Let’s start at the end of this inaugural episode of Mad Men’s fourth season.

The show closes with the Blues Magoos’ rendition of the classic “Tobacco Road.” It’s jittery bounce and eager anticipation for what the second half of the sixties would comprise is the reason the song, if not the band, has endured over time and found its way onto the Nuggets box-set. That being properly figured, the song wasn’t released until 1966, making it at least a year off into the future of Mad Men’s world. A small quibble, but if you’re jacked into the history of American music, the song’s inclusion is pretty notable.

Either way, “Public Relations” finds Don Draper almost settling into his role as estranged father and figurehead for a new, start up advertising agency. Seeing the man, still rendered large on the screen sequestered in the confines of an office so small it warrants comment by his coworkers and then a bit later tucking his kids into bunk beds is odd. But it’s supposed to be.

Demur as ever, Draper’s found being interviewed at the head of the show during which time he deflects questions and mitigates the influence on his old company, his new company and advertising at large. The stand off with the reporter, who goes on to writer a piece none too flattering, is ended as he limps off after revealing he’d lost a leg in Korea.

There’s a pregnant pause after that line is dispensed – and it’s meant to find Draper connecting, but too late with this other former soldier. Nothing really happens, but the scene points to the fact that Draper is a used-to-be in a number of different facets of life. And his kids don’t seem all too grateful about that either with Sally sneaking off in the middle of the night to call her father only to be chastised by Betty.

Best Moment: Probably Sally puking at Thanksgiving with her brother following up her performance with a laudatory review of the meal. It’s all awkward, but a brief step into the realm of comedy never hurt.

Notes: With so much going on – and Draper’s apparent patronage of a hooker – it might be difficult to not eventually ditch a few of the tangential plots. But we’ll see. There’s a reason Mad Men has remained in such good standing over its first few seasons.

Episode Rating: 4.25 (Everything in the show served the purpose of setting up the rest of the season – it was just shoveled in there a few times)