Just Somebody That I Used To Know: Mad Men, Season Three, Episode One "Out of Town"

Starting with the scandalous squalor of his birth and moving us into the seeming domestic bliss of his current life, Mad Men's third season begins with the same question that has always been at the heart of this show. Who is Don Draper? And more importantly, who does he want to be?

The opening scene where Don imagines his birth to a prostitute his father made pregnant shows us why he is so determined to hold on to "Don Draper" and get as far away from Dick Whitman as possible. He is constantly terrified of his life slipping away from him, yet he cannot stop himself from pushing it away. I'll admit, after his letter to Betty in "Meditations in An Emergency" I would have liked to see Don resist the wiles of the (very Betty-like) stewardess, but I had no illusions that it would actually happen. And for all her sweetness and glowing smiles I have a feeling that Betty doesn't cling to that hope much herself. She and Don have settled into something different, but in many ways, it is where they began. Just as Don says to the Shelley, "I always end up somewhere I've already been." Indeed you do Don.

It seems that Don and Betty have come to a warm truce, trying to be close to each other while still being the same people who were torn apart. Betty saves her softness for her husband and unborn child while still reserving that strict coolness for the children they already have, ("Sally has something to tell you. I pried it out of her.") never quite living up to that goddess mother role that Don chose her fulfil. And Don is still tomcatting around, convincing himself that it's okay to sleep with Shelley, because it's his birthday, because he is damaged in ways no one can see, because it's just one time, because he's a man.

Don and Betty's back and forth is always fascinating to watch, and Jon Hamm's genius cannot be denied when you see him in scenes like the final one of the episode, trying to tell Sally the story of her birth and stumbling, thinking about his birth, the ways he has failed his family, and the ways he has made a better life for them than he ever had. All of that is written on Hamm's face as January Jones takes over the tale and Betty tells it from the perspective of the husband that she worships and loves and hates all at once, all the time. "He didn't want to get back in the car, but he did..."

Other developments in this episode include:

- Entirely not enough Roger. I love you John Slattery!

- Our dear Sal, finally giving in to his feelings and letting a man kiss him, and willing to do so much more, (great gaydar by the way bellhop!), foiled by a fire and caught by Don! Lucky for him if there is one thing that Don Draper can be counted on for, it's discretion. Sal is such a great character, and Bryan Batt did an amazing job showing us how much he wanted this and yet how horribly guilty (That "Oh God" he let out was sexy and heartbreaking all at once.) he feels about betraying Kitty, who he does seem to truly love. Sal is torn between who he knows he is and who he knows he needs to be. Here's hoping he won't follow Don's example and continue living an elaborate lie. Maybe this experience will have a more lasting impression on him.

-Six months in, and the Brits are still trimming the fat at Sterling-Cooper. (Roger's face falling while grousing, "Oh, it's that meeting." after walking in on Bert Peterson's firing was so perfect. Vintage silver fox Roger Sterling there!) Pitting Pete against Ken to see who would come out on top reminded us of both Pete's robot human self (That conversation with Mr. Pryce about hospitality! Man, Pete is so awkward!) and his whiny whiny baby self ("Why does it always have to be this way? Why can't good things happen all at once?!" Ugh, poor Trudy. ). It also reminded us that Ken Cosgrove is a pretty good guy, all things considered. I love how he just walked away from Pete while he was still whining.

-Bert Cooper is a weird old man. Erotic Japanese paintings, ant farms, no shoes in the office... weird guy.

-I think Jared Harris (most recently of Fringe) is going to be a great addition to the cast as Mr. Pryce. And I loved the way he took down Moneypenny without even knowing it! I will not be calling that guy Mr. Hooker. Sorry buddy!

-Not a lot of Peggy, but intriguing hints that things are going well for her at Sterling-Cooper even under British rule.

- I know I said this before, but Pete really is such a baby.

-I really enjoyed the scene where Don was spinning his tales of he and Sal working for Jimmy Hoffa to the stews and the pilot. He just lights up rediscovering the power of a story, that old glory of a lie. He knows that he has that voice, that face, and that no one can look away. He's addicted to it.

-Roger Sterling quote of the night, re: Pete vs. Ken. "I told him it was a stupid idea, but they don't always get our inflection." Jane Sterling, you are one lucky woman.

Next week on Mad Men: I don't really know, as Mad Men previews are usually just the characters saying totally out of context sentences inter cut with completely unconnected shots of other characters looking upset/happy/satisfied/afraid. So I think some sentences will be said, some emotions will be silently felt, and it will be completely awesome. Just a guess though.