Same interview:

I think, honestly, that Don left because he knew Pete would take care of it. I think Don was telling the truth. The reason Duck picked Pete is because Pete has changed. What Don said is true. You see Pete has gifts, and rather ] than just acting like he's in charge and he's top of the heap and deserves everything, he has behaved properly. His whole research that he did, you could see at the hotel that Pete had done the work.

A creative director, Hal Riney in San Francisco, who was sort of the last of these guys, he died this year, he would disappear for months with his wife who was a casting director, and would come back with the Bartles & Jaymes people, would find weird casting, sample the culture. That's the story, anyway. And it's completely believable that Don could disappear for three weeks or four months. My intention was, and I know it's one of those things that's a surprise to the audience because they don't get to see every piece of information, what is Pete going to tell on him? He knew Pete wouldn't tell on him, I think he knew Pete had his back, and I do think that he thought Pete was ready. I do believe it. Don's a good judge of those things. As soon as Pete's not interested in destroying Don, (Don's okay with him). I go back to what Cooper said to him last year in episode 12: "One never knows how loyalty is born." You saw what happened when Duck gave Pete the job he's wanted since we've known him. He was like, "Really?"

Heh. I didn't see The Simpsons Mad Men parody.

Isn't that part of the Treehouse of Horror next week?

Isn't that part of the Treehouse of Horror next week?

That might explain why I hadn't seen it yet.

Quick Survey: Who thinks Don and Betty's marriage will survive the decade?

I'm happy they both found some small portion of peace after this turbulent season, but I still think they're ill-suited for each other, and they have a fundamentally flawed marriage.

I was really glad to see him accepted back home, and I really don't think they belong together.

Also, one of the blogs explained a point I was too dense to understand. Which is that the reason it is so important that Don hadn't signed the contract (even though he's now a Partner) is because it would've had a non-compete clause and he couldn't (a) take his clients and walk; or (b) work at another agency.

Which is that the reason it is so important that Don hadn't signed the contract (even though he's now a Partner) is because it would've had a non-compete clause and he couldn't (a) take his clients and walk; or (b) work at another agency.

yes, that's exactly what Duke said to Pete. (and made me text my boyfriend "DON HAS NO CONTRACT!!!")

would've had a non-compete clause

Good point! I hadn't even thought of it that way, but even my daughter had to sign a non-compete clause when she started work at her salon.

Quick Survey: Who thinks Don and Betty's marriage will survive the decade?

The decade? Probably not. Especially now that she's had a taste of the same sort of freedom that Don's been enjoying this whole time. They're not bad people, in and of themselves, but they are not people who should be married to each other.

And in the end, I think it's Don who may well be the one better off for the marriage's end. I think, even though he's done some extremely questionable things, he's fundamentally a more decent person than Betty, but that could simply be that my perceptions of her are colored by what we've been permitted to see of her.

Especially now that she's had a taste of the same sort of freedom that Don's been enjoying this whole time.

I didn't see her infidelity as freedom. She was just evening the score. Not even in a malicious way. There was just no way she could get back together with him after his betrayal, if she didn't have take something back for herself, and make it equal footing.

Agreed. But it still equated (or I think it will, in retrospect) to a seminal moment of freedom for her. It may not feel that way in the moment, it may have only been taking advantage of an opportunity which presented itself at just the right moment, but I think as time goes on, it's going to come to represent a lot for her.

At least, that's sort of my take, within the context of your question.