Did Don blame himself for Lane's death?

Shut up

Don is a narcissist but he definitely isn't a sociopath. He was utterly tortured by the rejection of his half brother leading to his suicide and no one ever found out about that. Don has his ugly moments but he also has moments where he is sympathetic to others and acts with altruism like when he took the heat for the VFW theft for that kid because he saw he was going down the same path he went down and wanted to give a chance at something different

If Don didn't write the Lucky Strike letter then the firm could've paid bonuses the next year and Lane would be alive. Don's narcissism killed Lane.

Seemed like Don didn't actually care that much desu

Lane had forgotten to pay his taxes on the UK. It was Lane's fault.

Lane was a partner who should've been making enough money to pay his taxes. If it wasn't for the lost business due to Don, and the firm cutting literally hookers 5% shares, then Lane would have had the money.

I agree that Don made the right call in firing Lane, yet there is a larger question of Don putting Lane in the position he was put in to begin with.

Don recognized this and was arguably lenient as a result, but one has to remember that what Don was taking away for Lane's crime was not just a job, but his very identity, and his agency. Critically, Lane gave everything to that firm. Without it, he truly had nothing, is it just for him to lose it after one moment of entitlement? Should Don have allowed Lane his one secret, his one sin, in light of the many he held to create his own identity? No clear cut answer there, which really is a reflection of how good this show was at times.

This actor sure loves suicide roles

That may have played a role in it but I doubt it. The other partners wouldn't have taken it to the police given how much damage that would do to their public image over a relative small amount of money, instead Lane would have been ejected from the firm in a most humiliating and public way and his career would have been burnt forever. Don was right in that if you find out the guy in charge of the money is embezzling it to pay his personal debts you can't really trust him again, especially since as Don points out Lane knew that Don would personally cover any debts Lane had because he saw them as friends and the only thing that kept Lane from doing that was his pride.

Don was the only one who ever knew about the embezzlement. He could've let him get away with it one time. Still firing him was understandable, and you can't blame Don for what Lane did next.

Don's narcissistic streak does hurt the business as much as it saves it but ultimately Don was not response for Lane being massively in debt to Inland Revenue nor the way he decided to resolve that debt.

Don couldn't trust Lane again period. It wasn't just the one off, it was the lingering possibility he might do this again and that wouldn't just damage Don, that would damage everyone. I think if it was just down to trusting Lane with HIS money again Don might have given Lane another chance but Lane was fucking with Don's money, Pete's money, Sterling's money, Cooper's money, Joan's money and the careers of everyone they employed. He didn't have the right to let it go at that point.

Did he deserve it?

youtube.com/watch?v=aXiaSovLtEY

he did but then quickly compartmentalized the feeling and got back to writing a lucky strike jingle

He didn't seem to, and why should he? It wasn't his fault Lane fucked up his life.

Lane's financial irresponsibility isn't Don's fault. Everyone else managed to pay their taxes. Don never put Lane in any position or situation, Lane did it all himself. Don actually let him off easy instead of getting him in trouble. Part of the problem was simply Lane's pride, had he simply asked for the money people likely would have helped; Don certainly helped Pete when he had financial difficulties (granted, I don't remember if Lane was aware of that). Still, it's a common enough situation that had Lane asked for help he likely would have received it.

Went into this thread thinking I missed the most recent Chernobyl episode, am now relieved.