that Harry is (or was) a decent guy at heart. He makes mistakes, but he tries for redemption, and that is always commendable.
Not Fly: Playing Hardball
As previously acknowledged, Harry is an incredibly ambitious individual. So much so that he desperately tries to make partner, even though his superiors so clearly don't respect him or his work. And when he's finally given an offer, he ends up playing hardball with the negotiations.
It's a slimy practice, and it does end up biting him in the butt. This is the type of behavior that gets you passed over, and in some cases, maybe even fired.
Fly: Rising Up The Ranks
And finally, Harry must be commended for his ambition and work within Sterling Cooper, despite his obvious limitations. He is clearly successful within the company, even though he doesn't have the advantages that some of the others enjoy.
For example, he didn't come from a rich upper-class family as Pete did, and he didn't attend an Ivy League school like Ken. He's just a hard worker, and he worked his way up the ranks through sheer hard work and determination alone.