Nearly the end of an era

I have written on this site before about my love for the TV show, Mad Men.  I would guess that Mad Men is nearly universally known, but for the uninitiated, Mad Men is a TV show about advertising executives in the 1960s.  The show is coming to an end and is actually into the 70s already. At this point, there is only one episode left and the show will be complete.

For me, Season 1 was by far the best season, although season 2 and 3 were also fairly good.  But, Seasons 4, 5 and 6 were sub-par in my view.  We are now in Season 7, and while there have been some great shows in this current season, they have mostly been duds in my opinion.

The episode this week was, in my opinion, a real highlight.  I am not going to recap the episode, people who are interested in the show, and this article, have already watched the episode or will watch it at their convenience.  I do want to make a few observations, though, about the show, mostly centered on this latest episode.

The death of Don Draper

A lot of people have speculated about whether Don Draper will die before Mad Men comes to a close.  I believe that question has been answered.  Don Draper died in this last episode, I think.  What?  You may be wondering what I am talking about because the show ended with Don sitting on a bench looking happy.  Yes, he was very much alive in the last scene of the most recent episode.  But, I still say he died.

Don Died.  Dick Whitman was the man that you saw sitting on that park bench.

Dick took on the name “Don Draper” many years ago, after fighting in Korea.  He shed his true identity, Dick Whitman, and became Don Draper, a man who was killed in Korea.  This week, I believe that Dick cast away what was left of Don Draper – i.e. Don died – and he became Dick again.

Why do I think this?

• When Don and his partners sold their Ad firm to McCann last year, Don did something that he does not do.  He signed a contract, tying him to McCann for 5 years.  But, when Don got to McCann, it was not for him, and he walked out.
• If Don does not fulfill his 5-year commitment to McCann, he is going to owe them a LOT of money, millions of dollars.  Those are 1970 dollars, which are worth a lot more than the money we have today – inflation, you know.
• When Don walked out of McCann and hit the road, he left most everything behind.  About the only thing he carried with him was his Cadillac.  This week, he gave it away.  Don is now free to reclaim the Dick Whitman identity and live a quiet life.  If he moves out west, as he appears to be doing, and lives there as Dick Whitman, McCann will never find him, especially back in those days when there was no Internet and technology was fairly minimal.  Don can keep his money and live in peace.

This is why I believe that we have witnessed the death of Don Draper.  Dick will live on though, and not die before the show ends.  Dick, in fact, will probably shed much of the persona that he has been living and he will have a happier life.  This is my feeling, anyway, we will all know for sure what happens in another week.

DB Cooper theory

There is a theory going around the Internet.  The theory is that Don Draper is DB Cooper.  If you don’t know who DB Cooper was, he hijacked a plane in 1971, in the area around Washington State.  I remember when it happened although I was only 9 years old.  I remember it vividly because I lived within 20 miles or so of where Cooper parachuted from the plane and was never seen again.  Cooper got ransom money of $200,000 when he pulled this stunt.

The rumor/speculation on the Internet is that Don is DB Cooper, and he will pull off his heist.  Don Draper (played by Jon Hamm) really does look like the artist rendering of DB Cooper.  Take a look at the image below:

Do I think this theory is true?

Well, I think it would make for a very interesting ending of the show!  I would love it.  But, I don’t think it is possible.  Why?

Don, or Dick Whitman, is a very rich man.  He is worth millions.  Why would he want or need to hijack an airplane?  It just does not add up.  I guess some would say that he just wanted the excitement or the thrill or challenge.  I don’t buy it.  Dick is living under an assumed identity, he is a criminal, and if he were caught in his hijacking attempt, he would lose everything.  As I said, it would be an incredible ending of a great TV show, but I just don’t see it happening.

What do you think about Mad Men?  Do you like the way it is winding down?  After a lot of disappointment, I am feeling it is finally back on track!  We will all know next week!