At the same time I can see why Old Gene, her father, could look at Betty and tell her that she could have been so much better. For goodness sakes, she could go to Italy after however many years and speak fluent Italian.

Although, I suppose in a different world she would have had the option not to get married and have children.

Yup. Growing up in the time and place she did, "wife & mother" was pretty much the only door open to her. And she's just not any good at either role.

My main thought was that with Duck *and* Sterling-Cooper-Draper-Price both unofficially working out of the Pierre, Peggy's affair isn't going to stay secret for very long.

Ooh, good call.

Definitely. They can't have spent more than a week together at most.

While I agree that it's not a smart move on Betty's part, they did set up a correspondence in the summer and the last few episodes have taken place over many months.

Interesting that Don chose Pete over Ken, since they both had similar billings. Ken was better at servicing the clients, but Don wanted Pete's vision.

Don had to go back and tell Roger, Peggy and Pete exactly why he valued them. As noted, each was a pitch, but Don knows the best pitches have truth in them.

Joan gets a fantastic entrance. Several times this year they've written little valentine scenes to Joan (the accordion, the lawnmower triage, and Joanie On the Spot office coordinator) - but they all pay off so huge.

I hope her husband gets fragged in Nam.

God, I was hating Betty when she was sitting there with Henry meeting with the divorce lawyer. She's making a huge fucking mistake. Not necessarily in leaving Don, but in going to Henry. Who won't cheat and will love her, but will in many ways be so much more constraining and limiting to her life.

Sally's going to hate Betty a lot. And cause a lot of friction in that marriage. I wouldn't be surprised if Don got custody of Sally by S5.

They barely jumped forward in time between S2 and S3, but I think they will have to between S3 and S4. They want to land in the mid-sixties. Whole new set! Whole new wardrobes! Well, actually the men will look pretty similar.

I was just watching a bit from How To Succeed In Business (young, gap-toothed, goofy Robert Morse!) the other day and the late sixties business look was still pretty close to the early sixties. Hair is less slicked down, and the sideburns are just starting to make themselves known.

They'll have to do an episode in Swinging London. Pryce's wife will probably divorce him to get out of NYC.

I hope we get to see Kinsey, Cosgrove and Sal popping up at other agencies. Maybe Sal can establish himself as a director and they can hire him free lance.

Ugh - hard watching Don's father kicked in hist face by the horse. My Dad's grandmother was kicked in the head by a mule and spent the rest of her life in an asylum.

Don's confrontation with Betty about Henry was ugly but it could've been worse. Having had that kind of conversation there's more than a little murder in your heart at that instant. Not so much the infidelity, but the betrayal of the other parent planning to take the kids away to be raised by somebody else. So, not to justify Don's physical bullying but it was a true, ragged, raw scene.

Also, Don doesn't forget and he will get his revenge against Henry at some point. Not a punch in the face, but he'll sabotage Henry's career in such a way that he'll still have money but will have to leave the public arena.

Sepinwall points out that it was structured sort of like a caper movie where Don and Roger were assembling their crew.

it was structured sort of like a caper movie

We noticed the same thing, right down to the low-key incidental music.

Also, how nice was it to see Don and Roger mending their relationship? Love!

Ooh subtle tidbit gleaned at Sepinwall: Trudy got her father to give back the Clearasil account to Pete. That's how he made his allotment.

Trudy and Pete's marriage is this really intriguing, rather odd thing. But I like it, and her character's growth.

God, I was hating Betty when she was sitting there with Henry meeting with the divorce lawyer. She's making a huge fucking mistake. Not necessarily in leaving Don, but in going to Henry. Who won't cheat and will love her, but will in many ways be so much more constraining and limiting to her life.

She's like Jimmy Stewart's wife in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence! Or maybe not, but that analogy just struck me.