By OnMilwaukee Staff Writers   Published Oct 18, 2010 at 11:20 AM

I've been watching "Mad Men" since its magnificent debut on July 19, 2007. In the three-plus years since, I've grown attached to the various characters and have become immersed in the storylines.

Today, though, I'm a little befuddled.

Last night brought an end to the show's fourth season; one that trudged along at times and then, the next week, dropped all sorts of action into our laps.

But after "Tomorrowland," I'm officially putting series creator Matthew Wiener on notice.

(SPOILER ALERT: If you haven't watched "Tomorrowland" yet, stop reading. Now. Go home, fire up the DVR and then come back. I'll still be here, I promise.)

The finale opens like any other day in Don Draper's life.

He's planning a trip to California, the only place in the world where he can truly be himself -- Dick Whitman. But this time, he's bringing the kids along with him and when Betty Draper fires Carla, Don has to enlist his secretary to help corral the ankle-biters.

That's a lot of people on the verge of finding out who Don Draper is.

Everything seemed, though, to be a normal "Mad Men" installment. Don heading out West, where he planned to mix pleasure with business -- new and old. Don and Dr. Miller the morning after, going their separate ways. The company trying to stay afloat despite not attracting a single client for 10 weeks. Joan getting recognition -- and the shaft -- at the same time. Peggy looking on while yet another pretty girl gets the "welcome" from the boys.

Yup, just another day at Sterling Cooper Draper Price.

Out in California, I thought we might be on the verge of something big when Sally asked her father "who's Dick?" But the moment passed ... albeit uncomfortably.

When Stephanie (Anna Draper's niece) gives Don the ring, I thought for a second it might foreshadow some kind of trouble. Then I thought, he might use it on Dr. Miller. I never, ever, even after his late night booty call, though Don would pop the question to Megan (his secretary) and found myself really kind of irritated by that particular plot twist.

After heading back to New York, Don breaks the news to the office. I was wondering how that was going to play out. And I was wondering how the phone call to Dr. Miller would play out.

All of this left me incredibly confused, disappointed and a little dejected.

So now, like the rest of "Mad Men" fans, I have to sit and wait until next summer to see how this latest mess pans out. I really want to believe that Weiner is going somewhere else with these developments: I just can't see Don falling wistfully for a secretary. Doesn't seem like his style.

But ... maybe it's Dick Whitman's style. Who knows. I'm just praying this isn't "Mad Men's" shark-jumping moment.

Some other thoughts:

  • Betty Draper is a bitch. I can't think of any better way to sum up her actions in the finale -- and all season long -- than in that one sentence. She did show a small sign of decency near the end, but it's good to see that Henry Francis is starting to catch on to her.
  • Speaking of Henry, is it just me or is he seeming younger and younger each time around?
  • Just when I start to allow myself to really like Pete Campbell, I'm reminded of why I think the kid is just a butt-kissing turd. Case in point: the way he interjected into Don's pitch to the American Cancer Society, and they way he reprimanded Ken Cosgrove for not trying to lure his future-father-in-law's business.
  • Suddenly Harry Crane is a pig, too? Thought he learned his lesson in season one?
  • I may be wrong, but I thought Dr. Miller had some sort of Mob ties. And she knows Don's secret. She seems pretty ticked off. I'm hoping this means Don's decision is going to come back and bite him where it hurts.
  • Joan is still pregnant with Roger's baby. If you didn't see that coming...
  • Does Roger, by the way, do anything besides sit in his office and drink? With Lucky Strike gone, he's got to be bored.