Mad Men - the final count down

[Anonymous]

I thought the outcome of Don's trip to the Real America was going to be a campaign for the new Miller Lite?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
http://tomandlorenzo.com/2015/05/mad-style-lost-horizon/ it's even in the costuming. They refute your exact position in there, too.

That was a great recap, thanks! I'm so going to miss this ...

Just thought I'd mention their style recap for the penultimate episode. Really well done!

http://tomandlorenzo.com/2015/05/mad-style-the-milk-and-honey-route/#!prettyPhoto

[Anonymous]

So, I've been thinking about a number of these hypotheses about the ending.

First, I think the Diana storyline was meant to drag Don off of dead center and force him to focus on life. Diana's ex-husband told Don that she was a tornado (or something like that) and that Don hadn't been the first guy to come looking for her. She wasn't afraid to just take off and start anew. Don had to realize that the reason he "knew' her was because he was the same way. They really were the same people: running to escape past lives without conscience (or without thinking about the consequences of their decisions for others). We're not going to see Diana in the finale; her role is complete.

As for how Don will deal with the Betty scenario, I think it will be through Sally. Dick's mother died in childbirth and, although he was never respectful towards Betty as a mother, he never really questioned how she was raising the children or the quality of life she was giving them. He'll feel horrible about them being motherless but will likely abdicate to Henry to raise the boys and encourage Sally to continue towards her ambitions. He'll want Sally to become the anti-Betty, just as he encouraged Peggy to break out of her mold.

I do think we've seen the end of Roger, Peggy, Pete, and Joan. Even Harry Crane got the opportunity to tell Roger to stick it, so we've seen everyone progress in some sense.

Ultimately, Don will progress too. I don't know if he'll go find the former Don Draper's widow's niece and help her raise oranges in California or just end up peacefully in California reading at the beach. Either way, I think he's shed his demons and will end up content.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So, I've been thinking about a number of these hypotheses about the ending.

First, I think the Diana storyline was meant to drag Don off of dead center and force him to focus on life. Diana's ex-husband told Don that she was a tornado (or something like that) and that Don hadn't been the first guy to come looking for her. She wasn't afraid to just take off and start anew. Don had to realize that the reason he "knew' her was because he was the same way. They really were the same people: running to escape past lives without conscience (or without thinking about the consequences of their decisions for others). We're not going to see Diana in the finale; her role is complete.

As for how Don will deal with the Betty scenario, I think it will be through Sally. Dick's mother died in childbirth and, although he was never respectful towards Betty as a mother, he never really questioned how she was raising the children or the quality of life she was giving them. He'll feel horrible about them being motherless but will likely abdicate to Henry to raise the boys and encourage Sally to continue towards her ambitions. He'll want Sally to become the anti-Betty, just as he encouraged Peggy to break out of her mold.

I do think we've seen the end of Roger, Peggy, Pete, and Joan. Even Harry Crane got the opportunity to tell Roger to stick it, so we've seen everyone progress in some sense.

Ultimately, Don will progress too. I don't know if he'll go find the former Don Draper's widow's niece and help her raise oranges in California or just end up peacefully in California reading at the beach. Either way, I think he's shed his demons and will end up content.

I largely agree with this, though I would give anything for one more Don and Peggy scene. However, I think Don will actually take his kids. I don't think he'll go back to McCann though. My hope is that he takes the kids to CA and somehow runs into Peggy sometime in the future (maybe he starts an agency out there with Joan?? probably wishful thinking). And sees Peggy at a pitch.

I keep thinking about how Christina Hendricks said Joan had "a beautiful ending." I don't think her ending thus far is "beautiful". I think it's fine, but I wouldn't quite call it beautiful. So maybe there is more to come there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, I've been thinking about a number of these hypotheses about the ending.

First, I think the Diana storyline was meant to drag Don off of dead center and force him to focus on life. Diana's ex-husband told Don that she was a tornado (or something like that) and that Don hadn't been the first guy to come looking for her. She wasn't afraid to just take off and start anew. Don had to realize that the reason he "knew' her was because he was the same way. They really were the same people: running to escape past lives without conscience (or without thinking about the consequences of their decisions for others). We're not going to see Diana in the finale; her role is complete.

As for how Don will deal with the Betty scenario, I think it will be through Sally. Dick's mother died in childbirth and, although he was never respectful towards Betty as a mother, he never really questioned how she was raising the children or the quality of life she was giving them. He'll feel horrible about them being motherless but will likely abdicate to Henry to raise the boys and encourage Sally to continue towards her ambitions. He'll want Sally to become the anti-Betty, just as he encouraged Peggy to break out of her mold.

I do think we've seen the end of Roger, Peggy, Pete, and Joan. Even Harry Crane got the opportunity to tell Roger to stick it, so we've seen everyone progress in some sense.

Ultimately, Don will progress too. I don't know if he'll go find the former Don Draper's widow's niece and help her raise oranges in California or just end up peacefully in California reading at the beach. Either way, I think he's shed his demons and will end up content.

I largely agree with this, though I would give anything for one more Don and Peggy scene. However, I think Don will actually take his kids. I don't think he'll go back to McCann though. My hope is that he takes the kids to CA and somehow runs into Peggy sometime in the future (maybe he starts an agency out there with Joan?? probably wishful thinking). And sees Peggy at a pitch.

I keep thinking about how Christina Hendricks said Joan had "a beautiful ending." I don't think her ending thus far is "beautiful". I think it's fine, but I wouldn't quite call it beautiful. So maybe there is more to come there.

I'm the PP to whom you're responding. I don't think he'll end up raising his kids. Sure, that's what we, in 2015, want a good dad to do, but I don't think it's going to happen with Don / Dick in 1970. Hobos don't have children and, plus, he doesn't think he's a very good person (he may be free of demons but he still knows he's lacking -- lest we forget his blaming himself for his little brother's suicide) and, although he does love his kids, he doesn't think he's a good dad. I think he'll tell himself that Henry will be more stable and attentive than he could be for the boys. Also, Sally taking Gene onto her lap in the last episode foreshadows that she is prepared to step in and help out as a big sister / replacement mama for the boys in their current environment.

There's just no way Matthew Wiener could agree to Don / Dick becoming saddled down with children just as he finds his inner freedom. Then again, there is always the Carousel reference...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, I've been thinking about a number of these hypotheses about the ending.

First, I think the Diana storyline was meant to drag Don off of dead center and force him to focus on life. Diana's ex-husband told Don that she was a tornado (or something like that) and that Don hadn't been the first guy to come looking for her. She wasn't afraid to just take off and start anew. Don had to realize that the reason he "knew' her was because he was the same way. They really were the same people: running to escape past lives without conscience (or without thinking about the consequences of their decisions for others). We're not going to see Diana in the finale; her role is complete.

As for how Don will deal with the Betty scenario, I think it will be through Sally. Dick's mother died in childbirth and, although he was never respectful towards Betty as a mother, he never really questioned how she was raising the children or the quality of life she was giving them. He'll feel horrible about them being motherless but will likely abdicate to Henry to raise the boys and encourage Sally to continue towards her ambitions. He'll want Sally to become the anti-Betty, just as he encouraged Peggy to break out of her mold.

I do think we've seen the end of Roger, Peggy, Pete, and Joan. Even Harry Crane got the opportunity to tell Roger to stick it, so we've seen everyone progress in some sense.

Ultimately, Don will progress too. I don't know if he'll go find the former Don Draper's widow's niece and help her raise oranges in California or just end up peacefully in California reading at the beach. Either way, I think he's shed his demons and will end up content.

I largely agree with this, though I would give anything for one more Don and Peggy scene. However, I think Don will actually take his kids. I don't think he'll go back to McCann though. My hope is that he takes the kids to CA and somehow runs into Peggy sometime in the future (maybe he starts an agency out there with Joan?? probably wishful thinking). And sees Peggy at a pitch.

I keep thinking about how Christina Hendricks said Joan had "a beautiful ending." I don't think her ending thus far is "beautiful". I think it's fine, but I wouldn't quite call it beautiful. So maybe there is more to come there.

I'm the PP to whom you're responding. I don't think he'll end up raising his kids. Sure, that's what we, in 2015, want a good dad to do, but I don't think it's going to happen with Don / Dick in 1970. Hobos don't have children and, plus, he doesn't think he's a very good person (he may be free of demons but he still knows he's lacking -- lest we forget his blaming himself for his little brother's suicide) and, although he does love his kids, he doesn't think he's a good dad. I think he'll tell himself that Henry will be more stable and attentive than he could be for the boys. Also, Sally taking Gene onto her lap in the last episode foreshadows that she is prepared to step in and help out as a big sister / replacement mama for the boys in their current environment.

There's just no way Matthew Wiener could agree to Don / Dick becoming saddled down with children just as he finds his inner freedom. Then again, there is always the Carousel reference...

(thank you for engaging me, I love talking/writing about Mad Men...)

I do think Don is finding his inner freedom, but I think that will give him the ability to "go home again" and raise the kids. He has always actually been a good dad (my DH and I disagree on this, but think about how Betty would want him to hit or punish Bobby and he was always a little softer...was he super attentive? No. But he does love them - remember the episode where he takes Bobby to see Planet of the Apes and talks about how you pretend to love your kids but then one day - bam - it happens for real).

I think Don/Dick has finally learned how to live an authentic life. And he will think he now needs to raise his kids to do so as well.

But who knows??!!? I trust Matt Weiner and I agree that this is his story to tell, we are all along for the ride. So I think no matter what happens, I won't be disappointed in the ending. It's his ending. And it's how it was meant to end.

[Anonymous]

I think he might actually die.

[Anonymous]

What's the Carousel reference?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's the Carousel reference?

In the episode for the Kodak Carousel Don says the Wheel is a carousel that takes you round and round again until it takes you back to the place which you long to go again. And it's loaded with his personal pictures of him and Betty and the kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think he might actually die.

And his kids become orphans? I don't think Weiner would be that cruel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think he might actually die.

I thought so at first, but Birdie's fate has changed my opinion. I think they have something else in store for Don.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's the Carousel reference?

In the episode for the Kodak Carousel Don says the Wheel is a carousel that takes you round and round again until it takes you back to the place which you long to go again. And it's loaded with his personal pictures of him and Betty and the kids.

Only one of the best Don Draper scenes in the whole series!

NP here. As I mentioned in the other Betty thread, I too really hope, and do think, that we'll see a scene win Don and Peggy again. I believe they are the two characters the show is most about, and they have such a deep and complex relationship, deeper than any of his lady lovers and even wives. I think it would be wrong not to show a "goodbye" scene between them (even if it's just a Don/Peggy knowing moment and not them actually saying "Goodbye").

I agree with 15:50 that having found some freedom, he will take, or at least take an implied bigger role with, his kids. I don't think he'll stay with McCann or even advertising. This is the closest he's come to being his true self since he was dating the blonde psych researcher doc, her name escapes me. I think with that he'll have some peace and his kids will be a part of that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's the Carousel reference?

In the episode for the Kodak Carousel Don says the Wheel is a carousel that takes you round and round again until it takes you back to the place which you long to go again. And it's loaded with his personal pictures of him and Betty and the kids.

Only one of the best Don Draper scenes in the whole series!

NP here. As I mentioned in the other Betty thread, I too really hope, and do think, that we'll see a scene win Don and Peggy again. I believe they are the two characters the show is most about, and they have such a deep and complex relationship, deeper than any of his lady lovers and even wives. I think it would be wrong not to show a "goodbye" scene between them (even if it's just a Don/Peggy knowing moment and not them actually saying "Goodbye").

I agree with 15:50 that having found some freedom, he will take, or at least take an implied bigger role with, his kids. I don't think he'll stay with McCann or even advertising. This is the closest he's come to being his true self since he was dating the blonde psych researcher doc, her name escapes me. I think with that he'll have some peace and his kids will be a part of that.

[Anonymous]

I have no new analysis to contribute but this is my favorite thread ever and I don't want Sunday to come!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's the Carousel reference?

In the episode for the Kodak Carousel Don says the Wheel is a carousel that takes you round and round again until it takes you back to the place which you long to go again. And it's loaded with his personal pictures of him and Betty and the kids.

Only one of the best Don Draper scenes in the whole series!

NP here. As I mentioned in the other Betty thread, I too really hope, and do think, that we'll see a scene win Don and Peggy again. I believe they are the two characters the show is most about, and they have such a deep and complex relationship, deeper than any of his lady lovers and even wives. I think it would be wrong not to show a "goodbye" scene between them (even if it's just a Don/Peggy knowing moment and not them actually saying "Goodbye").

I agree with 15:50 that having found some freedom, he will take, or at least take an implied bigger role with, his kids. I don't think he'll stay with McCann or even advertising. This is the closest he's come to being his true self since he was dating the blonde psych researcher doc, her name escapes me. I think with that he'll have some peace and his kids will be a part of that.

They had this scene already - when she is studying in the kitchen and he rubs her back. THAT was their intimate, familiar, good bye scene. We've had it folks.