Mad Cap: "Forecasts"

Left to right: Marten Holden Weiner and January Jones
Welcome to Mad Cap: a series dedicated to chronicling every episode of Mad Men leading up to the series finale. Tune in every Monday to recap each new episode along with memorable moments, quotes, and predictions on where things might be going. Is Don Draper out of the hole on this one? Will the series do well now that it is in the 70's? There's a lot to unpack and no time to waste. So without further ado, please enjoy reading and sharing your own thoughts in the comments on each episode as it airs.

Season 7, Episode 10
"Forecast"

"You're a beautiful girl. It's up 
to you to be more than that."
- Don Draper (Jon Hamm)

Plot:

Don Draper (Jon Hamm) is having his apartment sold. Joan Harris (Christina Hendricks) goes on a business trip to Los Angeles and begins to date someone while she forms frustrations with her babysitter and family. As Don gets to work, he discovers that Roger Sterling (John Slattery) wants everyone to do their evaluation to see where they see the company moving, which is in a state of disarray. Don overthinks it as a big life lesson while everyone else takes it lightly and feels disaffected by the company. Sally Draper (Kiernan Shipka) discovers that Glenn Bishop (Marten Holden Weiner) is going to Vietnam and storms out in protest. She eventually tries to apologize to him. Glenn tries to rekindle his relationship with Betty Francis (January Jones), but fails. Peggy Olsen (Elisabeth Moss) and Pete Campbell (Vincent Kartheiser) have a tiff over a client who is upset with the way that new writers insulted them over their Tinker Bell cookies. With everything falling apart at work, Don spends one last afternoon with Sally and her friends before she takes off for a trip. He gives her his blessing and says goodbye. When he returns home, he discovers that his apartment has been sold and he has a new life to begin.


Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Left to right: Kiernan Shipka and Weiner
MVP:
Sally Draper (Kiernan Shipka)

One of the show's best episodes so far this season focuses on the younger generation starting to find their own voice. There's a lot of talk of hippies and leaving home in ways that seem rather touching, especially for those that have investment in these characters who have grown up on screen. Glenn is going to Vietnam. Sally is going to college. Sterling Cooper Pryce is potentially going under thanks to botched pitches. There's a lot in store for this episode and a lot of it rests on Sally's shoulders, who spends the time dealing with her parents and coming to terms with some harsh realities. As usual, Kiernan Shipka gives a great performance that lights up the screen and makes for some of the show's best moments. Her sincere goodbye with her father is especially touching because it manages to be either a misleading yet powerful goodbye, or just the symbolism that everyone is accepting the future and that we must move on. What lies ahead for Sally is unsure. However, it's the young generation now, and they have something to say.

Left to right: Jon Hamm and Shipka
Best Scene

In typical fashion, the best moments in the series comes back to Don and Sally. Their fractured relationship has always been a point of curiosity and has developed into an interesting one. As they say goodbye, possibly for the last time, there's truth and maturity in Don's speech to her about finding her voice. It is the wisdom that he has been needing to share to his children for some time now and has finally expressed it. They have gotten past their petty ways and are now focused on the future of living their lives. There's some implication that Don is going to start something new, but what exactly? For the moment, it looks hopeful for both of them and there's belief that while the older characters have settled into their ways, they have accepted their irrelevancy just a little. There's a lot to admire and it's a beautifully written moment as well.

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