Mad Men: Season Finale- "Shut the door, Have a seat"

Below is my spoiler filled take on last night's Mad Men.
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Now to last nights fantastic Mad Men finale:

• First: I didn't post on last weeks excellent and devastating episode about the Kennedy assassination. It was fantastic, but I was too busy to get a post done. At some point in the future I will try to write a post for it. It did well to set the stage for this episode though. Change and fear were still hanging in the air, both in the country at large and at Sterling Cooper. I don't think the characters could have made the choices they did here without the events going on it that episode. Especially Betty telling Don "I don't love you."
• This was at turns the most upbeat and fun episode of the entire season and the most depressing personally. It is a credit to the writer and actors that they were able to pull off such shifts in tone while continuously building the energy and the tension on both the work and home fronts.
• The entire office plot was spectacular, from the moment Hilton told Don about the emminent sale of SC it was a joyride of delicious moments set up over the entire season (or series) paying off one after another. 
• Don goes to Betram, the once powerful and vital man turned dotty zen-master office napper, but who we have seen at times still has a formidable power and pride inside and the two of them team up to save their own lives by building a new home for themselves.
• Don and Bertram get Roger (and his stupid, but necessary, Lucky Strike account) by virtue of their combined skills and persuasions. I actually think Don realizes in this conversation that his hatred for Roger this season is another of many extensions of hating himself, especially that he felt trapped and alienated and Roger seemed to be free of all that, so when Don asks Roger on, I do believe it is more than Lee Garner, Jr's stupid company that is at work in the room. Of course there is also Bertram, impeccably summing up the situation by telling Roger to join them or Roger will die. 
• All of this means Roger and Bertram have to start over, but they are energized by it. Especially Roger who notes that he always acted like he started the company when he just inherited it, I think it is huge victory for him to think that the Sterling name on the door will now actually be his. When they get a door.
• The entire Pryce storyline came together so well too. All those moments in so many episodes during the season when he had little realizations that St.John and his superiors had no respect or place for him were the perfect set up for the ultimate Mad Men weekend. Pryce fires Don, Roger, and Bertram (getting them out of the contract mess) and everyone has 48 hours to create and/or steal everything and everyone they need to make a new Sterling Cooper (Draper Pryce) before anyone knows on Monday.
• Then it was really on. Pete is brought on with a (again I think authentic) speech from Don about his value as a forward thinker. Pete's growth and the solidified Pete/Trudy relationship (German au pair notwithstanding)were really highlighted again and again. When they hugged and kissed after Don and Roger left it seemed like one of the most genuinely loving moments of any couple ever on the show. (Which should be interesting as the changes continue and Pete and Peggy are now back in close quarters, and Trudy is bringing lunch to the "office".)
  
• Harry once again gets the benefit of having chosen a great and important job accidentally.
• Peggy and Don finally have the talk they have needed to have for a long long time. As at first he just assumes her willingness to follow him and she says no. Later he actually admits their connection, and her value. With a tear the two mirrors are ready to start out again, again brought closet to a relationship of peers.
• Joan, back with a vengeance.Seriously make that woman Cheif Operating Officer. It was great to see, as we have glimpsed often this season, sure she knows everything about SC, but that isn't what makes her the Queen Bee. She is simply the most effective, intelligent and talented character on the show. Hopefully the show will continue to have her break out of the socially infused barriers to actually use those talents. She should certainly at the very least be added back to the television office. And Dr. Cutup can shut it and stay out of the way. I love that the AMC website is updated already and Joan is "the office manager at Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce". Christina Hendricks and John Slattery are also just an unmatchable pair for on-air chemistry. Give me more!
  
• Finally there were the tears and dejections of those left behind. Don's secretary was so distraught, and poor loser Paul staring at Peggy's office. I hope that there is an expansion of scope on the show, so that we can at least check in on them and see how they are competing with the "A-team" that snuck away.
• No Sal... will he ever return. I think there may be riots if he has met the same fate as Freddy. Come on Weiner we all want Sal back. Somehow!

• At the "Draper Residence" things just went from awful to disastrous:
• Betty finally asks for the divorce that has been looming since the Pilot.
  
• The scene where Don confronts Betty about her relationship with Henry was one of those classic "horrible Don" moments (Like when he fired Sal) that leave me so impressed with John Hamm. It was excruciating, and frightening and then with his look when the baby cries that shows he knows those same things ultimately devastating.
• Kiernan Shipka's Sally has been great all season (and I normally despise child acting) but her scene when Don and Betty say that he is moving out was seriously Emmy worthy. Immpecable work by all of the family there, but she hit all the right notes so well that I wondered if she had actually been through her parent's divorcing in real life. I hope they don't jump ahead so far that they think they need to recast her.

• Don calling from the "office" to apologize and the way that Betty really seemed to want him to actually fight to stay was really the best way to end it. They will still be in a relationship, but now the marriage is no more, and while I think there will be some twists and retreats, I think that is the way it will stay.
• I don't trust Henry for a second, I just think something is up with him and I hope it isn't too terrible (and that we get to see it). I also hope that January Jones and the Draper clan all remain on the show a good deal. Even though I still want more office scenes next season.
  
• It was just a great episode (and season) overall. I am really going to miss it, and waiting a year is so frustrating, but it will be tremendous to see what Weiner and company bring us when they come back. And the story possibilities and combinations are really just broken wide open now. I can not wait!