"Mad Men:" "Don't concern yourself with aesthetics - you'll get a headache"

Before we discuss Sunday's episode of "Mad Men," allow me to stir up a little panic within you by noting there's a slim chance that series creator Matthew Weiner won't be back on the show next season, as he's not contractually tied to a season three and is currently shopping his services around to studios, networks, etc. Of course, AMC and Lionsgate (which produces the show) will do everything in their powers, one presumes, to keep him around - and happy.

Which is something precious few characters on "Mad Men" seem to be these days - even brief periods of bucolic grace collapse within days or even minutes, it seems. As snappy and spiffy as the show is, it's thick with melancholy, and Sunday's episode is no different. Here's AMC's synopsis:

"Don buys a brand new car which befits his image as an executive who has 'arrived.' Pete, Harry and Ken strategize to attract new business. Don's secretary makes a grave error, which could spell trouble for Joan. Cooper has a new piece of art in his office that attracts the interest of the employees at Sterling Cooper."

They should've added, "Don litters."

The artwork is a Rothko, who's never done much for me (the characters don't know what to make of it, either), although it is used arrestingly here, kind of like the monolith in "2001: A Space Odyssey."

And Don gets himself a Cadillac Coupe De Ville, and it's pretty funny watching the master salesman on the other end of a sales pitch: When Don tells the dealer he currently drives a Dodge, the guy smoothly responds, "Those are wonderful if you want to get somewhere. These are for when you've already arrived."

And since we're in the middle of the season, it must be time for a Don Draper Flashback, to a time when he had funny hair.

As usual, AMC's synopsis spares us the things at the heart of the episode - a glimpse into Salvatore's (Bryan Batt) home life and a swanky party thrown by Angriest Comic Alive Jimmy Barrett (Patrick Fischler) and his wife Bobbie (Melinda McGraw). Oddly, that whole Don-tying-Bobbie-to-the-bed-and-stranding-her-there thing from last week doesn't come up. But what does - just Jimmy being Jimmy - is even nastier and more uncomfortable.

Enjoy that new-car smell while you can, Don.

- "Mad Men:" 10 & 11 p.m. Sunday, AMC.