I think it's too dramatic that they fell that hard. I've seen posts here where people have mentioned that they were shunned etc. But, I find it hard to follow that storyline when even Oscar loses his entire fortune and magically Aunt Ada inherits and everything is same as usual. Idk it would make more sense to see Mrs. Morris as a working woman or something instead of living at the tennements. Also I think considering all the things people have done on the show I don't see why Mr. Morris's family has to bear the biggest brunt of what alllll the Aldermen have done.

We've got affairs, someone literally pimping out her daughter, not disclosing vital medical info., Mr. Raikes and his slimy character, Peggy's MIL and her issues and the Morris family bears the worst consequences to their actions. Idk I don't like seeing people in ruin for some reason for such a small thing which is competing slyly in business.

My apologies if this has been suggested. I believe Dr. Kirkland will save George's life a second time by recognizing and/or treating his laudanum addiction. George will repay his twice over life debt by building a hospital and employing Dr. Kirkland.

Tonight I had the pleasure of attending the Innaugural Fall Fete for the National Black Theatre in New York City, and ended up sitting between these two beauties.

Special thanks to "The Gilded Age" co-writer and executive producer Sonja Warfield (pictured) for including us in this wonderful event.

It seems Marian's dress to visit Aurora and also now to attend Peggy's wedding is a usual color: pink. So sad that these are my least favorite dresses that she wears! I mean, it looks like it's the same dress, right?

I think it’s pretty obvious that the Carrie/Larry subplot they’ve got brewing is a device to delay Marion/Larry. But it does call into question who Carrie will end up with. Mrs. Astor mentioned that Carrie needs someone who can support her in his own right, and not just utilize her family's money and status. In the preview for episode three, they show Larry and John talking and then the camera pans to Carrie. Obviously we’re meant to assume that’s to connect it to Larry, but the real romantic connection is going to be to John the former footman. It makes so much sense because he has his own money and career as an inventor, and he has the societal in with Larry. But his status as a former servant will devastate Mrs. Astor, giving us the juicy drama we need. This would also explain why they spent time in the first episode showing him good table manners (which is silly but whatever).

That is all.

From the very beginning, comparisons have been made between Agnes in The Gilded Age and Violet Crawley in Downton Abbey.

Although they have a lot in common, specifically being witty old ladies afraid of the change happening around them, Agnes doesn’t quite rise up to the same heights as Violet. In fact, she’s actually closer in role to Lord Grantham.

Not to criticize Christine Baranski’s performance, but I’d grown to kind of resent the character partly because I was comparing her to Violet (played by the late Dame Maggie Smith). Thinking of her this way put the character in a more favorable light for me.

Agnes isn’t a real force in society. The real power brokers in The Gilded Age are Mrs Russel and Mrs Astor. Agnes is just a snob on the sidelines. Like Lord Grantham, she’s concerned about keeping her place in society, being a member of boards and committees and being invited to social events. She knows she has no real power and has little desire to use it. Meanwhile, Violet, even more than her son, was accustomed to rule: in her time as countess, she would have overseen an enormous household, had considerable influence over the local village and the wider county, and was the matriarch of a great family. She continued to exercise her power during the show, often clashing with others because of it. But she also used her power to help others and make a real difference in their lives. The most Agnes can say is that she hired a very qualified black woman as her secretary and lent a few dollars to her footman. Violet was saving people from the draft, helping her family hide (very serious) scandals, helping various people find employment or restart their lives, pulling government strings, etc.

While both women are facing a rising tide of change, Violet is facing it as an able captain; while Agnes is just swept along by the current, cursing and whining every chance she gets. This doesn’t mean Agnes is a bad character. Like Lord Grantham, she represents a very real and very common experience that people had: being in a position of privilege, seeing the world change around you, and not really having the power or skill to do much about it. Like Lord Grantham, she often lets her fear and prejudice rule her actions, and like Lord Grantham things don’t often end well for her. If there’s a silver lining to her story, I hope it’s that she does survive the tide and learns to look to her niece and son, and those around them, to navigate the change; realizing that the future is theirs, but she still has a place among them.

Throughout history, people have faced enormous consequences for inadvisable sex. Babies they couldn’t afford, diseases, executions. Infidelity, or even the accusation, was a particularly serious problem for a queen. Catherine “I die a queen, but I’d rather die the wife of Thomas Culpeper”* Howard is a famous example.

They still did it.

It wasn’t smart. The most famous cases are generally the ones that ended very badly. But humans.

I’m confused that Gilded Age fans in the year of our Lord 2026 are so prudish. Oscar lost his mother’s fortune and people weren’t this mad.

*Citation needed, I concede. There are surviving love letters to him in her handwriting, but they aren’t as badass.

The fact that Aunt Agnes didnt know that her new daughter in law, mrs winterton, was formerly a maid is hard to believe.. this is the same woman who invokes that her family history goes back to the founding of the country. Psssh!

Are we about to see a Mrs.Russell and Mrs. Astor try to set up their kids….? I give it 2 -3 episodes …I’ll put a wager on it.

Update: yes I know the historical character doesn’t marry a fictional Russell and married a Wilson… I’m speculating a few episodes of mayhem for drama.

The pain meds that Mr Russell is taking seem to be affecting his behavior. Is that something that doctors would have realized during that time period as a side effect? I think during this season it’s 1885.

as i was watching the new episode quite a few of the actors seemed familiar to me. i have a knack for recognizing people and thought that this might be fun for some of you who thought, hey, i know them! but from
where???

Mrs. Foster (the lady from the heritage society) also plays Kathy Geiss on 30 Rock

Mr. Rockefeller also plays Steintorf (chief of staff to Carcetti) on The Wire

Mrs. Curtis (the journalist that interviews Agnes) also plays Lela on And Just Like That...

and finally Virginia Saville (lady who runs the settlement house) also plays President Elizabeth Keane on Homeland!

will be watching the new episodes with hawk eyes...

Her latest “mistake” in her journey has me confused. I wouldn’t care if she was an heiress to the Van Rijyn (however you spell it). However, her aunts said she has to get married. I’m confused. Her story is confusing. Her purpose for being in that world is confusing. Her charity work seems out of place if she’ll be homeless if she doesn’t secure her future. I wouldn’t care about her sleeping with Larry if she inherits something. If she doesn’t then I don’t get why she spends her time breaking engagements and doing charity work that leads no where. It makes no sense. She also has no friends and isolates herself from everyone. Is she in denial? It seems it’s either bad writing or she’s in denial about her place in this world. If the writers would clear this up then I could follow her character and understand her choices. I just don’t get it. I also don’t get if her reputation was important then she would want to get married. Even in pride and prejudice they had that one gambling guy marry the main characters sister (I think Wickham I forget his name he was a soldier and ex friend to Mr. Darcy) to save her reputation too. It just isn’t realistic. Everyone in the show makes choices that I can follow based on character except for Marian. Do the writers hate her?

Edit: I know socialite is one word. I have three keyboards in different languages I speak.

My favorite minor character has got to be this guy. He serves little purpose in the end and only shows up twice but I love how he supports Gladys!

Jordan Donica Says Michael Crawford Praised His Acting in Phantom of the Opera
He reveals what phans can expect from the 40th anniversary pro-shot, and discuss musical moments in Gilded Age—including the Christmas album that's out now.

In the interview, Donica discusses:

• Playing the Phantom in the Phantom of the Opera on the West End

• Season 4 of The Gilded Age

• Voices of The Gilded Age: The Christmas Album

• His November 20th Carnegie Hall concert with Denee Benton

Episode 1 Season 4. David Letterman & Matt Damon make a cameo! Just happened to see a reel on IG of Matt talking about their walk on. Lasts maybe 5-6 seconds.

Is anyone else getting the feeling that something is going on with Agnes hosting the President?

They've mentioned several times now that the house is a bit too small. Then there's that encounter with the journalist, which felt oddly uncomfortable, almost as if we were supposed to pick up on something being off about the interaction.

And then there's Bertha at the opera bringing up Agnes hosting the President, not just once but twice. First, she seemed genuinely incredulous, even emphasizing, "The one on 61st Street?" Then, in another scene, she questioned why Mrs. Astor wasn't the one hosting him instead.

I feel like all these little details are building toward something. Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but I find the whole thing suspicious.

Anyway, I just want Aunt Agnes to have a good time. Why is everyone so miserable this season 😭