In our weekly series "Mad Men: A Conversation," a panel of academics and experts (led by lawyer and Supreme Court advocate Walter Dellinger), weigh in on the latest episode of AMC's period drama about the advertising world. The fifth season finale of "Mad Men" was particularly mysterious, and, frankly, we all need some help unpacking it. In this final installment, two "Mad Men: A Conversation" panelists, Columbia University history professor Alan Brinkley and Columbia theater and television professor Evangeline Morphos, offer their take on what the last episode really meant. Take a seat students, class is in session.

Evangeline Morphos

"The Phantom"

In what will become an iconic visual image of this season, the partners of SCDP line up in isolation, their backs to us, in front of the panorama of the New York skyline that will be the view from their expanded office space. A hopeful "view" of the future, perhaps: but also an expanse of unfinished space—still to be filled. Matt Weiner—as both a writer of this episode, and its director--gives us a sense of stories yet to be completed.

The episode is fraught with the idea of lost opportunities. In his toothache-induced fever-dreams Don sees images of his dead brother; Joan questions whether she could have done anything to stop Lane's suicide—"Why didn't I give him what he wanted?"; and Pete, in poignant desperation, sleeps with Beth before she leaves for electro-shock therapy. Could anything have been done to save these people? Probably not.