Mad Men -- Episode 4:8

I didn't think much of this episode. I felt like after the high drama of week 7, we were basically starting a new series of arcs that will presumably pay off at the end of the season. So this episode felt like a Week 1 episode. Let's consider where these new arcs may be heading.

1. Don has decided to get his act together. This is a good idea, because I think we were all tired of watching Don get drunk and fall asleep on his couch.

2. Don's newfound sobriety has revived his power over women. All through the beginning of this season, women kept turning Don down. Not this week. He got Bethany Van Nuys to put out, he got a date with Faye Miller, he even got back into Betty's head. All of this will end terribly for the women involved, of course, but that's just how Don rolls.

3. Peggy is going to be lonely. With no boyfriend/fiance, and an even stronger commitment to work, Peggy tried to be a big shot this week -- taking Don's advice to fire Joey when he continued to harass Joan. The result was a disaster -- the boys are now terrified of Peggy, and Joan felt undermined. Peggy can have her independence, but by God she is going to pay for it.

4. Something terrible will happen to Joan. The show seems determined to build up some type of tragedy between Joan and her husband. This will not have much of an impact on me, because I don't really care that much about Joan or her husband.

5. Betty's marriage to Henry may be short-lived. Again, I never took this marriage -- or Henry -- very seriously. Of all the characters on the show, I find him to be the least realistic. Betty does nothing for him -- she is a silly and vapid woman on every level. She is, of course, incredibly beautiful and somewhat dangerous -- but these are traits that lead to an affair, not to marriage. Even Henry's mother recognizes this. Maybe there is some psychologically sound reason why Henry determined to take the incredibly self-destructive step of not only marrying Betty, but agreeing to go live in her house. But the show has never explained that reason to us, and I refuse to make one up just to satisfy myself.

6. I will have no sympathy for Faye Miller, whatever happens to her. Getting involved with Don is like smoking -- it looks cool at first, but it always ends badly. Unlike Rachel, who fell in love with Don before she knew he was married, or Don's bohemian lovers who weren't really looking for a commitment anyway, Faye knows exactly how ruthless and manipulative Don can be. If she chooses to get involved with him anyway, one can only assume that: (1) she is being forced to act in an unrealistic manner to serve the ends of the plot, or (2) she hates herself and wants to suffer. Whatever the explanation, she will get no sympathy from me.

7. Is Harry now supposed to be gay? He was never gay before. His scenes have had a dadaist quality all year, but the stuff between him and Joey was downright bizarre.

Here are my wishes for the remainder of this season. Less Betty, Joan, Peggy, and Faye. More Roger, Pete, Trudy, and Kenny. And something for Harry to do other than serve as comic relief.