Mad Men **Spoliers**

badbnagdway

climbingwife said:

louxnoelle said:

I wasn't loving it until the end. FI was disappointed that Don didn't go back for his kids (he's very sensitive about things like that as a divorced dad), but I actually preferred to see Don working on himself - I believe that he does go back, to work and to his kids, and is in much better place with himself.

@climbingwife I love the idea that Don was behind the Coke campaign; I had initially interpreted it as, while Don was out there, the ad agencies were still pumping out commercials as always, but I was struck by the girl in the commercial with the red ribbons in her braids; Don spoke to a girl with the same hairstyle, which supports the idea that he took his California experience and turned it into a hugely successful ad.

As far as Peggy's ending, I actually think it was nice to see a romantic success for her. We know she'll be successful at her job (the shot of her walking into the offices with the sunglasses, the cigarette, and the painting is perfection), but her love life has always been iffy. It's nice to know that she doesn't have to choose between success at work and a successful relationship.

The big career moment came for Joan, which I think is even better! That bitch has been working it OUT since day one, and to see her take control of her position in the ad world was fabulous.

Also completely lost my shit during the Don/Betty phone call.

ETF: tablet typos

I noticed the girl with the ribbons too. I read a recap that was implying that McCann created the commercial without Don, but the ribbons would refute that for sure. 

I agree about the ending for Peggy too. You know she's going to be great, exactly like what Pete said to her. It was nice to her ending up with Stan, in love. 

From the majority of what I have read, it seems to me the consensus is our impression -- that Don went back to McCann and created the Coke commercial, inspired by his experience at the retreat. I think that makes a certain amount of sense. I think we can get there easily without actually seeing Don pitch the work. It also struck me that although we have seen Don pitch work a lot, and seen bits and pieces, we rarely (if ever?) get a complete view of the finished product. The Coke commercial is like his magnum opus. 

It also seems to me that this season especially was playing with the question of "is advertising art"? The episode with Pima, Stan and Peggy where Pima says "All art is selling something" of course hits it on the nose. Don has previously channeled his inner demons to create pitches that touch people, deeply. The Coke commercial is the finished product that does for the public what the carousel pitch did to those who heard it - create resonance with a feeling people already had inside them. 

banana468

I liked that episode but I didn't LOVE it.   I do think that this was one of the best performances John Hamm gave in that show but I didn't get choked up except for the Betty scene and even then - no tears.

I'm happy for Peggy and Joan.   Joan's BF was a jerk and it was time for her to move on.   I would have loved if it was Roger but I like what he did for Kevin.

redoryx

At first I wasn't sure about it, but the more I think about it the more I love it. Stan and Peggy had me cheering, like when she's on the phone and he's not responding and then turns and he's in the doorway OMG SO FABULOUS

I was a little bummed Peggy stayed but Stan's right -- she's destined for bigger things that she won't get if she went with Joan. But Joan breaking up with stupid what's his name and starting her own biz = awesome

I also agree that the ending implies Don went back to McCann and used his experience for the Coke commercial.

novella1186

I think the only part I didn't like that Peggy and Stan getting together. It was way too cheesey and cute for this show. That part annoyed the crap out of me. 

I loved when the elderly lady shoved Don, when they're supposed to do something without speaking to show how they feel about the person they're looking at. I could not stop laughing. 

Also loved where Don ended up at the end of the episode. And I loved where Joan ended up, and I loved that last interaction with her and Roger. So sad the show is over!