With the kickoff to the two-part final season of “Mad Men,” rapidly approaching, showrunner Matthew Weiner and his staff are opening up about some of their favorite moments from the acclaimed drama’s seven seasons, and how it all will end.

For a show that has altered the cable drama landscape—and basically made AMC into the network it is—some fans might find it surprising to learn that Weiner didn’t have more than a “vague notion” of how it all might end when he wrote the pilot script 15 years ago.

It took until season four for Weiner to figure out how he would wind everything down for Don Draper and the folks at Sterling Cooper.

According to Variety, something “splashy” will round out the seventh season, which itself is full of “densely packed” episodes—something that might be a welcome change for viewers who grew tired of the shows rather “cinematic” pace.

Variety has a package of stories raising the curtain on the final season, including some insights from other show staff about their favorite moments, and a look at how Weiner’s hiring behind the camera opened doors for a new generation of television talent.

AMC chief Charlie Collier is quoted as saying that “this show built a network,” and “Matt Weiner delivered on every promise he ever made to us.”

Michael Uppendahl, a director on the show, pointed to Weiner’s extreme attention to detail when it came to tone and blocking and character interaction as one of the ways he was “spoiled” working at “Mad Men.”

Carly Wray, a staff writer on the show who started as a writer’s assistant, praised Weiner’s willingness to get her thoughts and input on the first big scene she was asked to craft.

“I think it’s remarkable that Matt has helped so many people along,” the trade magazine quotes Uppendahl as saying. “He is so willing to advance careers for people and take these kinds of chances.”

As for any additional hints about what’s in store for fans over the final season, Weiner told Variety that “The first seven [episodes] are about the material world — ambition and the things we can control,” while in the second half “we’re dealing with the immaterial. What happens to these people when (their) material needs are met. What else is on their mind? Love? God?”

But rest assured: he promises no dream sequences.

Read More: Variety 1, 2, 3

Brief Take: As with any show that has garnered a devoted fan following and heaps of critical praise, the expectation bar has been set sky high for the final season of “Mad Men.” But given the impact the series has already had on the cable drama landscape and its many Emmy wins, it’s legacy is secure.

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