Ep 7. Waterloo

As the penultimate episode of Mad Men’s final season, “Waterloo” packs a punch. At a pivotal moment for several key characters, the episode grapples with the question of what happens after a career-defining moment – or even, perhaps, a career-ending one.

Throughout the season, the characters have been living through 1969: a year that saw the moon landing, the Manson murders, and the Vietnam War continue to rage on. Against this backdrop, Sterling Cooper & Partners is fighting to stay afloat – and “Waterloo” takes us right up to the moment the firm might disappear altogether.

As the episode opens, the agency is in crisis. Its founder, Bert Cooper, has just died – leaving the future of the firm in doubt. Joan, the firm’s office manager, is not only mourning Bert’s passing but also fighting for her own place in the company: she’s been offered partnership, but only if she sleeps with the head of accounts. Meanwhile, Peggy, one of the top copywriters, is itching to leave the company behind and strike out on her own. And Don, the enigmatic ad man who has been the focus of the show since its first episode, is struggling to find his footing after his recent firing.

The moon landing – which took place in real life just a few weeks before this episode takes place – provides a perfect parallel to the characters’ struggles. In both cases, we find people grappling with the question of what happens when they’ve accomplished something monumental – and what, if anything, comes next.

For most of the episode, the characters at Sterling Cooper & Partners are stuck in limbo. Joan is torn between her desire for ownership of the company and her belief that she shouldn’t have to compromise her principles to get it. Peggy is hesitant to strike out on her own, realizing that she’s not quite ready to take the reins yet. And Don, who had been spiraling out of control for much of the season, is trying to put himself back together.

Then, of course, there’s the question of whether the agency itself will survive. With Bert gone and the partnership in jeopardy, it seems like the end might be near. But as the moon landing happens – with Bert’s appearance in Don’s hallucination casting a strange light over the proceedings – we start to see glimmers of hope.

By the end of the episode, a lot has changed. We won’t spoil the details, but suffice it to say that several major characters have made big decisions about their lives and careers. And the future of the agency, while not secure, seems to be holding together for now.

One of the standout moments of “Waterloo” comes near the end, as the staff of Sterling Cooper watches the moon landing on TV. It’s a moment of triumph for humanity – but also a moment of uncertainty. We’re left wondering what the next adventure will be, now that we’ve accomplished this one.

As the final season of Mad Men draws to a close, “Waterloo” leaves us with a sense of closure – but also a sense of anticipation. We know that big changes are on the horizon for these characters, and we’re eager to see what comes next. With just one episode left, it seems like anything could happen.