By: Valerie Milano

AMC aired the first episode of “Mad Men” season 4 on Monday evening. The first 3 seasons garnered the series 3 consecutive Golden Globes and 2 Emmys and a handful of additional cast and individual actor awards and nominations. It seems to be a “Mad Men” world.

After 3 seasons of discovering his secrets and watching Don Draper (Jon Hamm) try to keep all of his balls in the cigarette smoke-filled air, the inevitable moment of truth arrived and Betty (January Jones) was going to have no part of it. To top it off, the sale of Sterling Cooper put his professional life and personal life into a tailspin.

America is in a period of flux as well in the 1960’s.   Kennedy has been assassinated, civil rights and sexuality are at the forefront and women are beginning to assert their rights. Peggy (Elisabeth Moss) continues to step into the mad men’s world and away from her mother. This season we’ll watch as each character and the world continue to evolve and move forward.

The season also promises changes as well, beginning with new sets: the office of Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce and Draper’s apartment. Joan (Christina Hendricks) is back as the savvy office manager, after her new husband enlists in the military. As the Draper children struggle with their losses, Sally (Kiernan Shipka) will be in more scenes as she continues misbehaving in defiance of her parents’ choices.

The pace continues and life moves on.  Faced with their frailties and failings, it is a pleasure to watch these characters deal with the world, and, per AMC, “the series will continue to question the traditional norms and the simmering societal frustrations between women and men with compelling storylines and resonant moments that are sure to enthrall as the new season unfolds.”