In the latest episode of A Million Little Things Season 4, Maggie’s mother makes a surprise visit to the ABC drama. In the previous episode, a fertility doctor delivered disappointing news to Maggie and Gary. Despite this setback, Maggie remains hopeful as their journey continues. Little did she know that her mother, Patricia Bloom, would show up unexpectedly. Let’s take a look at what unfolded between Maggie and her mother, and also explore the familiar face of actress Melora Hardin.
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Who Portrays Maggie’s Mom in ‘A Million Little Things’?
Melora Hardin has been portraying Patricia Bloom, Maggie’s mother, since the beginning of A Million Little Things Season 1. Patricia first appeared in episode 16, “Rosary,” during Maggie’s surgery. While Gary and Patricia didn’t exactly hit it off at first, they formed a bond in the hospital chapel.
Fans of The Office will likely recognize Hardin as Jan Levinson, who starred opposite Steve Carell’s Michael Scott in the long-running sitcom. However, IMDb reveals that she has an extensive list of movie and television credits. During her time on The Office, Hardin also appeared in 17 Again as Principal Jane Masterson and 27 Dresses as Maureen. After the comedy, she went on to act in Falling Skies, The Blacklist, When We Rise, and Transparent: The Lost Sessions.
Hardin had a significant role in the Amazon Original Transparent, starring as Tammy Cashman from 2014 to 2019. She also starred in The Bold Type on Freeform as Jacqueline Carlyle from 2019 to 2021. Hardin had the unique opportunity to work alongside her real-life husband, Gildart Jackson, playing a married couple named Jacqueline and Ian Carlyle.
A Recap: What Happened Between Maggie and Her Mom in ‘A Million Little Things’?
Melora Hardin returns to the A Million Little Things cast to reprise her role in Season 4. However, viewers haven’t seen Maggie’s mother since Season 2. In the latter half of Season 2, Patricia had a conversation with her daughter about Maggie’s breakup with Gary, but she did not physically appear in the episode.
Maggie’s relationship with her mother is complicated. In Season 2, Patricia visited Maggie and Eric in Boston. At the time, Patricia believed that Eric had undergone a heart transplant with her deceased son Chad’s heart. Patricia shared that her brother died in a car accident while she was at the movies with friends. However, the truth unraveled in Season 2 — Chad had arrived at the hospital alive but suffered a severe brain injury. Patricia made a last-minute decision to donate Chad’s heart without informing Maggie. Consequently, Maggie falsely believed that her brother had immediately perished when his car crashed into a tree.
Viewers later discovered that it was Eric’s fiancé, Chloe, who received Chad’s heart. She tragically passed away in a motorcycle accident, and Eric couldn’t gather the courage to tell Patricia the truth. Eventually, all the secrets came to light.
When Maggie and Patricia spoke on the phone in the later episodes of Season 2, Maggie refused to disclose to her mother the reason why she and Gary had broken up.
Why Is Melora Hardin Back as Maggie’s Mom in ‘A Million Little Things’?
In Season 4 Episode 18 of A Million Little Things, Gary spends some time with Patricia, Maggie’s mom, engaging in conversation and sharing a drink. While Maggie and her mother often have disagreements, Gary’s known for lightening the mood. Given that the couple has already revealed their intentions to conceive together to their friends, it’s likely that they will share this news with Maggie’s mother. Fans can expect Melora Hardin to return once again in Season 4 Episode 19.
A Million Little Things Season 4 airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET on ABC and is available for streaming the next day on Hulu.
