It seemed Joan had two choices at the end of Mad Men: choose love and adventure with a man you could be with all your life but sacrifice your independence and compromise your career, or throw yourself into business and risk happiness in your private life. It seemed at that moment in history, for a woman like Joan, it wasn't possible to satisfy both desires. In the end she chose the latter, and good on her. There's no doubt she'll be a success after what she made of her chance at SCDP. According to Matthew Weiner Joan is biologically disposed to work, but it's also been said she'll go on to be one of those women who head into old age flirting with younger men, trying to recapture their past glories. In Weiner's words, women will tell stories of how beautiful she was and how she could have had any man she wanted, even as she approaches old age without a man in her life. Don't feel bad for Joan though. Her business will emphatically succeed, have no doubts, and her son will be well cared for - even if it is mostly by a nanny.
