Mad Men was an incredibly character-driven show, with a lot of detail being placed into the people involved in the series. Because the focus is on the characters lives, their romantic interests and their jobs, those who had a key storyline were able to make a big impact on the show overall.
The likes of Don Draper, Peggy Olson, and Joan Holloway really drove the series with their influence, which is what made the show so great. However, there were some characters who had too much influence on what the show did in- of stories and other characters who barely made an impact at all during their time on the show.
No Impact: Jane Sterling
Aside from showcasing Roger Sterling was having some form of a midlife crisis, Jane Sterling didn't bring much to the table in of impact. She was a fun character at first in the ing role, but when she became romantically involved with Roger it all went downhill.
Jane just popped up randomly and was clearly never a well thought out or developed character. Her random ending when she and Roger got high and decided to divorce came out of nowhere and perfectly summed up her time on the show overall.
Too Much Influence: Glen Bishop
Glen Bishop was a very strange character who never really felt like he fit in. However, the show constantly brought him back to be involved in Sally and Betty Draper's storylines, which allowed him to have a lot of influence. Because they were sch important characters, Glen instantly got involved in big plot points.
This was particularly true with Sally, especially once she became a little older. Glen was inflential on her decision making, and his odd attitude and cold personality didn't really help things in any way.
No Impact: Harry Crane
Aside from moaning a lot about his poor treatment from his co-workers and management, what did Harry Crane actually bring to Mad Men? He was the office kiss-ass and certainly served a purpose, showcasing the fact media was starting to change the way the advertising world worked, but in of impact on the story, he offered very little.
Harry was often used in a comedic light, with the other characters being the ones who laughed at him. He tried to make an impact on the series, but because the others would constantly shut down Harry, he ended up having very little influence.
Too Much Influence: Jim Cutler
When Jim Cutler and Ted Chaough ed their agency with Don Draper and the gang, they were always going to have an influence. However, it was expected that Ted might be the man to do that, and instead his character just became less relevant as the series went on.
Instead, it was Jim who became the overpowering villain presence. He was basically primed as the total opposite of Roger Sterling, and while they had some fun conflicts, Jim ended up with far too much power. The story of him essentially getting rid of Don wasn't what anyone wanted to see, consdiering how crucial Don was to the story.
No Impact: Paul Kinsey
Every show needs to have a comedic relief character and in Mad Men, that void was filled by Paul Kinsey. He was heavily involved in the series early on, and it seemed like there would be a big role for him to play on the show, but that didn't end up being the case.
Instead, Paul had very little impact, simply because he was just used in comedic moments. While there were some elements of seriousness from him, for the most part, Paul was just around to bring some fun, and that led to him having very little impact on the series overall.
Too Much Influence: Megan Draper
Megan Draper was certainly a great character and someone who added a lot to the show overall. However, Don's third wife did end up having far too much influence on the show. Her relationship with Don is what led to him spiralling out of control at points, and it was a shame to see.
Considering how Don managed to deal with the break up from Betty so well, it didn't make much sense that Megan's behaviors would have such a damaging impact upon him. However, they certainly did, and her treatment of other characters important to his life wasn't much better.
No Impact: Ken Cosgrove
Ken Cosgrove was a fun character and he was one of the originals that were around throughout the entirety of the series. However, despite the fact Ken was part of every single season, he didn't actually make much of an impact on the overall story.
Ken was just the nice guy of the agency, and often just went about his business. While he did end up with some serious injuries and he created several funny moments, when it came to core storylines or memorable moments, he fell a little short.
Too Much Influence: Rachel Menken
Don Draper gets romantically involved with a lot of women over the course of the show, but the one who seems to have the biggest impact upon him is Rachel Menken. She really manages to capture Don's heart, which makes sense while she's around and has a business connection with him.
However, Rachel is someone who randomly pops up either in his mind or via the storyline at various points during the show. Considering how poor Don is at making long-lasting connections with women, her influence is quite a strange one that just doesn't quite click.
No Impact: Henry Francis
Outside of the fact he ends up married to Betty who was the ex-wife of Don, Henry Francis has very little impact on the show overall. Henry could have had a massive impact on the show because of how important Betty was, and the fact he was involved in politics.
Linking his position of power to chasing Don's past could have been great way to make him a really important part of the series. However, Henry just ended up as a ing cast member who was mainly there to calm Betty down whenever her frantic behavior played up.
Too Much Influence: Stephanie Horton
One character that Don Draper really became attached with during the series was Stephanie Horton, and she ended up having far too much influence on the overall story. She felt like someone who served her purpose when she was first introduced, but then when she returned pregnant, it all felt a little random.
It again served a purpose in of causing tension between Don and Megan, but she then played a huge role in his ending. Stephanie was the character who took Don to the retreat, and it just felt like she wasn't quite important enough of a character to have that big role at the end.