Mad Men recap: The end of an era

In its final run of episodes, Mad Men is dismantling everything that once defined it.

Mad Men, episode 11.
(Image credit: (Justina Mintz/AMC))

Mad Men is repeating itself again. This week's "Time & Life" features another clash between Don Draper and McCann-Erickson, the advertising giant who acquired Sterling Cooper & Partners in last year's midseason finale. But there's a key difference separating this corporate clash from the many, many corporate clashes that have come before it: This time, Don Draper lost.

McCann-Erickson has been the bogeyman tailing Don since Mad Men began. It began with a manipulative job offer early in the show's first season, and it ended last year with a full-scale acquisition of Sterling Cooper & Partners — the firm Don cofounded in a desperate attempt to get away from McCann.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us
Scott Meslow

Scott Meslow is the entertainment editor for TheWeek.com. He has written about film and television at publications including The Atlantic, POLITICO Magazine, and Vulture.