After almost eight years of airing, the time has come for Mad Men to end. And my God, was it glorious.
We continue after the last week's installment. Don's still lost and on the road. He talks to Sally who informs him of Betty's cancer. After finding out, he wants to do the right thing, and come back to New York to take care of his children. But that's not what Sally wants, who has now blossomed in one of the most mature characters on the show. After calling Betty, he pretty much gets the same response.
Following these events, Don goes to California to visit Stephanie and as a reason for his visit, Don tells her he wants her to have Anna's wedding ring, although the real reason is his need to feel wanted, after being rejected by Betty and Sally. She fells sorry for him and takes him to therapy sessions with her. Through various exercises Don is, once again, unable to express his feelings. This brings out the most constant theme of this season, heck - even the whole series. The feeling of disconnection. Stephanie leaves therapy because she feels guilty for abandoning her son, and Don tries to calm her down. He tells her it will get easier as the time passes, but Stephanie doesn't buy it. And neither does he. I mean look at him, still struggling with his identity after all these years. He calls Peggy, who encourages him to come back to his old life and McCann. She even brings out the Coke, which was his obsession throughout the series. He says he can't come back, and we see him broken.
Group leader finds him in this condition, and she takes him to group counselling. A man named Leonard decides to share his story with the group, and in the most emotional moment of the finale, he talks about the feeling of loneliness and difficulty of knowing you're loved. He breaks down, and so does Don. He understands him and shares his pain. Now Don doesn't feel as alone anymore.
The final scene where we see Don is during meditation. New day, new ideas, a new you - says the therapist. A smile appears on Don's face, symbolizing the peace he has made with himself. He's not trying to run anymore. It's the beginning of something new. The smile also hints the birth of an idea. The screen cuts to the famous 1971 "Hilltop" television commercial for Coke. We can only assume Don returned to New York and finally had his chance to work on Coke.
"Person to Person" also worked very well as a closure for other characters stories.
We see Pete starting a new life with his renewed family, we see Joan being independent and starting a new business, we see Roger finding his happiness with Marie and taking care of Kevin. Peggy has finally realized that work isn't the most important thing in life, and she starts a relationship with Stan. The moment where they confess love to each other doesn't feel rushed, and it's completely suitable given their chemistry since the beginning. Sally has become independent and mature. Earlier this season Don told her it's up to her to be more than just beautiful, and in the finale we surely saw she is more than just that. Even though Betty is dying, she's going out on her own terms and she got it her way one last time.
Some people might not like the finale because it's open to interpretation and it refused to give us the complete closure someone might've expected from the final episode. But I think that's just the point. Life never gives us full closure.
Mad Men gave us 92 episodes of great television, always breaking new ground and never losing quality. "Person to Person" just cemented its status as one of the greatest television dramas of our time. It's been a joy watching these characters and their stories all these years, and they'll surely be missed.
We continue after the last week's installment. Don's still lost and on the road. He talks to Sally who informs him of Betty's cancer. After finding out, he wants to do the right thing, and come back to New York to take care of his children. But that's not what Sally wants, who has now blossomed in one of the most mature characters on the show. After calling Betty, he pretty much gets the same response.
Following these events, Don goes to California to visit Stephanie and as a reason for his visit, Don tells her he wants her to have Anna's wedding ring, although the real reason is his need to feel wanted, after being rejected by Betty and Sally. She fells sorry for him and takes him to therapy sessions with her. Through various exercises Don is, once again, unable to express his feelings. This brings out the most constant theme of this season, heck - even the whole series. The feeling of disconnection. Stephanie leaves therapy because she feels guilty for abandoning her son, and Don tries to calm her down. He tells her it will get easier as the time passes, but Stephanie doesn't buy it. And neither does he. I mean look at him, still struggling with his identity after all these years. He calls Peggy, who encourages him to come back to his old life and McCann. She even brings out the Coke, which was his obsession throughout the series. He says he can't come back, and we see him broken.
Group leader finds him in this condition, and she takes him to group counselling. A man named Leonard decides to share his story with the group, and in the most emotional moment of the finale, he talks about the feeling of loneliness and difficulty of knowing you're loved. He breaks down, and so does Don. He understands him and shares his pain. Now Don doesn't feel as alone anymore.
The final scene where we see Don is during meditation. New day, new ideas, a new you - says the therapist. A smile appears on Don's face, symbolizing the peace he has made with himself. He's not trying to run anymore. It's the beginning of something new. The smile also hints the birth of an idea. The screen cuts to the famous 1971 "Hilltop" television commercial for Coke. We can only assume Don returned to New York and finally had his chance to work on Coke.
"Person to Person" also worked very well as a closure for other characters stories.
We see Pete starting a new life with his renewed family, we see Joan being independent and starting a new business, we see Roger finding his happiness with Marie and taking care of Kevin. Peggy has finally realized that work isn't the most important thing in life, and she starts a relationship with Stan. The moment where they confess love to each other doesn't feel rushed, and it's completely suitable given their chemistry since the beginning. Sally has become independent and mature. Earlier this season Don told her it's up to her to be more than just beautiful, and in the finale we surely saw she is more than just that. Even though Betty is dying, she's going out on her own terms and she got it her way one last time.
Some people might not like the finale because it's open to interpretation and it refused to give us the complete closure someone might've expected from the final episode. But I think that's just the point. Life never gives us full closure.
Mad Men gave us 92 episodes of great television, always breaking new ground and never losing quality. "Person to Person" just cemented its status as one of the greatest television dramas of our time. It's been a joy watching these characters and their stories all these years, and they'll surely be missed.
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