‘Mad Men’ season 6: What won’t happen to Pete Campbell

Like many other series on television right now, one of the joys in “Mad Men” is how you find a way to be consistently captivated watching characters who, by and large, are not people who you would not want to spend time with in real life. Don Draper, for an example, is an adulterer and a professional liar who prioritizes his work above almost everything else. Meanwhile, Vincent Kartheiser’s Peter Campbell is someone so completely enamored by the concept of more that he almost at times tends to act without regard of the people close to him, and cares only about his own selfish needs. He is a man so thoroughly flawed that you want to feel sorry for him, but at the same time his actions render that close to impossible.

As complicated as some of Pete’s circumstances are, however, Kartheiser thankfully does not see him going down the same road as the tragic Lane Pryce when “Mad Men” season 6 picks up on AMC a week from today. Speaking as a part of a new interview with the Independent, here is what the actor had to say about one unlikely scenario for his part:

“I know the character of Pete very well and I don’t see Peter Campbell as someone who would ever commit suicide … I’m happy to know that. But Matthew [Weiner] rarely does what we think he’s going to do. Jared Harris… a lot of people were surprised at that. It wasn’t that it came out of nowhere, but such a great actor, he was such a loved character.”

Harris’ absence will surely leave a gaping hole throughout the firm moving forward, and while in some ways Joan will take his place as the partner, she brings a different sort of style and energy to the table.

Where do you think that a man like Pete can go after the scenes with Alexis Biedel last year? Be sure to share some of your thoughts below, and you can read some more “Mad Men” season 6 scoop from Matthew Weiner here.

Photo: AMC