Betty Francis is one of the most polarizing characters on Mad Men. Was she selfish, judgmental, and monstrously cruel to her children? That's like asking if she has a nicotine addiction. But there were a lot of reasons to feel sorry for Betty. She did everything asked of her gender in the 1960s and she did it better than anybody else. For her trouble, she got a negligent, philandering husband in the form of Don Draper.
But then Henry Francis came along. A sweet, soft-spoken gentleman, Henry clearly adored Betty. Their marriage wasn't perfect, but it was paradise compared to what Don put her through. And yet, Betty and Henry's relationship, though functional, never felt like an epic love affair for the ages. Maybe if Betty had chosen another Mad Men character, things would have been different. Here are some suggestions.
10 Arthur Case
Arthur was the dashing younger man whom Betty met while horseback riding. There was enough sexual tension between these two to light the stable on fire, yet rather than act on it, Betty encouraged her friend to go for Arthur instead. Betty then proceeded to judge the affair the way only she can.
But what if Betty had listened to her urges and had the tryst herself? If she left Don for Arthur, there's every chance she'd be flying from one WASP nest to another, but wouldn't making a decision based on erotic desire be a refreshing change of pace for Betty? One never got the sense things were particularly steamy in the bedroom department for her and Henry. Maybe they would be with Arthur.
9 Richard Burghoff
Viewers met Richard towards the end of the series as a love interest for Joan. A successful real estate developer, Richard was at the end of his career and looking for a life of travel and leisure. This clashed with Joan's professional ambitions and the two part ways.
What if Richard were to have a chance meeting with Betty? In the final season, she's diagnosed with terminal lung cancer and given a prognosis of only a few months to live. Instead of resigning herself to die in the creepiest mansion Westchester has to offer, why doesn't Betty spend her remaining days jet-setting with a wealthy, handsome male companion like Richard?
8 Francine Hanson
Back when she was still living in the Draper home, neighbor Francine was Betty's closest friend. They would get together for tea (wine) and chat, gossip, and confess personal problems and repressed desires.
Among their shared confessions is Francine's revelation that her husband Carlton is almost definitely having an affair. Between Carlton's infidelity and Don chasing brunettes all over Manhattan, why don't Betty and Francine have a little extramarital fun of their own? These women would actually get to be their real, raw selves in an intimate setting, which is something they've never been able to do with their husbands — even with Henry.
7 Jimmy Barrett
Betty meets provocative comedian Jimmy through Don at a business dinner where Jimmy instantly — and loudly — takes a shine to the then-Mrs. Draper. While he can be painfully obnoxious, Jimmy is nothing but a straight shooter. When he discovers that Don is having an affair with his wife, Jimmy tells a devastated Betty.
Blue-blooded to her core, Betty is a refined woman and in that respect, she and Henry are quite suited to each other. On the surface, the foul-mouthed Jimmy seems like the opposite of everything Betty stands for. But has she really been happy doing what she's supposed to? What would it look like if she spiced things up with Jimmy? He's clearly attracted to her and one thing's for sure — he would never lie to her.
6 Joan Holloway-Harris
Joan and Betty are both beautiful women who crave adoration and attention. In Betty's case, she buries away these desires and lives a life of playing by the rules. Joan, on the other hand, makes it look like she plays by the rules, but subverts them to her will and makes the most out of life.
Had Betty learned this lesson, she would have been a much happier woman. How awesome would it be if Joan were to teach her? Picture this: Betty drops the kids off at Don's office and runs into Joan. Joan compliments Betty's handbag, they get to chit-chatting, go for drinks, and just like that, Betty never goes back to upstate New York again.
5 Lane Pryce
Both Lane and Betty know what it's like to be screwed over by Don Draper, so right off the bat, they have something in common. After being married to a cad for years, Betty is clearly drawn to the gentleman type. So what if instead of meeting Henry at a party, she met Lane?
Think about it: Betty's "fresh start" with Henry involved them living in the Draper house for a long stretch of time. While Betty upgraded husbands, the life around her didn't change that much. If she fell for Lane, maybe they could have gone back to England together and started a brand new life. Betty definitely seems like she would fit in with the high tea and polo crowd.
4 Glen Bishop
Need a minute to unclutch your pearls? Yes, Creepy Glen makes the list. And yes, Betty met Glen when he was a boy, but he ends the series very much an adult, a 21-year-old man off to fight in the Vietnam War.
Cringey as the vast majority of the audience found their relationship, there's no denying that Betty and Glen had a special connection. Before he went to war, Glen made a point of seeing Betty. She clearly never left his mind and though she rejected his advances, the sexual tension was palpable. In a scenario where Glen survives the war and Betty lives long enough to see him return, these two could be very happy together. The only question would be if he still has that lock of hair.
3 Megan Draper
If there was ever a way to mess with Don's head, it's this pairing. Though these two didn't exactly get along, they weren't mortal enemies either. Betty's animosity toward Megan was really just an extension of her feelings about Don.
Before Betty became Mrs. Draper, she was a model living the young single girl life in NYC. Though she never really said it out loud, it's clear that Betty saw giving it up for the white picket fence as a sacrifice of sorts. With Megan, Betty could recapture those days. Whether in Manhattan or Los Angeles, Don's ex-wives could have all kinds of fun together.
2 Pete Campbell
If there's one Mad Men character more disliked than Betty, it's Pete. Both of them started off the series as entitled brats who mistreated those they had power over — Peggy in Pete's case, the Draper kids in Betty's.
But deny as some might, Betty and Pete experienced some major personal growth. While Betty's main takeaway at the end of the series was that she will die of lung cancer, don't forget that prior to her diagnosis, she was studying for a master's degree. For his part, Pete realized what a rake he had been and gave things another try with Trudy. But what if instead, Pete caught Betty's eye? They both know what it's like to be in crappy marriages and to be awful spouses themselves. They could keep learning and growing together.
1 Roger Sterling
Who remembers the Season 1 episode where Roger invited himself to the Drapers for dinner? Fueled on by one too many cocktails — or five — Roger shamelessly flirted with Betty...and she liked it. There's clearly some chemistry here and it's a mild travesty it never got explored.
Betty is definitely a woman who could have used more fun in her life. And as dependable a man as he is, Henry is a tad boring. But Roger's the life of the party. Together, he and Betty could take Manhattan, one cocktail at a time.
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April 24, 2020 at 05:30AM
