Target audience age

[lovingboth]

One of the things that I find interesting about this series is that it looks to be aimed at an audience who remember 1980. Or at least as someone who does, it adds considerably to the enjoyment of the show.

Have the creators said anything about this?

For those who are under 50, how much do things like Haig's "I'm in charge" come as a surprise?

Comments

[jae]

I also have strong memories of 1981, and that was my initial reaction too--my generation was clearly the show's target audience. But I've seen lots of people much younger than me get hooked on the show, and they tend to say things like "I love how it brings these things to life that I've only read about!" So now I'm much less sure. :) I do wonder how people from different generations might view some of the historical stuff totally differently from my generation (I was a teenager during the 80s), though. The Haig "in control" speech is a good example of something I've wondered that about.

As for what the creators have said, well, I went back and looked at the links I saved in my own journal from early on, and I do have a couple for you that wouldn't have spoilers for you in them. The treatment of the time period is touched on a little in this interview with the two showrunners. This one with showrunner Joe Weisberg also touches on it, though even more briefly (but it's an awesome interview just generally, and definitely worth reading). Also, critic Alan Sepinwall had a bunch of smart things to say about the period early on, though his focus is more on the way the show feels like it truly inhabits its time period rather than commenting on it from the outside.

All of the more recent interviews with the showrunners would have spoilers for you, so I'll spare you that!

-J

[treonb]

I think there's different levels. I don't remember 1980, especially not in an American context, but I do remember 'The 80s', and I love that part about the show.

But I didn't have to be there to know about Haig's "I'm in charge" speech. Much like I wasn't there for many other important events in the past century, and yet I know about them. Reagan's shooting had repercussions until today (for example, gun control, Brady Bill etc).

[soupytwist]

I don't remember most of the 80s, so it's more like seeing what it might be like to live through some of the stuff I've just read about/seen stuff about on TV or whatever. A lot of that is about the process, what the order of things was - often, what I knew about was the end result, rather than how it seemed, so the show has been really good at showing what it might be like when a bunch of the big things really weren't inevitable.

[jcalanthe]

I think remembering the 80s adds another level to the show (I'm under 50 but I do remember the 80s). But, I also have enjoyed Mad Men & it's set before my time - it's interesting to see stuff I've only read/heard about. It's a different way to engage with the show - I see that the previous generation of my family gets it on a different level cuz they do remember it. The Americans feels like Mad Men for my generation to me. & I think both shows are successful because they engage both groups of folks.

Set design

[(Anonymous)]

It takes away the enjoyment for me when so many things about the set design, hair and clothes are all so modern day. TV on the mantle? Those massive things would never fit on a mantle! That wasn't a thing until around 2005!
Elizabeth's hair... long and beautiful and swept to the side - 2010+ The way she ties her hair back? No
Kitchen Island? Come on! Round silver handles on kitchen cabinets? No. The list goes on and on. Obviously designed by someone who didn't live it or who wasn't paying attention.

Re: Set design

[treonb]

I'm not sure we're watching the same show.

But, as it happens, I have a home design magazine from the 80s. Notice the island and round, silver handles.

[quantumreality]

I remember the 1980s - more the late than the early - but I do remember that era and the show works very hard to remind you that it is 1981/2 and not an ersatz poorly done attempt at era-specificness.

I honestly don't remember that "I'm in charge" thing and I'm still a little bit struck by disbelief that so many people thought he meant he was going to assume office or something.