Mad Men season 7 kicked off its final season with episode 1 titled “Time Zones.” Our recap breaks down the events of the premiere!

The episode kicks off with freelancer Freddy giving a pitch in the New York office for an Accutron watch to Peggy who’s wow’d (we find out why at the end of the episode).

Unfortunately things aren’t completely smooth sailing in the 1969 Sterling Cooper and Partners. In a meeting with Don’s replacement Lou, Peggy and him spar over ideas… or lack thereof.

Although he now works out of Los Angeles, Ted returns to New York. He and Peggy have an awkward encounter first thing one morning, and not even Stan can force them to cover their awkwardness.

At the end of “Time Zones” Peggy tries to make amends with Lou in the form of her best ideas but he’s not feeling inspired. “I guess I’m immune to your charms,” he says. But Lou, it’s all in the name of her best work! Peggy won’t rest on the nonsense she thinks they’re putting together for Accutron.

Joan gets blindsided

Speaking of problems at SC&P, Joan fills in for Ken during a client meeting which ends up being a bit more than she can handle. Mr. Barnes from Butler Footwear reveals they want to bring their advertising business in-house, meaning they no longer need SC&P. Joan’s taken aback by this sudden announcement and feels she can’t talk Butler off the ledge by herself, so she recommends he get his meeting with Ken before making any final decisions.

Joan then visits a business professor to get some help convincing the footwear company to stay put with SC&P. The strategy works. Mr. Barnes and Joan have a phone call in which she talks him out of dropping SC&P using some great arguments, including the fact that her company has much more power when working with print media than any in-house team would have.

Los Angeles life

Don has arrived in Los Angeles where he’s greeted by Meg who now lives in Hollywood. They meet a man named Alan for dinner who reveals she’s got a callback for a new show on NBC. Afterward they return to their new home overlooking Hollywood.

Pete’s in Los Angeles working out of SC&P’s new office and meets Don with a friendly and adorable hug. The two catch up on what’s been happening and Pete tells him that Ted doesn’t seem happy out here despite the beautiful weather. As Pete gives Don a tour of the LA office he meets an attractive real estate agent who Pete has no problem getting cozy with.

That evening at Megan’s home Don surprises her with a new television. She’s upset about it but decides his visit is too short for them to argue. They decide to have sex (Interestingly, when Don suggests it Megan replies “I don’t know if you wanted to.” The relationship has gotten that bad.).

On Don’s flight back to Los Angeles he sits next to a woman who looks a bit older than Meg. We learn the woman’s husband passed away “from thirst” and she buried his ashes at Disneyland. As she and Don are talking they lean towards each other until eventually Don is cuddling her neck.

She falls asleep on his shoulder. It’s okay though, Don says, because his wife “knows that I’m a terrible husband.”

He opens up to this woman he only met a few hours ago. “I keep wondering, have I broken a vessel?” he says of his relationship with Megan.

“I bet I could make you feel better,” she tells him. “There’s a car waiting for me, I could give you a lift.” Don turns her down. He’s trying!

What’s Margaret up to?

Our first shot of Roger this season is typical. We see him on the floor surrounded by women the morning after what looks like a big party.

He gets a call from his daughter Margaret who wants to have brunch. By the sounds of things, she’s obviously feeling better about her father than when we saw her rage during the season 6 finale.

At the restaurant, Roger is relieved to see that she didn’t want to ambush him. Instead she’s very kind. “When all is said and done, I forgive you,” she tells him repeatedly. She appears to be up to something because this sudden change of heart is bizarre, but Margaret insists everything’s okay.

What did you think of the ‘Mad Men’ season 7 premiere?

The episode ends with Freddy bringing over some food to Don’s and we learn that Mr. Draper has been feeding Freddy ideas (no wonder Peggy liked the pitch at the beginning of this episode). Meanwhile, Peggy is an emotional wreck – struggling professionally and personally.

The Supremes’ “Keep Me Hanging On” (covered by Vanilla Fudge this episode) ends the show with Don siting on his porch looking like a wreck.

Mad Men season 7, episode 2 airs Sunday, April 20 at 10 p.m. eastern/pacific. Watch a preview below:

The first seven episodes of the season air this year and the final seven air next year.