Mad Men: Public Relations – Season 4 Episode 1 – review

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Our favorite 60′s-era drama is back for its fourth season on AMC, and after the superb ending of the last season, I couldn’t wait to sink my teeth into the first episode. Although season 3 got off to a slow start, the story jumps right into the deep end, providing for some great moments.

When we left off, Roger Sterling, Burt Cooper, Don Draper, Lane Pryce and a bunch of old PPG cohorts struck out on their own after learning the ad agency would be sold. On the personal front, Don and Betty are getting divorced after Betty hooked up with Henry Francis. After losing creative control at work and his wife at home, the big question was:  Is Don Draper losing his mojo? His life seemed to be on the brink of disaster, and in this first episode, we find out that Don is very much getting his groove back.

At first, things don’t look so hot for our hero. He gives a poor interview about himself to Ad Age magazine, which has some negative repercussions at the new agency. Betty and Henry, who have since married, continue to live in the Draper house, which Don pays for–and he is seemingly okay with being taken advantage of in this way. Don is being sent out on dates arranged by friends, and after one of them, he is unable to “seal the deal” with his date, cutting things short in the cab. Quite a malaise for a character such as Don Draper.

Things come to a head during a pitch to a pair of reps from a bikini company looking for a wholesome image. The dichotomy of what they’re asking for drives Don over the edge, where he throws them out and decides to give another interview to reestablish his public persona and the image of the ad agency. We get the feeling that Don Draper is coming back.

Along with Don’s personal struggles, the episode also includes some of great material that it consistently delivers on, such as great ad schemes and other moments that just make you cringe. By the end of the episode, this new season is off to a great start.  With the jumbling of Don’s personal and professional lives, the writers have wide open skies, and I anticipate some great story lines to come.

3 Comments

1. 

   Medora

   July 28, 2010 at 7:55 pm

   Mad Men is priceless – so happy it is back. Don is definitely getting his edge back, and after laying in to Betty and Henry about paying him rent, it’s pretty clear that he’s not cool with getting bent over the proverbial chair in that department. Henry was at least man enough to admit that Don is right – it’s time to pay up or ship out. Henry’s mom is the bomb – I don’t know where the casting director found such a wretched looking creature but she is wonderful and her lines were absolutely perfect. So much of the dialogue is just so cold – slap after slap of just too much reality is exactly what Mad Men is about. Can’t get enough. Waiting for Sally to grow into her own, too – should happen pretty soon and it should be as vicious as the lawnmower incident. Too old to spank and too young for Midol – what’s a parent to do?

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2. 

   Mark

   July 29, 2010 at 12:27 am

   Forget Sally… I’m betting on Don being the next to be spanked. This season is going to be awesome.

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3. 

   Medora

   July 29, 2010 at 9:32 am

   I don’t buy the slapping business – that doesn’t seem like Don, but then again it might be some sort of guilt trip thing. Still – that didn’t work for me. If anyone is doing any smacking, it’s going to be him. Otherwise – just doesn’t seem to fit.

   Reply