Mad Men season 3 finale about endings and new beginnings

November 9, 2:50 PMCable TV ExaminerChristine Nyholm

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Roger Sterling (John Slattery), Don Draper (Jon Hamm) and Bertram Cooper (Robert Morse)
Mad Men AMC

The season three finale of the AMC original series Mad Men aired on November 8, 2009, with an episode bound to leave viewers anxiously anticipating what will happen in season four. Mad Men stars Jon Hamm as the ever dashing but emotionally unavailable Don Draper. The cast of Mad Men includes Jon Hamm, January Jones, John Slattery, Vincent Kartheiser, Elisabeth Moss, Christine Hendricks and Robert Morse. The drama is created, executive produced by Emmy Award winner Matthew Weiner.

The season finale of Mad Men was a story of endings and beginnings. After much melodrama during the season, the marriage of Don (Jon Hamm) and Betty Draper (January Jones) appears to finally be over. The Draper marriage is a casualty of Don's adulterous affairs, deception and of Betty's infatuation with an older politician, Henry Francis, who promises to take care of her. Beautiful but vapid, Betty is rushed into a Reno divorce, persuaded by Henry Francis that she does not need a settlement from Don Draper because he will take care of her and the children.

Don Draper also faces the end of his career at Sterling Cooper Advertising Agency when Connie Hilton informs him that the Brits are selling the agency. Draper is angry that he got tied into a contract because of Hilton and now he has to ride out the three year term as a cog in a large wheel. Draper approaches Bertram Cooper (Robert Morse) and Roger Sterling (John Slattery) and the three hatch a plan to start their own advertising agency as partners. First the three need to get out of their contracts, and Don figures out that Pryce can fire them and free them from their contracts Pryce agrees to fire them in exchange for a partnership. Brilliantly he figures out that if he sends a Friday afternoon telegram the Brits that own the agency will not see it until Monday, giving the rebels a chance to poach their account information and records from the office.

Over the weekend Don Draper and Roger Sterling go out for a cocktail and Don confides that he is getting a divorce. Sterling responds “It is true then.” Realizing that he has let the cat of the bag he tell Don that he had heard about a relationship between Betty Draper and Henry Francis.

The new partners can only approach the people they consider “sure things' to join them on their venture. Little do they know that Pete Campbell and Peggy (Elisabeth Moss) have been seriously considering moving elsewhere and their loyalties are in question. Don Draper is forced to admit to each Pete and to Peggy and they are important to him, something he has trouble with. Eventually Pete and Peggy as persuaded into joining the new venture.

The best line may have come in the scene where relative newcomer Pryce was fired when the Brits learns that he had fired the key staff at Sterling Cooper, losing millions of dollars. With cheerful British crispness, he said “Very good then...Happy Christmas.” He then proceeded to join the rebels at the newly formed agency in the hotel suite.

In a moment of comic relief, the advertising executives realize that they do not know where anything is or how things works. Roger Sterling calls in the ever efficient Joan Christina Hendricks) who comes to their rescue and organizes their exit with all the pertinent records. Joan leads the charge directs the partners as she arranges the movers, packing the records and sets up a hotel suite as their new office.

Initially Don Draper was sorrowful at the end of his marriage, but the excitement of starting a new agency seems to take over as the adrenaline kicks in the the partners are imbued with youthful enthusiasm. In the midst of the excitement Don calls Betty and tells her he will not fight her on the divorce.

As Don Draper and Roger Sterling and stand side by side as they leave the agency, they look similar, as if the viewer is to realize that Draper is more like Roger Sterling than they realize.

In the final scenes expressionless Betty Draper flies away with Henry Francis, infant on her lap, heading for a Reno divorce. The other two children are left with their nanny, deprived of both parents. Don Draper may look happier than he ever has, excited at the prospect of starting a new agency and a new life.

The season finale of Mad Men was a great feat of expert storytelling, as the story lines of season three were wrapped up into a story that leaves viewers wanting more and in anticipation of season four.

Cast of Mad Men

• Jon Hamm as Don Draper
• January Jones as Betty Draper
• John Slattery as Roger Sterling
• Christina Hendricks as Joan Harris
• Vincent Kartheiser as Pete Campbell
• Elisabeth Moss as Peggy Olson

Mad Men airs on AMC and is currently available on On Demand Cable.

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