Matthew Wiener’s “Mad Men” finale capped off what has been a
worthy farewell season to an all-time great television series. The show took the country and critics by
storm when it debuted in 2007. Although it
has not continued its dominance at the Emmy’s, the series was engaging as ever
during these last few weeks. Last
night’s swan song brought closure to several character arcs, but more
importantly provided Don Draper with a life-altering experience of serenity.
Don’s journey through season 7B has been characterized by
loss. Megan left him and took all his
stuff. Deserting his high paying
position in advertising, Don sold his Manhattan suite and hit the open road
with nothing but his Cadillac/Chevy and an envelope full of cash. While traveling, he generously doles out
money to anyone in need and gifts his car to a budding con artist. Just when he thinks he has gotten rid of
everything, Don learns of Betty’s cancer and is denied the opportunity to care
for his children. But there is still
further to go before he hits rock bottom.
As Ted Chaugh mentions earlier in the season, it is apparent
that California means something to Don.
With nowhere else to go, Don visits Stephanie Draper, the daughter of
Anna Draper and the only person who calls him “Dick Whitman.” Once Stephanie pushes Don away by questioning
his instinct to move on from tragedy and never look back that Draper hits
rock bottom. The whole basis of the life
choices he has made was called into question.
Maybe he was wrong all along.
The emotional breakdown during the therapy was a Don we had
never seen. It was a Don who had been
pushed to the edge and found unconditional love for a man he did not know. When he ordinarily would have drowned himself
in a bottle, Don felt a deep kinship with another man’s struggle. Throughout the show, he had never related to
another person quite like this.
With his entire life stripped away and Stephanie Draper
abandoning him at the retreat, all that is really left is enlightenment. The path of giving up his possessions had
been leading to this all season. Bert
Cooper’s song and dance about the best things in life being free had planted
the seed. For that one brief moment, Don
experienced the serenity he so desired.
It was not a fulfillment of his ultimately insatiable desires, but it
was satisfaction with his life as a whole.
As for the rest of the episodes, Joan breaks free of
corporate oppression and stifling relationships, Pete brings his family to Wichita,
and Roger canoodles with Marie. Meredith
is relieved of her position at McCann and could not be more optimistic about
it. Sally further matures, and Betty
prepares for death. Peggy and Stan
melodramatically profess their love for one another in a scene that seemed forced,
marking the only flaw in an otherwise great episode. But this show is primarily about Don Draper,
and his ending was magnificent.
