Mad Men (season 7)

Mad Men (season 7)

Season 7 promotional poster
Country of origin United States
No. of episodes 14
Broadcast
Original channel AMC
Original run April 13, 2014 – present
Home video release

DVD release

Region 1 October 21, 2014 (Part 1)[1]
Region 2 November 3, 2014 (Part 1)[2]
Region 4 November 6, 2014 (Part 1)[3]

Blu-ray Disc release

Region A October 21, 2014 (Part 1)[1]
Region B November 3, 2014 (Part 1)[2]

The seventh and final season of the American television drama series Mad Men consists of 14 episodes split into two, seven-episode parts: the first half, titled "The Beginning", began on April 13, 2014, on AMC; the second half, titled "The End of an Era", premiered on April 5, 2015.[4]

The first part of season 7 begins in January 1969, several weeks after the Thanksgiving 1968 ending of season 6, with characters dealing with the dynamics of lives and offices being split between New York and Los Angeles, and ends in July 1969. The second part of season 7 begins in April 1970.[5]

Cast

Main cast

Recurring cast

Episodes

No. in
series		 No. in
season		 Title Directed by Written by Original air date U.S. viewers
(millions)
Part 1: The Beginning
791"Time Zones"Scott HornbacherMatthew WeinerApril 13, 20142.27[6]
In January 1969,[7] Don visits the West Coast to salvage his marriage to Megan, while secretly feeding Freddy copy. Peggy is at odds with her new boss, Lou Avery. After a tense first meeting arranged by Ken, Joan convinces Butler Footwear's new head of marketing not to drop SC&P. While Roger is exploring the counterculture, his daughter Margaret tells him she has forgiven him for any past wrongdoing as part of her newfound enlightenment. Pete has embraced the Los Angeles lifestyle, while Ted devotes all his attention to his work.
802"A Day's Work"Michael UppendahlJonathan Igla and Matthew WeinerApril 20, 20141.89[8]
Conflict erupts at Sterling Cooper on Valentine's Day. Pete brings the Southern California Chevrolet dealerships as clients, but the other partners led by Jim insist that they get approval from the Chevy corporate office. Peggy wrongly assumes that her secretary Shirley's flowers are for her. Lou demands a new secretary instead of Dawn, who is still helping Don outside the office and covertly passing him information. Jim recognizes that Joan is working two jobs and suggests she relinquish the post of personnel head and move upstairs to her own office in Accounts. Joan appoints Dawn as her replacement after Bert objects to having a black woman at reception. Meanwhile, Don and Sally bond when he admits to no longer being employed and she admits to using a roommate's family funeral as an excuse to go shopping in Manhattan.
813"Field Trip"Christopher ManleyHeather Jeng Bladt and Matthew WeinerApril 27, 20142.02[9]
It is April 1969.[10] Don flies to Los Angeles at the request of Megan's agent, and it comes out during their visit that he is on leave from the agency. Megan, upset at Don's deception, reacts badly and throws him out, and he returns to New York. He secures a job offer from a rival firm, which he then takes to Roger, telling him that he wants to return to work. Roger relents, telling him to report to the office on Monday. Don arrives at the office only to be met by confusion; Roger has not yet come in and has neglected to tell anyone about Don's return. Roger, Joan, Jim and Bert meet to discuss the matter, ultimately deciding to allow Don to return, albeit under some rather rigid conditions which he must agree to in writing. After lunch with Francine, Betty begins feeling like she's neglecting her children, and agrees to accompany Bobby on a school field trip to a farm. But the day ultimately proves a disappointment to both mother and son.
824"The Monolith"Scott HornbacherErin LevyMay 4, 20142.14[11]
On a date with Bonnie, Pete runs into George Payton, who tells him Burger Chef is putting McCann in review. Don arrives at the SC&P office to find Jim explaining to everyone that a new office computer will be installed in the creative lounge. Roger tells Don the decision to get a computer preceded Don's return. Roger, Lou, Jim, and Pete discuss business with Burger Chef on a conference call. Ted recommends putting Peggy in charge to appeal to homemakers. Don is suggested to be put to work, even though Lou thinks he will "implode". Mona and Brooks visit Roger and let him know that Margaret has run away to a hippie commune. Mona wants him to bring her back. Roger says Brooks should get her himself, but Brooks ends up in jail. Lou gives Peggy a $100 weekly raise, putting her in charge of Burger Chef. She can pick her own team, which must include Don. She asks Don and Mathis for 25 taglines by Monday. She later vents to Joan that Burger Chef was given to her in the hopes that she or Don would fail. After Bert tells Don that SC&P has done fine without him, Don grabs a bottle of liquor from Roger's office and pours some into a soda can in his own office. He invites Freddie to a baseball game. Later at Don's apartment, Freddie tells him to sober up, do the work, or he won't get his old job back. Roger and Mona arrive at a rundown farmhouse. Margaret, now calling herself Marigold, welcomes them, saying she's happy now and Ellery cannot be happy if she's not. Roger tries to force her off the farm, saying her son needs her. She refuses: Roger did it to her, so she can do it to Ellery. Back at SC&P, Don arrives and begins typing the Burger Chef tags for Peggy.
835"The Runaways"Christopher ManleyDavid Iserson and Matthew WeinerMay 11, 20141.86[12]
Stan finds a folder of cartoons Lou is drawing, and the creative team jokes about them. After Sally and some classmates "sword-fight with golf clubs," she is sent home from boarding school with an apparent broken nose. Stephanie, Anna Draper's niece, is pregnant and running out of money in L.A. and calls Don for help. Don asks Megan if Stephanie can temporarily stay with her. Megan accepts, until Stephanie claims to know all of Don's secrets, at which point Megan writes her a check for $1,000 and Stephanie leaves. When Betty voices her opinion on the Vietnam War at a dinner party, Henry tells her to limit conversations to "how much you hate getting toast crumbs in the butter." Don visits Megan in L.A. but is disappointed that Stephanie has left. Megan hosts a party for her acting friends that Harry Crane unexpectedly attends. Sensing the awkwardness, Harry and Don go out to a bar where Harry suggests that Don should be working in L.A., because Ted Chaough is "useless" and Lou and Cutler are pursuing Commander cigarettes, a Philip Morris brand. Harry also warns that Don's job is at stake. After the party, Megan invites Don to have a threesome with her and her friend Amy. The new office computer triggers Ginsberg's paranoia, which culminates in a psychotic break, leading him to cut off his own nipple, giving it to Peggy in a box before he is hauled away from the office on a stretcher. Back in New York, Don interrupts Lou and Cutler's meeting with Philip Morris executives, who are wary about the agency after Don's anti-smoking letter. Don states he wrote that letter to save his business and is now the only experienced cigarette man with the competition's knowledge. He suggests they "force" him into service. After the meeting, when alone in the street, Cutler glares at Don, accusing him of attempting to save his own position at the firm.
846"The Strategy"Phil AbrahamSemi ChellasMay 18, 20141.93[13]
It is June 1969.[14] Bob Benson visits SC&P with two executives from Chevy, ostensibly for a meeting about the still-secretive XP project. He later receives a call in the middle of the night from one of the executives, who was arrested for soliciting an undercover male officer. After Bob posts bail for him, the executive confides to Bob that Chevy only signed SC&P for evaluation purposes, and that they would be moving the XP project "in house" but Bob would soon be offered a job by Buick as a show of appreciation. Bob arranges a Sunday date with Joan, and in the evening tells her about Chevy and proposes marriage so that he can be viewed as a family man and she can have companionship and stability and her son can have a father figure, but she rejects him. Pete takes Bonnie to New York for a vacation, but leaves her in the city when he goes to visit his daughter in Connecticut. He becomes annoyed when Trudy is not present to greet him and fights with her when she returns. Pete and Bonnie have an argument, and she returns to California without him. Peggy visits several Burger Chef locations and prepares a media campaign that impresses Lou, Pete, and Don. Pete later insists that Don give the pitch to "close" the deal with Burger Chef, although Lou and Don disagree with him. Peggy later asks Don his opinion of her pitch, and Don offers his support, but after being pressed by Peggy admits that a different perspective might be explored. This causes Peggy to doubt the whole strategy and revisit it at the office over the weekend. Don stops by and assures her that her pitch is solid. Peggy then admits that part of her doubt is about having recently turned 30. Don says he also has had his share of doubts over the years and gives her a comforting embrace as they dance to the song "My Way". On Monday, the partners meet and learn the news about Chevy, causing Roger and Jim to argue. Jim suggests that the agency respond by publicizing their IBM computer and announcing that Harry Crane has been named a partner. Roger and Joan object, but the others endorse Harry.
857"Waterloo"Matthew WeinerCarly Wray and Matthew WeinerMay 25, 20141.94[15]
Jim Cutler attempts to have Don fired for breach of contract, but Don quashes the effort with the support of Roger and Bert. Later, the characters gather in various locations to watch the first moon landing. Sally seems smitten with the older son of one of the Francis' house guests, but after a phone call with Don she instead kisses the younger, bookish and more motivated son. Meanwhile, Bert passes away on his couch shortly after witnessing the landing. Because of this, Don's status in the company is uncertain and he decides that Peggy should lead the presentation to Burger Chef. Peggy nails the pitch, winning the account. As a counter to Cutler, Roger holds a secret meeting with McCann Erickson, negotiating a deal to sell 51% of SC&P and make it an independent subsidiary of McCann - Roger, Don and Ted each sign five-year contracts, while Jim is let go from the company with a share of the sale price. After learning from Peggy that they have won the Burger Chef account, Don has a vision of Bert performing "The Best Things in Life Are Free" with a chorus of secretaries. Don, disoriented, leans on a desk.
Part 2: The End of an Era
868"Severance"Scott HornbacherMatthew WeinerApril 5, 20152.27[16]
Picking up in April 1970, Don has resumed his womanizing ways as a bachelor. He has a cryptic dream about Rachel Menken and attempts to reconnect with her, only to learn she recently died of leukemia. He also encounters a waitress named Diana at a diner, convinced they have met before, but she insists they are strangers. Peggy and Joan attend a business meeting at McCann Erickson, during which Joan is the recipient of crass sexist commentary from the men present, and resulting in an argument between Peggy and Joan after the meeting. Ken Cosgrove is fired from the agency and subsequently takes over his father-in-law's position at Dow Chemical, informing Roger and Pete that he will actively make Dow a difficult client to them out of spite. Peggy goes on a date with the brother in law of her employee Johnny Mathis. The date goes well, and the two make impromptu plans to travel to Paris, but these plans are put on hold as Peggy cannot find her passport. The next morning she dismisses the experience as drunken foolishness.
879"New Business"Michael UppendahlTom Smuts and Matthew WeinerApril 12, 20151.97[17]
Betty reveals to Don that she is pursuing a degree in psychology. Pima Ryan, a famous commercial artist collaborating with SC&P, seduces Stan and unsuccessfully attempts to seduce Peggy. Megan, who is struggling to find work, rejects a sexual proposition from Harry, then accepts a million dollar check from Don, who she is in the process of divorcing. Marie helps Megan move her belongings out of Don's apartment, and winds up removing all of his furniture as well, then having sex with Roger in the living room. Don continues pursuing a relationship with Diana, and learns more about her - she abandoned one daughter after the other died, and ultimately rejects Don because he makes her forget about them. After leaving Diana's apartment, he comes home to find his own apartment ransacked and emptied.
8810"The Forecast"Jennifer GetzingerJonathan Igla and Matthew WeinerApril 19, 20151.87[18]
It is May 1970. Don sells his apartment. At work, Johnny Mathis fumbles a pitch and goes to Don for advice. When Don advises him to make a joke, Mathis' attempt goes over horribly and he blames Don for it, lashing out at him. Don fires Mathis. Joan goes on a trip to California and carries on an affair with a retiree named Richard (Bruce Greenwood), who initially rejects her because she has a child, but later makes amends. As Sally prepares to go on a twelve-day road trip, she is unexpectedly visited by Glen Bishop, who reveals that he is shipping out to Vietnam. At first he claims he is doing so for ideological reasons, but later he reveals to Betty that he flunked out of college, and attempts to make a move on her. After witnessing inappropriate flirtation between Betty and Glenn, and later between Don and one of her friends, Sally is further disillusioned with both parents.
8911"Time & Life"Jared HarrisErin Levy and Matthew WeinerApril 26, 20151.77[19]
It is June 1970. What at first appears to be a failure to pay the lease on time leads to SC&P discovering that McCann's plan is to close down their office and move everyone into the parent company's headquarters. Don comes up with a plan to move to California as "Sterling Cooper West" and use the lucrative contracts McCann will have to shed due to outstanding conflicts. However, Ken enjoys toying with his former co-workers before telling them he won't sign on. Eventually McCann's CEO lets Don, Roger, Joan, Pete and Ted know that the absorption into McCann is going to happen and they should appreciate their "victory". Elsewhere, Peggy's emotions surge when a group of children are at the office for a focus group. Pete and estranged wife Trudy (Alison Brie) reunite after a crisis arises involving Tammy's preschool application. After a scuffle upon which Pete socks a pedantic headmaster, they talk and find some friendly common ground while pondering the past and future. She reveals regret on forcing him to leave the city for suburbia. Now as a single mother, she's disrespected by the men in her neighborhood. She hopes she will fade into middle-age quietly, having Pete unexpectedly tell her she's ageless. Don tries to find Diana again. Joan has praise from her co-workers and a new love interest but a very uncertain professional future. As rumors begin to raise Don's secretary pressures him into making an announcement. The partners call the rest of the staff into the lounge and announce the coming move. Though Roger and Don try to spin the news positively, the partners quickly lose the crowd's attention as employees wander away in disappointment.
9012"Lost Horizon"[20]Phil AbrahamSemi Chellas and Matthew WeinerMay 3, 2015
9113"The Milk and Honey Route"[20]Matthew Weiner[21]May 10, 2015
9214"Person to Person"[20]Matthew Weiner[21]Matthew Weiner[21]May 17, 2015

Reception

Critical reception

The seventh season of Mad Men has received critical acclaim. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reports that 87% of 52 critics have given the season a "certified fresh" rating. The site's consensus is: "Just in time to rekindle viewers' interest, Mad Men gets back on track for one last season, revisiting its steady, deliberate pace and style on its way to a sure-to-be-compelling climax."[22] On Metacritic, the first part of the seventh season scored 85 out of 100 based on 26 reviews; the second part scored 83 out of 100, based on 19 reviews, both indicating "universal acclaim".[23][24]

Accolades

For the 66th Primetime Emmy Awards, the series was nominated for Outstanding Drama Series, Jon Hamm was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, Christina Hendricks was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, and Robert Morse was nominated for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series.[25] For the 67th Writers Guild of America Awards, the series was nominated for Best Drama Series and Jonathan Igla and Matthew Weiner were nominated for Best Episodic Drama for "A Day's Work".[26]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lambert, David (August 13, 2014). "Mad Men - Lionsgate Announces ‍ '​The Final Season, Part 1‍ '​: Date, Extras, Trippy Box Art". TVShowsOnDVD.com. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Mad Men Season 7 - Part 1 [Blu-ray]". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Mad Men: Season 7 - Part 1". Ezy DVD. Retrieved September 15, 2014.
  4. ↑ Fienberg, Daniel (January 10, 2015). "'Mad Men' final season premiere set for April". HitFix. Retrieved January 10, 2015.
  5. ↑ Rich, Katey (April 6, 2015). "Matthew Weiner on the "Twilight Zone-ness" of the Mad Men Premiere". Vanity Fair. Retrieved April 7, 2015.
  6. ↑ Bibel, Sara (April 15, 2014). "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'Game of Thrones' Wins Night, 'Real Housewives of Atlanta', 'MTV Movie Awards', 'Silicon Valley', 'Mad Men', 'Drop Dead Diva' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved April 15, 2014.
  7. ↑ Richard Nixon is shown on TV giving his inaugural speech: "We have found ourselves rich in goods, but ragged in spirit; reaching with magnificent precision for the moon, but falling into raucous discord on earth."
  8. ↑ Kondolojy, Amanda (April 22, 2014). "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'Game of Thrones' Wins Night, + NBA Playoffs, 'Real Housewives of Atlanta', 'Naked and Afraid' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved April 22, 2014.
  9. ↑ Bibel, Sara (April 29, 2014). "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'Game of Thrones' Wins Night, NBA Playoffs, 'Real Housewives of Atlanta', 'Mad Men', 'Devious Maids' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved April 29, 2014.
  10. ↑ Labrecque, Jeff (April 28, 2014). "Mad Men recap: The Reluctant Rehabilitation of Don Draper". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 12, 2014.
  11. ↑ Kondolojy, Amanda (May 6, 2014). "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'Game of Thrones' Wins Night, + 'Real Housewives of Atlanta', 'Married to Medicine', 'Silicon Valley' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved May 6, 2014.
  12. ↑ Bibel, Sara (May 13, 2014). "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'Game of Thrones' Wins Night, NBA Playoffs, 'Silicon Valley', 'Bar Rescue', 'Real Housewives of Atlanta', 'Mad Men' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved May 13, 2014.
  13. ↑ Kondolojy, Amanda (May 20, 2014). "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'Game of Thrones' Wins Night + 'Silicon Valley', 'Real Housewives of Atlanta', 'River Monsters', 'Married to Medicine' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
  14. ↑ Scarano, Ross (May 19, 2014). ""Mad Men" Recap: Random Family". Complex. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
  15. ↑ Bibel, Sara (May 28, 2014). "Sunday Cable Ratings: NBA Playoffs Win Night, 'Mad Men', 'Devious Maids', 'Total Divas', 'Married to Medicine', 'Turn' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
  16. ↑ Kondolojy, Amanda (April 7, 2015). "Sunday Cable Ratings: MLB Baseball & 'The Real Housewives of Atlanta' Top Night + 'Keeping Up With the Kardashians', 'Mad Men' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved April 7, 2015.
  17. ↑ Bibel, Sara (April 14, 2015). "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'Game of Thrones' Wins Night, 'Silicon Valley', 'MTV Movie Awards', 'Mad Men', 'Veep', 'The Royals' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
  18. ↑ Kondolojy, Amanda (April 21, 2015). "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'Game of Thrones' Tops Night + NBA Playoffs, 'Real Housewives of Atlanta,' 'Naked and Afraid' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved April 21, 2015.
  19. ↑ Bibel, Sara (April 28, 2015). "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'Game of Thrones' Wins Night, NBA Playoffs, 'Real Housewives of Atlanta', 'Silicon Valley', 'Mad Men' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 "Mad Men - Episode Guide". Zap2it. Retrieved March 28, 2015.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 Mitovich, Matt Webb (June 6, 2014). "Matt's Inside Line: Scoop on Good Wife, Once, Mad Men, Teen Wolf, Orphan Black, Falling Skies and More". TVLine. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  22. ↑ "Mad Men: Season 7 (2014-2015)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved April 7, 2015.
  23. ↑ "Mad Men: Season 7". Metacritic. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
  24. ↑ "Mad Men: Season 7.5". Metacritic. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
  25. ↑ Lowry, Brian (July 10, 2014). "2014 Emmy Awards: ‘Game of Thrones,’ ‘Fargo’ Lead Nominations". Variety. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  26. ↑ Gelman, Vlada (December 4, 2014). "Good Wife, True Detective, Thrones, Louie Among 2015 WGA Nominees". TVLine. Retrieved December 5, 2014.

External links