Warning SPOILER ALERT: if you have not watched the finale, turn away.

The Mad Men series finale has arrived and is now in our rear view mirror. So what are my thoughts to this historic end? The episode unofficially starts with a stroll down memory lane. They tease us with 30 seconds of watching clips through the years of Don crying or smiling, a run-down of Don’s women, Sally growing up before our eyes, Bert closing his office door while waving in the dream sequence episode where he left us for good and it all leaves me with one question…where the hell did the last seven years go?

Cue the intro: Don racing through the deserts of Utah in a beautiful blue '72 Chevrolet Chevelle SS with white racing stripes. Just one of the many cars I personally planned on restoring. Building that powerhouse SS with the big block 454 and the cowl hood would be amazing. They had me less than two minutes into the finale. I had very high expectations and so far they were meeting them even if they were superficial and the story line had no substance at this point.

COMMERCIAL BREAK: Major props to the commercial led by the sweet sounds of Steven Tyler and Aerosmith playing "Dream On" while celebrating 25 years of Adobe Photoshop. Well done Adobe. Well done.

Now back to Mad Men. Joan and Peggy pulled at my heartstrings in different ways but ultimately they were both very likeable and compelling characters. Who am I kidding? I, along with the rest of the world, fell in love with Joan the first time we saw her. But to see their evolution as confident, capable women in the workplace, earning their spot and being sought out for their intelligence and skill-set, was incredible. We take it for granted these days how far we have come in the fight for equality of woman, race and creed, but it was not so long ago that those things didn’t exist. Heck, it was a 100 years ago that we used to throw our fecal matter in the streets for the New York White Wings to come and sweep it up. Oh, how far our septic systems have come. But I digress and will save that for another blog. Stay tuned, that one will be quite compelling.

COMMERCIAL BREAK: These commercials are better than the “Big Game”. (Can I call it the real name without paying the NFL? Equity doesn’t have that kind of budget.) August 14th-put it on the calendar and let me know who will join me for Straight Outta Compton's release in theaters. Ice Cube before Are We There Yet? and the Friday trilogy, Dr. Dre before Beats by Dre, and Eazy-E before...well, death. I can’t wait but I am disappointed that my favorite (at the time) MC Ren didn’t get proper recognition in the trailer. Yo Ren, whassup? Tell 'em where you from! KEENNOOOSSSHAA! Sorry, again, for the sidebar.

Back to the ladies and Joanie starting her own company. Capitalizing on her relationships and seizing the opportunity, she boldly looks at the opportunity and formulates a plan for success. Rather than living off her nest egg and her “sugar daddy,” she wants to have a career of her own and be respected for her skills. Good for her and to heck with the man who walks out and can’t handle her empowerment. Just one more social topic that Mad Men shined light on and showed us how far we’ve come. Lord, I’m gonna miss this show.

COMMERCIAL BREAK: Really a third commercial worth talking about? Steve Jobs the movie? Really, for the third time? Do we really need to see one more version of people trying to romanticize about the man who brought us one of the most impactful companies in my generation (he says, as he types away on Jobs' incredible creation)? “The musicians play the instruments. I play the orchestra.” Great Jobs quote. Hmmm, Michael Fassbender, Seth Rogan, Jeff Daniels…ugh, ok, you got me, I’ll watch it.

Draper goes to a rehab center with the Black Canary from Arrow? Peggy and Stan are in love with each other? What? OK, I didn’t see that coming. Peter reuniting his family and leaving the agency for the corporate life? Kudos to you and good luck on the next stage of your career, Pete. The man you loved to hate becomes the man on the rise and the man with the brightest future. Didn’t see that one coming seven years ago, either. Lastly, Don has a fantastic yoga position and yes, I too would like to buy the world a Coke. It is the real thing. Was that Don’s concept? Did he leave the peaceful yoga class, return to NY and create one of the most recognizable campaigns of all time? The world may never know.

AFTER THE SHOW: Who grabbed their computer, tablet or mobile device and immediately logged in to the Final Toast? I did, but it didn’t work for me. If you missed it, go to amc.com/MadMenEndOfAnEra and let me know what you think.

Tim Goodman
Director of Accounts