Final Thoughts on the Mad Men Finale

Roger Sterling (John Slattery), Joan Harris (Christina Hendricks), Pete Campbell (Vincent Kartheiser), Peggy Olson (Elisabeth Moss), Betty Francis (January Jones), Megan Draper (Jessica Pare) and Don Draper (Jon Hamm) – Mad Men _ Season 7, Gallery – Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC

First of all, spoiler alert… I really enjoyed it. It was filled with character growth, something the other episodes this season were lacking. Don’s journey, while slow at times, ended very poetically. After seeing this episode, I feel cheated by the director for the last year. He was really holding back.

Early this season, while discussing the divorce, Ted is told, “Don, there are 3 women in every mans life.” Don replied with a smart ass response, but later he would reach out to his 3 women—Sally, Betty and Peggy. In the finale, the director left many things to interpretation. However, it would appear Don actually wanted to be Dick and sought out Dick’s prior life on his own personal journey—in fact, talking to Sally and Betty seemed to make him flee further.

A brooding Betty and Don Draper exiting a Checker Cab.

Dick’s pivotal point was when Anna’s daughter asked, “why are you here, we’re not family?” Then she took the car and abandoned him with strangers. His pain of rejection was overwhelming, realizing in that moment the significance of leaving his children and being alone. So, he reached out to the strongest women in his life, Peggy. She asked, “What about Coke?” The three little words seemed oddly coupled in the moment, but she really knew what to say. More importantly, she said “You can always come home.” The transition back to Don had begun. Oddly, Peggy’s own love story added little to her character, however Joan’s breakup added a great deal to hers.

Smoke ’em if you got ’em! Silly Sally, cigs are for kids.

Upon talking to the strongest women in his life, he began his journey back to Don, along with the stranger in the therapy session, who verbalized everything he felt for years. His grin and the chime at the end was the idea for the iconic Coke ad, and Don the ad man was back. A very good ending.

We knew it all along, but the finale confirms Peggy Olson is Don Draper’s rock and foundation.

Most Americans want an ending fed to them and wrapped up neatly. This left room for interpretation. A fact which force me to think about the finale for quite awhile last night and this morning before writing it down. I prefer that.