Can you hear that? It's the sound of every Mad Men-loving woman in America losing her Don-loving mind. Stan gave Peggy an "I Love You" speech for the ages and even though I was mostly rooting for Peggy to achieve professional success in the Mad Men series finale, I was also holding out hope that Peggy & Stan were OTP. And oh man are they. I don't think Mad Men has ever seen a scene this genuinely romantic, from the fraught phone conversation to the running through the halls of McCann. This scene was pure perfection, even if Don was off in the wilderness losing his mind. Try not to think about that. Focus on this happy feeling. Let it last. Stan & Peggy are together. STAN AND PEGGY ARE TOGETHER.
And what kind of a Peggy and Stan 'shipper would I be if I didn't let you relive this moment in all its glory, with a full transcription of just how perfect this moment was (I'd reenact the kiss for you, but I'm already doing that in my mind... with me as Peggy... it's kinda private, actually, so back off).
Stan: You've got to let go. Doesn't mean you've stopped caring about [Don.]Peggy: I'm sorry I said those sh**ty things to you. I don't believe them.Stan: Look, you're going to do great no matter what you do.
Peggy: I'm staying.
Stan: Good because I didn't want you to leave. Because every time I'm face to face with you I want to strangle you. And then I miss you when I go away. And then I call you on the phone and I get the person I want to talk to. But when I'm standing in front of you, I bring out something terrible. Think about how you came into my life and how you drove me crazy. And now, I don't even know what to do with myself. Because all I want to do is be with you.Peggy: What? What did you just say?Stan: I want to be with you. I'm in love with you.
Peggy: I don't know what to say. I feel like I can't breathe. I don't even think about you. I mean, I do, all the time, because you're there. and you're here (touches heart) and you make everything OK. You always do. No matter what. I mean I must be. Because you're always right. I can't believe this. I think I'm in love with you too. I really do.
Stan doesn't hear this because he's too busy running to Peggy's office so he can kiss her in the best way possible. The best part of all this? Peggy is having her cake and eating it too: It'll take her longer to rise to Don-level ranks at McCann-Erickson, but she's taking on the challenge instead of jumping ship with Joan. And while she's busy being a boss, she gets to work with the single best man on this show: Stan Rizzo.
I'm sure I'll have gripes about how this show ended, but oh man, this won't be one of them.
Image: James Minchin III/AMC
