From “Mad Men”: two great minutes of television

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:54 pm by Deacon Greg Kandra

From “Mad Men”: two great minutes of television 2016-09-30T15:54:20-04:00 Deacon Greg Kandra

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

I’ve been waiting since last night for this video to pop up online, and it finally did. (Spoiler alert: if you missed “Mad Men” and have it waiting for you on DVR, just click this window closed now…)

Below is the superlative, wonderful, grin-inducing, spirit-refreshing, heart-swelling end to Sunday’s mid-season “finale” of “Mad Men.” Kudos to director Matthew Weiner and the brilliant Robert Morse for creating what is a minor television classic. In another era (maybe the “Mad Men” decade), people would have gathered around the water cooler Monday morning to talk about this moment and argue about it. “Did you see it?? What did you think?” ” Now, they gather around Facebook and Twitter. (Though, if people still do talk around water coolers, this wasn’t the best weekend to plan a conversation-starting TV episode, since Monday was a holiday…)

I love what Fr. James Martin said about this on Facebook:

It’s not simply that it’s a joy to see the 83-year-old Morse still light on his feet and still showing the patented lightheartedness that made him a Broadway star 50 years ago. (Watch him react to the woman’s kiss and shrug his shoulders joyfully). It reminds us of the history that each person carries within him or her.

It’s not simply that Don Draper is being offered a message about what matters in life, from the afterlife. (Before this scene, the partners had been arguing about money.)

It’s not simply that Bert calls Don, a man who had come from a terrible family background, “My boy,” before giving him the ultimate in fatherly advice.

It’s not simply that Don is moved to tears by whatever this experience is, and which seems to promise him some measure of happiness and love.

It’s not simply that the viewer is offered a visual representation of someone who has been welcomed into heaven and now understands all things.

It’s this: what he’s singing has the benefit of being true.

Amen.

Film critic Jonathan Lack wrote:

The series, the character, and the actor had earned that moment, in every way, and it is an absolutely beautiful send-off.

But the moment is more than a celebration, because we, the audience, aren’t the only ones watching. This apparition appears to Don Draper, and the look on Don’s face as he watches his old boss sing his goodbyes speaks volumes about the conflicted emotions of the moment (it’s one of many inspired reaction shots Jon Hamm has had this season). “The Best Things in Life Are Free,” Bert sings, just after Don has helped finalize a deal that will net him millions of dollars, and will keep him chained to this agency for at least five years. The look on Don’s face is more than mere sadness or surprise – it’s confliction, because now that he has reclaimed his position in the agency and gotten exactly what he thought he wanted at the start of the season, he’s no longer sure he wants it.

Traveling mercies, Bert Cooper. And thank you. Check out what all the fuss is about below.

"Mad Men"

Previous Post

May 26, 2014

Pope to meet with sex abuse victims next month, compares betrayal of young people to a Black Mass

Next Post

May 27, 2014 Teen birth control? There's an app for that

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category "Mad Men" 9/11 advent All Things New Amazing video amazing videos amazon america Anglicans Anti-Catholicism art ascension thursday ash wednesday Atheists baltimore Bible Bishops Blogging bonnie engstrom Books bridgeport Brooklyn Chaplains children christian art christmas Church Churches CNEWA Converts criticism Deacons Death Penalty easter eastern christian Eastern Christians Ecumenism education Education Eucharist Europe euthanasia Evangelization Exorcism Family Feasts Gay rights Good Friday Great links Great Moments in Journalism Hanging with the saints heather renshaw Hispanic Catholics Hispanics History homelies Homilies Humor Hymn of the Week Immigration indianapolis Inspiration Interfaith news ireland Jesus Jews Journalism Judaism lent Liturgy logos Marriage Mary Media Medical news Mental health Middle East Monks Movies Music Muslims My world and welcome to it New Evangelization new york News Nuns Parenting Parish life peoria Persecution politics Politics Pope pope francis pope john paul Prayer Preaching Priests Pro-life Quote of the day radio rebecca frech ripp Ripped from the headlines rippred from the headlines Sacraments saints Scripture sex abuse Sex abuse crisis SEX ABUSE CRISIS TAGGED WITH: SEX ABUSE CRISIS The people in the pews the visitation project theatre This & that Thomas Merton Trappists TV Uncategorized uncategorized VATICAN Vatican vocation Vocations Voices & Views Women Worth a thousand words Writing Year of Faith year of mercy young people

Select a Month December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who was the first Christian martyr mentioned in Acts?

Select your answer to see how you score.

James Stephen Barnabas Philip

Books by This Author Books by Deacon Greg Kandra

See All Titles »