It actually did look to me to be dimmer than usual in many scenes. I wasn’t sure though, thinking perhaps my monitor was to blame.
Also, did anyone else think that the reveal of Ken’s revenge could have been more effective? I think it would have been better both from a standpoint of his character and for the audience if it had been left as more of a surprise. I envision it as going like this:
Ken still surprises Roger and Pete at their meeting, but he tells them he is still looking at his options and he will reluctantly accept the severance package. Then he tells them in a very over-the-top way how much it has been a pleasure working with them, he wishes them the best, maybe they’ll run into each other again sometime. . . Really playing it up, in other words (not that those two could be expected to actually feel guilty about firing him).
Now, in the next episode: Roger, Pete, maybe the guy from Mcann whose name I forget, plus whoever else would be expected to be in the meeting get called into to Dow to meet the new advertising guy who will be handling their work. While they are waiting to go into the meeting, Ken sees them and feigns surprise. He goes over and chats with them for a moment and let’s them know he has found a position at Dow. He leaves, telling them that he has to get ready for the meeting and, “See you in there. . .” Roger, Pete, etc. are non-plussed but dismissive, pitying him for having to stoop to exploiting his family connections to get a new job.
Then, inside the conference room, Ken strides confidently in and it is immediately apparent that he’s the one running the meeting as the other folks at Dow defer to him. It is at this point that he says, “Won’t it be nice working together again? But I have to warn you that I’m very hard to please.” End scene on a close-up of Ken’s wide grin and then Roger and Pete looking at each other with unspoken dread.
Ken had an almost manic sort of energy in parts of this episode, and in the above scenario, it would have played with the audience expectations a bit. It could give the impression initially that he is going to do something rash or dangerous, only to reveal his maneuver later. Obviously, he is doing this purely for revenge and not out of his own best interest anyway.