"Mad Men": So Long, Sterling Cooper, For Now

Mad Men wraps up its stellar first season tonight, and God.... I'm going to miss it. There is NOTHING this good among any of the new shows from the other nets, broadcast or cable. N-O-T-H-I-N-G.

In these past 13 weeks, we've been transported back each Thursday night to an era we barely or never knew. We've gotten to know the employees of Sterling-Cooper and those that act like satellites that rotate around them... or have we? The character development that Matthew Weiner has presented us so far has been rich and satisfying, but there is sooooo much more to explore.

How totally delightful was it seeing Pete Campbell's hopes for promotion get slammed to the pavement last week? Of course we knew that Pete stealing that package addressed to Don was trouble. But, from the moment Pete returned the package that he "received by mistake", to Don coolly hiding his reaction that Pete had discovered the truth we were right in the office with them, and couldn't wait to see how this would all play out. When Don's broke down in front of Rachel and particularly when he realized that her stinging words rang true (he WAS acting like a coward.), we could feel how much they both hurt, and couldn't help but wonder... could he really just walk away from Betty and their children? Then, back to the office, and our delicious pay-off - Don's standing up to Pete's threats and NOT letting the silver-spoon-in-his-mouth #$%^@ win. As fun as that was though, don't we just know that there's much more to come? Pete has been handed things all his life, but always, always been told he doesn't deserve them. He's desperate to prove himself a success to his parents, his wife, and his peers. He'll do anything to make that happen. I fully expect to see that gun he bought show up again someday.

We got a whole new view of Bertram Cooper in this episode. He's surprisingly grounded, calm, almost zen-like. How unlike an agency chief is that? Yet, just like all the quirky, half-crazy execs we see out there in every industry, he has his finger on the pulse of things, and he definitely has everything under control. I love that they cast Robert Morse in this role. J. Pierpont Finch really has made himself at home at the top of the ladder.

An office all-nighter to watch the 1960 election results, fueled by a water cooler full of schnapps and rum, led to some interesting office couplings that will no doubt, carry over to season 2. Roger was no where to be seen, and Betty and the kids, asleep on the couch when Don returned from the office that night. Surely, they'll play a big part in the finale tonight.

We learned that Dick Whitman took the tags and name of the only other soldier serving at the base he was assigned to after an explosion killed the real Don Draper and injured Dick. We know that, but no one else does... not even Betty it seems. Her lack of knowledge about her husband is discussed in the promos for the finale, and it's clear the distance between them is growing.

Will Don leave Betty for Rachel, for Midge or continue to play all three? What of Joan and Roger and Roger's wife? Will Joan ever acknowledge her smitten roommate? Will Peggy move ahead in the company as a writer? Will Sal ever recognize he bats for the other team? There's so much still to learn and share amid the smoke-filled room of Sterling Cooper. Next summer's thirteen episodes can't get here soon enough.

(Originally published 10-18-07)