Time Loops, Finishing Mad Men, and Slaying Liminally

We meet again, weirdo! And if you’re here for the first time, hello. Welcome. 🖤

I don’t know about where you live, but here in LA, we’ve been suffering through a seemingly never-ending heatwave. Each scorching summer day feels like a repeat of the day before, which is eerily on theme for this week’s book pick.

We’ll be diving into a time loop horror novel, my thoughts on Mad Men now that I’ve finished rewatching it, and why you can still slay even if you’re in a liminal era.

Buckle up. Let’s traverse the wormhole together.

Imagine having to attend the same wedding over and over again. Only each time, the night ends in a catastrophe consisting of a different horror trope. You’ve also recently called off your own engagement to the person you thought was going to be your happily ever after. To your dismay, he’s attending the wedding too. He even had the nerve to bring a ridiculously gorgeous date with him. Ouch.

This is the premise of Rachel Harrison’s latest novel, Kiss Slay Replay, which follows a fed up woman named Willa who’s been put through the wringer. Meanwhile, her group of college friends are all busy completing important life milestones. Getting married, having kids, buying homes. What does she have to show for herself? A monumental breakup, a job she barely tolerates, a tiny apartment, and a pet cat who seems to hate her.

We’re also introduced to the annoyingly handsome and single Danny, a rich jet-setter in attendance. Willa has a new and frustrating meet-cute with him every single day. Finally, after reliving the same awful day, she finds someone who might be able to help her escape the time loop…someone who understands the laws of physics. Of course, it’s the last person in the world she wants to ask for help.

I enjoyed every minute of following Willa through the wormhole. Harrison delivers her signature wit and dialogue in a way that feels so real it’s scary. The characters in the world she’s created are vivid and relatable to the point that I feel like I’ve met them before. Well played, Rachel Harrison. Well played.

Alongside the hilarious misadventures, terrifying creatures lurking in the woods, flirty romance, and witty narration, the novel is a reminder to accept the moment you’re in—even if you’re severely going through it. Because sometimes, the only way out is through. Yes, it’s beyond annoying. But it doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It doesn’t mean it’s the end. You’re more resilient than you think.

Kiss Slay Replay comes out on September 1st, 2026. Be sure to pre-order a copy, and tune in to This Might Sound Strange, where my co-host Michelle Delgado and I will be interviewing Rachel Harrison about the novel via tarot cards!

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A little over a month ago, I began rewatching Mad Men for the first time since I was a teenager. I’m both proud and mortified to admit that I’ve already made my way through all 7 seasons. Throughout this adventure, I realized that the show is so much more horror-coded than I remembered. It made for some fascinating epiphanies.

I don’t usually talk about my corporate career much, but I worked in marketing and advertising for nearly a decade. In some ways, I owe that to Mad Men—for better or worse. In fact, I distinctly remember mentioning the show when I was asked “why marketing?” during an interview for my first-ever marketing internship. The interviewer (and my soon to be boss) chuckled when I told him it inspired me. I thought I had made a good impression. In hindsight, he must have found it endearing at best.

After falling into a marketing career without a real understanding of what I was getting myself into—a classic frazzled post-grad English major move—I can safely say I completely missed the point of the show the first time I watched it. I mean, I thought Don Draper was a cool bad boy, for Christ’s sake.

Watching the show now, I can see that Don is a shell of a person, made worse by suppressing his trauma and embracing the perils of American capitalism. A pompous male executive who expects the world to bow down at his feet. A man who is so ad-pilled that he thinks up a new campaign for Coca Cola while on a retreat to find himself as a person.

The most horrifying part of it all was realizing that I saw parts of myself in him during that final scene. Even though I’ve left my role as a marketing director, I’d be lying if I said I’ve been able to get rid of that aspect of myself. It’s always there at least a little bit, haunting me like a ghost…especially when I wish it wasn’t. Metrics. Target audiences. Ad copy. Make it stop!

On the positive side of things, I was delighted to cheer on the show’s women. I’ve always loved Peggy’s character, but this time, I empathized with her pain of maneuvering through corporate America as a woman. I saw how brilliant Joan is, even though she’s made to seem ditzy at first. I admired the hell out of Sally Draper, a parentified eldest daughter who calls her parents out on their bullshit when they’re unable to see it themselves.

And let’s be real. Despite having the word “men” in the title, Mad Men is a show about women. Their resilience. Their adaptability. Their unwavering commitment to get what they want out of life despite the world telling them they shouldn’t have it. There’s a reason this show is considered one of the best of all time. Please go watch it if you haven’t already!

Want more Mad Men? Check out my Mad Men as Horror video essay series:

You’re meeting me at a very liminal time in my life. I’ve shared various existential and esoteric musings on here from week to week, and I’ve been spending a lot of time with my thoughts. Some may even say too much time. But I digress.

A few days ago, I was looking through my camera roll on my phone and couldn’t help but laugh. So many of the photos are extremely liminal in nature—and they seem even more ridiculous and random out of context. It somehow perfectly matches the vibe of this ~current season~ I’m in.

A page from Ram Dass’ Be Here Now that I flipped to (you know I love my bibliomancy). A mannequin in a shop window who looks like she’s behind bars and fighting for her life. A framed photo of Laura Palmer at a sports bar of all places. A selfie of me slaying in a bathroom that looks like I’m trapped in some kind of Backrooms-esque void. The list goes on.

I’ve compiled them in the collage above for your viewing pleasure. Reply to this email and try to guess the context of the other photos…I’m so curious to see what backstories you come up with!

This is all to say, transitional or liminal times in life can feel jarring and bizarre. It doesn’t mean we can’t laugh, cry, and slay our way through it. Might as well, right?

Karina Hagelin is an artist, educator, and advocate committed to affirming CPTSD survivors. We recently started following each other on Instagram, and their content has been such a breath of fresh air.

Their newsletter, podcast, zine club, and Etsy shop are infused with their signature colorful style that feels cozy, nostalgic, and empowering all at once. If you’re into the weird girl lifestyle, it’ll definitely resonate.

Creators like Karina make me proud to be weird and loud about it. As someone with PTSD, I also really appreciate all of the work they’re doing for survivors. It’s a necessary reminder that healing doesn’t have to look like yoga pants, linen, and beige (no judgement if that’s your thing). Healing can look alternative and expressive, too.

Go check out Karina’s links to see for yourself!

That’s it for today. Want more weird?

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The Weird Girl Edit is a weekly newsletter written by Maya Rector, and it gets published every Wednesday. View past editions here. If you haven’t already, subscribe for the latest wacky musings in literature, media, and pop culture each week!