"Mad Men" Season 5 debuts with "A Little Kiss"

Megan (Jessica Pare) and Don Draper (Jon Hamm) in a scene from "Mad Men."

/ AMC

(CBS News) After being off the air since October 2010, "Mad Men" made its return Sunday night with a two-hour episode.

The fifth season premiere, titled "A Little Kiss," answered the question fans were wondering about during the long hiatus - did ad exec Don Draper go through with his marriage proposal to his secretary, Megan? (SPOILERS)

Yes, he did. Don and the new Mrs. Draper are now husband and wife and still co-workers, though she's no longer his secretary.

The episode opens on Memorial Day 1966, and civil rights protests are taking place on Madison Avenue. Joan Harris gave birth to a son (the father is Roger Sterling - though Joan's husband, stationed in Vietnam, believes the baby is his), and Pete Campbell moved to the suburbs with his wife and infant daughter.

One person we didn't see? Betty Francis (formerly Draper) - Don's ex-wife was absent for the entire premiere, save for a passing reference when he dropped their three children off at her house.

In a pivotal scene from Sunday's episode, Megan throws Don a surprise party for his 40th birthday at their apartment. Clearly uncomfortable that his work and private lives have collided, his new wife makes things worse by performing a sultry serenade in front of the entire party. Don lashes out at her after everyone leaves, and she's left alone on the balcony staring at the city.

Megan (who now works in the creative department with Peggy) leaves work early the next day in embarrassment, and Don finds her at home trying to clean up the messy, post-party apartment. After she strips down to her bra and underwear, the two end the episode having sex on the soiled white carpet.

Next week's installment, titled "Tea Leaves," was directed by Jon Hamm.

Tell us: What did you think of the "Mad Men" premiere?

[Seajack--2008]

I agree that the show was boring. There was no tension. I kept watching because I was waiting for something to happen and, until this episode, the series has had exceptional scripting. As far as the scene between Don and Megan after she left work early, to quote my wife, "the writer must've thought he was writing soft porn." If there isn't a vast improvement in the next episode, I'll probably stop watching.

[lexybam]

Excellent!!! The best two (2) hours of television I've watched in a long time. I love watching Don Draper, and Slattery deserves an emmy for his performance last night. The writing and acting are superb!!! The attention to detail; the real life scenarios (Sally knocking on the bedroom door and seeing her new step-mother sleeping naked); I could go on and on, but I'll end the same way I started: Excellent!!!

[siberian99]

Only watched half so far ... (on dvr to avoid all ads - is that ironic ?) mostly boring stuff but I guess it's all seed planting and seeing where things are at this place and time ... definitely on the home front is boring stuff indeed ... the office politics is what I like ... and the maneuvering ... glad Betty didn't show up (probably the weakest actor/actress on the show - but maybe boring is what they are going for with her)... we'll see how things shape up as it goes... Don can never be happy ...so, it's probably inevitable that his marriage won't be all cherries... and having to see her every day will only cause more headaches.

[TheVodkaParty]

The Mad Men season 5 premiere didn't disappoint. It may have fast-forwarded to 1966, but memories of the long delay since season 4 melted away in the first few minutes. The period detail was again magnificent from every satin frock to every madras print to every cocktail in every glass. The new seasons promises to be another stunner. To get into the mood for future episodes, I've put together some tips on vintage Mad-Men era party-throwing at: http://thevodkaparty.com/how-to-throw-an-authentic-mad-men-era-cocktail-party-the-inside-skinny/

[lisa2791]

Not sure if it's because the excessive hype ruined it for the season premiere or the season premiere was just boring. There were WAY to many commercials during the two hour slot. Made our evening painfully boring and we almost turned the TV off before it ended. My spouse and are were disappointed ;o(. We'll watch next week and hopefully rekindle our interest....