Did Peggy And Don Have A Fling?

Don Draper and Peggy Olson's relationship is a central theme of the TV series Mad Men. While Don is initially Peggy's boss, and the two have a mentor-mentee relationship, this evolves over the course of the show. Don and Peggy develop a deep bond, with Don eventually telling Peggy: I will spend the rest of my life trying to hire you. However, their relationship is not without its difficulties – Don does not always appreciate Peggy's work, and he often takes his anger out on her. Nevertheless, the pair are able to lean on each other, and their platonic love story is a driving force behind the show.

Don and Peggy's relationship is platonic

Don and Peggy's relationship is a platonic one, with Don acting as a mentor and father figure to Peggy. Don is the only person at the office who sees Peggy as an equal to her fellow (male) copywriters, and he is the only one who visits her in the hospital after she gives birth. He also keeps her biggest secret—that she gave birth to a child out of wedlock and gave it up for adoption.

Peggy, in turn, is loyal to Don, bailing him out of jail and keeping his indiscretions to herself. She also worries about his welfare and is there for his worst hangovers.

While the two have had their share of troubles, with Don not fully appreciating Peggy's work or giving her the proper credit, they have also had emotional moments and have been able to lean on and support each other.

Peggy and Don's relationship is often misunderstood by their colleagues, who assume they are sleeping together. However, their connection goes deeper than any romantic relationship either of them could have. They understand each other like no one else can, and their relationship is more akin to that of best friends or family.

In fact, actress Elisabeth Moss, who plays Peggy, has stated that she found their platonic relationship interesting and rarely done well on screen.

Peggy is Don's secretary

Peggy Olson is Don Draper's secretary in the pilot episode of Mad Men, which is set in March 1960. Don Draper is the creative director of the advertising agency Sterling Cooper. Peggy is initially presented as an innocent but determined young woman, eager to be a success in her new job. She graduated from the respected Miss Deaver's secretarial school and is ambitious about her work.

Peggy's relationship with Don is strained at times, particularly when Don fails to appreciate Peggy's work or give her proper credit. However, Don is also Peggy's mentor and fills a patriarchal role for her. He often defends her, including in the pilot episode when he stands up for her against Pete Campbell's lewd and insulting remarks about her clothing.

Don also has faith in Peggy's work and is the one who suggests she be the writer for a Clearasil ad at the end of Season 1. He promotes her from secretary to junior copywriter, which is a big deal in the early '60s when traditional gender roles are prevalent.

Don and Peggy's relationship is a driving force behind Mad Men. It is a platonic love story and a work spouse type of relationship. They have a deep connection and understand each other in a way that no one else can. They have had their share of "break-ups" and "make-ups" but have always been able to lean on and support each other.

Peggy is often openly resentful of Don's demanding requirements and his refusal to express appreciation for her work. However, she is also conscious that he is the only one in the firm who views her as an equal to her fellow copywriters, notwithstanding her gender.

In Season 3, Don and Peggy's relationship becomes strained due to Don's anger and lack of appreciation for Peggy. When Don decides to start his own advertising agency, Peggy is hurt when he assumes she will follow him and is surprised when she declines. Don later goes to Peggy's apartment and tells her how much he values her. He says that if she doesn't go with him, he will spend the rest of his life trying to hire her.

In Season 4, Don and Peggy's relationship deepens when they spend Don's birthday together, talking and sharing personal details. They also discuss the fact that everyone in the office assumes they are sleeping together or have slept together in the past. Peggy asks Don why he never tried to have an affair with her, and he replies that he has rules that he cannot break.

In Season 5, Peggy's relationship with Don becomes more strained after he marries Megan and promotes her to copywriter. Peggy takes on the role of Megan's mentor but is often frustrated by her new workload. Matters are not improved when the agency hires another male copywriter who receives more credit than Peggy.

After one too many slights, Peggy decides to leave Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce. She takes meetings with other agencies and ultimately decides to join Don's rival, Ted Chaough, at Cutler, Gleason, and Chaough, where she will receive a higher salary and the title of Copy Chief. When Peggy gives Don her notice, he is shocked and tries to get her to stay, even kissing her hand. But Peggy remains firm and leaves.

In Season 6, Don and Peggy's relationship is extremely strained due to Don's alcoholism and his jealousy of Ted. They fight often, with Don constantly putting Peggy in the middle of arguments between him and Ted.

In Season 7, Don goes on a leave of absence and Peggy becomes his boss. This role reversal is difficult for Don, who is naturally pretty irritated by the change. However, his love for the work and his underlying respect for Peggy eventually win out, and he does what she asks of him. They eventually reconcile and dance together alone at the office, which is one of the most touching moments of the series.

Peggy and Don's relationship is the driving force behind Mad Men

Peggy and Don's relationship is not easily defined. It starts as an employer and his secretary, but through the various twists and turns that play out over seven seasons, the best way to describe the duo is simply to call them best friends. They understand one another like no one else can, and their relationship goes deeper than any romantic relationship either of them could have. They have their share of "break-ups" and "make-ups", like any good love story does. Most importantly, Don and Peggy have been able to lean on and support each other.

Peggy is often openly resentful of Don's demanding requirements and his refusal to express appreciation for her work. However, she is also conscious that he is the only one in the firm who views her as an equal to her fellow copywriters, notwithstanding her gender. As the series progresses, they develop a work-spouse type of relationship. During season two, Peggy and Don's relationship deepens after Don drives while intoxicated and gets into a car accident. Having no one else to call, he rings Peggy, who bails him and his mistress out of jail.

Peggy and Don's relationship is further solidified in season four, when Don forces Peggy to work all night on her birthday. Though she is initially angry at having to cancel dinner plans with her boyfriend, Peggy and Don eventually make up and go to dinner. They spend the night talking, and each reveals personal details about their life to the other. Peggy tells Don that her mother hates him because she thinks he fathered her baby. They also discuss the fact that everyone in the office assumes the two are either sleeping together or have slept together in the past. Peggy asks him in a roundabout way why he never attempted to have an affair with her. He tells her that he has rules that he cannot break, to which she makes a snide remark and refers to his previous affairs.

In season six, Don and Peggy's roles are reversed when Don returns to the agency after a "leave of absence" to find that Peggy is now his boss. Don is naturally pretty irritated to begin with, but his love for the work (and a little bit of fear) combined with an underlying respect for Peggy wins out, and he finally does what Peggy asks of him. Their moment of reconciliation when they dance together alone at the office is one of the most touching moments of the series.

In the season seven episode "The Strategy", Peggy and Don reveal some pretty deep stuff while working late into the night. Peggy talks to Don about being a mother while he shares his fears about ending up alone. The evening ends with the two slow dancing tenderly to "My Way". If there was ever a moment audiences were expecting some passion between the two, this was certainly it. But the duo is smart enough to know that would ruin the good thing they have.

Peggy and Don's relationship is the definitive relationship of the series, one that reflects and metabolizes both characters' interactions with all the other characters on the show.

Peggy and Don's relationship is strained by Don's anger and lack of appreciation

Peggy and Don's relationship is a complex one, with Don acting as a mentor and father figure to Peggy, and Peggy looking up to Don and respecting him. However, their relationship is strained by Don's anger and lack of appreciation for Peggy, particularly in the later seasons of the show.

In Season 3, Don and Peggy's relationship becomes strained due to Don's anger and seemingly lack of appreciation for Peggy and her work. When Don decides to start his own advertising agency, Peggy is one of the first people he talks to. He assumes she will quit Sterling Cooper and follow him to his new agency, but is surprised and hurt when she declines, stating that she's tired of being on the receiving end of his anger when something doesn't work out for him. Don later goes to Peggy's apartment, and the two have an emotional conversation, in which Don asks her to go with him to his new agency. When Peggy continues to express reluctance, Don tells her that if she doesn't go with him, he will spend the rest of his life trying to hire her.

In Season 4, Don forces Peggy to work all night on her birthday. Though she is initially angry at having to cancel dinner plans with her boyfriend, Peggy and Don eventually make up and go to dinner. They spend the night talking and each reveals personal details about their life to the other. Peggy tells Don that her mother hates him because she thinks he fathered her baby. They also discuss the fact that everyone in the office assumes the two are either sleeping together or have slept together in the past. Peggy asks him in a roundabout way why he never attempted to have an affair with her. He tells her that he has rules that he cannot break, to which she makes a snide remark and refers to his previous affairs.

In Season 5, Peggy and Don's relationship becomes more strained after Don marries Megan and promotes her to copywriter at SCDP. Peggy takes on the role of Megan's mentor and attempts to nurture her apparent talent (although it later turns out Megan is dissatisfied with being a copywriter). Don also gives Peggy more responsibility, as he has begun spending more time at home than at work. Peggy is often frustrated by her new workload, and matters do not improve when the agency hires another male copywriter - Michael Ginsberg - who seems to receive more credit than his supervisor Peggy does for the same amount of work. After Peggy manages to save an account, she asks Don if she will be going to Paris with the remainder of the team and requests recognition for saving the Château Cheval Blanc client account. Don grows angry and throws money in her face, assuming that she is asking for another raise. This is Peggy's breaking point, and she realizes she can no longer stay at Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce. Following Freddy Rumsen's advice, Peggy takes meetings with other agencies, ultimately choosing to go with Don's rival Ted Chaough at Cutler, Gleason, and Chaough, where she will receive more money and the title of Copy Chief. Peggy breaks the news to Don immediately after he learns SCDP has landed Jaguar. Don mistakenly assumes she is asking for a raise and is shocked when she tells him that she's actually quitting. Don tells her to state the amount of money she is being offered at the other agency, and he will pay her more, but Peggy holds her ground and says goodbye while holding back tears. Don is also visibly shaken and realizes—albeit too late—how much Peggy is truly worth.

In Season 6, SCDP and CGC merge, reuniting Peggy and Don, much to Peggy's disappointment. Don and Peggy's relationship is at this point extremely strained, cemented by Don's alcoholism and his jealousy of Ted. Most of Don and Peggy's interactions during this season comprise their fighting over the fact that Don constantly puts her in the middle of arguments between him and Ted, which makes her uncomfortable. Don confronts Peggy after she refuses to pick a side, telling her that it's her job to pick the best idea. Peggy argues that he only gets angry when she refuses to pick a side or when she sides with Ted. She tells him that both he and Ted are similar, except that Ted never hurts her like Don does. Don replies, "He doesn't know you," and walks out, leaving Peggy shaken.

Peggy and Don's relationship is strengthened by their ability to lean on each other

Peggy and Don's relationship in Mad Men is strengthened by their ability to lean on each other. Their relationship is not easily defined, but it is clear that they are able to offer each other a unique type of support and understanding.

Peggy and Don's relationship begins with him as her mentor and filling a patriarchal role as her boss. He defends her from Pete's rude comments and has faith in her work, promoting her to junior copywriter and giving her a raise. Peggy, in turn, bails Don out of jail when he is arrested for drunk driving and keeps his secrets, such as his true identity and the birth of his son.

As the series progresses, their relationship evolves and deepens. Peggy and Don develop a "work spouse" type of relationship. They are able to be honest and vulnerable with each other, sharing personal details and insecurities. In one instance, Peggy confides in Don about her struggles with dating, and he reassures her that she will find someone. They also discuss the assumptions made by their colleagues that they are romantically involved, and Peggy asks Don why he never tried to have an affair with her. Don replies that he has rules he cannot break, indicating that he has boundaries and respects Peggy.

Peggy and Don's relationship is tested at times, with Don not fully appreciating Peggy's work and giving her undue credit. They have emotional fights and breakups, but they always make up and reconcile. Peggy is often openly resentful of Don's demanding requirements and lack of appreciation, but she is also conscious that he is the only one in the firm who views her as an equal to her fellow copywriters, despite her gender.

In Season 6, their roles are reversed when Don returns from a leave of absence to find that Peggy is now his boss. This dynamic allows them to support each other in new ways. Peggy is frustrated by Don's refusal to follow her orders, but he eventually submits to her authority and they create a great ad together.

In the Season 7 episode "The Strategy," Peggy and Don reveal deep insecurities to each other while working late into the night. Peggy talks about being a mother, and Don shares his fears of ending up alone. They slow dance tenderly to "My Way," showcasing the comfort and intimacy of their platonic relationship.

Peggy and Don's ability to lean on each other is further highlighted in the Mad Men finale, "Person to Person." Don disappears from the office, and when he finally calls Peggy, she is initially angry but then concerned. She tells him to come home, and he shares that he only called because he needed to hear her voice. Their relationship is strengthened by their mutual understanding and ability to provide comfort and support during difficult times.

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