# Mad-Men: 7.14 "Person to Person", SERIES FINALE (open spoilers) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 17, 2015, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-14-person-to-person-series-finale-open-spoilers/720273 "2015-05-17T23:28:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![carlotta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/898d66/32.png) [@carlotta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carlotta)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2015, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-14-person-to-person-series-finale-open-spoilers/720273/181 "2015-05-20T00:46:41Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > But did we ever see him land safely? I can’t imagine Pete, who couldn’t even stand the suburbs of New York, being happy in Wichita. And both of his parents died in vehicular accidents at sea. I can imagine that it was an unstated off-screen implication that his plane went down (probably in a body of water) with all passengers and crew lost. Oh thank you thank you for this! The only part of the episode I really couldn’t stand was that Pete, PETE, gets a happy ending. But now you’ve said it, it’s obvious! This was my favorite bit Roger: “You’ll land on your feet” Meredith: “I always do!” because it revealed to me that Meredith is the star of her own show, just like we all are. As the ending meditation scene opened I found myself thinking “oh Don Draper, of course you wear a fitted unwrinkled white shirt to meditate in” We are visually already being told to start seeing Don back in the world of advertising. Oh yes he wrote that Coke jingle. As I have read this thread my children have been badgering me for Cokes. The circle is unbroken. ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2015, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-14-person-to-person-series-finale-open-spoilers/720273/182 "2015-05-20T01:13:42Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > But did we ever see him land safely? I can’t imagine Pete, who couldn’t even stand the suburbs of New York, being happy in Wichita. And both of his parents died in vehicular accidents at sea. I can imagine that it was an unstated off-screen implication that his plane went down (probably in a body of water) with all passengers and crew lost. Between New York City and Wichita? What body of water \*could \*a jet crash into? Maybe Ted Chaough was flying it, ala Goldfinger/Pussy Galore? ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2015, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-14-person-to-person-series-finale-open-spoilers/720273/183 "2015-05-20T01:30:41Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Nor do I think he particularly cares about the boys, no matter how “decent” he is; after all, they’re not his children. Well that’s a rather parsimonious view of human decency. It’s pretty common in my view that living full time with small children as a primary caregiver tends to create binds. If nothing else, he’s been the full-time adult man in Gene’s life since his birth. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2015, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-14-person-to-person-series-finale-open-spoilers/720273/184 "2015-05-20T01:36:02Z")
> [@F.U.Shakespeare](#): > > Between New York City and Wichita? What body of water \*could \*a jet crash into? Maybe Ted Chaough was flying it, ala Goldfinger/Pussy Galore? There’s five Great Lakes in there, for starters… ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2015, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-14-person-to-person-series-finale-open-spoilers/720273/185 "2015-05-20T01:54:17Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > There’s five Great Lakes in there, for starters… But too far North to be under the flight path. ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2015, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-14-person-to-person-series-finale-open-spoilers/720273/186 "2015-05-20T02:04:43Z")
> [@F.U.Shakespeare](#): > > Between New York City and Wichita? What body of water \*could \*a jet crash into? Maybe Ted Chaough was flying it, ala Goldfinger/Pussy Galore? I’m seeing Dr. Guttman as Goldfinger: Pete \*might \*be able to hold his own with her toe to toe, and she’s got the accent. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2015, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-14-person-to-person-series-finale-open-spoilers/720273/187 "2015-05-20T02:42:21Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Well that’s a rather parsimonious view of human decency. Yes, it is indeed. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2015, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-14-person-to-person-series-finale-open-spoilers/720273/188 "2015-05-20T03:11:14Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Yes, it is indeed. It’s also one I don’t think we have any reason to believe as being generally applicable to someone in Henry’s position. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2015, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-14-person-to-person-series-finale-open-spoilers/720273/189 "2015-05-20T07:12:10Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > It’s also one I don’t think we have any reason to believe as being generally applicable to someone in Henry’s position. Well, he’s never struck me as either cuddly or warm. ---
**Author:** ![camille](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/22d042/32.png) [@camille](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/camille)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2015, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-14-person-to-person-series-finale-open-spoilers/720273/190 "2015-05-20T08:22:31Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Well that’s a rather parsimonious view of human decency. It’s pretty common in my view that living full time with small children as a primary caregiver tends to create binds. If nothing else, he’s been the full-time adult man in Gene’s life since his birth. > [@terentii](#): > > Well, he’s never struck me as either cuddly or warm. Betty wasn’t particularly warm and cuddly either. Remember the episode when Don took Bobby to see the Planet of the Apes, when MLK was assassinated, and there were riots that Henry was helping Mayor Lindsay deal with? Bobby had trouble falling asleep at Don’s place that night, and he told Don it was because he was worried that something would happen to Henry. That was very telling about the way he saw Henry in his life. Don was kind of bummed out about it, as I recall. ---
**Author:** ![Soylent\_Juicy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@Soylent\_Juicy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soylent_Juicy)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2015, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-14-person-to-person-series-finale-open-spoilers/720273/191 "2015-05-20T14:18:30Z")
> [@Sateryn76](#): > > I am reasonably sure, with that smirking smile at the end, that Don goes back to New York and writes the Coca-Cola jingle. That was my husband’s theory too. I’m going with that. I don’t know about you guys but I was actually clapping and cheering all through that phone conversation between Peggy & Stan. I wish I could thank Matthew Weiner personally for giving them that ending. Betty still smoking: My husband and I were like “Ha. Fuck it, eh.” ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2015, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-14-person-to-person-series-finale-open-spoilers/720273/192 "2015-05-20T14:23:26Z")
I honestly don’t think the question is whether he made the ad or not (I think the staging of the scene makes it clear we are supposed to think he did) but to me the real unanswered question is whether all Don got out of his self discovery was a world changing ad or if it somehow made him whole and happy on top of it. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2015, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-14-person-to-person-series-finale-open-spoilers/720273/193 "2015-05-20T15:12:27Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Well, he’s never struck me as either cuddly or warm. There are many ways to be a good parent, or at least an adequate one. He doesn’t have to be cuddly or warm to genuinely care for the children in his household or to want to give them a stable home. The kids certainly see him as someone they care about and depend on. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2015, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-14-person-to-person-series-finale-open-spoilers/720273/194 "2015-05-20T15:50:06Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > I thought they’ve been building a PEggy-Stan romance for quite a while. He was the she kept in touch with when she went to Ted Chaough’s company, she revealed to him about her adopted baby, they spent many long hours together in personal conversation. > > While her realization did seem a bit quick, the pairing of those two didn’t seem surprising at all. Agreed. And it isn’t something that is just “Hollywood” either. I’ve known people who have been good friends for years suddenly realize, oh wait… I’m actually in love with this person, so it didn’t see unrealistic. I’m also glad that Pete got a happy ending, regardless of all his flaws. I think he saw the Wichita opportunity as a way out - while he enjoyed being a big wig at McCann, I think he also though that WTF is he doing, esp when talking to his brother about the bro’s affair. And we forget that Pete has grown quite a bit since the first season. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2015, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-14-person-to-person-series-finale-open-spoilers/720273/195 "2015-05-20T16:46:10Z")
> [@ISiddiqui](#): > > I’m also glad that Pete got a happy ending, regardless of all his flaws. I think he saw the Wichita opportunity as a way out - while he enjoyed being a big wig at McCann, I think he also though that WTF is he doing, esp when talking to his brother about the bro’s affair. And we forget that Pete has grown quite a bit since the first season. In the first episode, Don tells Pete that if he doesn’t stop acting like such a shit: _“Keep it up, and even if you do get my job you’ll never run this place. You’ll die in that corner office, a midlevel executive with a little bit of hair who women go home with out of pity. Want to know why? Because no one will like you.”_ That’s exactly the road Pete was headed on (including the production team shaving back Kartheiser’s hairline!). Pete has his own epiphany moment just like Don in California or Peggy & Stan or Joan realizing she’s independent or Roger finding new legacy in his son & grandson. It’s telling that even as Pete was seemingly cruising along at McCann and I’m sure his work was appreciated, his leaving the company earned him a tin of cookies, a potted cactus and lunch with Harry (and Peggy’s sole sincere goodbye). His gladhanding was effective in business but didn’t make him any real friends. Returning in contrition to his wife and daughter and starting a new life away from advertising was how he avoided the fate Don predicted for him. ---
**Author:** ![soonerblue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/soonerblue/32/3302_2.png) [@soonerblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/soonerblue)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2015, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-14-person-to-person-series-finale-open-spoilers/720273/196 "2015-05-20T16:49:13Z")
> [@Soylent\_Juicy](#): > > Betty still smoking: My husband and I were like “Ha. Fuck it, eh.” Yep. My sister died of lung cancer in her 50’s … she smoked Camels until the very end. “What have I got to lose?” she asked. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2015, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-14-person-to-person-series-finale-open-spoilers/720273/197 "2015-05-20T17:17:53Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Well that’s a rather parsimonious view of human decency. It’s pretty common in my view that living full time with small children as a primary caregiver tends to create binds. If nothing else, he’s been the full-time adult man in Gene’s life since his birth. Quite true. I expect that Henry thinks of Gene as his son, not his stepson. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2015, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-14-person-to-person-series-finale-open-spoilers/720273/198 "2015-05-20T17:32:07Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Was anyone else struck by the faint (color-wise) resemblance of Trudy’s pale pink traveling outfit to Jackie Kennedy’s pink Nov 22 traveling outfit? > [@terentii](#): > > Well, pink was big back then … but the outfit would have been more significant/ominous if the episode had been set closer to 1963. I dunno. Even 52 years later, a woman in a pink suit next to an airplane recalls that day to me. I was 15 when it happened and it really made an impression. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2015, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-14-person-to-person-series-finale-open-spoilers/720273/199 "2015-05-20T22:05:28Z")
> [@Quimby](#): > > I honestly don’t think the question is whether he made the ad or not (I think the staging of the scene makes it clear we are supposed to think he did) but to me the real unanswered question is whether all Don got out of his self discovery was a world changing ad or if it somehow made him whole and happy on top of it. Yes. And if we’re supposed to believe that Don is now “whole and happy,” on what basis are we supposed to believe that? What was presented in that finale that would keep Don from being the same hard-drinking, heavy-smoking guy he’s always been–and moreover, from being a guy who’s now starting to find that women expect to be paid for sleeping with him? If viewers believe Don had an epiphany, of what does that epiphany consist? Was the act of hugging a stranger sufficient to change Don’s habits of a lifetime? If so, how, exactly, would that work? Again: I don’t begrudge anyone their opinion that this finale was well-written and/or satisfying. My own view differs: I think Weiner is capable of better work. And I think he’ll regret having made the 1971 Coke ad the culminating moment of his series.\* \*Because it resonates only for people who were old enough in 1971 to remember it as having been a big deal. For anyone younger, the reason that the Coke ad was Iconic and Resonant and Important must be _explained_. Because they’re not old enough to remember, to them it’s just a cheesy old ad for a sugar drink. Any creator of an ambitious series must hope that their series will be viewed for years, and even decades, to come. And they surely hope, too, that viewers will come away with both admiration for the work, and an emotional reaction to it. The finale plays a large role in the overall response that viewers have to a series. As the decades pass, a smaller and smaller proportion of viewers of the series will have any emotional reaction at all to that old commercial. For most, its use in that powerful position–the concluding scene of the entire series–will simply confuse and annoy. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2015, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-14-person-to-person-series-finale-open-spoilers/720273/200 "2015-05-20T22:08:33Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > \*Because it resonates only for people who were old enough in 1971 to remember it as having been a big deal. For anyone younger, the reason that the Coke ad was Iconic and Resonant and Important must be _explained_. Because they’re not old enough to remember, to them it’s just a cheesy old ad for a sugar drink. It resonated deeply with me, in an almost profound way. I never saw the ad before, I am too young. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-14-person-to-person-series-finale-open-spoilers/720273.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-14-person-to-person-series-finale-open-spoilers/720273.md?page=11)