“Mad Men” Season Finale Was The Ultimate Shake-Up
Posted by: Kate Torgovnick
Filed in:
entertainment
10:40AM, Monday November 9th 2009
Last night’s season finale of “Mad Men” was one of my top ten favorite hours of television, ever. Why? Because it surprised the beejesus out of me—and not in a kill-a-main-character-for-shock-value kind of way. Not to get all film professor on you, but the way I see it, the central tension that makes “Mad Men” so intoxicating is that the characters are miserable with their lives and act out in outrageous ways behind the scenes. But because they so desperately need all the glittering trophies of their lives (the fancy title, the corner office, the seemingly perfect family) they’re completely paralyzed when it comes to actually changing anything. They’re trapped—mostly by themselves but also by a culture not nearly as tolerant of varying life paths as we are today. I, of course, expected the season finale to continue along this trajectory. (Uh, now would probably be a good time to say SPOILER ALERT to anyone who has the episode waiting for them on their DVR.) But nope. Last night was the episode where everyone finally broke out.
Time wise, the majority of the episode was dedicated to the office. In scene one, Conrad Hilton drops the bomb on Don that (in addition to pulling his account) Sterling Cooper is up for sale. Panicked, Don goes to Bert and Roger and the three hatch a plan to buy the company themselves. When that doesn’t work, they go rogue and decide to form a brand new agency, hiring only the essential staff—Peggy, Pete, Joan, and a few select others. As I watched them raid the Sterling Cooper offices for all the files and equipment of value, and set up shop in a hotel room, I got actual goosebumps.
But that wasn’t the part of the episode that stuck with me, and probably you, the most. That would be Betty telling Don that she’s meeting with a divorce lawyer and then actually doing it, with Henry Francis—the lover she’s only shared two kisses, four conversations, and two letters with—at her side. The lawyer explains that divorce in New York state is nearly impossible, and that her best bet is to set up residency in Reno for six weeks. Even after that meeting, I was SO SURE that Betty would back out—that she’d have a daydream of her suburban home being gone and being labeled a divorcee, and break things off with Henry. Didn’t happen. Instead, Don finds out about Henry when Roger accidentally spills the beans over a drink. Don runs home and finds Betty in the nursery. Even here, I was SO SURE that Don would beg for forgiveness and pledge his love to her. Nope again. Instead, he calls her a whore and yells, “All along you’ve been building a life raft.” The Rubicon was crossed. Soon after, Betty sat down the kids to explain to them that Don is moving out. (Yes, I got teary as the son clung to Don’s leg.) The last shot of the episode showed Betty on a train with Henry, heading to Reno.
I really am still stunned by this. Sure, Don is a far, far cry from the perfect husband. He lied about not-so-little things—like, oh, his whole identity and being married before—and had affair after affair. But to actually leave him? I just didn’t think Betty had it in her. Not to mention that, just a few episodes ago, the couple was in Rome flirting and showing each other actual tenderness. That episode made it clear that there is actual love between the Drapers. To give that up for someone she barely knows—is Betty crazy and suffering from a serious case of the-grass-is-always-greener, or is she finally a free woman? I don’t know. I’ll need to hear your opinions on this.
Geez, I can’t believe we have to wait until next summer for season four.
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melsie0381
wrote on November 9 2009 @ 10:46 am: [report]
I agree! The wait will kill me.
Some thoughts:
I, too, got goosebumps but it was when Don shoved Betty away from him and the lighting on his face made him look like a mad man (no pun intended). Damn, this show just keeps on giving. And I love Pete’s “sick” show and how he denied having clients until Don acknowledged Pete’s talent. Wowza.
How will I get my MAD MEN fix for almost a year!?
spatula
wrote on November 9 2009 @ 10:48 am: [report]
So, I’ve never watched this show in my life…but I want this picture for my wall.
retro chic
wrote on November 9 2009 @ 11:06 am: [report]
I loved it. Was a fantastic season-ender and totally logical and authentic conclusion to the storyline, characters and real-world human drama about complications of adult married life of that period. What is out of balance and restricted for too long eventually busts open and breaks free – on all fronts – come what may.
Professor, you are projecting yourself and your fairytale version of what you expected – not what the show was actually communicating to us.
Jessica Wakeman
wrote on November 9 2009 @ 11:22 am: [report]
I think Betty’s going to get to Reno, realize she doesn’t know Henry *at all* or Henry is going to do something horrible to her, and she’ll go back to Don. She just doesn’t seem like the type to marry a man she barely knows; I think she just used Henry as an excuse to leave.
I also think Roger and Joan are going to get together!
amandabear
wrote on November 9 2009 @ 12:17 pm: [report]
This was so good. So, so good. I wasn’t surprised by her decision to divorce Don, but I don’t believe that Betty will necessarily find happiness with Henry Francis, either. As their trip to Rome proved, it’s not Don that makes her unhappy so much as the rest of her life. The suburban dream home and the children and the mundanity of it all. Henry Francis is new, and she’ll be happy for a while, but I suspect in the long run it will be more of the same for Betty.
The rest felt like an awesome caper movie, with Don and Rodger rounding up their crew and Lane happily telling off his boss. I started clapping when I realized Rodger was going to call in Joan - I could not be happier to have her back.
pinkjellyfish
wrote on November 9 2009 @ 12:22 pm: [report]
The final scene of the episode was actually of Don carrying his luggage to his new apartment in the city. I was so sad when the screen went black.. The entire season was so slow-paced that it was such a treat to watch this episode!
I almost cheered when Roger Sterling asked Peggy to get him some coffee, and she simply replied “No.” Priceless moment!
amanda lynn
wrote on November 9 2009 @ 12:36 pm: [report]
i started watching the show at the 2nd season; but i got the impression that roger and joan were already a thing…?
ooh! that’s something to do - watch mad men from the actual *beginning*!
retro chic
wrote on November 9 2009 @ 01:16 pm: [report]
@Jess: I think Joan and Roger will get back together too! They understand and dig each other.
As for the next season’s storyline for Betty, et al… yeah, it won’t be the lasting dramatic change this explosion set out to convey.
My secret hope is that Mad Men Goes Wild and more affairs abound (Don does everybody ‘cause he’s hurtin’ and he can), and the new agency uses whatever means to steal accounts to flourish (Peggy gets ambitious professionally and sexually; Joan gets a taste of ambition too). A little tired of the ho-hum Don & Betty In the Suburbs story. I think Lane is tired of his wife too and her demands to go back to London.
Don’t forget: New $$$ contracts and options are reviewed during hiatus and these season-ender “blowups” provide openings for whatever changes in cast – hence storylines – might happen.
Natalie W
wrote on November 9 2009 @ 10:00 pm: [report]
I hope to god that something sexy happens between Don and Peggy.
Meg933
wrote on November 9 2009 @ 10:59 pm: [report]
OK….so..I really just started watching Mad Men this season. So I think I will be ok until next season doing catch up because I love it! I am working on watching season 1 thru my Netflix but got an opportunity to purchase season two and have been taping season three.
The season finale WAS great! But, the one thing I am questioning is what is going to happen with the kids. I mean, Betty and the baby were on their way to Reno to establish the redidency requirement which is six months. Don was carrying his suitcase into a hotel and he told Joan he was going to need an apartment but the kids were left at home with the housekeeper. WTF??? I mean is the housekeeper going to look after the kids for six months with Don only dropping in from time to time??? Or will he have a change of heart about the divorce and charge Betty with abandonment of the two kids she left at home? That didn’t make much sense to me. Any ideas???
I also think the thing with Henry Francis is not going to work out. I think he is going to be a not so nice guy unlike what he has appeared to be. And I think Betty is never going to be happy because no matter what she has she always wants more. She and Don are alike except each one deals with it differently.
Don was a scoundrel to her but I think deep down inside SHE is really the love of his life.
OMG!!! Maybe I won’t be OK until the Season 4 premier…LOL:):)
Ami Angelowicz
wrote on November 10 2009 @ 12:52 am: [report]
I don’t think Betty leaving Don is about Henry - it’s about her. I have no idea if it will work out or not. This episode really shook me up because I thought, “What will this show be if the characters are actually happy?” I’ve waited 3 seasons to see Don humbled and he finally was.
LG
wrote on November 10 2009 @ 12:26 pm: [report]
The residency requirement to get a divorce in Reno was only six weeks. Still, is the housekeeper going to live at the Draper house constantly for six weeks? Doesn’t she have her own family and responsibilities, etc.? I’m very excited for the fourth season but I am worried about the poor kids.
rachel_leigh
wrote on November 10 2009 @ 03:47 pm: [report]
Thank god they brought the series back to the office, where it belongs. This season suffered from too much Hilton and personal backstory and seriously lacked historical influences and ad storylines. The rest of this season was crap compared to this episode. Watching it made me excited about the show again and actually care about what will happen to the characters. Thank god they brought Joan back. Her breathy whispers give me delightful chills. After the episode I was excited because I initially thought that they would bring Sal back as well, but then I remembered that their big-buck account was Lucky Strike, aka the client that got Sal fired. No dice.