The internet is abuzz with discussion about what happened on last night's season finale of Mad Men (if you haven't watched it, don't read any further). Some of the buzz has been good, while others have said that the fact that Don Draper got engaged to his secretary, Megan (played by Jessica Pare), was a bit too soap-operaish for their tastes. Our own Emma Fraser reviewed last night's season finale (read it here) in case you want more details.
In addition to the discussion over the episode, fans went online today en masse to search for information on Jessica Pare. According to Yahoo!, web searches for Ms. Pare increased by 588%. Jessica Pare isn't a newcomer to television. She had a role in the short-lived show Jack & Bobby in 2004-2005. She also appeared in movies such as Lost & Delirious, Bollywood/Hollywood, and most recently in Hot Tub Time Machine.
New York Magazine also posted an interview today with Jessica. She was just as surprised about the engagement as the rest of us were and said she had no idea it would happen until she read the finale script. Jessica also doesn't think Megan's been working an angle to hook Don into a relationship or marriage from the start. She's tried to play her straight and honest from the beginning. Whether Megan will end up with ulterior motives will have to be left to the writers.
As for what will happen next, I guess we'll have to wait until next season to find out what's in store for Don and Megan. But I'm sure Jessica Pare is enjoying the extra attention today. Yahoo! posted a video with a scene from an earlier episode between Don and Megan where he explains the business to her. You can view it below.
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Such a minor character up to now, but interesting to speculate that the Megan Calvé (I think spelled this way?) of Jessica Paré has her young-adult roots in the Québec during the 1960s. A unique time for youth, finding a whole new freedom from church and family traditions in Québec, Megan flees to New York for personal and professional growth. A reflection of Céline Dion perhaps? But grounded in being a knowledgeable professional too? Well, the big time with Don happens in California, a place with mythical proportions for Quebecers, seeing themselves as they do as the "crazy Californians" of Canada. Megan's French accent, speaking to her mum and to the children reflects pretty high-status Québec culture.
Well, none of this may mean anything, but when one lives far from the American metropole, its fun to speculate, eh?
What would have been fitting for Don Draper would be for him to propose to Faye, have her go on a business trip to europe, have Megan go on the trip to CA, where Don wine and dines her into bed and falls in love with her after seeing her love for his children. Now THAT'S a cliffhanger for next season that allows for both women to continue on the show. What Draper did last night to Faye was pure evil. We know Don can't commit to a woman, but there was never any indication that he did not love faye.
Faye was just “ugh”…
She was smooth and professional but there was something about her that just left me cold….
Megan is lovely! How long can Don stay faithful for though?