This is how we act as the world ends. In this episode, worlds end as people fret over the end of the actual world. Professional worlds, fantasy worlds, and carefully constructed worlds go into a tailspin as the threat of nuclear crisis hangs over our characters.For Betty, her world comes to an end in a doctor's office. Pregnant again, she knows that she can no longer live her life with an uncertain marriage. Betty has certainly been flirting with the idea of leaving Don for good, and as she says, mournfully "This isn't a good time" for her to come up pregnant. After considering abortion (11 years before Roe v. Wade), having a little consequence free sex (with Captain Awesome from Chuck!) and eating a big chicken leg, Betty's world gets a little smaller again as she decides to take Don back. Did she do it because she was pregnant? Because of his letter? (which I have to admit, I thought was lovely.) Because of her children? Because sleeping with Captain Awesome has finally given her some power in the relationship? Because she doesn't know what else to do? Or maybe, just because he loves her and she loves him, and she hopes that it will be enough this time. Of course, she took him back for every single one of those reasons, which is why that last scene between them was such a beautiful one. Both actors had so many emotions running across their faces, it was a great and expressive scene.
Much of this season has been about the the dissolution of the Draper's marriage and
what it has done to them. In this last episode, we see them coming back together again, and it is clear that the last few episodes were about them finding out who they were alone, so they wouldn't have to be any longer. Another scene that I loved, and just grinned throughout, was the one with Don and the children in his hotel room. It was just so cute and imbued with real affection from all of the actors. It was at that moment, seeing Don as himself with his children that I knew Betty would take him back. I knew she had to take him back. Juxtaposed with her lonely scenes of anonymous sex at the bar, it was so clear which option was better. Because, surprise! Don is actually capable of truly loving people. He just needed to get away from his life to realize how much he wanted it back. (I loved Betty's line to him at the stables. "It must be nice, to need time, and to just take it..." I think it really speaks to so many gender issues of the time and of today.) Don knows that he has to make a go of it with Betty and his kids or he will literally become no one. ("I know you won't be alone for long. But without you, I will be alone forever.")I loved seeing Don come back full force at Sterling-Cooper. When it became clear that one of the biggest parts of Duck's merger plan was to get Don under his thumb, Don came in and took him out swiftly with no looking back. Things did not look good for Duck when Mr. Sheffield (or whatever he is named on this show) said "He never could hold his liquor". Do not mess with Don Draper. He will take out your world
Peggy finally giving into Father Gill and confessing (to Pete, not the priest, but close enough) about the birth of her child was such a sad scene. Pete was finally becoming a real boy, realizing he shouldn't have married Trudy and that, he might just love Peggy, short hair, happy
career woman and all, and she just ends his world. She knows it too, and almost as soon as it comes out her mouth, as a way to stop his advances, as a way to remind herself of the truth, as a way to unburden her soul, she knows it is the wrong thing to do. This is the wrong man to tell this to, and some secrets should be kept. Peggy's dialogue here was great, trying to explain to Pete that for her, a woman, success comes with a price, but that it is a price she gladly paid. Poor Pete is left just utterly brokenhearted, and amazingly for the character, kind of likeable and rootable for once. Other thoughts:
I loved Roger (had to mention Roger!) acting as if Bert and his sister pushed the merger through as if Roger wasn't funding his divorce with the money. Also, since I won't get to talk about for something like a year now, I LOVE ROGER!!!
I think Jon Hamm did a great job making Don seem warmer in every scene. With Joan, with Peggy, even with Roger, there was an affection to him that we haven't seen much before. He is always superb.
I liked that this was a season finale and it actually wrapped up story lines. There weren't any big surprises, but there was a lot of closure in the big stories, and that made it satisfying.
I do wish we got a little more Joan though. Ending her on the note of marrying her rapist is just cruel.
The Cuban Missile Crisis was a great backdrop. It was kind of funny how Harry didn't even give a crap, he was more worried about "good canapes" in the office fridge! This season has definitely show us that Harry is kind of a myopic jerk.
A great ending for a wonderful season. I will definitely be missing Mad Men!
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