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# Here's Where All the Characters on _Mad Men_ Ended Up in the Finale

<!-- video src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/iDVLbkAz.m3u8" -->
## Video: Behind the Scenes of 'Mad Men'

[Watch (HLS stream): Behind the Scenes of 'Mad Men'](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/iDVLbkAz.m3u8) (3:31)

![Behind the Scenes of 'Mad Men'](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/iDVLbkAz/poster.jpg?width=720)

_Published 2014-03-19. TIME gained rare access to the set of 'Mad Men' before its final season. TV critic James Poniewozik narrates. Photographs by Alex Majoli._


by 

[Esther Zuckerman](https://time.com/author/esther-zuckerman/)


## Esther Zuckerman


Zuckerman is a contributor for TIME.

May 18, 2015 4:51 AM UTC

![Jon Hamm as Don Draper in AMC's Mad Men.](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt9ecf2c03623eb07d/69884cf55f570f3a8ab1b2b6/959a69f0-8d07-8b2a-c8d2-a5b88dd25b34_mm713-07.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=3:2)

Jon Hamm as Don Draper in AMC's Mad Men.

Jon Hamm as Don Draper in AMC's Mad Men.AMC

by 

[Esther Zuckerman](https://time.com/author/esther-zuckerman/)


## Esther Zuckerman


Zuckerman is a contributor for TIME.

May 18, 2015 4:51 AM UTC

Though there was some ambiguity to _Mad Men_’s “I’d Like to Buy the World a Coke” [ending](http://time.com/3882114/mad-men-finale-id-like-to-buy-the-world-a-coke-ad/), Matthew Weiner also gave viewers some clear-cut conclusions for his characters and signaled where the ’70s might take them. The finale had a touch of romance, a touch of bleakness and a _spectacular_ power move from Joan.

Here’s where all the main characters ended up:

**Don:** Don, after learning of Betty’s cancer, goes to California to see Stephanie, Anna Draper’s niece, who brings him along to a retreat. When Stephanie leaves him abandoned there, he breaks down and calls Peggy, who tells him to come home. But he doesn’t, paralyzed. A woman at the retreat encourages him to come to a seminar. While there, a man’s speech about feeling like he’s on a shelf in a refrigerator stirs Don. When the man starts crying, Don goes to hug him.  
**Parting shot:** Don, in a yoga class, saying “Om.” The sun’s on his face. A smile crosses his lips. Cut to: “I’d Like to Buy the World a Coke.”

**Peggy:** Despite having an offer from Joan to start a Harris Olson production company, Peggy ends up staying at McCann, working alongside Stan, to whom she — surprise! — ends up confessing her love. After a fight over Peggy’s potential departure, a phone conversation leads to Stan telling her he loves her. She’s confused at first, but ends up reciprocating. He comes to her office and they kiss.  
**Parting shot:** Peggy’s typing at her desk while Stan comes up behind her, rubbing her shoulders and kissing her on the forehead.

**Betty:** Betty learns she has lung cancer, but refuses treatment. She gives Sally instructions on how to handle her death, and wants the boys to live with their uncle, even though Don wants to take care of them. She tells Don: “I want to keep things as normal as possible and you not being here is part of that.”  
**Parting shot:** Betty sits at her kitchen table, smoking.

**Pete:** Duck, sad drunk that he is, ends up maneuvering a great deal at Learjet for Pete, who sees the job as his chance to start over with Trudy and Tammy in Wichita.  
**Parting shot:** Pete, Trudy, and Tammy board a Learjet.

**Sally:** Sally returns home to care for her brothers while their mother dies.  
**Parting shot:** Sally washes dishes at home.

**Joan:** Despite her awful experience at McCann, a new opportunity comes Joan’s way through Ken Cosgrove, who needs a producer for a film for Dow. This gives Joan the idea to start her own production company. Her boyfriend, Richard, wants her to be fully devoted to him and walks out. Joan, however, forges ahead.  
**Parting shot:** Joan hands off Kevin to her mother, and tends to her company, Holloway Harris, which she’s running out of her apartment.

**Roger:** Roger puts Joan’s son Kevin in his will, and decides to marry Megan’s mother, Marie Calvet.  
**Parting shot:** Roger and Marie sit in a café, joking around.


### 'Mad Men' Up Close: Photos From the Set of the Celebrated Show

![Mad Men Matthew Weiner Christina Hendricks TV 2014 Advertising Alex Majoli \(L-R\) John Hamm as Don Draper, Elisabeth Moss as Peggy Olson and Vincent Kartheiser as Pete Campbell behind the scenes on set of Mad Men’s seventh and final season.](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt65ddfd52084e9ec0/6987e670cd1bba4c756f8732/ama2014003h20604431.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp)

February 2014\. From left: Vincent Kartheiser as Pete Campbell, Elisabeth Moss as Peggy Olson and John Hamm as Don Draper behind the scenes on set of Mad Men’s seventh and final season, Los Angeles. Alex Majoli—Magnum for TIME

![Mad Men Matthew Weiner Christina Hendricks TV 2014 Advertising Alex Majoli January Jones at Betty Francis \(Left\), Colin Hanks as Father Grill \(Center\) and Christina Hendricks as Joan Harris](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt650f7553f7dded10/6987e67e2dce0136cf9e0d46/ama2014003h2060224.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp)

February 2014\. From center: Vincent Kartheiser as Pete Campbell and Christina Hendricks as Joan Harris behind the scenes on set of Mad Men’s seventh and final season, Los Angeles. Alex Majoli—Magnum for TIME

![Mad Men Matthew Weiner Christina Hendricks TV 2014 Advertising Alex Majoli Aaron Staton as Ken Cosgrove, Robert Morse as Bertram Cooper and Christopher Stanley as Henry Francis](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt3f2d4ec44048f9ab/6987e67de53aba20be4dacee/ama2014003h2060209.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp)

February 2014\. From left: Aaron Staton as Ken Cosgrove, Robert Morse as Bertram Cooper and other cast members behind the scenes on set of Mad Men’s seventh and final season, Los Angeles. Alex Majoli—Magnum for TIME


![USA. Los Angeles, 2014. On the set of madmen \(7th season\).](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt4d633d004cc9d61d/6987e69806f2c13c3f3373bf/ama2014003h2060513.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp)

February 2014\. From left: Christina Hendricks as Joan Harris, January Jones as Betty Draper, Elisabeth Moss as Peggy Olson, and Vincent Kartheiser as Pete Campbell on the set of Mad Men’s seventh and final season, Los Angeles. Alex Majoli—Magnum for TIME

![Mad Men Matthew Weiner Christina Hendricks TV 2014 Advertising Alex Majoli](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt25f44fc60028836e/6987e67c524fc0318adefb20/ama2014003h2060174.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp)

February 2014\. From left: Matthew Weiner, Creator of Mad Men and Robert Morse who plays Bertram Cooper, behind the scenes of Mad Men’s seventh and final season, Los Angeles. Alex Majoli—Magnum for TIME

![Mad Men Matthew Weiner Christina Hendricks TV 2014 Advertising Alex Majoli Christina Hendricks Joan Harris](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blte7602692ff04ca73/6987e67d5f570f3a19b18a82/ama2014003h20602651.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp)

February 2014\. Christina Hendricks, who plays Joan Harris, has makeup applied on the set of Mad Men’s seventh and final season, Los Angeles. Alex Majoli—Magnum for TIME


![Mad Men Matthew Weiner Christina Hendricks TV 2014 Advertising Alex Majoli John Slattery as Roger Sterling \(Center\) and Rich Sommer as Harry Crane \(Right\)](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltaa12d620bd916136/6987e67e5f570fcce7b18a86/ama2014003h2060274-21.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp)

February 2014\. From center: John Slattery as Roger Sterling and Rich Sommer as Harry Crane behind the scenes on set of Mad Men’s seventh and final season, Los Angeles. Alex Majoli—Magnum for TIME

![Matthew Weiner, Creator of Mad Men 7th Season Advertising](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt46ede687d1441f8b/6987e67b0b72e355576e0faf/ama2014003h2060026.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp)

February 2014\. Matthew Weiner behind the scenes on set of Mad Men’s seventh and final season, Los Angeles. Alex Majoli—Magnum for TIME

![Mad Men Matthew Weiner Christina Hendricks TV 2014 Advertising Alex Majoli](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltbe5f8e307608558c/6987e67c2dce01789c9e0d3d/ama2014003h2060200.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp)

February 2014\. Christina Hendricks as Joan Harris behind the scenes on set of Mad Men’s seventh and final season, Los Angeles. Alex Majoli—Magnum for TIME


![Mad Men Matthew Weiner Christina Hendricks TV 2014 Advertising Alex Majoli Elisabeth Moss as Peggy Olson \(Center\) and Matthew Weiner, Creator of Mad Men \(Right\) behind the scenes on set of Mad Men’s seventh and final season.](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blta1450b1542a0e82e/6987e66f3c16397065454fa2/ama2014003h2070431.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp)

February 2014\. From center: Elisabeth Moss, who plays Peggy Olson, and Matthew Weiner, Creator of Mad Men behind the scenes on the set of Mad Men’s seventh and final season, Los Angeles. Alex Majoli—Magnum for TIME

![Mad Men Matthew Weiner Christina Hendricks TV 2014 Advertising Alex Majoli Vincent Kartheiser as Pete Campbell behind the scenes on set of Mad Men’s seventh and final season.](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt619d97ed16883dea/6987e66fcd68480e6209d01e/ama2014003h2070273.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp)

February 2014\. John Hamm as Don Draper behind the scenes on set of Mad Men’s seventh and final season, Los Angeles. Alex Majoli—Magnum for TIME

'Mad Men' Finale Recap: Last Shot, Where They Ended Up

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