My season 2 predictions

Based upon the 1st episode, the tone for the season seems to be ominious. Draper is feeling his mortality as he approaches middle age. Where he was once the master of his universe, we now see him slipping a notch. While not having lost control, he is not as much in control as he was. He has tried to make amends at home, but is unable to fully demonstrate his commitment. He has been challenged at the office, it has been implied that he is behind the times and in danger of falling farther behind. The support of his boss seems to be eroding. While we know that Draper is survivor, we can also see that it will not be easy for him.

I think Pete Campbell will become a more important character at the firm, and ironically for Draper. As the zeitgeist is is changing around them, Sterling Cooper will realize that Pete does in fact have insight into the youth demographic. This was crucially forshadowed last year- Pete intuitively understood the Freudian Death Wish association with cigarette smoking, he was the only one to get the VW Beatle ad copy and he immediately grasped that Kennedy was Elvis. It is significant that the big account that Pete brought in ( and the one that got him a larger office) was for Clearasil- a youth product. I see an uneasy truce developing between Draper and Pete, becasue Draper will come to realize that he needs Pete and that Pete does have value beyond his family name. The other ramification of Petes ascendancy will be that he ends up working with Peggy more and more. In essence the 2 of them will come to represent the firm's insight into the youth market.

At some point there will be a showdown between Draper, Sterling and Duck. I expect Draper to come out on top, but his relationship with Sterling will be severly damaged.

I expect to see some of the underlying problems between Betty and Don to surface. I am unsure if she will have an affair, but she will act in such a way as to make Draper fully aware that her needs have been unmet.