The midseason finale took place on the day of Neil Armstrong's historic landing on the moon. Of course that's a metaphor on Mad Man: a metaphor for togetherness. Here's how I see it. Everyone got some face time in tonight's episode. Also, we wave good-bye to some. I won't reveal who. Ted, who's been in limbo this season, finally has a purpose. He's depressed, teetering on the edge, and is questioning his future in advertising. He wants something new in his life, and he makes it clear (or tries to) that money isn't everything to him. This is the big picture in the episode. For everyone else, money is the motivation. It's what brings smiles to the character's faces. It makes the blood sucking Jim Cutler (who's consistent yapping about Donald Draper's removal like a pull-string doll is hilarious) back off. It makes a new-faced Joan ease up. But money isn't worth celebrating for Don. "I'll have plenty money if I sell out" Ted says. Is multiple lifetimes worth of money necessary? Don sees an image. It leaves him wondering, holding himself up on a desk. His reactions saved for next year. Then there's the Burger Chef pitch, which is sold on family and togetherness, ironically for capital means. The use of the moon landing in the pitch is genius and genuine. As we get a look at the different groups united around the television to witness the moon landing, I noted that the characters who played villain this episode weren't included in this sequence. Is that a sign of their exclusion from who really matters in Mad Men? (Sorry, Harry, you really can't sit with us; at the partner's table). Roger Sterling matters a whole lot in the episode. I noted earlier in the season that Roger looking out for Don solidifies one of the show's greatest relationships (the bromance is real). If anything, this episode shows it's Don's truly most important and long-lasting relationship. He'll look out for Don again because ever since the merger with CGC the agency has been running further away from the original Sterling Cooper. Therein lies the metaphor of the moon landing. (This is what I believe to the be the "waterloo"). The agency has endured so much and has evolved in so many ways throughout the course of the series. The new step taken in tonight's episode marks "one big step" for SCP. A step in unfamiliar territory, but really a step to preserve the main fabric of the agency. And for the second half of the season we'll see, like Neil and Apollo's trip back, if the gang can make it back in one piece. History proves they will. Tonight's quote of, "Giving everyone that they want, when they want it"; I think that's when Mad Men will achieve its apex and its resolution. A cute B-story; Sally Draper's hormones, her (familiar) hairstyle, and her (familiar) smoking posture. The Francis's are having guests over for the moon landing, one of the kids is a hunk, the other is a star-gazer. Sally takes notice. If you enjoy a nice narrative break into song and dance. This is truly your episode. TIll 2015! 10/10
6 Reviews
Roger's plan
dierregi7 July 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Despite his lack of professional ambition and his carefree attitude, Roger proves to be the key of this episode and Don's real friend.
While man is ready to "conquer" the moon, the SCP team gets ready to tackle Burger Chef, but not before Don gets more bad news. He's going to lose his job for real. After a stormy partners' meeting, during which I assume Joan's vote had to be negative to make Don's situation precarious, Don leaves with his team, knowing that his place in the agency relies on the support of only three people.
Due to Cooper unexpected departure, Roger is left to improvise a plan to secure Don's and his firm's future, while neutralising Jim, who "doesn't belong to his team" and was never his friend. Losing the CGC baggage is vital at this point, but it comes at a high price.
Even if Don's professional situation may be safer for a little time being, he gets what was coming from Megan, the "Dear John" phone call that had been hanging in the air since the start of season. Apparently Megan wants to depart with the grand gesture of a modern, independent woman, but she isn't one...
Still, this is great episode, framed beautifully within the days of the epic moon landing.
While man is ready to "conquer" the moon, the SCP team gets ready to tackle Burger Chef, but not before Don gets more bad news. He's going to lose his job for real. After a stormy partners' meeting, during which I assume Joan's vote had to be negative to make Don's situation precarious, Don leaves with his team, knowing that his place in the agency relies on the support of only three people.
Due to Cooper unexpected departure, Roger is left to improvise a plan to secure Don's and his firm's future, while neutralising Jim, who "doesn't belong to his team" and was never his friend. Losing the CGC baggage is vital at this point, but it comes at a high price.
Even if Don's professional situation may be safer for a little time being, he gets what was coming from Megan, the "Dear John" phone call that had been hanging in the air since the start of season. Apparently Megan wants to depart with the grand gesture of a modern, independent woman, but she isn't one...
Still, this is great episode, framed beautifully within the days of the epic moon landing.
7.7 ****
edwagreen26 May 2014
Warning: Spoilers
Excellent season finale where it's the summer of 1969 and the space adventure exploration is taking place.
As Peggy, Elisabeth Moss really showed her mettle by her presentation to that hamburger chain and the sensitivity she feels as her Spanish neighbor may be moving and the young boy who has bonded with her is upset. The child seems to be neglected
Don first appears to be on the verge of being fired for breaking his agreement. While it appears that they had the votes to prevent it, everything is upset when the Robert Morse character dies suddenly.
With the firm now on the verge of being sold, but Don and the crew retained, the show ended beautifully with Morse reappearing and with the secretaries as chorus girls, he belts out that the moon belongs to everyone, the best things in life are free. Morse probably felt that he was back in his How to Succeed in Business days.
As Peggy, Elisabeth Moss really showed her mettle by her presentation to that hamburger chain and the sensitivity she feels as her Spanish neighbor may be moving and the young boy who has bonded with her is upset. The child seems to be neglected
Don first appears to be on the verge of being fired for breaking his agreement. While it appears that they had the votes to prevent it, everything is upset when the Robert Morse character dies suddenly.
With the firm now on the verge of being sold, but Don and the crew retained, the show ended beautifully with Morse reappearing and with the secretaries as chorus girls, he belts out that the moon belongs to everyone, the best things in life are free. Morse probably felt that he was back in his How to Succeed in Business days.
Masterful mid-season finale to a masterful run of episodes
Red_Identity26 May 2014
There are so many shows right now hitting consistent greatness, shows hitting their peaks. Louie, Game of Thrones, Hannibal, Fargo, True Detective are just some of the few shows that are great on a week-to- week basis. Mad Men certainly cemented its greatness years ago, but how is it that in its 7th season it still manages to outperform all other shows on TV? I guess it's not fair to count these 7 episodes as a "season", but if we were ranking it with the other seasons of the series, it could very well be at the top if not share that first place with the masterful Season 4. This was a masterful run of episodes, and I very much doubt I'll think any other drama deserves the top Emmy award in a few months (but of course, this has no shot, the hype isn't what it used to be, sadly). A+
Note- Please, an actor from this show needs to win already. Come on! Hamm and Moss!
2nd note- This is how you start your final season, Breaking Bad (AKA the most overrated season in television history. Yes, both halves)
Note- Please, an actor from this show needs to win already. Come on! Hamm and Moss!
2nd note- This is how you start your final season, Breaking Bad (AKA the most overrated season in television history. Yes, both halves)
7 Seasons Too Many
sjkriz4 January 2020
This was a great episode, but to be honest, I've been waiting for B Cooper to be killed of this show for years. He is hands down the most worthless character in all of television. He didn't bring any valuable assets to the company except forcing people to take off their shoes and getting upset when people didn't attend Partner's Meetings.
I also didn't like how towards the end, he didn't support Don and have his back when Don made his company what it was and made the guy millions of dollars. At least Roger stayed loyal until the end! I will forever love Roger Sterling!
I also didn't like how towards the end, he didn't support Don and have his back when Don made his company what it was and made the guy millions of dollars. At least Roger stayed loyal until the end! I will forever love Roger Sterling!
S7.1: Solid and reliable start to the final season, even if there is the a little wheel-spinning in there too
bob the moo30 December 2014
With Don Draper on forced leave due to his semi-breakdown of honesty, work continues at the Agency with their main business on the east coast and their new venture on the west. With Don's lesson on honesty learnt, he keeps his situation from his family – including his wife, living on the opposite coast to get her acting career going while in theory she waits for Don to find and job and move out to join her. Meanwhile the new structure of the agency continues to have tensions and rifts – even more so as television and computing start to be more competitive advantages.
Screened in two distinct halves, this first half of the final season of Mad Men is a solid continuation of generally what the show has done well. Draper is in the wake of his struggles and not sure how to find his own way. As it always has been, he is the core of the show and his story continues to be interesting in where it is going as a conclusion. The doubts and weaknesses in the character seem more evident to himself now, whereas before maybe they were not so much, and this allows for the show to be more meditative about his direction (in particular spelt out by the final scene of this half- season). The supporting characters continue to do their thing but too often their material feels a little familiar or out-of-nowhere. Sometimes this is fine (Peggy's ongoing journey remains interesting) but with characters such as Pete, Joan, Sterling and a few others, they do feel like they are treading water in some ways. Meanwhile for others things seem to have little base, with conflict and drama not always feeling naturally occurring but rather done for something to do. However, Draper's core is strong and the rest fits in around and near it, mostly working.
The production values remain high, with a good sense of time and place. The portrayal of the changing times are done matter-of-factly rather than with heavy nostalgia; although events of note are of course featured, they do not stick out heavily but rather as part of the story of these characters. The changing times instead are made part of the turmoil and changing of the characters and not just something happening remotely – this has always been the case but here I thought it did it particularly well. The cast continue their good performances, with generally very well delivered characters, although one does wonder if they will ever manage to shake off the characters they do so well (Hamm particularly has had success outside of this show, but at the same time has many times just played a version of Draper).
A strong start to the endgame then, with plenty going on, most of which works. If it can keep this standard as it approaches the second and final set of episodes, I'll be happy enough.
Screened in two distinct halves, this first half of the final season of Mad Men is a solid continuation of generally what the show has done well. Draper is in the wake of his struggles and not sure how to find his own way. As it always has been, he is the core of the show and his story continues to be interesting in where it is going as a conclusion. The doubts and weaknesses in the character seem more evident to himself now, whereas before maybe they were not so much, and this allows for the show to be more meditative about his direction (in particular spelt out by the final scene of this half- season). The supporting characters continue to do their thing but too often their material feels a little familiar or out-of-nowhere. Sometimes this is fine (Peggy's ongoing journey remains interesting) but with characters such as Pete, Joan, Sterling and a few others, they do feel like they are treading water in some ways. Meanwhile for others things seem to have little base, with conflict and drama not always feeling naturally occurring but rather done for something to do. However, Draper's core is strong and the rest fits in around and near it, mostly working.
The production values remain high, with a good sense of time and place. The portrayal of the changing times are done matter-of-factly rather than with heavy nostalgia; although events of note are of course featured, they do not stick out heavily but rather as part of the story of these characters. The changing times instead are made part of the turmoil and changing of the characters and not just something happening remotely – this has always been the case but here I thought it did it particularly well. The cast continue their good performances, with generally very well delivered characters, although one does wonder if they will ever manage to shake off the characters they do so well (Hamm particularly has had success outside of this show, but at the same time has many times just played a version of Draper).
A strong start to the endgame then, with plenty going on, most of which works. If it can keep this standard as it approaches the second and final set of episodes, I'll be happy enough.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
