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Spoiler alert: Don Draper is up to his old tricks as he beds a woman

The hotly anticipated Mad Men season six opener aired Sunday night and was as dark, slow-moving and brooding as the show's protagonist Don Draper - and his favourite tipple, an old fashioned.
It's been ten long months since we last saw the boys and girls from Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce and when we left them behind in the Spring of 1967, there was a hint that Don (Jon Hamm) was about to be resurrected as the philanderer we all love.
In the final episode of season five he swaggered James Bond-style into a bar leaving his young wife
Megan (Jessica Pare) far behind in the distance.

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Up to his old tricks: Don Draper (Jon Hamm) ended up bedding the wife of a friend on New Year's Eve, in the season six opener of Mad Men Up to his old tricks: Don Draper (Jon Hamm) ended up bedding the wife of a friend on New Year's Eve, in the season six opener of Mad Men
An attractive woman asks 'Are you alone?' And although we didn't hear the answer that twinkle in his eye said it all. Cut to black.
But we had to wait until the last few minutes of the thoughtful opening two-hour episode until we saw Don up to his old tricks, bedding a pretty brunette.
 
As the penultimate season of the hit drama began with the two hour special The Doorway, it was half expected we would see Don picking through the remnants of his second marriage.
 
Philandering ways: The womanising bad boy of the advertising world was up to his old tricks in the season openerPhilandering ways: The womanising bad boy of the advertising world was up to his old tricks in the season opener

 
There may be trouble ahead: Don Draper looked a little uneasy after being monogamous in his marriage to Megan There may be trouble ahead: Don Draper looked a little uneasy after being monogamous in his marriage to Megan
 
Cheating: The character became well known for his philandering during his marriage to BettyCheating: The character became well known for his philandering during his marriage to Betty
 
Back to his marital bed: Don looked riddled with guilt after cheating on wife Megan Back to his marital bed: Don looked riddled with guilt after cheating on wife Megan
But the debut began with the couple together on a beach vacation in Hawaii, Megan now an emerging soap star having finally broken into acting.
Bare-chested Don has a cocktail in one hand a copy of Dante's Inferno in the other - a tale of death
and sin which is expected to be the theme that weaves through the series.

While Megan is riding a wave of success - even fighting off autograph hunters - her husband often has that same look on his face as we saw last season with his wife's excruciating birthday performance of Zou Bisou Bisou.
 
Sex, drugs and advertising: Megan smokes a joint while showing off her enviable curves in a white lacy braSex, drugs and advertising: Megan smokes a joint while showing off her enviable curves in a white lacy bra
 
Amorous: Don and Megan enjoy some bedroom action in the episode Amorous: Don and Megan enjoy some bedroom action in the episode

He looked like he wished he was elsewhere - anywhere else - and it's eight minutes in before he gets a word of dialogue. Yet his face says it all. Megan, meanwhile, can't seem to shut up.
You get the uneasy feeling that there's bad news in store for the lovely gap-toothed French Canadian who seems as happy as can be.
As for Don's never-ending search for happiness it seems as far away as ever.

It's fair to say not much happens in these first two hours. Creator Matthew Weiner, in typical fashion
gives little away as to the direction of the season.

 
New do: Berry Draper (January Jones) showed off her new brunette hairstyle during the opening episode New do: Berry Draper (January Jones) showed off her new brunette hairstyle during the opening episode

 
A little bigger: Betty was still looking a little larger than life after struggling with her weight last season A little bigger: Betty was still looking a little larger than life after struggling with her weight last season

 
Blonde on blonde: Betty, before she changed her hair colour, visiting a shelter to attempt to find a friend of the family Blonde on blonde: Betty, before she changed her hair colour, visiting a shelter to attempt to find a friend of the family
More of a scene setter and a catch-up than a giant leap forward, you turn off the TV feeling somewhat unsatisfied, cheated even by the lack of action...until the very last moment that is.
But then you wouldn't be the only one to feel a sense of disatisfaction. Don, Roger Sterling, (John
Slattery) Betty Francis (January Jones) and Peggy (Elisabeth Moss) all seem struck down by ennui.

For Don, that manifests itself in a drunken appearance at Roger's mother's funeral.
 
Sunshine break: The episode opened with Don Draper and wife Megan (Jessica Paré) on holiday in HawaiiSunshine break: The episode opened with Don Draper and wife Megan (Jessica Paré) on holiday in Hawaii

 
Shapes of the sixties: Megan sported the bright colours of the swinging decade Shapes of the sixties: Megan sported the bright colours of the swinging decade

 
Tropical getaway: Megan may have looked cheerful during the couple's vacation, but all was not what it seemed for the twosome Tropical getaway: Megan may have looked cheerful during the couple's vacation, but all was not what it seemed for the twosome

 
Smiling through it: Don looked like he was trying his best to have a good time but not quite managing itSmiling through it: Don looked like he was trying his best to have a good time but not quite managing it

 

 

He throws up in the middle of a eulogy and is taken home with a smile on his face - pretty much the
first and last time during the two hours he looks happy.

Perhaps it's his descent into middle age and the chasm between him and not just a younger wife but
younger colleagues that is making him question his own mortality.

While Megan is experimenting with cannabis, Don seems uncomfortable and looks like he would be happier if the sixties had never happened.
 
 
Pouting in purple: Joan Holloway (Christina Hendricks) looked striking in a purple suit as she posed for a company photograph Pouting in purple: Joan Holloway (Christina Hendricks) looked striking in a purple suit as she posed for a company photograph
 
Too close for comfort? Joan attracts the attentions of the photographerToo close for comfort? Joan attracts the attentions of the photographer

 
Impressive: Peggy Olson (Elisabeth Moss) showed her prowess in her new job Impressive: Peggy Olson (Elisabeth Moss) showed her prowess in her new job
 
New role: Peggy left Sterling, Cooper, Draper Pryce at the end of season five New role: Peggy left Sterling, Cooper, Draper Pryce at the end of season five
You just know that no matter hard he tries to convince himself that domestic bliss will be the cure
for all his issues, he's just not the marrying kind. And let's face it he's a far more interesting
when he's fooling around.

Does he still love his wife? Hamm was asked recently during an interview with the New York Post.
'I think he does,' he said.

But his on-screen wife is wise to have her doubts.
'People want to see the Bad Don come back,' said Pare. 'As an audience member, I get it. As the
woman who plays Megan Draper, I’m terrified.

 
Break down: Roger Sterling (John Slattery) is distraught in the wake of his mother's deathBreak down: Roger Sterling (John Slattery) is distraught in the wake of his mother's death

 
So alone: Roger sits alone and with his head in his hands as he attempts to deal with his griefSo alone: Roger sits alone and with his head in his hands as he attempts to deal with his grief

 
I don;t know what to say: Earlier, on the therapist's chair, Roger had confessed he felt numb I don't know what to say: Earlier, on the therapist's chair, Roger had confessed he felt numb
Even at work where he has always been king of the castle, Don appears disconnected
Asked by a colleague how his trip to Waikiki was, he replied: 'I had an experience, I don't know how
to put it into words.'

Maybe he should take a leaf out of Roger's book and give LSD a try - not that it seems to have helped him a great deal.
Unable to grieve at the shock death of his mother from a stroke, Roger's monologues in the
psychiatrist chair showed the writers still have what it takes to wow.

'My mother is dead, I don't feel anything,' he says.
 
Old fashioned: Don enjoyed rather too much of his favourite tipple at the funeral of Roger Sterling's motherOld fashioned: Don enjoyed rather too much of his favourite tipple at the funeral of Roger Sterling's mother

 
Embarrassing lapse: Don vomits in the midst of the funeral and has to be taken home Embarrassing lapse: Don vomits in the midst of the funeral and has to be taken home
 
Escorted to safety: Pete Campbell (Vincent Kartheiser) is forced to intervene to take the drunk Don home Escorted to safety: Pete Campbell (Vincent Kartheiser) is forced to intervene to take the drunk Don home

 
Sozzled: The executive looked the worse for wear when he arrived at his apartment building Sozzled: The executive looked the worse for wear when he arrived at his apartment building
'It turns out the experiences are nothing,' he adds. 'You open the doors and after a while you realise
it’s just more doors.'

The female characters remain intriguing. Peggy is proving herself over her subordinates at her new job at a rival advertising firm.
Struggling with a creative block on a campaign for headphones, she employs tactics picked up from her old boss Don to break through.
Megan is fast becoming a TV star and Betty - still batting the bulge - takes a walk on the wild side
spending an evening in the company of druggie drop-outs in Manhattan's seedy East Village as she
searches out Sandy, a missing teen who has befriended the family.

Adolescence: Sally Draper (Kiernan Shipka) was beginning to prove to be the troubled teenager she had always promised to be
 
Adolescence: Sally Draper (Kiernan Shipka) was beginning to prove to be the troubled teenager she had always promised to be

 
Trouble in paradise? Megan and Don's marriage looks like it will come under scrutiny like never before Trouble in paradise? Megan and Don's marriage looks like it will come under scrutiny like never before

 
Back to work: This is the penultimate season of the hit AMC series which will end after the seventh season Back to work: This is the penultimate season of the hit AMC series which will end after the seventh season
 
Larger than life: Betty still looked a little bigger than normal after battling the bulge for much of last season Still got glamour: January Jones's Betty Draper appeared in a series of striking outfits
 
And Sally is becoming the difficult teen she was always destined to become.
Throughout the opener Don can't seem to shake off his fascination with death, questioning his new surgeon friend about what it's like to have someone's life in their hands.
He seems haunted by the engraving on the back of his Zippo lighter which reads; 'In life we often have to do things that are not our bag.'
'I just want you to be yourself,' a photographer taking staff portraits at the office tells him;  unaware of the irony that his subject matter has no idea who he really is.
 
Food for thought: Don is handed a lighter with a poignant inscription engraved in itFood for thought: Don is handed a lighter with a poignant inscription engraved in it

 
Time for a change: The lighter inscription gave a subtle hint as to Don's state of mind Time for a change: The lighter inscription gave a subtle hint as to Don's state of mind
Then an existential pitch to Waikiki hoteliers goes awry when Don presents them with a storyboard showing a suit abandoned on a pristine beach which to the advertising genius suggests a pathway to heaven -  his clients think of suicide. 
'Hawaii - the jumping off point,' the copy reads.
But just as we are starting to feel cheated that the most exciting moment in the entire opener is Betty turning brunette, the final scenes show Don in bed with the wife of a friend on New Year's Eve before returning to his marital bed and his wife.
 
Pondering: Hamm's Don Drper appeared more brooding and troubled than ever in the episode
Pondering: Hamm's Don Drper appeared more brooding and troubled than ever in the episode
 
In real life: Jon Hamm was seen taking his dog for a walk with his long-time girlfriend Jennifer Westfeldt in Los Feliz on Sunday In real life: Jon Hamm was seen taking his dog for a walk with his long-time girlfriend Jennifer Westfeldt in Los Feliz on Sunday

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