Pregnancy reveals are unique in the way that they manage to heavily influence a show.
Whether it is a couple getting to explore the next step in their relationship, or a surprise after a one night stand, or even an out of the blue arc that appears because the actress is pregnant in real life, it is safe to say that this plot always leaves room for some shock.
From that reveal comes the discussion about how well it fits into the story currently being told, and that is where many of these pregnancies go down in TV history.
Here is a slideshow of a few pregnancies that stood out when they were introduced on their shows.
Wynonna Earp – Wynonna Earp
There was really no better-kept secret than Wynonna revealing that she was pregnant. This was a plot written around the actress who played Wynonna, but with fans not even knowing that Melanie Scrofano until then, it was a mind-blowing way to set a tone for the second season. The important part of all of this though was the narrative that the show allowed to be explored. With the story choosing not to hide the fact that Melanie Scrofano was pregnant, it opened the door for a strong woman kicking ass while also being pregnant. Wynonna was not any less courageous or valuable and that is the kind of empowerment that the show thrives on.
Amy Dubanowski – Superstore
Amy made it clear earlier on in the show about how she didn’t want children with Adam, which set off the events leading up to her leaving him and exploring what being single again meant. She was choosing herself first and then came the pregnancy shocker. It was fascinating in the way that things escalated, especially since this was the point when Jonah and Amy’s feelings were finally addressed? The jury is still out on this one.
Caroline Forbes – The Vampire Diaries
It became a pregnancy pattern, with Caroline carrying Alaric’s twins as if it was no big deal at all. To this day it isn’t always easy to reason it, but it is safe to say that this pregnancy shock up a show known for the supernatural inability to have babies.
Hayley Marshall – The Originals
It is safe to say that absolutely no one saw it coming when Hayley announced she was pregnant. It was a way to bring a newcomer into the Mikaelson inner circle, and yet it was a twist that went against mythology we were told about from the very beginning of The Vampire Diaries.
Heather Davis – Crazy Ex Girlfriend
Having Heather carry a baby for Darryl was out of left field for sure, yet from it came some interesting bonding time between these two characters. It was a decision Heather made in order to help Darryl, which is exactly why this counts as a happy way to have a pregnancy rock a TV show.
Petra Solano – Jane the Virgin
One baby, two babies, three babies, four. Jane the Virgin lulled us into a false sense of security, we all thought the shocking pregnancy of the show would stop at Jane accidentally being artificially inseminated. In true telenovela storytelling form though, it is when you least expect it that something like this happens and changes everything that we knew.
Emma Swan – Once Upon A Time
Emma revealing her pregnancy was most shocking because of the timing. With her set to the leave the show, it was a nice parting surprise if anything else. It also gave Captain Swan the happily ever after that they were headed towards; with a small look into their new growing family in the series finale.
Blair Waldorf – Gossip Girl
There is nothing like a pregnancy where you don’t even know who the father is. Gossip Girl was very familiar with that when it had one of its leads going through this big change, all while building up the suspense with actual details on this new twist.
Lola Fleming – Reign
Francis and Lola’s one night stand definitely accounted for a pregnancy, so it delivered quite a surprise as well. Love triangles have a way of adding more weight to reveals like this and yet it was explored in a way that focused on all the people involved equally.
Laurel Castillo – How To Get Away With Murder
Laurel and Wes exploring a relationship with one another was all kinds of perfect, which ended in a huge garbage fire when Wes died and Laurel ended up pregnant. It was heartbreaking to see Laurel going through a pregnancy at the same time that she was still mourning. But you can’t say How to Get Away With Murder didn’t raise the stakes with this shocking plot.
Dana Scully – The X-Files
There’s nothing like ending a legendary show like The X-Files with a reveal that goes against everything the fans thought they knew. The latest season first revealed that William wasn’t even Mulder’s child, an explanation that left more to be desired, so much more. It then wrapped up the arc with Scully telling Mulder she was pregnant when it was made clear in canon before that just wasn’t possible for her. Still, that twist had fans talking and that shook up the show from there.
Rory Gilmore – Gilmore Girls: A Year in The Life
Gilmore Girls got the ending it was always meant to have, and fans were left frustratingly surprised. Besides the obvious question about who the father actually is, there is now a bigger discussion being fostered about Rory’s life paralleling Lorelai’s on this new level.
Riley Perrin – Baby Daddy
Riley being pregnant didn’t make much sense but it also didn’t not make sense. If that makes sense. Riley didn’t have to get pregnant in the context of the show, yet it felt like the natural progression of a relationship that also offered a few episodes of suspense. Riley and Danny belonged together so this was wonderful, and yet it still was a surprise for the show itself.
Julia Wicker – The Magicians
There is really no way to describe Julia finding out she is pregnant other than catastrophic. The entire arc with Reynard was dark and horrifying, but it only truly started once we found out that Julia was not only assaulted. Her journey trying to get rid of the pregnancy had to be one of the more upsetting twists for the show.
Chloe Rice – 13 Reasons Why
Chloe choosing to stand by Bryce was confusing until it was revealed that she was pregnant and now everything is different. There is no way to know what Chloe will decide to do next season on 13 Reasons Why, but it definitely shook the show on a deeper level than expected.
Alison Dilaurentis – Pretty Little Liars
Everything about the Alison (and Emily) pregnancy plot was invasive and kind of terrifying. But you know, they figured it out and it was all meant to have a happy ending. If only it wasn’t a complete invasion of both of their bodies, all of which added a startling layer to the story.
Zoe Hart – Hart of Dixie
Not all pregnancies that are written into a show because the actress is pregnant are great, in fact, many of them fall short because that progression usually doesn’t fit into the present story. In the case of Hart of Dixie though, they delivered wonderfully. The timing lined up and as the series was winding down, Zoe and Wade expecting a baby just felt natural. This whole show though was a treasure that shocked us in all the best ways.
