Like all good things – “Breaking Bad” mostly – the hit AMC original series “Mad Men” must come to an end after its upcoming seventh season. A lot of things are left to be figured out, and although plotlines are very hush-hush (rightfully so), we wouldn’t let you return to Don and company without offering a few predictions for the cast members in its last hurrah.
The new season premieres on April 13, but what many people don’t know is the final 14-episode season is split into two parts, the second to finish airing in 2015. So before you start drinking at work and throwing weird theme parties in honor of the premiere, let’s consider the future of each of these classy folks based off what we know and hope for. (WARNING: SEASONS 1-6 SPOILERS AHEAD)
Don Draper
Last season, we saw Don fight to go to L.A. only to hand it off to his partner, Ted, simultaneously causing Megan to run out on him. After railroading a big meeting with Hershey’s, he was suspended indefinitely. The season 7 premiere is titled “Time Zones”, and for Don, that could mean Megan went to Hollywood as planned without him. By now, Don could be back in the office battling a hefty commute to keep his marriage afloat. If he’s cleaned up his act, things may be business as usual, but in the final season, expect his secret past to come full circle and bite him square in the buttocks of his fancy smoky suit. We saw some of that with his candid meeting with Hershey’s. He’ll be looking to make his way to L.A. to escape the weight of New York and get back in Megan’s good graces, but will he get there before it’s too late?
Megan Draper
The biggest character change will be Megan, who we believe will carry on to Hollywood, get away from her New York life, and blossom into a truly big actress. And Don won’t know how to reconnect with her. She’ll catch everybody in Hollywood’s eye, much like Jessica Pare did in her Esquire photoshoot, just before this season premiere. As she finds fame, look for her to grow apart from Don, and once again, Don will find himself alone (yet in the company of many beautiful women). Megan will have many gentleman callers, as well. Let’s hope she gets a little slutty this time around, but in a totally classy way of course — which makes it not slutty at all.
Sally Draper
She’ll play a crucial role in the final season as she holds all the cards with the secret she’s keeping of her father’s extramarital affairs. As Don tries to reconnect, Sally will attempt to take big steps toward adulthood knowing that she can. Megan will already be growing apart, and Sally’s looming confession will be the last straw to cut ties with Sally’s father. Look for Sally to be a manipulative little bitch, a bit of a wild child, and a real handful for her folks this time around as she makes her dad earn back her trust while throwing a kegger or two to piss off Betty in the process.
Roger Sterling
Chances are, Roger Sterling will continue to be cocky and sophisticated in the final season, battling tooth and nail for clients with the slick Pete Campbell. He’ll also miss a friend in not having Don around, so he’ll push to get Draper back to work. But last we checked, Sterling was getting into Joan’s good graces, getting to spend the holidays with his estranged son. Look for Sterling to take the absence of his own family as a sign to be a good father to Joan’s and his son. Maybe he’ll finally get around to smacking Bob Benson around, too, because somebody really should.
Betty (Draper) Francis
Somewhat fazed out of the show last season as Megan Draper took over, January Jones‘ character Betty Francis will likely make a big comeback in season 7. Besides another change in hair color, expect Betty to step in as the chief parental figure to Sally as Don struggles to connect with his daughter, and while Megan is away, don’t be surprised if the slim-again Betty falls into Don’s lap once more, so to speak.
Peggy Olson
After a quick affair and a rough ending with Ted, Peggy is forced to run the New York branch in Don’s absence. In the time she has being in charge, we believe she’ll come into her own and probably turn out to do a better job than Don altogether, and everyone will notice. If that doesn’t happen, expect Peggy to make some important life decisions instead of letting her work dictate her life. Now that Ted is out of the picture, she has some big choices to make, and we expect she’ll come out on top in the end because although Don is the main character, the story follows her just as much as it does him.
Ted Chaough
The episode title “Time Zones” might also refer to Ted and Don trying to balance the company between the two coasts. Of course, if Ted isn’t up to par, Don will be there to call him out. He’ll find that being away from Peggy was harder than he thought, and eventually he’ll cave in under the pressure one way or another. Ted is a caver.
Joan Harris
Joan and her awesome bazungas will be back to keep it classy. The tagline for the new season is “everything is up in the air,” and with planes being featured (and Joan walking off of one) in the secretive teasers and the episode called “Time Zones,” look for Joan to be traveling to the west coast. Maybe in the end, the whole company will take to L.A. Wouldn’t that be darling? And look for Joan to take an interest in Roger Sterling taking an interest in being a part of her son’s life. He’ll announce it to the world, and maybe sparks too will fly – again – this season.
Pete Campbel
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With plans to move out to Los Angeles, leaving Trudy and his child behind, Pete will become the big dog on the west coast, but his head might get a little big in the city of sexy angels. He’ll likely have a power struggle with Ted, the other guy who’s been shacking up with Peggy. They’d be a good match for a fight, and we love watching Pete get his ass kicked. Expect Pete to run his mouth, get slapped in it and continue on as the conniving little weasel he always was. And if Sterling doesn’t kick Bob Benson’s ass, hopefully Pete will. Such a violent group, these mad men.
Bertram Cooper
Old man Cooper will bite the big one this season. He’s old, barely does anything and sits around like a zen master waiting to judge people. His departure from the show will be sad but quickly forgotten, just like that British guy. What was his name? Hangey McGlasses? Too soon?
Ken Cosgrov
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These two will continue to thrive in their own little expertise fields, but Ken Cosgrove will eventually flourish as a sci-fi writer and quit the business. Harry Crane will just eat a ton of food and sexually harass women verbally in the office. These two — you’ve got to love them.
Bob Benson
He’ll be awkwardly found out by the entire office and awkwardly leave the show. That, or he’ll shoot up the office, take Joan’s baby for ransom and make a sexual pass at Pete Campbell while he sleeps, in that order. Only time will tell.
