Mad Men
- Thread starter ctharris07
- Start date
I've been mulling my own theory. Surprised I haven't heard or read anyone say anything like this, but . . .
Not only does Don resume the Dick Whitman persona at the end (presumably, but not necessarily, in California), it's his decision to become Dick Whitman that brings him back to consciousness as he lies in a military hospital post-Korea.
I'm going to have to watch that and other episodes again, but it might fit. While this might sound way too simplistic and an easy way out, I think it's more than that.
-Mad Men has been full of dreamlike sequences throughout the series, even to the point where we don't often know what's real and what isn't. And Don has definitely seen a lot of people we know are already dead.
-This is probably just Weiner messing with everyone, but I read that in the last episode, the radio station he was listening to in OK, the call letters were KOMA. I don't put much stock in that, but it would be another brick in that wall.
-Most of all, the theme of this show is whether people can change over time. And when they're faced with a repeat of circumstances, can they act differently than they have before? This scenario would answer that because Dick went into the war wanting to escape his identity and become someone else. He has now learned that it's not all it's cracked up to be. Only this realization, and his willingness to be Dick Whitman, will bring him back to consciousness after the explosion in Korea. This has all taken place in his mind.
I'm not firm on this yet, it's just a work in progress. I'm sure all kinds of holes can be blown in this theory, but again, it's fun to think about the different scenarios, and which ones are and aren't possible based on the clues that we've been given.
Also, to those who would say that making the past 7 years a dream sequence would diminish it, I disagree, because THEY'RE ALL FICTIONAL CHARACTERS ANYWAY. And if that's what it takes to bring Don/Dick to consciousness (in the spiritual sense), then it fits and was a hell of a lot of fun along the way.
Not only does Don resume the Dick Whitman persona at the end (presumably, but not necessarily, in California), it's his decision to become Dick Whitman that brings him back to consciousness as he lies in a military hospital post-Korea.
I'm going to have to watch that and other episodes again, but it might fit. While this might sound way too simplistic and an easy way out, I think it's more than that.
-Mad Men has been full of dreamlike sequences throughout the series, even to the point where we don't often know what's real and what isn't. And Don has definitely seen a lot of people we know are already dead.
-This is probably just Weiner messing with everyone, but I read that in the last episode, the radio station he was listening to in OK, the call letters were KOMA. I don't put much stock in that, but it would be another brick in that wall.
-Most of all, the theme of this show is whether people can change over time. And when they're faced with a repeat of circumstances, can they act differently than they have before? This scenario would answer that because Dick went into the war wanting to escape his identity and become someone else. He has now learned that it's not all it's cracked up to be. Only this realization, and his willingness to be Dick Whitman, will bring him back to consciousness after the explosion in Korea. This has all taken place in his mind.
I'm not firm on this yet, it's just a work in progress. I'm sure all kinds of holes can be blown in this theory, but again, it's fun to think about the different scenarios, and which ones are and aren't possible based on the clues that we've been given.
Also, to those who would say that making the past 7 years a dream sequence would diminish it, I disagree, because THEY'RE ALL FICTIONAL CHARACTERS ANYWAY. And if that's what it takes to bring Don/Dick to consciousness (in the spiritual sense), then it fits and was a hell of a lot of fun along the way.
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There are two things Weiner has confirmed about the finale from past interviews:
1) The season 1 finale is an indication of how the series will end, because he didn't know if it would be picked up for a second season. He has said a few episodes could have been/were supposed to be the finale, so I don't know that it will be anything that far out there. If we look at the season 1 finale, it is Don imagining a perfect Thanksgiving dinner only to come home to an empty house. I can see something like Don making it to California and settling in, hell bent on returning to his Dick Whitman self only to revert back to another alias or Don Draper.
2) It will be polarizing. Does worry me slightly that he LOVES the Sopranos ending
1) The season 1 finale is an indication of how the series will end, because he didn't know if it would be picked up for a second season. He has said a few episodes could have been/were supposed to be the finale, so I don't know that it will be anything that far out there. If we look at the season 1 finale, it is Don imagining a perfect Thanksgiving dinner only to come home to an empty house. I can see something like Don making it to California and settling in, hell bent on returning to his Dick Whitman self only to revert back to another alias or Don Draper.
2) It will be polarizing. Does worry me slightly that he LOVES the Sopranos ending
all I care about is that they add on a "next week on Mad Men" at the end with scenes from the pilot
Watching some of season one, crazy how different it is. Actors all have aged. Much looser. Voices sound different even.
Betty though, mercy.
Betty though, mercy.
-A lot of what I posted is stuff I've read from bloggers who *really* pay attention, find Easter eggs and parallels between episodes. For some reason, that stuff interests me.
-Yes, amazing how much some of the cast has aged in 8 years. Don looks so young, and I *swear* that in later years they must have played with / amplified his voice to make it sound deeper.
-Yes, amazing how much some of the cast has aged in 8 years. Don looks so young, and I *swear* that in later years they must have played with / amplified his voice to make it sound deeper.
Watching the pilot for the first time ever. Amazingly somehow it's the only episode I've never seen.
Yeah the blogs on the episodes are almost as cool as the episodes. I basically spend lunch hour Monday reading them. I'll be fun in 5-6 years running back through the series.
I also re-watched the Pilot last night and it seemed to be filmed with a different filter and different music tone than the current season. I guess that has to do with it being the early 60's and the current series is 10 years later. And its chilling watching Betty smoke cig after cig.
Yeah, I'm basically going to watch the 2nd half of the first season before Sunday. Watched 2 or 3 last night. Had all but forgotten about Adam.
So Don Draper accurately dreamed the entire 60s - down to the date and detail of every major event - while in a coma? Seems legit.
I think Mad Men is going to end with Don meeting someone and saying, "Hello, my name is Dick Whitman."
Wiener won't be that obvious since that's easily the most popular belief. Maybe he'll start the next episode with it, though.
I think the funniest thing about this show wrapping up is that the big winner is Pete Campbell. Everything has come up Milhouse for that guy. Working for Learjet, back with his hot wife, got to punch a dude in the face, made his brother feel bad. Only thing missing is him getting his hairline back.
I'm 8 episodes in, Sally is basically a baby. Crazy.
I never watched season 1, can't even remember if I watched season 2...pretty sure I got on board in Season 3, and just went back and read recaps/etc to get familiar
Hopefully the last scene will feature Glen getting ripped to shreds by Vietcong machine gun fire. Then he wakes up in a hospital with no penis and tells the doctor his name is Betty Draper. FIN.
Ken's transition on the show has to be the biggest. Everyone else just kind of grew but Ken went from one of the boy's openly trying to wax Peggy to whatever he was the last few seasons. Beaten, one eye, loser, ethical, one step from bat **** crazy.
Don Draper moves to georgia where he becomes a vet named herschel and leads a group of rag tag apocalypse survivors toward curing the zombie virus.
Flash forward to 2005 and the final episode is just Don in a hospice telling his caretakers about all the stuff that happened in seasons 1-3.
Went home for lunch and turned it on the marathon. Caught the scene where Bobby is asking about Don's dad.
B - "What did he like to eat?"
D - "Ham. And candy. It tasted like violence."
B - "What did he look like?"
D - "Me. But bigger."
B - "But he's dead now."
D - "Yes he is."
B - "We need to get you a new daddy."
B - "What did he like to eat?"
D - "Ham. And candy. It tasted like violence."
B - "What did he look like?"
D - "Me. But bigger."
B - "But he's dead now."
D - "Yes he is."
B - "We need to get you a new daddy."
Just made a funny connection watching an old ep. The episode where Pete and Don go to California for the aerospace convention and Don meets the young chick. The guy/dad who introduces him is the Husband of the hot German chick in super troopers.
Amazing how quick this show found it's feet. By the 4-5th episode it was steam rolling. Just rewatched "The Hobo Code" which is the episode everyone is pointing to, really set the stage for a ton, especially Peggy.
hitfix, avclub and slate are several that I like. Make sure to read Alan Sepinwall's stuff (usually the hitfix stuff is his). IMO, he's the best of them.
Sepinwall is great. Love reading his recaps.
Here is a really in depth (long) article about the show. Good stuff.
http://time.com/mad-men-history/
Maybe Peggy and Joan start their own agency.
Really gonna miss this show. I've worked at several ad agencies over my career and this show just makes me wish I could have lived and worked on Madison Avenue back in those days.
Not sure how this gets wrapped up but looking forward to seeing what they have up their sleeve. Agree that the focus should be on Don, Peggy and Roger.
Really gonna miss this show. I've worked at several ad agencies over my career and this show just makes me wish I could have lived and worked on Madison Avenue back in those days.
Not sure how this gets wrapped up but looking forward to seeing what they have up their sleeve. Agree that the focus should be on Don, Peggy and Roger.
"Mad Men: You Watch It." is the best Podcast I've found (formerly "This Week In Mad Men.")
http://www.hipcast.com/podcast/HwyyJb
http://www.hipcast.com/podcast/HwyyJb
I tired to listen but when I knew some of the back story more than they did I lost interest.
The chick is terrible, but the guy is usually pretty good.
He usually pulls up some good historical facts and themes.
I'm too cheap for cable and have watched the entire series four times, including twice in the past year. They usually don't miss much.
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So season one finale ends with Peggy having her baby and Don coming home to an empty house after delivering probably his best pitch of the series, The Carasoul, that was bad around his picture perfect family.
You'd have to think Peggy looks for her child.
I just can't help but think Don is going to end up alone. It will be weird if he does the unselfish thing and takes the boys.
You'd have to think Peggy looks for her child.
I just can't help but think Don is going to end up alone. It will be weird if he does the unselfish thing and takes the boys.