Not at all. I believe the finale will, as *Mad Men *is viewed in years to come, ultimately knock its valuation down at least a couple of notches. (We won’t know if this is so until we see future lists ranking television dramas.)
As for the voting in this thread: I have no doubt that many who clicked on either ‘liked it’ or ‘loved it’ did, genuinely, find the finale to be satisfying, and would assess it as having been well-written. But if you read the entire thread, you’ll find at least a couple of posts that contain comments like ‘something about this finale bothered me, but I voted “Liked it” anyway.’
There is, probably, a wish to err on the side of generosity when it comes to a show that has given pleasure for many years.
I’m not even sure Don is all that redeemed. He did, after all, as someone said upthread, go back to NY and sell the fuck out of Coke. What I saw is that Don does what he always does; absorb the zeitgeist at the time and figure out how to use it in advertising. It was just a slightly longer and weirder road than he normally takes.
ETA: Also, I wouldn’t have it any other way either.
From what Weiner says, that is redemption for Don. I’m old enough to remember that ad - it was not just an ad, but iconic. Don, famous already would become immortal in this alternate universe of Madison Avenue.
Will Don be a better person the way most of us would define it? Probably not, but it doesn’t seem to matter in the context of the show.
The whole series was about the advertising business. And about Don, a man really good at the advertising business. The finale is entirely consistent with Don reaching the pinnacle of the advertising business.
What pains did Weiner go to to show us that advertising is not a fit occupation for an adult? Ones that involve a John Deere don’t count.
Peggy is fiercely independent, highly creative, enjoys challenges and is very quick on her feet. We’ve seen her work allow her to satiate all those attributes. And succeeding so spectacularly in a profession that doesn’t want her in it satisfies the only slightly latent fuck you attitude she has.
Which are you more disappointed in- that Weiner had the fictional Don appropriate a real life campaign, or because of what it means thematically that Don wrote the campaign?
As far as I can tell, nobody has talked about this yet in the thread. What I liked most about the episode is the representation of the guy who Don hugs towards the end. I think this type of guy is not something I see portrayed very often. He is the someone who follows the rules, does everything right, is “respectable” and nice - but really, while all these things should be praised and admired, nobody gives two shits about him.
Now, a lot of people in this boat kind of become bitter and judgmental - this guy actually realizes that there is no reason for it, no rationalization - his life is just basically pointless, passionless and ultimately incredibly sad.
It makes me think that redemption is a funny thing - that maybe redemption isn’t the ultimate goal.
What do you mean “took”? That stuff is alive and well in CA, I can assure you!
I thought the ending was good. It felt rather rushed, but that’s not too surprising. They did a good job of setting up everyone’s future except for Don, and I’m OK with that. Don is, to a large extent, an enigma.
Am I the only one, especially after seeing Don turn away from the large McCann meeting, to look intently out the window at a nearly skyscraper in episode 7.13, who expected the series to end with him jumping from atop the McCann Erickson building, as depicted in the opening credits?
