Don't Do it, Don! Suicides, Rebirths and the Art of the Finale

The Mad Men Pre-Game Show | May 14, 2015

Don confronts his life deceptions in Kansas, Pete is wooed by the prospect of a simpler life—maybe including Trudy—and Betty gets a devastating diagnosis.

Then, Ellen calls up Battlestar Galactica showrunner Ronald D. Moore—who's in Scotland filming season two of Outlander—to hear how a finale gets conceived, and how to stick the landing. She also talks to Carly Mensch, a TV writer who worked on the final seasons of Weeds and Nurse Jackie, and is now a writer at Orange Is The New Black. Carly drops some writers' room wisdom on where to go looking for hints about how it'll all end.

Top Stories

Are Waymo robotaxis actually safer than NYC Uber and taxi drivers?

Summer Friday: Health & Ultraprocessed Food & America's History with God

How Socialist Is the D.S.A.? Megan Romer Explains

American History Fridays: Lady Bird Johnson

YOU ARE ONLINE