Mad Men: My House, in the Middle of the Street

After a season of (mostly drug-induced) highs and lows, Mad Men finally polished up its act and gave us an awesome season finale. 

This has arguably been Don's darkest season and it came to a breaking point last night. In classic Draper fashion, we find him alone in a dark bar. Don hears two men at the end of the bar discussing the word of God, to which he asks "can you keep it down? I'm trying to drink". Don is then approached by the man preaching the word of God and he begins to badger Don with things that Don doesn't want to hear about. 

The next thing we see is Don waking up in the clink. He punched the man we now know to be a priest. 

Not sure if he saw Michael Scott aka Prison Mike, but his overnight jail stay was an important wake-up call for him. Don once again apologizes to the very weak-willed Megan and tells her that this was a sign that they need to move to California. She accepts. 

The California episodes have always been my favorite, mainly because it's where the true Don Draper aka Dick Whitman comes out. Every time he's in California he acts like...well an actual human-being. So why wouldn't we want to see a humanized Don Draper for the last season? Is it really California that sets him free? Or is it something he allows for himself while he's there that really makes him free? 

Poor, poor Pete Campbell. 

Everyone's favorite slimeball just can't catch a break. He also can't drive stick. Just a few years after his father dies in a plane crash, his mom falls off a cruise liner and drowns. There is also the unnecessary and dark assumption that she's eaten by sharks. 

Pete is also taken off the Chevy account after he shows his inability to handle a stick shift with one of the Cameros on display. What'd he expect though? He just learned to drive a couple of years ago and even with an automatic transmission, his skill level was that of a grandma on the way to the supermarket. 

But all is not terrible for Mr. Campbell. After being kicked out of his house earlier this season, it seems as if Trudy may give Pete another chance. Unbeknownst to Pete, Trudy looks on as he brushes their daughter's hair back as she sleeps. Here, Trudy gets a look at the true Pete Campbell. The Pete Campbell who isn't trying to keep up with everyone at Sterling, Cooper and Partners. The Pete Campbell who isn't trying to play tough guy. As we get closer to 1970, we may get to see Pete Campbell become the All-American suburban father.  

Peggy Olson can't catch any breaks either. Somewhere her and Pete's bastard child is smiling at their misery. I said last week that her and Ted's relationship would end badly and last night it did...at least for Peggy. 

Despite Peggy's best efforts (not for me) to get Ted's blood flowing, Ted ultimately decides to move to California in order to have a fresh start with his family and be free of the distraction that is Peggy Olson. 

BUT WAIT.

Don and Ted both can't leave. 

So once again Don pulls the power-move on Ted and declares that Ted will have to stay in New York. Also unhappy with this move is Stan, who told Don about his own aspirations to move to LA earlier in the episode. Don simply can't make friends.  

CALIFORNIA WAS MY IDEA FIRST!!!! Also. Don't steal my sandwich.                         

Also in the episode, SCP has the chance to nab Hershey, which would likely become one of their top three accounts. 

Don pulls a classic Draper as he eloquently pitches a whimsical idea to Hershey. The words are strong, but Don notices Hershey seems disinterested. 

However, it's the look that Ted has that really catches Don's eye. Even with the life sucked out of him, Ted displays more emotion than Don has in the entire series. It's here that Don decides to himself to let Ted move to LA and he will stay in New York. 

But the real shocker came when he delivered a second 'pitch', or 'anti-pitch'. 

Don reveals to everyone in the meeting that he grew up an orphan in a whorehouse and his only refuge was eating a Hershey bar in a closet by himself. He tells them he obtained the Hershey bar from one of the prostitutes after he helped her steal money from clients. 

Not exactly Andy Griffith, eh? 

Needless to say, everyone in the room is shocked and they don't get any business from Hershey. Especially after Don tells Hershey they shouldn't even advertise. After the meeting Don tells Ted of his plans to stay in New York, thus allowing Ted to save his marriage and go to LA. 

Not everyone is thrilled with this news as Don returns home to tell Megan they're not moving, to which Megan implies she's leaving Don and moving to LA to continue her acting career. Don gives the most reluctant and worse "I love you", I've ever heard as Megan shuts the door and hopefully goes away forever. 

The Megan Draper-Sharon Tate theory lives on. 

In the Mad Men world, we're still in 1968 and Tate wasn't murdered until August 1969, still leaving the possibility that Megan will be murdered by the Manson family or whatever creepy character they choose to make up. 

I don't really want for her to get murdered, but the clues and signs of her being Sharon Tate are becoming more apparent. Maybe this is just Weiner wanting to toy with us in the last season, but it's no longer a far-fetched internet-buzz theory. It's very, very possible now. 

In an episode full of reality checks, Don Draper gets his as well. In the company of old pals like Roger, Joan and Bert, Don is 'advised' to take a few months off in order to collect himself. They didn't fire him, but Don's increased inability to deviate his dark personal life with his professional one finally saw its consequence. His leave of absence left the door open for the always despicable Duck Phillips to return, and it was suggested that he will take Don's place. It's a little corny, but elevators are always a great metaphor for rising and falling; Duck's rising, Don's falling and Don knows this. 

So what does he do? He takes his kids on possibly the worst family trip ever and shows them the whorehouse where he grew up. 

In a brilliant final scene Don sees Sally look at him with more understanding then possibly anyone ever has. 

Now the Season 6 poster of the two Don's passing each other makes all the sense in the world. It seems honesty will finally set Don free, as the newly freed Don passes by and leaves the one burdened with guilt, lies, and a past darker than anyone deserves to have...behind.