Here we are nearly a month after the final episode of Mad Men aired and I'm just now getting around to a review. I beg your forgiveness regarding my absence and hope that you understand my explanation: life just got in the way! But now that life has calmed down I'm back and ready to talk Mad Men. I'm not happy that it's over, but I'm satisfied with the way it ended. Even though I think we all hoped that Don would learn and grow personally throughout his cross-country travels, I found it quite appropriate that he ends up back in the advertising world. The whole series is about this guy whose life is steadily falling apart due to his horrible decisions and disregard for most other people. And yet, he always finds a way out of the madness, lands on his feet, and returns to his life as usual. So, that path was a little different for this final season, but he still ended on his feet and went back to the life he knows. Aw, Don, we can always rely on you.
Season 7B had a lot of merits: Peggy and Stan finally finding each other (did anyone else cheer for this??), Joan's experience with office sexism, and the most amazing personal growth from a widely disliked character, Betty.
Episode 13: The Milk and Honey Route
Betty Francis/Draper/Hofstadt is a difficult person. She's emotional, impatient, and deeply troubled. Most of Betty's struggles were based in the fact that she has a hard time expressing herself in a non-confrontational way. Sometimes, her biting tone was necessary, but other times it just made her seem like a brat. So, when she was diagnosed with lung cancer and given about 6 months to live, I think we were all surprised when she handled it with the grace and poise of the Queen. I have never been a huge fan of Betty. Even when she was being horribly abused and oppressed by Don, I still had negative feelings about her character. But I see her in a whole different light now.
Betty is smart. She, though often frustrated by it, understands her place in the world and sees the value of her life. I think she understands that even her worst day would look like a vacation to those less fortunate. Betty is quick to accept her fate and decide to press on with what is left of her life with as much courage and fervor as she can muster. She continues to study psychology and attend her classes. When Henry questions why, she says "Why was I ever doing it?". It was such a clear admission from her that studying was something she did for the sole purpose of satisfying herself. It didn't need to make sense to anyone else. And that was when I understood every choice Betty ever made. The approval of others was not a priority. Once she found her voice, she realized that she could make choices to satisfy her own desires. You go, Betty!
The flipside of this episode found Don stuck in a no-name town where the people were about as trustworthy as he is. His car breaks down and the town mechanic/motel owner takes his sweet time to get it up and running. While Don waits, he gets roped into repairing several of the motel's belongings (Including a Coke machine! Bet that corner office with a window isn't looking too bad now, huh?), gets robbed by the male maid, and unwillingly attends a Veteran fundraising event. When the money from the fundraiser goes missing, the motel owner and his buddies assume Don stole it and beat his face in with a phonebook. Don who, as far as I could tell, has been charmed by small town life on his road trip quickly realizes that slimy people aren't quarantined in New York City. Though it takes him another episode and a cliff side hippie retreat to get there, I think this is the first instance where Don starts to consider moving back to New York. But before he does, he gives his Cadillac to the maid and sets out to hitchhike or bus the rest of his trip. Don gets a chance to live by the hobo code that so interested him as a child back on the farm. If you're going to choose to continue living the destructive life you've already established, you might as well exhaust all over options before committing, right?
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What are your thoughts about the final episodes of Mad Men? I personally loved Joan's arc for this half season (no surprise, I'm sure) and would love to share thoughts with some Lettuce Heads! What was your favorite storyline? Was anything left in a disappointing place for you? Leave a comment and let me know!
Arugalater!
Laura
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