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.

and, survive, how, my grandparents tortured each other for thirty-eight years, but they would still make it into the survived column.

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.

I wonder what Betty would be like if she weren't a wife and a mother. I don't think she's a bad person, but she's horribly unsuited for the life she's living. Her comment to Don that it "must be nice, needing time and just taking it" was so telling.

Her comment to Don that it "must be nice, needing time and just taking it" was so telling.

Could you flesh that out a little? What do you think it tells? I think she's a whiny 'yotch, myself, but that may not be what you're saying.

The Feminine Mystique: 1963

Don disappeared for three weeks leaving Betty to take care of the kids and the house completely on her own (okay, with Carla). He is not accused by anyone (in the show) of being a bad parent or a bad spouse for doing this.

Imagine the situation reversed - if Betty had done exactly the same thing and left the kids with Don (okay, really with Carla) for three weeks, she'd have been put in a straightjacket the second she got back. Don gets to "take time" because he has zero responsibilities at home.