by which we can see Sally blossom with the attention that no one else gives her and how she'll fall apart once it's taken away.

Sally was already acting out before Gene came. And his behavior was amazingly inappropriate - letting her drive the freaking' car! And yet, he was still more attentive to her than either Betty or Don.

There's really a huge schism between how Betty sees herself as a parent and what she's actually doing as a parent. Carla does much more of the basic care, and Betty's not even meeting their emotional needs.

Don might actually be a decent parent if that era allowed a man to be more involved with his kids. He's more patient, less judgmental.

As Sally gets older she'll also get a ton of pressure from Betty to be pretty, skinny, model perfect. I don't think Sally is ever going to meet Betty's standard there.

I'm just wondering where there's an out for Betty. Is she really going to be flexible enough to embrace feminism? There's no way I can see this marriage surviving the early seventies. They're both so deeply dissatisfied. Once the societal pressure eases and the divorce stigma recedes they'll break up.

It's not like their relationship is a love story. She has no idea who Don is. They're a couple that has great sex.

and perhaps not even that.

I wonder if she'll run away to California.

And join the Manson family?

Well, cliches are cliches cause there are true bits, right?

Well, cliches are cliches cause there are true bits, right?

Yeah, they are. But I feel as we've gotten so spoiled in how Matt Weiner treats clichés and thoroughly turns them on their ears. This seemed as predictable as anything he's done and I know... it's stupid for me to harp on one teensy thing. Because again, knowing Matt Weiner, he'll find a way to flip it. Eventually.

Don might actually be a decent parent if that era allowed a man to be more involved with his kids. He's more patient, less judgmental.

He's taught them how to make a mean drink, what more do you need?

I feel like tomboy Sally could go to war herself -- I can't imagine the family would approve.

He's taught them how to make a mean drink, what more do you need?

Emmett makes a very creditable martini.

And I think Jen liked the G&T he made for her more than the one I did.

I'm starting to get annoyed at the math involved in Betty's pregnancy-- the Derby party would have been held on May 4th, 1963 and the self-immolation of the Vietnamese monk was on June 11. Kennedy's televised address about the Cuban Missile Crisis was on October 22 (Betty's pregnant and has her assignation with the handsome Captain Awesome-shaped stranger).

Assuming she was about six weeks pregnant, by all means, she should have popped by now. Or be ready to explode within the next episode which takes place about two weeks after this one, judging by the previews.