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.

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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.