Mad Men

[prisma]

Just returning to say that I rewatched the finale last night and then re-rewatched all the Peggy and Stan scenes. I may have to go read some Mad Men fan fiction to satisfy my Steggy joy.

Yes, I'm single and frustrated.

[Deleted]

Jon Hamm's take on the last episode. His interpretation is very similar to mine. The ending is a little ambiguous, you can interpret Don creating the Coke ad as cynical or him reaching an understanding of who he is. I choose to believe the latter. I especially like what he said about Peggy and Joan.

The romantic stuff with Stan is nice and warm and fuzzy, but to me, Peggy’s larger resolution was in the penultimate episode when she walks into McCann, the cock of the walk, and takes what’s hers. And it was pleasant to see Joan recalibrate from that and say, I’m doing this anyway. I don’t need a savior-man to come in and do a bunch of coke and live in paradise. I’m going to work, because I’m good at this.

Also he does not like people calling it rom-com-y either

There’s people saying, oh, it’s so pat, and it’s rom-com-y, or whatever it is. But it’s not the end of anything. The world doesn’t blow up right after the Coke commercial ends. No one is suggesting that Stan and Peggy live happily ever after, or that Joan’s business is a rousing success, or that Roger and Marie come back from Paris together. None of it is done. Matt had said at one point, “I just want my characters to be a little more happy than they were in the beginning,” and I think that’s pretty much true. But these aren’t the last moments of any of these characters’ lives, including Betty. She doesn’t have much time left, but damn if she’s not going to spend it the way she wants to spend it.

I don't know if I agree about Betty. I get what he is saying but I still think her ending is pretty tragic. But otherwise I agree with everything else he says.

[chonies]

I like what he says about Peggy, too.

I would also like to know what Kiernan Shipka has to say if she ever watches the series.

[Smilla]

Best. Episode. Ever.

And my new favorite series finale ever, a spot previously held by Night Court, which went off the air in 1992.

Joan chose career over love. Peggy chose love over career. I don't think Peggy or Joan will have to sacrifice either simply because they have their priorities straight going into the new decade.

My favorite line was actually from Joan, the writing and acting for whom finally made me buy the whole Joan-As-Corporate-Mogul thing: "That's spectacular! What a mess." (And did I mention Joan's post-Greg apartment is awesome? So very, very feminine and 'men are optional.')

Sally taking care of Betty in her final months was almost too painful to watch, mainly because that's what I spent the better part of my last decade doing. But at least we know Sally didn't inherit all of Don's impulsive abandoning tendencies.

I actually loved the "ambiguity" in the final scene, especially as it contrasted so nicely with the absurdity of Don at that encounter group. Don would never change.

[sardonictart]

Just saw the last 5 episodes over the weekend so I am late to the party, but I loved the finale. Loved Joan doing it on her own without the support of some old fart. Loved Don finding a bit of peace. Loved Sally finding some common ground with the dying Betty who I actually felt sorry for - I wish that she could have finished school! I was fine with the Stan and Peggy thing but I wasn't exactly waiting with baited breath for it. Roger and Meghan's mother - hahahaha. Love it. And Pete - the man with some character growth! Woo hoo!

Oh, and finally..."I'd like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony..." That song put such a smile on my face. Well done, Weiner, well done.

[chonies]

My sister just started watching from the beginning the other day--she's never seen it before. I was fielding all sorts of stressed out questions about Salvatore.

[Smilla]

Ouch, questions about Sal? That guy's plot still breaks my heart. And I was very sad we didn't get to see him, or any references to things like Stonewall, the first gay pride march in NYC, etc. Particularly since 1969 and '70 were included in the series' final eps.

[ladyboy]

We watched Happyish the week after the Mad Men finale and it also featured that Coke commercial. Random coincidence or... sinister conspiracy to make me drink coke??

[Smilla]

Oooh, beware Teh Coke. After a decade plus of not drinking commercial soda products, I had a can the other day and it sucked me right back in. I swear that crap is cursed.

[Martini Girl]

It's my crack. I cannot have just one (or two, four, six, eight- you get the point).