Yesterday I queried whether Mark was being depicted as a jerk or a distracted goof. Perhaps I should have added “self-centered, arrogant opportunist.”  It has been Rivera’s position to often portray Mark as out of his depth, agonizingly out of touch, or just plain square. 

To put this in a more positive light (not a strong light, I grant you), Mark is … uh, at least appealing to Cherry’s practical nature. And consider those poor horses, running amok without Mark’s calming presence. Shoot, I’m being cynical again.