Ep 1. Out of Town

In the season 3 premiere of Mad Men, entitled "Out of Town," the focus shifts from the office of Sterling Cooper to the out of town adventures of the show's characters. The episode begins with a brief glimpse of Don Draper in bed with a woman who is not his wife, setting the tone for the infidelity and secrecy that will pervade the rest of the hour.

The main plot revolves around the team at Sterling Cooper trying to secure the advertising account for the airline Mohawk, and the business trip that follows. While all the usual suspects are present - Don, Pete, Peggy, Roger - there are a few notable additions, including Jane, Roger's new young and attractive secretary, who causes quite a stir among the men in the office.

The episode's big set piece comes when the group's plane experiences some turbulence, causing Don (who is, it should be noted, deathly afraid of flying) to have a panic attack. The scene is played for both humor and tension, as Don's colleagues try to calm him down and Peggy struggles to keep her head while the men around her lose theirs.

Meanwhile, back in New York, Betty Draper is dealing with some problems of her own. Her new daughter, Sally, is acting out and driving her crazy, and she's finding it harder and harder to hide her growing resentment towards her husband. We also get a glimpse of what life is like for Joan Holloway, who is now working in a different part of the building and feeling somewhat left behind by her former colleagues.

Overall, "Out of Town" is a solid and entertaining season opener, setting up the conflicts and themes that will drive the rest of the season. It's not a particularly groundbreaking episode, but it's a good reminder of why Mad Men was such a cultural phenomenon during its run - strong characters, impeccable period detail, and a true mastery of tone and atmosphere.