The "Mad Men" finale last night more than lived up to my expectations, and it was gratifying to see the season end on an unexpected high note. Even the divorce proceedings seemed as painless as they could be, with Betty all set up for the future, and Don free to find a woman who might better understand him. (I understand you, Don!)
Just a few questions:
Was Don telling Peggy, "I will spend the rest of my life trying to hire you" the most bizarrely hot boss line you've ever heard?
Who else do we want to see on board at Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce? If they don't re-hire Sal, I may have to stop smoking Lucky Strikes.
Could we be so lucky as to be rid of Miss Farrell forever?
Has Roger been studying Dean Martin? The man kills with every line.
What was the significance of the flashback to Archie Whitman's death? Was it supposed to symbolize
defeat, or a fresh start? Is Betty the horse?
Is Joan simply the highest form of woman?
I think that the two flashbacks worked in tandem... first, Archie decides to go it alone because the co-op has been incompetent. Then, when he later folds and decides to sell his crop for "nuthin'" he is killed. This also is the first time young Dick tasted moonshine, the last being during his midnight meeting with Hilton.
Weiner's stories are as much fun to deconstruct as Faulkner!
My interpretation of the flashback was, his father was willing to go at it alone, and not let the co-operative control his fate. Had Archibald stuck to his guns and sold later, he would have been rewarded in the long-run. Don is essentially in the same position; if he allows the company to be bought out, there would be no Don Draper; he would be another small piece of meat at the "sausage factory". If he's proactive and is willing to accept short-term losses for a potential long term gain; he lives.
The flashbacks seemed to indicate that Archie tried to go it alone, and it ended up killing him. Don realizes that he can't do it by himself; he needs to reach out to Cooper, then Sterling, and Peggy and Pete. In three of those cases, Don needs to absorb some blows about how he's treated them, and why he needs them now (Roger's shot about Don not valuing relationships being especially telling). This must have been tough for a guy who in the past has valued his independence more than anything.