Judging television series' worth by its final episode is usually a futile endeavor. Unlike films, the endings to televisions series are often unplanned, with the show evolving past its creators own intentions into a completely different form. Watching an episode the first season of Mad Menvs. an episode from the final season illustrates this perfectly, as earlier episodes are cruder and less refined in their storytelling abilities, while latter episodes are refined and distilled to their purest dramatic form.
So it was interesting to watch how series creator Matthew Weiner would tackle the writing/directing duties of the final episode "Person to Person." Weiner repeatedly stated he’s had the idea for the finale for some time now and this is pretty evident with the inclusion of the notable “I’d like to buy the world a Coke” ad. But Weiner stayed true to form, carefully treading the waters of his Sopranos-esque education in TV writing ambiguity and writing a flawed but satisfying finale that will leave the Internet buzzing for years now over “what it really means.” It was a big more sugary than necessary, with unexpected characters falling in love and levels of happiness nearly overflowing, but it still proved a satisfying treat to a delicious dramatic meal.
Don Draper A
"I broke all my vows. I scandalized my child. I took another’s man’s name. I made nothing of it.” - Don Draper
So Don pretty much ended up back where he started, with marred ties to his family members and friends, but this time with a lot more money. But as Don’s previous quest to the top of the ladder left him unfulfilled, the closing shot of the series shows him achieving some level of inner peace and serenity, followed by one of the most famous advertisements for one of the biggest brands in the world.
Many online have speculated what the purpose was of including the Coca Cola ad, suggesting that Don might have been inspired to create it during his moment of zen. Don’s journey throughout the series wasn’t about achievement, it was about redemption. Don has always preached on the importance of moving forward, of leaving the past behind and finding a new future for yourself. But as Stephanie refused his offer to move to LA and Sally rejected his offer of coming to New York, Don was at a standstill with no one to look after but himself. In that raw moment with Peggy where he came to truth with his demons, Don washed himself clean and found inner peace.
Don has usually looked at his life only in the past and future. The past is Dick Whitman, the future is Don Draper. The past is Betty, the future is Megan. The past is cigarettes, the future is Jaguar. And while he was part of a society always preparing itself for the brave new world, he never really learned how to live with himself in the moment, always on a road trip to somewhere, but never taking the time to look at the things around him. Now that he's finally run out of gas, and all the loose family and career ties have sewn themselves shut, Don can be with himself, his past and future aligned in perfect harmony.
Peggy Olson B
"I love you, Peggy..." - Stan
"...What?" - Peggy
I honestly never pictured the Peggy/Stan romantic connection before. I mean maybe in jest, but when Mad Men had clearly been leading Peggy down the path of groundbreaking feminist icon who doesn’t need a husband to be fulfilled, it was kind of strange to see her end up with her male office coworker. Then again, to box Peggy in as just an advocate for women in the workplace doesn’t do credit to her either. While Peggy certainly does believe in women’s rights, everything she has done in the series has been out of her own motivation for her own success, regardless of gender, status, or any other identifying labels.
If Peggy wants to be unmarried and work 80 hour weeks as the most powerful Creative Director in Midtown, so be it. If she wants to get take care of 10 babies in the ‘burbs while waiting for her husband to get home from work, so be it. Regardless, Peggy has always strived for what makes her most happy and what she felt was right, and by never fully conforming to any one person or group’s expectations is what makes her so revolutionary.
Joan HollowayC
Just like Peggy, I really didn’t see the breakup with Richard coming either. Richard even stated that he’d be willing to be with Joan even if it meant looking after her kids. But he wasn’t so keen to Joan running a new company instead of giving him her full intentions. So Richard made an abrupt exit, and Joan made the hard but necessary decision to not run after him, and instead run after her personal dreams instead.
Now Joan will likely go on becoming a successful career woman (again) with the only man in her life being her son. It sucks that Joan always finds herself in ultimatums, where she can only get one thing or the other but never a little bit of both. But Joan has always known what she’s wanted and has never wavered form her path.
Sally Draper B
"My father never gave me anything," - Sally Draper from "The Quality of Mercy."
Coming to terms with losing a parent is a long, emotionally trying endeavor for any person, let alone a teenager. But Sally Draper has seemed to quickly adopt to the pseudo-parent role, looking over Bobby and Gene while dealing with Don not as a superior but as her equal.
She’s grown up from the kid who cried over spilt milk to the one who is actually pouring it, not quite sure of what her future will hold without Betty, but adequately prepared to handle the challenges along the way.
Roger Sterling B
Roger has always prided himself on being able to take care of the females in his life through financial means. But he’s never really provided strong emotional support to his wives or daughter, simply going about his day drinking and joking. It’s appropriate now that he’s finally with a woman as self centered as he is. But the difference between Marie and Roger is that Marie realizes her life isn’t just about her children or partners, while Roger still imagined himself to be a good family man, even though his daughter ran away to a join a cult/commune and his first two marriages ended up in divorce. But now Roger is facing a tough challenge by being with a woman who does not want his control. And although he isn’t used to the task, he’s definitely up for the challenge.
"Person to Person"B
Don got inner peace, Peggy got Stan, Roger got Marie, Joan got a new career, and Pete got a private jet. And while each of these characters have tirelessly pursued that “real thing” that they thought would make them happy, some reaping more bountiful rewards than others, it’s astounding to look back and see how these characters have changed over the years.
In Mad Men and in real life, there is no one real thing that will make anyone happy. As much as we’d like to think that inner fulfillment can come from something as simple as money, a job title or even bottle of coke, it’s rather the choices we make and the people we spend it with along the way that shapes a person’s destiny. Don always tried to move forward, but he never stopped to look back at where he came from. And now with that past reconciled and that future a blank slate, he’s finally taken the moment to stop running and just breathe.
Extra credit
- Even if this episode wasn't the greatest, it did succeed in providing us with hilarious Mad Men spin-off ideas. I hope NBC picks up Peggy and Stan for the new fall lineup, and even though the pilot isn't great, I'm confident Roger and Marie in Sweet Paris will be a hit on CBS.
- Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think this was the first time Don revealed to Peggy that he wasn’t actually Don. Peggy only knew about his whorehouse upbringing after Don’s Hershey meltdown, and Don didn’t delve into the whole Korea thing when talking to her in this episode. But there was something authentic and genuine in their phone call when he revealed he wasn’t actually Don. Not so much in a sense that Peggy was the first person to ever get him, but more that Don respected Peggy so much he couldn’t actually move forward without letting her know who he really was.
- Kudos to the actor in the support group who cried in Don’s arms. You were only in one episode but you total killed it.
Demerits
- I don’t mind that Peggy ended up with Stan, but it just seemed strange that that was the final notch in her character’s belt. Again, maybe I’ve missed some discreet sexual tension between them over the years, but that really did seem to come out of nowhere.
- I love Stephanie’s character and she definitely serves a necessary dramatic purpose as the last person to know who Dick/Don truly is. But her story wrapped up pretty well last season as she shipped off to Oakland carrying a heavy bundle of love in her stomach. Stephanie’s inclusion did allow for some strong themes of children growing up without their mothers, both in her case and with Betty and her children. But it was just strange to see a character whose narrative arc was seemingly finished to make a final appearance.
- I wish Don and Megan could’ve stayed together long enough for Roger and Marie to get married, which would have officially made Roger Don’s step father-in-law, and would’ve made Sally, Bobby and Gene Roger’s grandchildren-in-law x2.
- WHAT HAPPENED TO MEREDITH?