by Robbie Jones
Here we are ladies and gentlemen, the final episode of Mad Men. Every drink, cigarette, ad idea and personal drama has all lead to this moment. It’s hard to say goodbye, but all good things must come to an end. We'll get to the actual review in a minute, but first, let’s just take a look back at the series.
Here we are ladies and gentlemen, the final episode of Mad Men. Every drink, cigarette, ad idea and personal drama has all lead to this moment. It’s hard to say goodbye, but all good things must come to an end. We'll get to the actual review in a minute, but first, let’s just take a look back at the series.
For eight whole years, Mad Men tantalised audiences with its style and enticement. Every episode was rich in quality and addictive. To describe an episode of Mad Men to someone who has never watched it would be like asking someone to watch paint dry; on the outside, it sounds like nothing happens, but once you see it, it’s mesmerising. The writing and direction are both superb, and the cast bring the show to life. Jon Hamm, Elisabeth Moss, Christina Hendricks and John Slattery have given consistently phenomenal performances as some of the greatest TV characters of all time. Like the best TV dramas, Mad Men was less a programme and more an experience. It was so atmospheric that you see yourself sat in an office with a drink in your hand, and it felt great. To sum it up, Mad Men was practically perfect.
So how was the final episode? Well, it’s tricky. It’s a great episode, but it doesn’t quite feel like a great last episode until the end. It just feels like your standard episode of the series. But there were happy endings galore; Peggy and Rizzo FINALLY got together, after years of shipping, and it couldn’t be more brilliant. It would have been nice to see their relationship earlier in the season, but it’s comforting to know that these two will spend the rest of their lives together (Presumably). Peggy Olson is a remarkable character. Her and Joan Holloway were a symbol of feminism in a society that oppressed women, and Moss played her to perfection. Hendricks was great as well, and she got a happy ending too as Joan lost another lover, but started her own business, furthering the place of women in society even more. Roger got a happy ending, but is it satisfying? I mean, it’s not like much has changed for him. He’s leaving his fortune to Kevin and married Marie. Despite all his wrong doings, Roger has always been dedicated to his children (Even though he lost Margaret to hippies) and he’s a womaniser, not even Marie will change him. It’s nice to see him go out on a high not, but it just felt like there was no arc for him. And Pete Campbell....The man who changes your opinion of him every episode. Sometimes you hate him. Sometimes you love him. Sometimes you feel sorry for him. But no matter what, you always love it when he gets knocked on his arse by Lane Pryce. Classic. He may have had his issues, but there was something so wonderful about seeing him get a happy ending. Him and Trudy reunited, moving to Wichita. Good on him.
So how was the final episode? Well, it’s tricky. It’s a great episode, but it doesn’t quite feel like a great last episode until the end. It just feels like your standard episode of the series. But there were happy endings galore; Peggy and Rizzo FINALLY got together, after years of shipping, and it couldn’t be more brilliant. It would have been nice to see their relationship earlier in the season, but it’s comforting to know that these two will spend the rest of their lives together (Presumably). Peggy Olson is a remarkable character. Her and Joan Holloway were a symbol of feminism in a society that oppressed women, and Moss played her to perfection. Hendricks was great as well, and she got a happy ending too as Joan lost another lover, but started her own business, furthering the place of women in society even more. Roger got a happy ending, but is it satisfying? I mean, it’s not like much has changed for him. He’s leaving his fortune to Kevin and married Marie. Despite all his wrong doings, Roger has always been dedicated to his children (Even though he lost Margaret to hippies) and he’s a womaniser, not even Marie will change him. It’s nice to see him go out on a high not, but it just felt like there was no arc for him. And Pete Campbell....The man who changes your opinion of him every episode. Sometimes you hate him. Sometimes you love him. Sometimes you feel sorry for him. But no matter what, you always love it when he gets knocked on his arse by Lane Pryce. Classic. He may have had his issues, but there was something so wonderful about seeing him get a happy ending. Him and Trudy reunited, moving to Wichita. Good on him.
But it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows...Betty has cancer, and she’s going to die from it soon. You must have a heart of steel to not get teary eyed at the emotional phone call between her and Don, which should really win them both Emmys. Betty wasn’t always the most likeable character (Especially after her break up with Don), but it’s sad to think she dies after the credits roll. Plus, Sally, Bobby and Gene won’t have a mother, nor will they live with their father. But Sally is strong, she’s a brilliant character and Kiernan Shipka has just been completely wonderful.
Don Draper was an immensely complex character; dedicated to his family, but unable to stop betraying them. Rich as hell and good at his job, but still completely unhappy. Don had his highs and lows over the course of the show but at the end of the day, you always wanted him to find happiness. Truthfully, he didn’t get that. But he accepted who he was. The ending sees Don meditating at a hippie retreat, and zooms in on his smile before it cuts to the Coca Cola “Hilltop” advert, one of the most famous ads of all time, and made by McCann Erickson (The company Don works for) no less.
Everyone has similar theories on that ambiguous ending so here’s mine: Don didn’t find happiness, but he accepted who he truly was and what he has done. He does however find an inner peace in himself through spiritual guidance, and this guidance leads him to realise that he is an ad man; he always has been, he always will be. It his destiny and his legacy. So he flies back to America and creates the Hilltop advert, thus, creating history. Don Draper lives on forever. I’m not the only who thinks that, and it’s not a surprise because it’s quite a nice ending.
So there we have it. It’s all over. Restrain your tears folks, just enjoy the memories. Thank you Matthew Weiner, for eight years of extraordinary TV. It will be missed.
Don Draper was an immensely complex character; dedicated to his family, but unable to stop betraying them. Rich as hell and good at his job, but still completely unhappy. Don had his highs and lows over the course of the show but at the end of the day, you always wanted him to find happiness. Truthfully, he didn’t get that. But he accepted who he was. The ending sees Don meditating at a hippie retreat, and zooms in on his smile before it cuts to the Coca Cola “Hilltop” advert, one of the most famous ads of all time, and made by McCann Erickson (The company Don works for) no less.
Everyone has similar theories on that ambiguous ending so here’s mine: Don didn’t find happiness, but he accepted who he truly was and what he has done. He does however find an inner peace in himself through spiritual guidance, and this guidance leads him to realise that he is an ad man; he always has been, he always will be. It his destiny and his legacy. So he flies back to America and creates the Hilltop advert, thus, creating history. Don Draper lives on forever. I’m not the only who thinks that, and it’s not a surprise because it’s quite a nice ending.
So there we have it. It’s all over. Restrain your tears folks, just enjoy the memories. Thank you Matthew Weiner, for eight years of extraordinary TV. It will be missed.
What Did You Think?
How did you feel about the finale of Mad Men?
What was your favourite moment?
Let us know in the comments!
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