Jon Hamm Says ‘Mad Men’ and Don’s Peaceful Ending Didn’t Last
We’ve had a year and a half to let Mad Men’s contemplative, even historical ending sink in. Don Draper found at least some measure of peace, and almost immediately returned to work to channel that into a soda commercial. Don’t expect that leopard to have changed his spots, however, as even Jon Hamm thinks whatever enlightenment Don found wouldn’t have lasted.
Hamm stated as much in an interview with The Rich Eisen Show (home to so many AMC revelations), suggesting that Don Draper hadn’t learned any life-changing lesson during his flight from McCann-Erickson. As the ending implied. Don channeled any potential spiritual awakening into the famous 1971 Coca-Cola commercial, but apparently just went right back to being ‘ol Don Draper in the weeks that followed (h/t Vulture):
I don’t think that stuck. I don’t think that Zen moment of understanding of anything really stuck. That leopard is not changing his spots … I think it was more about, he just had a really good idea for a commercial.
And lest you wonder if Don Draper’s story perhaps worth revisiting in the modern era:
Where is Don Draper right now, do you think?
Six feet under. Easily. Come on, he’d be in his ‘80s, and there ain’t no way that guy’s getting to his ‘80s without a massive lifestyle shift.
If nothing else, we can always focus on happier endings like Peggy and Stan, or Pete and Trudy’s apparent shot at redemption. Or Sal! That guy lived happily ever after, and don’t you dare tell me otherwise.
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