Time and channel: AMC, Sundays at 10:00 p.m.
Score: thumbs up

Who is Don Draper?
That’s the question ‘Mad Men’s’ fourth season will set out to answer. And with all of its customary excellence, Season Four debuted Sunday with ‘Public Relations.’
In Season four, the old Sterling Cooper advertising agency is gone. In its place: Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce. Don (Jon Hamm) is still the firm’s star. But with his marriage over and identity exposed, Don is a greater enigma now more than ever.
‘Public Relations’ did provide a glimpse at an integral part of Don. He is the only thing keeping the new agency alive. The agency revolves around him and his creative genius. Clients — like the swimsuit manufactures from ‘Public Relations’ — are doing business with the boutique agency solely for Draper’s talent.
Don can no longer hide in the corner office, thinking up last-minute slogans that dazzle clients. His is now the face of the new agency.
As ‘Public Relations’ illustrated, Don is uncomfortable in that role. In the season premiere, he gave short, curt answers to an Advertising Age magazine reporter, which resulted in a negative profile that only stood to hurt the agency’s reputation, labeling Don as a ‘cipher.’ Not so good for a man who needs to win people over.
Don may not notice his newfound influence, but the rest of the agency does. And they beg him to behave—not just for the interview, but in the presence of all clients. Not that he would take their advice. Secretary-turned-handpicked copywriter Peggy Olson (Elisabeth Moss) told it to Don best.
‘We just want to please you,’ she said.
By the end of Sunday’s episode, Don seemed to realize his new role. After the disastrous results of Advertising Age magazine profile, Don sits down with a reporter from The Wall Street Journal. This time he talked about holstering his guns and the sharp shooting he pulled to create the new agency.
So, yes, Don is still the man keeping the ad agency running. But the rest of his life is in tatters, shrouding the future of his identity in mystery.
Don’s marriage is over. ‘Public Relations’ provides a first look at former wife Betty’s (January Jones) new life with Henry Francis (Christopher Stanley). They still live in the same house Betty shared with Don. The kids still fear Betty. But thanks to a fight between the newlyweds, it’s clear that Henry already begins to wonder who he really married.
Without Betty, Don’s life revolves around work and seeing his children on the weekend. That and booze, cigarettes and a regularly visiting prostitute.
Hamm continues to shine as Don. Slipping perfectly back into the role, Hamm effortlessly produces charm, fatherly kindness and anger.
The end of the premiere set up many lingering questions for the new season. Will Don re-marry? What will become of his children? And what will become of the new, struggling ad agency?
Whether or not ‘Mad Men’ will deliver on any of the answers remains to be seen. But one thing is for certain. Don Draper is the best character on television today.
adbrow03@syr.edu