Most of them should be back next week with the SC anniversary party. I hope Peggy brings a date by the name of Duck. That would make for a lively party! What would an SC party be like without a few shocks and surprises, or at the very least, an uncomfortable moment or two?

I wonder where the party will be set. As in what hotel. The Waldorf Astoria?

My guess is that Lois, the walking train wreck, is gone for good. Unless she shows up in the background of another agency where some SC employee is having an interview. Hopefully, Bert, Roger and Lane will have the manners to invite Joan.

I do miss some of these characters and their stories, especially the puzzling questions of what ever happened with Jane for instance. The cast is so large already I guess they can't afford to pay everyone every week and the show is clever in how they suspend characters in our minds. That's why I don't think we'll hear from Betty's brother again.
I miss Peggy's story most of all. If she brings Duck along I wouldn't think that bad, but I still see her independent. I'd like a real break through involving more money and responsibility for her. Of course I miss, Joan, too....She's still not willing to give up hubby even though she knows it's over. Hopefully, there will be a new job opening for her that she will come back on board to SC again--maybe that job she wanted and lost to a man they hired. I actually liked Lois and felt her quirky character added a lot to scenes.
Perhaps, concerning Sal, this job issue will surely cause personal stress which, as most of us know, will strike the home front, and Kitty may experience the fallout. I can't see Sal doing anything overtly or even intentionally to hurt Kitty, but it may happen.
One thing I see happening, because it's necessary is I want to hear, The British Are Going...."
And Don snaps out of his haze and gets back to his work focus and away from yet another sex-romp of escapism.
Betty may be headed for some first-time adult reality if she continues to play with her infidelity fire.

The only one I miss is Joan. Sal needs to stay out of the park. He needs to go home and talk to his wife.

No real predictions, just some disappointment in realizing that we may not see much else developing plot-wise in some of those characters this season. Well, one prediction: I don't think Lois is gone forever: she's like "Teflon Lois" --Don fired her, she bounces back; she's the "voice" of a mocking prank on Peggy --no admonistments or repercussions; gets her scarf caught in the Xerox machine -- and lives; "de-foots" PPL's new Golden Boy--and the guys are snickering about it with their catsup-filled baloons the next week. No, Lois isn't going away; she'll crop up again...somewhere, somehow. (Too much black humor potential there to drop her).

Who I miss most-- (she's been gone so long!) is "slightly weird" Anna. There's an untold story behind that chick, and I want to know it!

Hi NNT...think you are so right that it would be a significant breach of manners if the powers that be left Joan off the invitation list for their big party... and right about the Waldorf!

I would love to see Joan walk in to the party looking fabulous as always, and then at some point a scene of Pete greeting her, and by his demeanor letting her know their secret is secret.... and maybe even one of Roger with a very fleeting look that lets us know he misses his"Red"... as we all suspect he must. Anticipa -a- tion....

TakeFive: I too want to see Anna, and see Don with her. When he is with her (not sexually) he is so natural and relaxed.
I would like to see more of his backstory. The pressure of living a lie must be so stressful. I'm sure like someone else said on another thread that he feels like a rat in a cage.
Betty's story is somewhat interesting, but the character is so wooden. I don't know if it's JJ or the way Betty is supposed to be, but I often find it annoying and boring.
I happen to like the Brits and would like to see more of Pryce and Moneypenney.
And we need another "go 'round" with Duck.

Roger knows that he has f**ked up by marrying Jane, but he will not admit it. I would love for him and Joan to get back together somehow.
BTW-"Jane" is appearing on the new show "Flashforward". I don't know if she will be a regular or not. She can stay on that show as for as I'm concerned, I never liked her character on MM to begin with.

Freddie Rumson playing Mozart on his zipper!

I feel like we've missed a scene where Peggy tells Don about the offer from Grey. Otherwise, why did he give her the Hilton campaign? And why haven't we had a word about where Peggy's living? So many ideas initiated, so little follow-through. Does everything have to be dangled to keep us watching? I'm getting annoyed and starting to think the pay-off might not be worth the wait.

Roger was a special guest star in Season 1. Then he had a heart attack (contract negotiation) and returned as a full time player.

I forget who Anna is. Or....is that the real Draper's wife?

Yep, that's Anna --Anna Draper.

You've got some good points, fifty-two.

@Totskyaire: I agree. Anna and Don are interesting together because she seems to be the person who knows the most about Dick/Don. There's no way Don can ever fully "come clean" to Betty without telling her about Anna. And when/if that happens, I don't think the Betty we know is going to take it very well. I think the "hidden woman" will burn her more than the "hidden identity."

Thanks,TakeFive, for answering... Anna was a good character, and she does know the most about Don, but I wonder if we'll see her again since she might have fulfilled her role--- of revealing Dick's/Don's truth.
What must it do to a person to live an entire life really in a lie? It is one thing to engage in adultery, but to not even "be" who you really are, build an entire life and relationships as another person.
It makes me wonder if Dick has come to think of himself as Don. I mean it has been years now.
Psychologically, what does that do to a person? Is it why Don feels that he can essentially do whatever he wants since he isn't really who everyone thinks he is anyhow?
I can't imagine him ever getting to a place that he would tell Betty. That would be something to see if she finds out.
Another thought---I agree that Don was relaxed with her but I think Don is relaxed as long as he isn't feeling threatened and he is getting what he wants. Remember the difference when he first met Rachel Menken and was angry at her assertiveness (threatened) and he got? He was rude, dismissive and lost his cool in front of everyone. And then once he became attracted to her and she to him he was all relaxed and gallant again. Just an observation I've had about Don. He seems to unravel a bit quickly when things go wrong for him.

Hi jeffe64!
Great post...so many questions.

In the previews for this weeks episode Betty mentions having a final Thanksgiving at Gene's house before they sell it.
So, I guess that's what will happen with the house.
I'm sure there will be some fights between Betty and her brother, and maybe Gloria if she re-appears!

I posted this under "Problems with Season 3", but since that thread has been buried (even though its more recent) in the "complete list of talk topics", I decided to re-post it here.

@giantsfan21: I agree with you completely regarding the focus on the Draper Home. As one commenter recently pointed out the name of this series is Mad Men, not "The Drapers". Following is a list of some of the major plot events that have occurred thus far:
1) Sal is gay
2) Grandpa Gene Dies
3) Sally is upset
4) Baby Gene is born
5) Betty meets Henry Francis
6) Don meets Conrad Hilton
7) Guy loses foot
8) Don signs contract
9) Joan leaves PPL/SC
10) Betty contemplates affair
11) Don starts affair with teacher.
12) Sal is fired
Note that of these, only 4 are related to the office. Five, if you count finding out Sal is gay.
Of these, the following are unresolved:
1) Grandpa Gene's estate. Except, Betty has his car.
2) Guy's foot: We don't know how this effects the command structure of PPL/SC as yet.
3) Don's contract. Other than 3 yrs, a bonus, and presumably a non-compete clause, we don't know the actual threat level of Roger's confrontation with Don last week as we don't know the terms of the contract. (Is it contingent on retaining Hilton?)
4) Joan leaves. We know she has a new job, but no idea if she's now written out of the script. We haven't seen Moneypenny since Joan's going away party.
5) Sal is fired. As this only happened last episode, I am not complaining that we don't know his fate. (Did he decide to service the account and try to save his job or is he simply job hunting?)
6) Betty/Don: Betty is extremely unhappy. Don has deep psychological issues. We knew this last season, yet most of this season has been spent emphasizing these, except we're finding Don is in over his head.
7) Duck/Peggy: Is this an on-going affair? A one-time thing? Any chance Peggy may still use an offer from Grey as leverage for money/position at PPL/SC?

A few other unresolved story lines.
1) What campaign did Peggy come up with for the rum account and did it succeed in selling the client?
2) Has Peggy moved to the city or not? What about her roommate?
3) Is Lois still an employee? If so, in what position?
4) Who is winning the competition between Pete and Ken?
5) What will happen to Joan as it relates to PPL/SC?
6) How is Peggy getting along with secretary Olive?

I'm sure there are other events that could be added to my list as well as other unresolved story lines. There are only 3 episodes left which indicates many of these questions may be left unanswered at least until season 4 and may never be answered. I feel like I've waded thru 9 episodes of set up to find out things I may never learn.
I hope to be proven wrong over the next 3 episodes, but this entire season has left a sense of the writers not knowing where this is going or why.

And, I haven't even touched on the unresolved issues from season 2, which some posters have mentioned above.