Ep 1. The Doorway, Part 1

The episode begins with Don Draper on vacation in Hawaii with his wife Megan while back in New York, Sterling Cooper Draper Price is dealing with the aftermath of Lane Pryce's suicide. Don is preoccupied with dreams of death and the afterlife, leading him to question his own mortality. Meanwhile, Peggy struggles in her new job at an advertising agency, finding it difficult to assert herself in a male-dominated industry.

Back in New York, the agency is tasked with pitching a new ad campaign for the Chevy Vega. Don arrives back from his vacation and is immediately thrown back into work, but struggles to regain his creative spark. He begins to seek inspiration through extramarital affairs, as his marriage with Megan becomes increasingly strained.

Meanwhile, Roger Sterling is dealing with his own personal issues, seeking comfort in drugs and trying to win back his ex-wife. Pete Campbell is struggling with his own personal demons, including marital problems and his father's death. And Joan Harris is dealing with the constant challenges of being a single mother in the 1960s, while also juggling her role as a partner at the agency.

As the episode progresses, the characters all begin to confront their own mortality in one way or another, whether it's through Don's dreams of death or Joan's struggles to provide for her son on her own. The episode ends with a dramatic event that will have major consequences for the characters in the episodes to come.

Overall, The Doorway, Part 1 sets the stage for a season full of personal and professional challenges for the characters of Mad Men. The episode is beautifully shot and features standout performances from the entire cast. Fans of the series will not want to miss this season premiere.