SPOILERS AHEAD:
For seven years I watched Mad Men.
I laughed my ass off most of the time. But then the drama crept in . I met all of these characters. Don Draper, Peter Campbell, Roger Sterling, Burt, Laine, Peggy, and the beautiful Joan. There were even more characters like the integral and complicated Sally.
Don's flames were there too.
But the story was to follow Don Draper through this 1960's world and try to draw some parallels to our own.
The Finale left some things out but I got closure. And I cried. I cried during season 7 because of Don's protege love for Peggy. Watching her grow was an incredible journey.
Watching this show started for me fucking in college, I was just enrolling in 2008 at the University of Wyoming. A huge group of friends were already watching the show and telling me it was the best thing on.
And this is what it is to me now. I agreed with a review . Never will you see another Sopranos or Mad Men again. They are just classics. Add the Wire to that list as well. The ending and all of season 7 was rocky for these characters.
Don was getting into what Don does. Fucking. He did not care how it hurt him and finally retribution was smacking him in the face. He's the character you love to hate. You hate him for all the women he fucks. You love him because of his alienation. He has it all but has absolutely nothing.
He eates fruit he thinks has a healthy and gorgeous sheen and it is rotten. You see, Don is not rotten but his actions are . He has so many affairs. His past is marred. He has killed to get where he is. So in the finale it was great for him to face what he has done wrong. He does this with a phone call. In a way he tries to seek redemptive measures. We'd love to think he's changed but instead he takes the retreat state and goes with it. He can't face things and he goes back to old Don Draper/ Dick Draper and makes an ad for Mcann and Erickson.
I thought because he was trapped in isolation he would pull an awakening and kill himself.
In a way I wanted to see that. Either way he would have been at peace. I love Don because he's complicated despite his bullshit. He loves Sally and is a better parent than Betty. Leagues and beyond better. He loves his children though he professes he does not. He loves women but all we see is that objectification. He hurts like a person is supposed to. He has more empathy than we think.
So Don is my favorite in the show.
Guess who is #2?
Peggy. You watch her from when she was a soft secretary. She took everyone's shit. She had no self worth and got picked on. Then from season 1-4 we see a slow crawl and evolution of a character and it is massive. Peggy starts having sex at will lol. She starts asserting herself that does things that others will not. She's an ideal paradox to women at that time. I love it. I love this actress and never expected to love this nerdy Peggy. She grew on me from 2-7. By 6 she is already insanely powerful and loved. She always think people don't respect her like Don but she is dead wrong. The men in the show get scared. They know what she is capable of. Sterling fucking acknowledges this a couple of times. Don loves her like an adoptive daughter. He's the one that gave her a shot and knows what she can do. He loves her and I broke into tears when they started dancing. It shows this protective relationship that Don cherishes. Remember the empathy. He cares deeply for Peggy. I cried so hard because I knew so very long that despite being hard on Peggy. There is a deep care for her. Even more so than both ex wives.
I fucking hated Betty. I am not sexist. And I did not like Meghan. These characters are shadows and shells. Yes, they tried to write them fine but Betty is cold. Even with insight of what Betty was supposed to be with January Jones's interview, I am still like fuck this bitch. She clashes with her kids. She does things her own way because it is some fucked up life she wants to live. She does care for others. She's not a flat character but I just can't scratch 'the Betty go die under a bridge itch'. Even when Betty has cancer Don wants to see her and she says no. Yes, I am not a monster this moment was extremely touching. Betty is very interesting as a character but that does not mean I should love her. Meghan is better but even she has problems with family. She bored me throughout the show. I'd only wish Don would have stuck with the mystery waitress.
I WILL MISS THIS SHOW.
It has been apart of my life forever.
But it was about time I finished it.
Oh and I enjoyed Laine.
:)
I equally cried when he was gone. Hell of an actor.
Fin, Mad Men --adieu bon le plait, au oui ant Mad Men.
Bye!
