Mad Men Roundtable: “Shut the Door. Have a Seat.”

I have been relishing this fantastic finale for days.  It’s beyond impressive that a show that felt like a serialized version of Revolutionary Road for 12 episodes ended up looking more like Ocean’s Eleven in its season ender.  The way the new Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce team formed, mobilized and executed their little coup was nothing short of legendary and wholly satisfying to the viewers.  It was a realistic way to approach such an event actually taking place in a corporate setting, and sheer genius the way Bert, Roger and Don all did what they needed to in order to woo both Pete and Peggy to the new agency.  Of course, I’d love Sal to be there, too, but it is completely unrealistic for them to recruit him due to Lucky Strike.  My dream scenario has Don or Pete on a commercial set early next season when Sal emerges from the shadows, now a successful director and adjusting to his new life.  I only want happiness for that sweet, tortured man.

And who would have thought that Pete and Trudy would emerge as the power couple here?  Their rapport, the way they are completely on the same page…it’s all pitch perfect.  Kind of makes you hearken back to their choreographed Charleston on Derby Day.  Yes, Pete Campbell is a dark guy with lots of secrets (one of whom he now shares a desk with, if you will) but he and his wife have forged a solid partnership at this point, and she’s proving to be a vital asset in many ways.

Another partnership I love more than is probably healthy is Joan and Roger.  I let out a squeal when Roger went to call her and was thrilled when she walked in to a darkened Sterling Cooper to get everything ship shape.  The scene where she and Roger bantered like an old married couple (“Darling, I can’t read your handwriting.”) was great.   It’s clearly only a matter of time before Jane is another ex-Mrs. Sterling and these two can just get on with it. In that same scene, you had to love when Roger reflexively asked Peggy for coffee and she didn’t miss a beat in saying “No.”

As for Don and Betty, it was a tough plot to watch reach its climax, but it was done so well.  I would opine that even little Bobby deserves an Emmy nod for the way he wrapped his legs tighter around Don when he tried to put him down.  The poor little guy’s heart is broken and even his ice queen mother can’t keep from being choked up.  This scene captured the confusion and sadness of what this is really like…Don and Betty weren’t really on the same page; the kids blamed themselves.  The whole thing was terribly uncomfortable, as it should be.

I have struggled with what to think about Betty, but I ended up concluding that, even though she’s not blameless (this is definitely a situation where there are no innocent victims, except the kids), she really had very limited choices going forward.  I’m not even certain if she would have been entitled to alimony 46 years ago, so you have to imagine that hitching her wagon to Henry, with his promise to take care of her, was more of a self-preservation move than anything.  On that same score, though, I can’t see how this marriage will fare any better than her previous one.  He doesn’t know her, nor does she really know much about him.  I just hope the man doesn’t have a violent streak or something.

The big question is how far ahead will Season Four jump?  There’s so much to mine historically from each year of that decade, that it would almost be ashame to move too far.  I hope that Don keeps up the good parenting he’s exhibited this season, since Betty isn’t exactly winning Mother of the Year awards.  And I can’t wait to see how the new agency fares.  It’s very cool to watch a show like this, knowing these people are on the cutting edge of something that they are unaware of themselves.  Is is July 2010 yet?