Oh absolutely. I've said basically the same thing in several posts already. My point is just that Don had to be involved for that wish to be fulfilled.

Split the difference. Transcended Don comes back, takes over the account & after sharing his experience at Esalen tells Peggy to run with it.

I guess but IMO the drama on MM was for the most part realistic as was the reaction and fall out. I guess since I watched a lot of soap operas when I was young that I could never insult an intelligent drama like Mad Men by putting into that category.

Ugh you're probably right but I would be really angry if she won the award over Moss or even Hendricks.

I totally get that and there are plenty of reasons why someone in the industry would not love it. However, I just don't agree with the depiction of it being a soap opera. I've never felt it exhibited any of the typical soap opera tropes.

This has to be the most optimistic take I have seen. ;)

Huh?? You may see your explanation as rational but it hardly deflates my opinion.

I'm sure that's true. My ex-mother-in-law continued smoking after she was diagnosed with emphysema.

I can honestly not imagine anyone other than Jon Hamm as Don Draper. Same can be said of pretty much all of the main characters which is a true testament to their skill of making the characters their own.

That's how I felt as well but I do believe it was done together with Don. Don described it to her, she put it all together and they presented it together when he returns.

I think it all depends how you interpret that last moment and smile on Don's face. You read it as him being Zen and in his element in a New Age locale. Considering he is the one character whose style & appearance hasn't change along with the times, I would think him suddenly latching on to the counter culture movement…

So would Elisabeth Moss be in the Supporting category this year? If so, then it should absolutely be her.

Probably Stan!

I came to Mad Men late in the game (binged 1-4 before season 5 began) largely due to the critique many had of it being a soap opera. Once I watched it I realized that was nonsense and I still don't understand where that criticism came from unless the people that say it consider all serialized dramas a version of soap…

True, that & some other slogans & taglines have been used but it was re-purposed from an earlier time so it was obvious that they weren't implying Don created it. I believe the Coke commercial is the only real life advertisement ever used.

Some people have commented that the use of the real commercial is an indication that Don didn't create it and have developed alternate theories because of this. I disagree.

Yea, I like that both he & Elisabeth wanted her to be on the phone for authenticity.

I re-watched season 1 in preparation for the final and had forgotten just what an ass Ken was back then and what a good guy Harry seemed to be.

Great article and I was happy to see his take was close to my own. He stated it much more eloquently than I could though.

Nailed it!