Jeers: Mad Men's "Big" Twist

Elisabeth Moss in Mad Men courtesy AMC

Jeers to Mad Men for marring its brilliant finale with a boneheaded twist. Don't get me wrong, I've adored every other moment of AMC's swinging-'60s drama (OK, except when John Slattery's Roger Sterling puked after walking up too many stairs — that was a stretch). But when secretary-turned-copywriter Peggy (Elisabeth Moss) discovered (Spoiler alert, for the DVRing crowd) that the reason for her mystery weight gain was that she was unknowingly pregnant — and she promptly pushed out a healthy-looking baby — I groaned along with her. This smacks of the kind of soap-operatic plotting this achingly subtle series has so skillfully avoided during its first season. In short, it made me a mad man. Anybody else?

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Posted by

Bruce Fretts

Oct 19, 2007 4:01 AM

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and jeers to you for putting the twist in the title of your column! some of us see this wonderful show on "on demand" the next day. As for the pregnancy, not such a twist. The Peggy character has been gradually "gaining weight" (the make up to make her seem heavier has not always been pristine) for some time, so I suspected this possibility in the show's narrative.
Posted by mdaily Oct 19, 2007 7:05 AM Report Abuse

I don't think it was a bonehead twist. I find it quite reasonable for the 60's era. I think you need to take a deep breath and get over yourself.
Posted by roxymarie Oct 19, 2007 9:40 AM Report Abuse

i totally agree! first of all, how do you not know you're pregnant? she had to have been full term to have a healthy baby like that. what did she think was moving around in her stomach? it would've been better if she found out earlier on and had to deal with issues of keeping the baby or not. that would've made for a better story.
Posted by rsmitty Oct 19, 2007 9:42 AM Report Abuse

My sentiments exactly, rsmitty! Even in the '60s, she would've felt a baby kicking!
Posted by Bruce Fretts Oct 19, 2007 9:56 AM Report Abuse

In the TV Guide Talk podcast going up later today, we try to rationalize that since "back in the day" you didn't necessarily know you were having twins, maybe being oblivious to the pregnancy at all was possible. Also, "back in the day" perhaps the baby weight was somehow evenly distributed between the front and back...?
Posted by Matt Webb Mitovich Oct 19, 2007 10:14 AM Report Abuse

As much as I love mad Men that twist with Peggy was a bit hard to believe although apparently it oes happen real life. The whole I didnt know I was pregnant until I started having contractions whatever. her being pregnant wasn't a problem to me having a seemingly, normal , healthy baby full term(?) baby was .she had gained weight but didnt' look like she was 9 months pregnant. Other than that a good eppy.

Btw I agree about Roger puking his guts out. Why does television think we want to see people vomit. Gross!

Posted by Dee Bee

Oct 19, 2007 10:16 AM

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I'm sorry, I just don't get how you guys think that this is so far fetched... it seems to me that you could understand a little thing called denial...denial is not just a river in Egypt people, it is a very strong emotion and allows people to see whatever they want to...there have been many of stories of women that have denied their pregancies until the very last minute... I graduated high school (c/o 2003) with a girl who denied her pregnancy until she went into labor during class!!! True story, I might add. And since, this is set in the 60's I think that it would be even more plausible that this could happen.

Posted by fumfum08

Oct 19, 2007 11:22 AM

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Still think it was a great ending to a great series, even if the pregnancy was a bit of a stretch.
Posted by JFarin Oct 19, 2007 11:31 AM Report Abuse

The pregnancy was certainly no surprise. But Peggy giving birth to a healthy full term looking baby was a bit of a stretch. Some women can be in denial about such things. For all we know maybe she thought any stomach pains were a result of her relaxasiser (or whatever that contraption was called!) I will definitely watch season 2. I think Mad Men is the best show on TV.
Posted by JACQUI69 Oct 19, 2007 11:37 AM Report Abuse

Somehow women have (and still do) delivered babies without knowing they were pregnant. Happened just two years ago with a co-worker of mine. I can't explain how it happens but it does and it's not as far-fetched as everyone is making it seem. I would think particularly for this era when women were so naive and were not educated about their bodies and their sexuality. This storyline doesn't bother me at all. It's a great show and it was a great finale.

Posted by mom2sabrina

Oct 19, 2007 12:00 PM

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I've actually known a few people that didn't know they were pregnant till right before birth. Had their monthlies and barely any weight gain.
Posted by daveraleigh Oct 19, 2007 12:00 PM Report Abuse

yeah, this episode will certainly leave some stretch marks on the series...
Posted by hody Oct 19, 2007 12:28 PM Report Abuse

Good job at keeping to the era for which this program was written. Have always enjoyed this program and will look forward to more.
Posted by champagnejane Oct 19, 2007 12:34 PM Report Abuse

Good one, hody!
Posted by Bruce Fretts Oct 19, 2007 12:35 PM Report Abuse

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