Mad About ‘Mad Men’ season 7, episode 10: Joan’s ‘Forecast’

The title for this past episode of “Mad Men” was “The Forecast,” and that of course should lead to you begging one single question: What exactly is the story forecasting? Other than the obvious, literal meaning of the episode’s title, we know at this point that this is not a show that tends to pride itself on just a singular meaning.

We had so much more of Christina Hendricks over the course of this hour, and understandably so. She is a woman who has done a tremendous job over the years with being a powerful character, but also someone whose drive has tended to push her own happiness into the back seat. Could she ever really have “it all,” meaning, wealth, a career, a family, and a true love? It’s an idealized notion on this show, but for a brief few moments, Richard represented that to her.

Here was a free man who had already received many of those same things in his life, but was now looking for love after having that part of it fall apart. Their time together was adventurous and yet peaceful, and it brought back Joan to a time in her life that has never really existed. When she was free of responsibilities, her career was in the midst of a struggle. Now that she has that success, she has responsibilities. She loves her child, and would never mortgage that love away for a man.

So is there still some anger we’re supposed to take from her proclamation of “you’re ruining my life”? Sure. We do not think that this was solely a statement meant for the babysitter, and that is proof that Joan is not perfect. Like any other parent, there are moments where that role will frustrate her. It does not make her any less of a person; it only makes her more of a human being, and that is what the creators of this show have done so well.

In having Richard ultimately come around to the idea of being a part of Joan’s world and her family, maybe this is the show’s version of giving Joan “everything.” The show has given us enough with the Joan storyline now to be able to foresee her as happy. It does not matter if she and Richard ever marry, or he is just another person who can be a part of her life in some way. He helped her become even more self-aware, and eventually she may better in all aspects because of it. We’ll miss Joan on the era; she is perpetually fascinating, and even few characters within the firm act on their own accord so much.