From the Daily Mail:
- Episode set in May 1966 with the Civil Rights movement playing out in the background
- Don Draper is now married to Megan Calvert although relationship clearly has issues
- Joan Harris is struggling with motherhood and now has baby boy Kevin
- Betty Francis does not appear in the 2-hour episode
It has been absent from screens for more nearly a year and a half but Mad Men fans were brought up to date with the lives and loves of the Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce firm last night.
And their return was widely considered a triumph, by fans and critics alike.
The Hollywood Reporter described the two hour long opener as 'visually thrilling,' while Entertainment Weekly said the show got off 'to a slow start' but went on to be 'magnificent.'
In the long-awaited season five premiere, we found Don Draper married to Megan Calvert and Joan Harris dealing with life as a new mother.
One key character Betty Francis was notably absent in the two-hour episode entitled A Little Kiss, which shows how writers dealt with January Jones pregnancy, but while she might not have been on screen in person her presence was apparent.
The episode, set in May 1966, begins with a Civil Rights protest setting the scene that times are and have changed.
This feeling of transition mirrors the characters own lives – most notably Mr Draper’s and his new wife’s.
Megan has made the step up from receptionist and is now working under Peggy Olson – but she appears to be out of her depth with regards to understanding her husband.
What the critics are saying...
The Hollywood Reporter: 'The premiere is visually thrilling as viewers get to witness what the passing of time has brought to the characters. Perhaps most impressively, there’s a palpable difference to the series, something effervescent about it that conveys movement without hitting viewers over the head.'
The Los Angeles Times: 'As usual, a double-length opener notwithstanding, it is impossible yet to say where the season is going to take us. But if we're to judge by the opening notes, we should expect variations on the parallel theme of passing time and onrushing age.'
USA today: 'No show is perfect; small errors will always slip by. But no series sets a higher, more consistent level of excellence, a level sustained, fans will be pleased to hear, as Mad Men returns after a 17-month absence.'
Entertainment Weekly.com: 'Mad Men got off to a very slow start on Sunday night, as though daring you to become absorbed in it again, but as the two hours proceeded, the show launched at least four rather magnificent set-piece scenes that remind you not just how good the series can be, but also how different it is from anything else TV has seen. The themes of the evening could not have been more simple and direct: Everyone is insecure; everyone wants to find his or her place in the world.'
New York Times: 'The takeaway of the season opener, intentional or not, seemed to be that while everyone’s lives are full of loss and compromise, it’s a lot easier to take if you look like Don Draper and have a hot French-Canadian wife who expresses her anger by cleaning the apartment in her underwear.'
E!online: 'This two-hour premiere written by Matthew Weiner offers plenty of conflicts to dig into: Megan not only married the boss but she's moved from secretary into creative work; the continuing backward behavior of the Mad men toward women, African-Americans and homosexuals is putting them more and more out of step; and, well, a whole host of various marital and family issues.'
Huffington Post: Sure, nothing cataclysmic happened in the season premiere -- Lane finding a wallet, Don not scolding a client and Joan not being fired don't exactly count as earth-shattering events. But so what?
She reveals to Peggy she is planning a surprise birthday party for Don, an idea Miss Olson tries to put down – she should have taken the advice.
Last season left off with Don announcing his engagement to his young secretary and initially it seems that all is well between the happy new couple.
His three children from his marriage to Betty appear to like Megan although it is clear they are adjusting to the new stepmother.
But tensions rise after Megan embarrasses Don at the surprise birthday party – one he is clearly not pleased about.
The former secretary climbs up onto the stage where the band is playing and performs an overtly sexual rendition of Sophia Lorene’s song Zoo Be Zoo be Zoo.
Don is as uncomfortable as the rest of his colleagues watching the erotic show but despite this he puts on a smile and Megan is treated to a public kiss from her husband at the end of her song.
Not much of a surprise! Megan decides to throw her husband a surprise birthday party for his 40th birthday but he isn't impressed
Party people: All of Don's colleagues are at his flat and enjoying the party when he walks in
It’s clear that all the men at the party are lusting after the vibrant 25-year-old and Roger Sterling notes: ‘The only thing worse than not getting what you want is someone else getting it.’
The party turns sour for Megan when Don flops into bed, unresponsive to his wife's questioning.
He is clearly angry over the party using the lame excuse that he doesn't like his birthday - but it's clear that isn't the only thing bothering him.
That's awkward: Megan put on a show for her husband and performed a rendition of Zoo Be Zoo Be Zoo
Shock reaction: Mr and Mrs Pryce were just as embarrassed as everyone else by the overtly suggestive routine
Interesting choice of present: Megan dances around while all the men in the room lust after her
Not happy: The party ends early for Megan when she and Don have an argument after the party
Their fight plays on Megan's mind at work and she confides to Peggy that Don is angry about the party.
After asking to leave work early Don returns home to find Megan, who promptly strips off to her underwear and bending over suggestively as she cleans furiously.
Angry: The next day the couple have a confrontation at home. Megan is dressed in a robe before she strips off
Bizarre behaviour: Megan strips off mid-way through the argument to clean the apartment in her underwear
She shouts at her husband telling him not to look at her, that he doesn't deserve her, that he is too old for her, but it appears the insults simply increase his desire for her.
He strides over to her and grabs her by the head, before they tumble to the floor to furiously make love.
Another key theme of the episode is Joan's struggle to cope with her son - the father of whom is still unknown.
What on earth: Megan crouches down in a suggestive position as she entices Don during the argument
The art of seduction: Megan sticks her bottom in the air so her husband can have a good look
Rough touch: Don strides over to Megan grabbing her before the pair tumble to the floor
Angry sex: The pair clearly can't keep their hands off each other
She is seen exhausted and arguing with her mother, her husband is absent from the episode, and she sees what she believes is an advert for her position at the firm in the paper.
Joan squeezes her curves into a tight dress, does her hair and makes her way into the office to find out what is going on.
She bumps into Roger, who might well be the father of the baby, and introduces the child to him.
Advert: Joan gets worried when she sees an advert for SCDP - but it is simply a joke for a rival firm who were subject to a civil rights protest
Working her magic: After fearing she is being replaced in her job Joan returns to work with her baby
As he sees her standing in the hallway he notes: 'Well well well, there’s my baby,' before adding: 'Now get that brat out of the way so I can get to her.'
He clearly doesn't think he could be the father of the child and pays it no attention as he carries on his way.
As well as sexual tensions there are also very obvious power struggles being played out.
Joan is on her way to confront her boss Lane Pryce - who realises she has got the wrong idea from the advert.
Pryce tells her that her job is safe and that the women who have taken over her role while she has been away have nothing on her.
The new mother clearly finds this information overwhelming and bursts down in tears, which she blames on her emotions which have gone somewhat awry after having her child.
Once she feels satisfied in her position Pryce also recounts Draper's birthday celebrations including the impromptu performance by Megan.
He even acts part of it out which leaves Joan in fits of giggles and speaking of the birthday boy's obvious embarrassment he says: 'I saw his soul leave his body'.
Oh goodness: Lane then cheers her up by telling her about the events of the birthday party and acts out Megan's dance
Joan remarks: 'I can’t even imagine how handsome that man would be blushing.'
Pryce isn't the only one making fun of the show - it's the talk of the office.
Roger teases Don singing Freres Jacques while Harry Crane is overheard telling a colleague how sexy the show was - by Megan herself.
In another theme from the episode Peggy is left frustrated when Heinz reject her Bean Ballet idea and she receives no support from Draper.
She tells a colleague: 'I don’t recognize that man, he's kind he's patient.'
But it is clear that her disappointment isn't just down to work.
The episode ends with the firm being inundated by African American flooding reception – hoping to secure a position with the ‘equal opportunities employer’ after seeing the fake job advert.
After a discussion about what to do Pryce is later seen addressing them and accepting resumes– suggestion a change in the racial dynamic of the firm could well be on its way.
