Had creator Matthew Weiner been dropping hints about this along the way? All the way back in season one, Betty modeled for a Coke ad at McCann. While the hippies are noticeably absent, the bright green foliage and the general tranquility of the image reminds us of the 1971 commercial.

Image for article titled Deconstructing the final scene of “Mad Men”: What does it all mean?

The final season doesn’t just end with an om, it starts with one, too! Here’s Freddy Rumsen pitching Accutron watches to Peggy in the very first scene of the seventh season. The camera focuses closely in on Freddy’s face, just as it does Don’s in the finale, and then you hear it:

“Wow, Freddy,” Peggy says, enchanted. “That’s a home run.”

And in the penultimate episode, Don even fixes (or, it’s implied that he fixes) a Coke machine. Here he is looking intensely at it—what’s he thinking? Is he already conceiving an ad?

Image for article titled Deconstructing the final scene of “Mad Men”: What does it all mean?

If you want to look really deep into things (is there any other way to watch Mad Men?), here’s one more clue: On vacation in Key West, Joan snorts come coke, and really seems to enjoy it. Everyone loves Coke!

The beauty of this final scene, and the series as a whole, as that we’ll never really know for sure what happens next. Mad Men was at its best in its most ambiguous moments, its most puzzling and seemingly weird turns. There was really no other way for the show to end.

At least until it’s taken down, here’s the entire final scene:

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