There are about a dozen things that the previous posts mentioned that I had not even thought of for a second. The allusions to the Mets’ World Series run and to 2001 had not hit me at all. Kudos.

To me, this episode was about war. Lou, for no reason other than a competitive killer instinct, has decided to bring down Don Draper. With the partners agreeing to put Don to work on the new Burger Chef pitch, Lou decides to use the opportunity to embarrass Don and prepare for inevitable war. What do good leaders do when they’re about to start a fight? They draft the best fighters for their own side.

Peggy was possibly as much of a threat to Lou’s dominance as even Don. It’s been made apparent from the beginning of the season that Miss Olson finds Lou infuriating, as well as a roadblock to her success. With Don back in the building, however, Lou realizes he must make amends to limit his opposition — and make a soldier out of a rival.

Peggy, despite her incredible creative talent, falls into the trap, reveling in the power that she now wields while also continuing as the “woe is me” character she has become. Do the work. Peggy has, and now she has something to show for it, even if her latest step up is as a pawn in a giant chess game.

Bert Cooper’s resentment toward Don is definitely jarring, but it leads me to wonder about another potential evolution in the series. Despite the perpetual reminders about Lane’s suicide, I am no longer sold on the idea that Don will off himself to end the series. The cut-throat world of SC&P seems to finally be developing into a Civil War of sorts. Don’s constant statements to the partners about having founded the agency seem to point to Don’s next move. Do the work. Start a new agency.

Don has already made an ally in Freddy Rumsen and seems to have the support of Dawn and most of the creative team. With Harry Crane’s heel turn, along with Cooper’s, and Cutler’s infatuation with the new computer that has led to a literal displacement of the creative team, the line in the sand is obvious. It even points to an inevitable split between lifetime partners Sterling and Cooper.

The potential divorce with Megan now appears to be another case of foreshadowing — this time, of the divorce between Sterling and Cooper and the creation of a new agency. Don, Roger, and the creative team will start anew, with Cooper, Cutler, Lou, and Crane leading the opposition and likely maintaining control of the current firm. Campbell appears to be siding with Don more often than longtime fans of the show would expect, but the move makes sense after we remember that Don is at least the devil Campbell knows, and Don seems to have developed at least a grudging respect for Pete.

If this situation comes to pass, the real winner will be Peggy Olson. She can’t stand Lou or Don, so where would her allegiance lie? I can see Lou offering her head of creative to side with their agency, while Don would finally have to give in and offer Peggy a position as a full partner.

Perhaps I’m reaching, but this story could come to pass. Sure, the “new agency” plot has happened already, but this is their second chance — which is something every one of the new agency employees needs or has needed. Freddy is a recovering alcoholic; Peggy has a young child whom she ignores; so does Campbell. And Roger and Don have too many moral failings to count. Perhaps this final season truly is about redemption.