Nice to see Don on top of his game at work. Henry is so much better for those kids than Betty. Jeez, what a horrible woman. Yes, your daughter acting out after a divorce is to punish you, OF COURSE, because it's all about you.

I loved Illya Kuryakin at that age.

I'm kind of hoping this is Betty at her nadir, because poor January Jones must cringe every time she gets a script this season.

Poor Sally. Though the new haircut is cute.

Loved it when they went into caper/heist mode again and that shot of Peggy riding around on the Honda was gold.

I loved Illya Kuryakin at that age.

Yeah, I thought that was a good call.

John Slattery looks great in those big dark glasses. Joan dealt with him very well, as usual.

Illya Kuryakin! Being all noble 'n' handsome!

Their homework, reading [link]

More proof, as if I needed it, that I am Sally Draper -- Ilya!

(Actually, Sally is three years older than me in 1965, and a bunch of other differences, but it's damn strange to find a child character whom one instinctively identifies, aside from Lisa Simpson.)

I thought this was one of their weaker eps, to be honest. I like the various threads that were introduced, but even at her worst last season, Betty was never written that one-dimensionally. It's like the writers went "Shit, Betty hasn't really been in this season has she? We need to remind people that she's a horrible mother, STAT!"

Theo, me too! I just realized I was about the same age! I was 10 in 1965, well, 9 for most of it.

I love the character of Sally. The new haircut did look cute.

I want Betty to at some point realize that she has not actually moved forward by marrying Henry. I'm just not sure what it's going to take.

Who is the guy playing the arch-nemesis Ted with the oddly spelled last name? Did he play one of the gay neighbors on Desperate Housewives?

I veer between thinking that Betty was written too one-dimensionally and thinking, "Y'know, I suspect more than a few dissatisfied housewives were like this."

Their only reflection was their husbands and kids and with Betty now on husband #2 and her most direct reflection, i.e. her daughter, so completely off the rails (in her opinion), Betty's got to feel as if she's being punished, except she doesn't know why, because she's done Everything Right.

I also have to wonder about the odd expression/smile she gave the dollhouse. I want to go back and look at how the dolls were arranged, but I'm suspecting we may see some repressed memory action? Wouldn't that have been gaining in popularity mid-sixties? That is, if she actually goes to a doctor as well.

Doctor Edna sure seems to have Betty figured out. At least in part. And Betty seemed disappointed she wouldn't be getting the dirt.

Betty's got to feel as if she's being punished, except she doesn't know why, because she's done Everything Right.

I think this is it. Betty doesn't see herself as monstrous; Don's the monster. Betty's completely validated (by the marriage to Henry) and justified (by Don's lies) to be a total bitch.

I presume they'll give her character some kind of arc away from it but I'm wondering what it would take to make her change. Historically and narratively I think it'd take a few years for her to become dissatisfied again.

And Betty seemed disappointed she wouldn't be getting the dirt.

Did she ever find out that her dr was reporting back to Don?

I feel bad for Sally being sent to therapy for the crime of being a 10-year old girl, but Dr Edna at least seems like she'll be a good person for Sally to vent to.

I veer between thinking that Betty was written too one-dimensionally and thinking, "Y'know, I suspect more than a few dissatisfied housewives were like this."

The thing is, last season there was a LOT more to her character than just "shitty mom." She wasn't a likeable character by any stretch, but she had some depth. So it's disappointing to see her written into the pure villainess role in the only ep so far this year where she's had any screentime at all.