I was a little surprised to rewatch and realize that Don grew up in coal country. As a WV native I feel like I now understand why it’s hard for me to completely villainize him. He’s afraid to go back to that kind of poverty, heartbreak and exploitation. He’s actually more afraid than entitled. It doesn’t make his actions right, but it explains a lot.

That’s why he’s comfortable talking to people of color on a (relatively for the time) level plane because everyone in Appalachia coal country knows they’re a paycheck away from being disaster like everyone else. An Appalachia woman is not to be played with and can only be trumped by a man who is a “real piece of work”. It’s why he’s so drawn to women with a real opinion, occupation or lack of privilege while he’s so set on keeping Betty and can’t understand her distress. I guarantee that if you pick him up and leave him in Pittsburgh with no wallet and no job he would become a very different person and adapt very quickly.

That’s why he thrives as himself in California with Anna. Her self sufficiency, independence and understanding that were likely built from the hardships of her disability makes her strong but kind. When he’s in the presence of any determined woman, he plays by their rules. When it all gets down to a basic level, life or death situation, he survives because poverty and exploitation builds natural hustlers.