The second season of the American television drama series Mad Men premiered on July 27, 2008, and concluded on October 26, 2008.

Betty has taken up horseback riding as a hobby and rebuffs the constant flirtations of a male fellow rider, Arthur Case.

Sterling Cooper travels further into the "Pepsi Generation" as signing youth talent becomes a priority at the behest of "Duck" Phillips, Draper's choice as head of accounts from the previous year.

The American Airlines pitch fails, significantly harming Phillips' reputation at the firm and creating palpable tension with Draper.

Joan, having been outed to her coworkers by Paul as being 31 years old, hurriedly becomes engaged to egotistical and frustrated medical resident Greg Harris.

Later, a resentful Jimmy tells Betty about the affair, eventually causing her to kick Don out of the family home.

After a short affair, Roger proposes to Jane Siegel, Draper's secretary, and ends his marriage with Mona, causing personal and (with a looming divorce) financial pressures in the partnership.

During this trip, he disappears, his whereabouts unknown both to his wife and children and his business associates, including Pete Campbell, whom he accompanied to California and whom he leaves at the hotel where they are staying.

Roger's looming divorce makes the sale especially enticing to him, and after discussions between Bert and his sister, who is revealed as a major partner in the firm, the buyout is accepted in Don's absence.

Duck informs Pete that he plans to either have Draper follow his lead or be sent out the door, using the non-compete clause in Don's contract as leverage.

In Don's absence, Peggy successfully brings in the Popsicle account and uses this as leverage to acquire Freddy Rumsen's old office.

At the initial meeting with the lead SC and PPL executives, Draper informs them that he would not work under Duck's vision of the agency.

Series creator Matthew Weiner also served as showrunner and executive producer, and is credited as a writer on 11 of the 13 episodes of the season.

Joining the writing staff in the second season were consulting producers Rick Cleveland, Jane Anderson, and Marti Noxon, who each wrote an episode.

The site's consensus is: "The second season of Mad Men delves deeper into the personal lives of its characters without sacrificing the show's trademark droll humor and period atmosphere.

[9] Robert Bianco of USA Today wrote an extremely positive review, giving the second season four out of four stars and commenting that the series was at the "height of its powers" and "terrifically acted and gorgeously produced, this is a show that's both funny and frightening, that can simultaneously make you miss the '60s and feel blessed that they're gone."

"[13] Tim Goodman of the San Francisco Chronicle said the series "reaffirm[s] its place in the upper echelon of television dramas.

The writing is a real thing of beauty - from the aforementioned nuance to searing workplace witticisms and pitch-perfect tone from a multitude of characters.

"[14] Salon.com noted that the time period almost acts as an antagonist for the characters and that "what sets this drama apart from others is the complexity and depth of its themes beyond the obvious.

Elisabeth Moss received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for the first time.