Elisabeth Moss inhabited the complex character of Peggy Olson for seven groundbreaking seasons ofMad Men, offering viewers a front-row seat to her remarkable evolution. As the series progressed, so too did Moss’s understanding of Peggy, one of the bestcharacters inMad Men,allowing for insightful reflections on pivotal moments in her arc.
One such storyline was theunexpected pregnancy and the subsequent adoptionof her child with Pete Campbell. It remains a potent aspect thatgot better over time inMad Men, but while the series offered glimpses into Peggy’s emotional reckoning with this decision, the fate of her son remained an open question. WithElisabeth Moss saying she’d be open to a revival, this reopens the unanswered questions.
Moss Referred To Peggy’s Denial And Office Experiences
Elisabeth Moss developed a deep connection with her character over the seasons inMad Men,and by season 5, she had the additional benefit of hindsight to comment on Peggy’s pregnancy storyline. Speaking with theSydney Morning Herald,Moss first pointed out that Peggy has a“deep, deep psychological disconnection with her body and her femininity”stemming from a strict Catholic upbringing in whichshe likely never discussed aspects of womanhood with her mother.
The shock of the reveal is emphasized by other characters in the office…
She also commented thatPeggy experienced a lot of sexual harassment when she joined Sterling Cooper as a secretaryin season 1. Because of this, she gained weight as a reaction to“socially disengage”from being a woman, which was compounded by the intense denial to obscure the pregnancy from herself. The shock of the reveal is emphasized by other characters in the office assuming she has simply gained weight, like Joan, who tried to give Peggy some well-meaning advice about her perceived overeating, not realizing she was eating for two.
What Happened To Peggy & Pete’s Baby
Peggy’s Baby’s Fate Is A Mystery To Her
Peggy gave her son away in a closed adoption, and for a while afterwards, viewers saw her discomfort around other babies, like her sister’s son. Pete had no idea of the pregnancy until the end of season 2, in which Peggy candidly yet emotionally tells him,“I had your baby, and I gave it away.”This scene is especially raw because at this time, Pete and Trudy are struggling to conceive. Peggy thrives throughoutMad Men, clearly taking Don’s advice in the hospital to heart (“It will shock you how much it never happened.”)
However, just like Don, the past still haunts Peggy.She maintains that she wanted different thingsfor her life professionally, but her revealing the truth to Stan in season 7 is another emotionally poignant scene. It shows the strength of their connection because she holds this secret very close to her chest. Societal pressure contributed to that, since part of the reason forwhat happened to Peggy and Pete’s babywas related to the“baby scoop”era, which reduced her agency.
If There’s A Spinoff, We May See The Future Of Peggy’s Son
There are so manyMad Mencharacter storylines that would have made brilliant spinoffs going into the 1970s, like Joan’s high-flying life as a one-woman agency, or Sally’s future as the next generation, marching to the beat of her own drum. Another great spinoff would befollowing Peggy’s baby to find out what happened to himwhen he grew up.
WhileMad Menis perfect left just the way it is, and there arguablyshould not be aMad Menrevival, there are so many possibilities in the more unexplored stories. His search for his birth parents could resonate with so many adoptees of the period, and it would be interesting to see how Peggy and Pete respectively react when contacted by him. Viewers could also see a surprisingly different historical context - nobody knows where he went, so he could be growing up worlds away from the corporate culture of Manhattan shown inMad Men.
Cast
WHERE TO WATCH
Mad Men is a drama series set in 1960s New York, focusing on the lives of competitive men and women working in Madison Avenue’s advertising industry. The show explores the social mores and cultural dynamics of the era while delving into the personal and professional challenges faced by its characters.
