Dear Ms. Olsen,
It has been quite a story arc for you, wouldn't you agree? While show creator, Matthew Weiner, may have duped most of his viewing audience into believing that Don Dick Draper Whitman III, Esq. is Mad Men's main character, you and I both know that you, Peggy, have been the main protagonist hiding in plain sight the entire time. To be honest, I started watching the show halfway through Season 4 mainly because Joan caught my eye, I'm sure you hear that a lot. While Ms. Holloway may have been the hook that led me through the door of SCD&P, your story arc was the bottomless martini that kept me in the office.
It is quite ironic that this present day network show, set in the 1960s no less, is one of the few narratives on television to feature female-centric story lines, while a majority of our programming still leans heavily on male characters as the centerpiece. Call it a sleight of hand, a character shell game, or a misdirection, but Mad Men is the metaphorical embodiment of a pill wrapped in peanut butter, palatable to a viewing audience not accustomed to a female lead with a rich story arc.
One of the many great traits of the show is the versatility of having such a diverse ensemble, archetypes who serve as a cross-section of people who existed during this time period, bringing in a wider audience than if the show just featured "old white guys smoking, drinking, and philandering" as some of the show's detractors have stated. Don't care about Roger's playboy antics? Here's a dose of Joan struggling as a single mother and a female executive. Tired of Pete Campbell whining about rich guy problems and false entitlements? There's a Betty Francis dealing with the restricting confines of being a housewife to cure that ill. Sick of Don making the same mistakes over and over? Well Peggy, you are the perfect antidote to the malady that is Mr. Draper. In one regard, you are the other side to the Draper coin. He does not know who he is or what he wants, while you have your feet firmly planted in your identity and have clearly stated goals.
What makes your story more compelling than the rest is that it is what the Germans call Bildugsroman, or as we know it, a coming of age story. We grew up with you, Peggy. We sat at your desk as a nervous secretary on your first day at the agency. Our hearts dropped as well after you gave your child up for adoption and hated Pete even more for his insensitivity. We applauded you as you climbed out of the receptionist pool and into the writers room. We gritted our teeth when Don started passing your creative ideas off as his own once his magic wore off. Finally, we smiled as you strutted down the halls of McCan-Erickson, cigarette loosely dangling, sunglasses firmly in place, clutching the late Bert Cooper's octopus coitus painting.
While your show reaches its conclusion this Sunday night and most of my mouth-breathing brethren will be placing bets and theorizing out loud Don Draper's fate, just be aware that some of us will be quietly cheering as you've grown into the glass-ceiling breaking, corporate ball-busting, Don Draper anti-hero we have all grown to love. We all know this show has been about you all along, so enjoy your moment Ms. Olsen, and send me Joan's new phone number when you get a chance.
Regards,
Roger Sterling
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