re: Mad Men Series Finale - "Person to Person"

Weiner did an interview on the finale and Don did the ad.

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Yes, Don Draper created the Coke ad. The last scenes of the series features Don hugging a stranger at a retreat and meditating with hippies, before the episode cuts to the 1971 Coca-Cola "Hilltop" commercial, to infer that Don returns to McCann-Erickson and creates that ad. "I have never been clear, and I have always been able to live with ambiguities," said Weiner. "In the abstract, I did think, why not end this show with the greatest commercial ever made? In terms of what it means to people and everything, I am not ambiguity for ambiguity's sake. But it was nice to have your cake and eat it too, in terms of what is advertising, who is Don and what is that thing?"

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LINK

How can people act like this is open to interpretation?

Don obviously created the Coke ad.

Sopranos= Too vague.

Mad Men was perfect.

For a minute I was annoyed. I thought he was going to become a self help guy or cult guy. His understanding of people and when he tells Anna's daughter he can help her, I figured he would start his own place in Cali.

I thought about 4-5 different endings while watching the show. But because of a yahoo article that I read I always had the "coke ad ending" in my back pocket. My wife was pissed when they started the "Oommm's" but I "knew" it was going to be the ad.

Finale watched it

One of my favorite series finales ever if only because of the Stan and Peggy scene. That was so perfect.

I was melting down about Don until the coke commercial

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Yeah, I think most people were: "What the frick is this? Don Draper can't be a new age yoga hippie! What the frick! Worst finale ever! They ruined Don....Wait....Hold on...I know this commercial. Perfect!!!"

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Interestingly, I think it sort of spells out who you are as a person depending on your feelings about the finale. I think Don would have been happiest being a hippie yoga guy, but only if he could truly let his need to be the

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#1 Madison Avenue ad man who just has to be wanted by everyone

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go.

I truly believe that would bring him the most joy, and I was hoping for that to be the end to his story. However, he is not that guy, he will forever need to be Don Draper, king ad man.

It was a good ending, and struck quite an interesting balance where I figured there wasn't one. I guess that's why I'm not a television writer.

It took 7 seasons but Pete finally redeemed himself. That was a great way to wrap up his story

I still hate Pete overall and Trudy is way too good for him, but that was the ending she deserved. Finally has the life she always wanted. Beautiful way to tie that story up

Again I can't emphasize enough how awesome that Stann-Peggy scene was. Predictable? Who cares, it was PERFECT. I was laughing my arse off at Peggy's "what??" Responses, and then clapping like I'm at the oscars when he finally says the words

I think that's what the conversation with his brother was about. He realized that the wanting of something more is fading, and it's a product of his father (which he hates), and that's what made him take that last step in his maturity (notice even before all that he was spending more time with his daughter and being nice to Trudy)


Maybe it's super optimistic (probably is) but that's what finales are for, no?

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Finale watched it

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I see what you did there.

Referring to when Sally caught him knocking boots with Sylvia.

I just finished the show.

I actually didn't start the show until the week after the finale aired. I kept seeing ads for Mad Men while watching the Walking Dead and figured I'd give it a shot over the summer and man if I'm not so glad that I did.

It was the best drama I've ever watched in my life. The acting and the character development was amazing.

On the last part of the episode I think the poster who kept referring to the ad idea as being cynical and that he was finding personal peace is missing that he already found personal peace before that meditation.

After his phone call with Peggy when he was about to end it all he found his personal peace and realization that he could be an ad man and a father during the "refrigerator" speech.

I think he then goes to the meditation session with 100% intention to reflect on his new found security with himself and his upcoming return to his old life and just naturally comes upon the idea. Hence the smirk of "man, I've still got it".

Listen to the speech the meditation leader gives in this clip, I think that speech is what opens Don's mind in that moment for him to have the Coke epiphany. (1:50 mark)

LINK

"The new day brings new hope, lives we've led and the lives we've yet to lead. New day, NEW IDEAS a new you."

This was 100% the summary of what Don had realized over the past 24 hours. He realized he can put the past behind him (his childhood) and finally accept himself and truly love the people in his life moving forward.

At that moment he thinks of the idea because he is in the open and pure state and it makes him know he'll be ok.

I believe he returned to NY, made the ad and found a balance in life of being OK with being an ad man but also being a family man. I think at some point he finds true love again and helps raise his kids.