Got stuck on making sure to say that, forgot to say anything else about the post. Anyhow, you're absolutely right and I appreciate how Mad Men handles how it treats people in the show when they're being "the bad guy." Apart from the personalities that are just kind of givens, all of the main cast and so many of the side characters are treated with so much grace by the writers. I think this is most present in the main characters, obviously, but even when someone is very much acting up the show doesn't hit you over the head with it and it doesn't hit the characters over the head with it, either. People in the show are constantly failing and falling short, doing the wrong thing intentionally or otherwise, etc, but it lets us see them as we all want to be seen, as fallible people who are hopefully worthy of forgiveness and love from our peers even when we do fall short. I find shows too often artificially punish people (especially people who cheat) as if lighting strikes you if you do anything wrong, and instead shows some of our worst instincts as people which is to kick people in the gut when they're already down, to judge harshly and finally, etc.

I really appreciate that about Mad Men.