No, Mr. L., I feel that way, too. Maybe because he's a young priest. An old guy wouldn't make us automatically assume sexual tension, at least not me, anyway. I do not like the priest character - he is too pushy about wanting Peggy to confess her sins and discuss her past transgressions in great detail. Perhaps that is just my own prejudices coming through - I generally do not like ministers of any faith. Too many bad memories from my childhood, I guess. Anyway, he sort of reminds me of that other priest that was so friendly with Carmela on the Sopranos until she finally woke up to that "sexual tension thing" (her words) he was spreading around amongst the ladies, and she dumped his ziti into the trash can.

Your mind is in the gutter - there is no sexual tension there. Remember how she looked at Pete? That was sexual tension.

Sorry the other poster had a bad experience with a priests - I knew lots of priests as a kid and a young adult and they were all faithful to their vows - certainly couldn't say that about the men in the parish. Guess I was lucky to know so many great nuns and priests. It annoys me that people have so little respect for these marvelous people and the contribution they make to the world.

Maybe you're just hoping for a remake of "The Thornbirds". ;)

On the first episode that the priest was highlighted I felt there was a little bit of attraction on both ends. However, now that he knows her secret and has made it clear to her that he knows, the spark seems to be gone. Unless Peggy breaks down and asks for his help, he will have a little wall up and she will feel pressure and judgment coming from him (not condusive to make-out sessions).

I think the priest is hot for her, but is sublimating it into his need to save her soul.

Does anyone remember the Sex in the City when Samantha was hot for that very HOT priest and kept bringing his food for donation hoping it would entice him to having his way with her. It was very funny.

Yes, she brought a can of LeSeur Peas - said they were the very best. I think the priest was played by an actor named Costas Mandylor? I have never had LeSeur Peas, so I cannot tell you if they are "the best" as Samantha said. That was one of the very few times she struck out with a man!

Peggy genuinely likes Fr. Gill and he returns the warm feelings. Being young himself, an acoustic guitar playing man of the cloth in what looks to be a busy parish in NYC, he seems comfortable in his surroundings. Being a priest back then was to be a demigod. The parishioners worshipped the parish priests, fed them constantly and they could do no wrong. The car dealerships gave the new cars each year and whenever they felt like it they removed their roman collars and wore civilian clothes (off duty). Peggy LOVES using her new found professional copy writing skills and likes impressing Fr. Gill. I noted that it was not until he removed the mantle of the priesthood in that spartan rectory bedroom did he begin strumming his axe to the plaintive tunes of Peter, Paul and Mary. Now I see the resemblance to Dad, Tom Hanks. But no, I don't see any sexual tension between these two.

The tension isn't sexual. Peggy like all catholics retain a strong sense of respect for church authority, especially for the religious orders. So she obeys, tolerates and tries to politely help Fr. Gill all while feeling deep alienation from the church and from god. The tension is within Peggy. Fr. Gill isn't tense he's just baffled as to why she won't submit, repent and return to god's good graces.

I thought that scene between the two of them where she finally tells him that frankly, he wouldn't understand her actions was one of the finest non-verbal, facial performances I've seen in a long time by an actor. Without saying a word, Peggy's face/eyes went through light years of thought and conveyed every single conflict this character has endured since the first episode. The acting is good and understated on this show that sometimes it seems like nothing is happening. This means we all must pay very close attention to detail, which makes watching the show challenging and makes it necessary to watch each episode at least twice but preferably three times to ingest and consolidate the nuances. Don't you love it? Growing up Catholic during those years I must agree with you JimK. Fr. Gill, however, is soon to discover (if he hasn't already) that the adhering to the vow of celibacy leaves much to be desired in a rectory during 1962. Such an unnatural lifestyle!

I don't sense sexual tension, I sense "will you please back off Fr. Gill?" Peggy is uncomfortable because everytime she sees Fr. Gill (O'Malley from The Bells of St, Mary's), he is trying to get a confession out of her.
I remember growing up Roman Catholic and being taught Priests were next to God. Peggy was taught the same thing I'm sure. But, Confession (Reconciliation as it is called now) was supposed to be a very private thing in Peggy's time. The darkened booth, the screen between the Priest and the confessor. You went in with the feeling that you were unknown, and everything was very secret. Of course, the Priest might know who you were, but, never acknowledged it.
I know Catholics who would go to another Parish for Confession, so their own Parish Priest wouldn't recognize their voice.
Fr. Gill is a young, zealous Priest. He is eager to "save souls", he needs to leave Peggy alone!
I think he feels he is closer to her age so she'll fess up, whatever her sins are.

Yes your mind is in the gutter :) .. i think she feels awkward, guilty, etc.. around him because she knows that he knows about the baby. He is trying to reach her, but only to help her (i believe) . He might be the one person that brings out the real Peggy. Its like the elephant in the room that no one talks about but know is there.

I personally don't see any chemistry between these two at all. I agree with Chopin and 60s Child. The religous were held in very high esteem and it's a shame that out of the thousands of righteous priests and nuns in the world, most people now think of them all as child predators and abusers. That makes me so sad.

In my parents' rather affluent parish, the priest was sent on an Aspen ski trip each March thanks to the collections, and when he retired after 30 yrs, they bought him a Ford Explorer as a good-bye gift. He was a wonderful priest and much loved and appreciated by his flock.

Gosh, Laurie B., I hope I didn't give you the impression I think of all priests as evil - that is not the case. I am not even Catholic. I have only had close contact with one priest, and he, like your family's priest, was a lovely gentleman and extremely highly regarded by all who knew him. The particular priest in Man Men just seemed to me too pushy with Peggy, as she has not asked for his help and plainly wants to be left alone. But that is just me. I am not comfortable with ministers and overly religious types - when they come at me with God wants this, that and the other from you and act all holy, it just sets my teeth on edge and I start remembering incidents from my childhood and youth. It is awful to carry garbage like that around with you your whole life, and I try mightily to forget, but every once in awhile, it rears its ugly head. GuessI have that in common with Don Draper.

I don't notice any sexual tension between Peggy and Fr. Gill. I think Fr. Gill enjoys Peggy's company and wants to cultivate a friendship. They are close in age and she is one of the more interesting members of his parish. Now that he knows her "secret" he feels a priestly duty to bring her back into the fold. I think she liked him initially and was flattered when he asked her advice about his sermon but now his presence has become too intrusive for comfort. Even the business of preparing a little dance poster turned into an aggravating chore for Peggy when he made more demands than she'd anticipated. He seems well-meaning but he might drive Peggy away from the church altogether. I had the idea she was only attending Mass to please her mother, but perhaps the church still has deep meaning for her--I'm not sure.

Former WRG'er: What's a WRG?? Anyway, LOVED your post. I agree with every sentence.

Zerelda: No offense taken. I guess us Catholics are just a tad bit defensive since the "outing" of the molesting priests hit the papers.

Thank you Laurie B! There are pediphiles, sexual deviants etc. in all walks of life. I believe people are born that way.
I don't think celibacy causes these sexual problems to grow necessarily. There may be some men who join the Priesthood to over come these urges. You never know.
I do know in studying the behaviors of pediphiles, they will put themselves in situations where they have easy access to children
e.g. Boy Scout leaders, youth coaches

I think a great deal of the outrage related to the Catholic Church and the Priests, was the very poor way it was handled and covered up at the higher level Church leaders. That does make me feel betrayed and outraged.

I think that there is definitely sexual tension between them.

Remember when they first met, she was about to leave the church in the middle of the sermon but stayed after she saw and talked to him.

I also think that Peggy is going to be very mad at her sister when she finds out that he knows about the affair and pregnancy.

Remember how much Peggy doesn't like church or even have faith. I think that she is participating in church activities now because she wants to be around Father Gill.

I of course have no idea what the writers intend, but in real life if someone is hanging around a lot its because they're interested. There is money to be raised, masses to plan, sacraments to perform, etc... Its not like they're neighbors, but he sees her pretty frequently and he should be a pretty busy guy.

He may have no physical intentions, but I'm convinced he is attracted to her nevertheless.

I'm catholic, but grew up in larger suburbs and church was definitely a Sunday morning only kinda thing. No priest ever stopped by our home and if I were Peggy I'd tell him that what I needed to confess was the urge to slap a priest around! If he wasn't interested then he is hounding her and needs to be told so.