Such a great series, I'm going to miss it. I really enjoy watching period tv/movies from different eras.
I thought the smile on Don's face was that he either a) finally found inner-peace with himself and could live the rest of his life being free or b) his epiphany of the coke spot just came to him in a hippie revelation.
I did think it was interesting that Alva, Oklahoma was such a prominent location for the next to last episode. Goldbugs
So if you're able, go back and watch the first season.
I started over last night after having recorded 90 hours of Mad Men from the marathon. Couple of notes, all around how different the characters are from the first episode to the last.
1) Joan may have been the most different. She is as sexist with new girl Peggy as most the men. "Wear this, act that way, Mr. Draper likes it like that", etc. Joan left the show as this strong can-do feminist go-getter. 180 degree change from ten years earlier.
2) Episode 1 Don is this glib, jovial office rock star. Not a lot of darkness to him. Like every one of the other characters, he's as sexist as can be, scolding Rachael Menken for not liking his coupon idea. Gets up and walks out of the meeting with her. Don quickly transformed into a no-nonsense, dark, completely un-jovial troubled dude. And he didn't mess with or insult another female in the office in the next ten years. I think Weiner was trying too hard to paint the period as he thought it was at the expense of what his characters true nature was.
3) Pete wants Don's job in episode 1. Admits he's "not good with people". Every other season of Pete is this glib, charming account man without a care about the creative side of the business. Strange 180 for Pete.
4) Peggy's evolution was a main theme of the show all along, so it's no surprise she changed. Roger was pretty similar in the beginning to what he always was.
I'm sure this topic has been hashed through on some Mad Men blog site, it was strange to watch.
