"Millie cheated!" - why it's wrong and kinda misogynistic
I started writing this not long after the season finale, but I only finished it now. I'm sure many people have already voiced similar opinions on Millie's pregnancy reaction, but whatever. I wanted to rant about it too.
So I mainly want to address a theory that appeared soon after Sinsmas aired, and it seems many people believe in it. Many seem to think Millie cheated on Moxxie, which is why she seemed so distressed when she found out she's pregnant. I think that's pretty much the only argument behind that theory, but correct me if I'm wrong.
Honestly, not only do I not believe in this theory, but I think it's kinda ridiculous.
As we've seen throughout the show, Millie clearly loves Moxxie. As of now, they've only been married for a little over a year, and they still seem to be in the lovey-dovey phase. They flirt, compliment each other, and are just really wholesome together. Not only that, but Millie has put her life on the line numerous times to save Moxxie. From fighting a giant fish monster, to breaking into a human government facility, to single-handedly eliminating most of a mafia family. Moxxie has also saved her multiple times, like in Murder Family. It seems like there's nothing they wouldn't do for each other.
Additionally, there doesn't seem to be any issues in the bedroom. We all know Millie happily pegs Moxxie on the reg. They've also flirted in a not-so-innocent way. And let's not forget the whole spinning-and-shooting-while-making-out thing they did in C.H.E.R.U.B.
And if that wasn't enough, she has shown no interest in other potential partners. Like, anytime someone flirts with her, she either looks disgusted, or straight-up kicks them across the room.
All this to say, Millie seems to be pretty happy in her marriage, and doesn't crave any outside affection. I can't think of any reason as to why she would cheat on Moxxie. With this in mind, what other reasons could there be behind her negative reaction to her pregnancy? I have a few suggestions:
First, the pregnancy could be unplanned. Actually, that's most likely the case. Because believe it or not, a woman's natural reaction to an unplanned pregnancy is usually not to leap of joy.
Second, she could be nervous about Moxxie's reaction when he finds out. Obviously he's not gonna be mad or aggressive, I think Millie knows that. But it's possible that they haven't even discussed having children yet, so she has no idea if he'll be happy or upset. Or, on the contrary, maybe Moxxie has said he doesn't want kids. Given his severe daddy issues, he may not want to be a father himself. Whatever the case may be, an unexpected pregnancy can damage even the happiest of marriages.
Third, financial issues. IMP is a very small company, and we've seen that all the employees are struggling to pay the bills. The most recent example would be Blitzø and Stolas stealing clothes from a store. We've also seen M&M's apartment building, which looks old and run-down. Under such circumstances, taking care of and providing for a baby is not ideal.
Fourth, the dangerous conditions of their work. Both Millie and Moxxie travel to the human world to assassin people for a living. Many times, they have ended up in dire and even life-threatening situations. What if one day, one of them won't return home? I can't see them both quitting, since they seem pretty happy with their profession, and being unemployed wouldn't exactly improve their finances.
Finally, and this may sound crazy, but what if Millie just...doesn't want kids? Like, at all? That's also a very real possibility.
So, with all of this in mind, why do so many immediately accuse Millie of cheating? I'm no expert, but I think these accusations stem from some classic TV drama tropes. According to tvtropes.org, surprise pregnancies can result from a fling, an affair, a long-term relationship, or through supernatural influence. We can rule out the fling, and probably also supernatural means. So the father is either Moxxie, or an affair partner.
Cheating is a very common theme in TV shows and movies. It adds drama and conflict, which makes a plot more exciting. So I suppose it's not completely strange that some believe this is the case with Millie. Though, I believe there's more to it. I actually think this could be a case of unrealistic gender norms (just hear me out).
For much of history, women have been expected and even pressured to bear children. That has created a distorted image of what women want, that still persists today. Surely you've heard or seen someone online talking about how "all women deep down want children" or "women can only be happy as mothers". At times, this can bleed into the media we consume. How many times have you really seen a happy childless couple in a TV show? As a contrast, how many times have you seen a woman be unhappy, then she gets a child, and suddenly all her sadness is gone? Or the classic childless career woman, who's bitter and angry all the time? You get it.
Media often portrays motherhood as the happy ending for all women, which is just inaccurate, especially in modern times. More and more women are choosing not to have kids for various reasons. They live happy, fulfilled lives. It seems that this shift in society is slowly being recognized by writers and portrayed properly, which is great. However, those outdated expectations are still present.
Going back to Millie, if we look at her life, it seems that so far, she's walking the path that many women in stories have walked before. She met a good man, fell in love with him, and married him. Now they're a young happy couple who's been married for just over a year. Now there's only one thing left: children.
For a viewer who's used to this classic story, to the point where they expect it, it's not surprising that they are suspicious over Millie's reaction. On the surface, it seems she has no reason to be upset over being pregnant with her loving husband's child. Thus, by that logic: she must have cheated.
I don't really have anything else to say, so I'll wrap this up. To summarize: Millie is not a cheater, she has plenty of valid reasons to react they way she did, all women are different, and media has lied to you.
If you agree, disagree, or just wanna add something else, feel free to comment your thoughts! I'm curious about what other people think. Just...y'know...don't be a dick.
Have one last cute M&M pic:
