Mad Men Finale

So this is it for Mad Men. It’s been a compelling ride. Sure, the pace is pretty slow but the character development is so rich. Matthew Weiner’s meticulous detail in setting, character and plot has served him well. Here are some final thoughts before the finale. 

FIVE THINGS I’LL MISS ABOUT MAD MEN

1 Utter disregard for health These advertising guys could not stop smoking or drinking. It became comical how often they would light up. And darn it if it didn’t look totally cool.
2 Pete getting screwed over I never liked Vincent Kartheiser when he was on Angel, so when he constantly loses in Mad Men, it makes me grin. He always wanted the life like Don Draper but could never achieve it. Thankfully he came to his senses.
3 Don’s pitches Say what you will about Don Draper’s flaws, he was an awesome ad man. The way he controlled a room with a pitch was mesmerizing. The Kodak carousel pitch and the end of season one still makes me a little misty.
4 Main title sequence Love the music and simplicity. I rarely fast forwarded over it.
5 Closing songs Matthew Weiner almost always picked the perfect song to take us to the end credits. Talk about leaving a lasting impression. I wonder what he’ll do for the finale.

FIVE FAVOURITE EPISODES (chronological)

1 Smoke Gets In Your Eyes (Season 1 Episode 1)

Don is nervous about making a pitch to Lucky Strike cigarettes; Peggy is hired and Pete has a bachelor party.
2 The Benefactor (Season 2 Episode 3)

Don has clean up Jimmy Barrett’s mess after he makes some rude comments about a client; Harry Crane tries to go for a promotion
3 Shut the Door, Have a Seat (Season 3 Episode 13)

Instead of getting absorbed by another company, Don, Roger, Bert and Lane create their own ad agency and need to poach as many clients and staff as they can.
4 A Little Kiss (Season 5 Episode 1&2)

Megan embarrasses Don at his surprise birthday party with a seductive song; Pete tries to get a better office and Joan returns to work.
5 The Other Woman (Season 5 Episode 11)

There is an indecent proposal when the firm asks Joan to sleep with a client to secure Jaguar business; Peggy decides to move on.

FIVE FAVOURITE SCENES
1 Picnic Scene [from The Gold Violin] The Drapers go on a picnic and instead of putting their trash in the garbage can, Don simply shakes the blanket full of litter onto the park grass and drives away. Makes me laugh just thinking about it.

2 The John Deere Incident  [from Guy Walks Into an Advertising Agency] The new CEO gets his foot run over by a riding mower. Blood everywhere. Didn’t see that coming.
3 Don’s Staircase Revenge [from Red in the Face] Don gets back at Roger for hitting on Betty, by getting him to eat a lot of oysters and then fixes it so they have to run up many flights of stairs for a meeting. The new clients did not appreciate the resulting puke.
4 Peggy and Don yell [from The Suitcase] One of my favourite exchanges from the series.
Don: That’s the way it works, there are no credits on commercials.
Peggy: But you got the Cleo!
Don: It’s your job! I give you money. You give me ideas.
Peggy: But you never say thank you.
Don: That’s what the money is for!
5 Jimmy confronts Don [from The Gold Violin] Another one of my favourite lines as Jimmy Barrett puts Don in his place: “You don’t screw another man’s wife. You’re garbage. And you know it.”

WHAT I WON’T MISS
Those “tell us nothing” episode previews. Just a lot of looks and one word responses taken completely out of context. Why bother?

Enjoy the finale this Sunday.