On the homefront, Betty is cooing at the baby, but still largely ignoring her other children, whom she deems jealous of baby Gene. She tries to ply Sally with the aforementioned Barbie, saying it’s from Gene, but fails to notice Sally’s resistance isn’t because she’s jealous, but rather creeped out by the kid’s name and the location of his nursery. Don is as sympathetic and supportive as we’ve ever seen him in the scenes with his daughter and Kiernan Shipka is developing into a fine young actor. Their interactions have quickly become the heart of the show, while Betty is still telling poor Bobby to “beat his head against the wall” when he says he’s bored. She’s gone from being a prickly character that one could sympathize with for her unhappiness, adulterous husband and lack of fulfillment, to a petulant, bitter woman that’s become tough to root for at all. Her obstinance over Don wanting to change the baby’s name wasn’t completely unexpected, but she just comes off as spoiled and bratty at this point rather than a grieving child who’s lost a parent.
