AMC's Mad Men - Episode 7.07 "Waterloo"
Don receives a troubling letter. A risky venture entails a new future for Peggy. Roger gets an unexpected phone call. Pete butts heads with Cutler.
There's always poetic symmetry whenever a great triumph happens right before a great tragedy. It's a concept that has been a standard trope on television for a long time. So, it really isn't that surprising that on the night where everyone in America is watching Neil Armstrong take that first step on the moon Bert Cooper passes away on his couch. It's a meaningful and somber moment that allows several characters to be introspective about their own mortality. But it's also a celebration of life. Bert had a long and meaningful life. He has been a great partner and friend to Don and Roger. He's spoken wise wisdom from the very first time we met him in Season 1. And even now, he gets to have a really fun monologue about no one coming back from leave - not even Napoleon. His death surprisingly unifies the firm and strengthens the resolves of not only Don but Peggy. This was a wonderful episode of Mad Men even before Bert's death. But afterwards, it was flawless. A perfect celebration of life. One that could only be capped with Bert coming to Don as a vision in the office to sing "The Best Things in Life are Free."Additionally, this was just a really strong showcase episode for both John Slattery and Elisabeth Moss. Roger truly did get the fire lit under him. As of late, it's easy to forget just how savvy a business and ad man he is because of the amount of recreational drugs and sex he partakes in as well as him having to deal with his daughter this season. He hasn't been contributing that much to the firm. He's not the ones in meetings. He's been resting comfortably even though Don and Jim have been causing trouble. Even Bert is not afraid to say how he's not a leader anymore. He doesn't have that vision or that drive. That void has been filled by Jim. Bert will stay loyal to Roger and Don out of loyalty. But a change needed to happen otherwise the firm would have self-destructed. Bert's death is that turning point. Roger takes that time to go to the office to mourn him respectfully. For him, there needs to be a time to honor their beloved friend. While Joan and Jim had respect for Bert, their first priority is in protecting the business. That means stopping Don Draper from costing them any more money and getting the clients on the phone to reassure them that his death wouldn't hinder their job performance. It's a very cynical take on the world. But Roger too finds his drive because of it.
This half-season has obviously been building to that moment where all the partners are sitting in Roger's office to discuss becoming a subsidiary of McCann Erickson. Of course, the show has been down this route before. They created this firm with the sole purpose of breaking away from that company. But the times have changed. This company is not the same as it was when it first started. They have a car and that changes everything. They've expanded to the West Coast - although how successful that operation has been can be up for debate. These partners have their morals until Roger spells out how lucrative this deal could be to all of them. Of course, it all hinders on what amount McCann Erickson values the company at. But it should be a safe bet for all involved.
However, it keeps them all involved together. Something that Ted isn't too happy about because of how down and dour he has been this whole year. He's been sleepwalking through life. No purpose whatsoever. It's been really depressing. When he's flying that plane at the top of the hour, it really seems possible that he would crash it just to escape from life. He really has no drive with anything any more. He attributes that to advertising and just wants out. This deal keeps him from that and it leads to the most vocal moment from him all season long. And it's Don who's able to talk him off the proverbial ledge. Just do the work. The simple things that they did when they first entered the business. Return to the basics. That's what Don had to do this season. He blew up just to be reborn again. His redemption at work hasn't been completely welcomed by the fellow partners. But he's also an asset here. As is Ted. It's a new dynamic that will likely be very tumultuous in the beginning. But Ted could use some life kicked into him now too.
But all of that office politicking is nothing compared to the true emotional highlight of the hour - Peggy's passionate speech to the Burger Chef executives. Pitching is an inherent part of this business. It's always fun seeing them prepare for the meetings themselves and how they have to crack the jokes and schmooze the potential client. Over the years, we have heard plenty of memorable pitches. Ones that excite the clients and ones where things implode disastrously. Peggy's speech here is incredibly and emotionally earnest and raw. One of those moments where you just sit in awe of how wonderful it is. That was the huge connective tissue that brings everything together in this finale. That is the center of this final episode of 2014 and everything else happened around it. It was that awesome. It was simultaneously aspirational but realistic. It drew comparisons to both Peggy's own life as well as the events that are uniting the country at the moment. As the group heads to Indianapolis to give their pitch, they're praying that the astronauts make it to the moon safely. That's a moment that happens once in a lifetime - although several of those moments happened in the 1960s and Mad Men has covered most of them to various degrees of success. The moon landing, however, is a wonderful moment to center an episode around because of how it unified the country. Everyone was watching it on their TV screens to see the men walking on the moon. Up to this point in history, it was all just a dream. But now, it's reality. Now, the sky is no longer the limits. Anything is possible. Even the shared collective smile of a family sitting down at a table eating Burger Chef. It's an idea that's unifying and one that's delivered as flawlessly as any have on the show.
Some more thoughts:
- "Waterloo" was written by Matthew Weiner & Carly Wray and directed by Matthew Weiner.
- Pete was "Not great Bob" levels of mad when Jim was on the phone with Ted.
- Megan basically said "Thanks but no thanks" to Don over his proposition to finally move out to Los Angeles to be with her. Does this mean things are over between the two of them? We've asked that question before and here they are still together. So I really have no clue.
- I always feel bad when the partners just blatantly cast Harry aside. But it's never not funny either. It's a very weird feeling.
- Sally kinda peaked this season in her first episode when she told her father that she loved him. But I'll also never question the show for giving her more screentime. She gets to kiss a boy and see the stars for herself!
- Meredith, what?
- So glad that Robert Morse finally got to sing. Gonna go watch that sequence again and again.
- I basically refuse to refer to this episode as the midseason finale. Appropriate names include - Episode 7, the season finale or the last episode of 2014.
- I still can't believe this is the last episode of Mad Men until 2015. But I will sit patiently until new episodes arrive.
