Mad Men Season 4 Predictions and Recap

Don Draper seems much darker in the Mad Men season 4 opener. I don't know if it's the loss of his family, or his general misery with life, taking him over. Love the Glo Coat commercial as allegory to Don's "escape" from his marriage. He is no longer trapped in Betty's kitchen. I was not that shocked by his new interest in S and M with a paid for Dominatrix. Even with the 2 piece swim suit client, he's no longer willing to play nice. It's his way or the highway.
I am concerned Don will repeat his mistakes with this new girlfriend Bethanny, Jane's friend, however. She's basically Betty 2.0. He could easily play out the same pattern he did with Betty. Let's hope he's more insightful than that, or she sees through him faster.

Speaking of Betty, her marriage doesn't look like it's going too well. Henry Francis is seeing her harder side with her children, and though he is trying to over look it, it doesn't seem to be working. Especially with his mother pointing out Betty's flaws and Betty refusing to move out of her and Don's house. I did notice she had redecorated the bedroom. I predict a rocky year for them. I bet they'll make the best of it for appearances sake. More fabulous marriage modeling for Sally and Bobby.

I am dying to get a better look at Joan this season. I'm really curious how she made it into her 30's before getting married. She obviously wanted to be, and she's the kind of women who could make that happen. I did notice several times through out the series her coughing (spraying the broken ant habitat, in her goodbye scene with Peggy with the John Deere running, etc..). Is it possible she had Polio? I did a little googling and she would be the right age to have gotten it during the big outbreak in her late teens. There was also that line about her not liking to eat near a bed, it reminds her of a hospital.

Pete and Peggy are both my parents age, too old to really get wrapped up in the hippie scene, but young enough to internalize the changing times. It will be interesting to watch them develop into the people they can be. Particularly Pete who has so far to go. Peggy already seems so much more confident.

The new offices are great. I love the way John Slattery (who directed)introduced it with them all walking through in a line. I had hoped we'd see Hildy and Lois. But no such luck, just yet. Hope they don't go the way of Peggy's priest and Sal.

Can't wait for next week!

Correction: Phil Abrahams directed this episode. I could have sworn I read that John Slattery was directing the first episode, I should have checked it on the credits. Thanks to my readers for catching the err.