The first half of "Mad Men" season 7 ended in tragedy. Burt Cooper bit the dust and so did Don's marriage with Megan. The second half is set to air starting April 5, and one of the biggest fan theories floating regarding the show's grand finale is that Don Draper is going to die, too.
Reports from both The Guardian and iDigitalTimes point out the show's opening credit. The intro shows a suited man falling to his death. Some have speculated that it is only a representation of Don's life descending as he sticks to his advertising career, but since Burt's death, it may be hinting at Don dying.
The previous half indicated that Don hallucinated and Burt Cooper's message "The best things in life are free" all suggest that Don might be suffering from brain cancer or a stroke. The company also partnered again with a cigarette company and Don's health issues might be a symbolic form of karma.
Whether Don dies or not, the show is not going to waste any more time with unnecessary extra plots or side characters. According to a report by The Hollywood Reporter, the finale season will focus solely on the six original characters: Don, Peggy, Joan, Betty, Peter, and Roger.
"There's no room for digression. We really have to, in a first-season way, focus on these people. The last seven episodes, I would say each one of them feel like the finale of the show," said series creator Matthew Weiner.
Weiner is keeping the details of the finale close to his chest. Variety reports that during a Q&A in Pasadena, he stated, "To delight them with a surprise, you can't give them everything they want."
The Guardian also speculates that Don may be the founding figure of Alcoholics Anonymous, and that Ted and Don would be leaving the Sterling-Cooper group together. Everything is still in speculation until the last episode finally airs on May 17.
