‘Mad Men’ season 7 endgame debate: All about Vincent Kartheiser’s Pete Campbell
As we consider our “Mad Men” endgame debate series, we venture to a character that has long fascinated and/or frustrated most of America: Pete Campbell. By all intensive purposes, we really should hate this guy: He’s smarmy, a cheater, and he’s incredible manipulative. Yet, there’s little question that he is still somewhat compelling to watch, as his struggles to consistently figure out his place in the world, in particular at a firm constantly in Don Draper’s shadow (even though he’s a partner), makes him somewhat of a tragic figure.
Moving into season 7 now, we’ve never seen Pete in a more interesting position than the one he finds himself in now. The character has lost his marriage, and is heading out to Los Angeles to start anew alongside Ted. This could represent a fresh start for the character, and an opportunity to learn from some of his mistakes.
But will this actually happen for Pete? If it were not for one moment during season 6, we would say “no” to this. But with his decision in the penultimate episode to not reveal Bob Benson’s secret to SC&P, Pete showed that he had learned something, and is a character at least capable of change in theory. This is tremendously important, since it shows that he is flexible and can do something beyond just continually miring himself in his own despair. He could fall in love as he so desperately wants, and become a valuable member of a team rather than just one who revels in demeaning those beneath him and asserting his strength as a man in a male-dominated industry.
Then again, this is an idealist view on things, and we already know rather well that Pete is fairly flawed person and is his own worst enemy. Perhaps the best endgame that the character can really hope for is the opportunity to improve his life in some capacity, even if he does not avoid every mistake that he has made in the past. We do still want Pete to be happy, since we have seen those fleeting moments of good within him mixed within all of the smarmy behavior. What we are mostly wondering about is if Pete’s end game is going to be with Peggy Olson since every season they find a way to show that connection between them.
What do you want to see happen with Pete on “Mad Men” season 7? We want to hear all of your favorite theories on the subject below! Also, be sure to click here if you’re hoping to check out some more.
Photo: AMC