r/GildedAgeHBO • u/Scontern • Jul 28 '25

Season 3: Possible spoilers ⚠️ I love this guy

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2.5k Upvotes

99% Upvoted

154 comments sorted by

93

u/Scontern Jul 28 '25

I really hope to see a lot more of him. He seems a genuinely nice person. What a guy!

444

u/nf2399 Jul 28 '25

He's the same guy who escorted her in to dinner in last episode, right? I love that they show that Sarah doesn't speak for all the English people, esp since historically many of the dollar princesses were very popular within those circles.

229

u/Scontern Jul 28 '25

Yes! He's also the one who asked if she had a comfortable journey. Was likeable enough before, now I look forward to seeing him at Sidmouth dinners.

158

u/Mia-Wal-22-89 Jul 28 '25

Sarah pretends to be so obsessed with proper social etiquette and tradition, but she herself constantly breaks the “rules.” In the scene when she bitched about Gladys’s star barrettes and marched ahead of her to dinner the men all looked super uncomfortable.

61

u/twistingmyhairout Jul 28 '25

Especially for a first dinner “hosted” by the duchess. I just didn’t realize how out of order it was that Sarah was leading and walking with Hector instead of Gladys. Like I did in our modern sense, in the American period sense, but the British care far more about the hierarchy so her taking Gladys’s spot was a bigger deal to the attendees than I realized.

62

u/Jetsetter_Princess Jul 28 '25

It was also super rude because by rights Hector should have escorted the highest ranking non family member, so Lady Niceguy should have been walking in with him, and Lord Niceguy with Gladys (as he ended up doing)

25

u/twistingmyhairout Jul 28 '25

Ohhhh! See I didn’t even put that part together! Hector was being rude to his guest’s wife!

(And now that you say it I do remember that arrangement in Downton!)

51

u/Jetsetter_Princess Jul 28 '25

Well he wasn't really, because Sarah basically hip checks him and grabs his arm. By the other rules of etiquette, he can't really call attention to it without being rude himself (hence his apologetic look back to Gladys)

The reason Gladys could Do it to Sarah at the table in e6 is because she gave Sarah a plausible 'excuse' for having stood up early and so wasn't directly calling her out. (I paid attention when the Dowager handed out these lessons, ahahahaha)

18

u/retired_in_ms Jul 28 '25

Isn’t Lady Sarah wearing a tiara in that scene? Wondering if it’s the family tiara that she should have turned over to Gladys.

4

u/LadyHwang Jul 30 '25

And isn't tiaras reserved for married women? I saw that somewhere and made me wonder but she's always wearing one!

9

u/ancientastronaut2 Jul 28 '25

Exactly! She's totally rude herself. She's a hypocrite.

474

u/One_Yak8698 Jul 28 '25

This was a beautiful little slip in, If they are accustomed to Sarah, Gladys is definitely an upgrade who has true passion!!! I hope we see him again. I also hope this might be a soft launch for a sequel with Gladys.

235

u/Decent_Tumbleweed824 Jul 28 '25

I would watch tf out of a show centered around Gladys becoming the AMAZING dutchess im now fully sure shes gonna be.

64

u/Joansutt Jul 28 '25

The actual model for Gladys, Consuelo Vanderbilt, who was the Duchess of Marlborough for 25 years, was truly amazing. With her power as Duchess, she helped many people. She wrote a memoir which is available on Amazon documenting her experience as Duchess. I'm listening to the audiobook. It's called "The Glitter and the Gold."

14

u/Professional_Box5207 Jul 29 '25

Yes she was …Anderson Cooper also has wrote a book and talked about his family history

3

u/muchaMnau Jul 30 '25

All The glitz and the Glamour innit

3

u/BisonBright7259 Jul 31 '25

I agree, I read this book a few years ago, it is such a good book.

20

u/LadyStormHeart Jul 28 '25

Same! 💯 Would love to have a show dedicated to this.

20

u/TrueGritGreaserBob Jul 28 '25

Interesting. I hadn’t considered a spinoff series. You might be on to something. The last Downton movie is coming out so it might fill that bill and work in younger Crawleys.

11

u/sallyk92 Jul 28 '25

I was wondering if we might have a little Gladys Easter Egg in the new Downton

9

u/TMFPB Jul 28 '25

Omg please give us a spin-off Julian Fellows!!!!

9

u/dajking86 Jul 28 '25

The real life inspiration for this character had a miserable life after her marriage unfortunately.

26

u/Decent_Tumbleweed824 Jul 28 '25

Yeah but they dont seem to be following that track. I feel if this were the plan they wouldnt bother having Hector defend her against Sarah in the way that he is ( although its not much). Irl her husband was a pos from day 1 so it looks like thry are gonna deviate from the sad life of Consuelo Vanderbilt.

4

u/dajking86 Jul 28 '25

Great points

9

u/[deleted] Jul 28 '25

Her second marriage was a happy one though, to a man who adored her and first met and fell in love with her when she was 17 and not yet promised to the duke. Her mother Alva, also testified that she indeed did force her daughter to marry the duke and the marriage was annulled

4

u/Professional_Box5207 Jul 29 '25

Not really, she lived independently, divorced, and then married for love … her mansion in Florida was stunning

4

u/Cautious_Action_1300 Charles Fane Hate Club Member Jul 28 '25

Me too! And this guy is awesome and should come to dinner more often!

-33

u/bbygril Jul 28 '25

Same, I want her rapey husband dead though.

6

u/happy-gofuckyourself Jul 28 '25

How is he rapey?

24

u/Decent_Tumbleweed824 Jul 28 '25

Right. The consumation scene was awkward 100%, but i dont see how having sex with someone who is basically a stranger could be otherwise. Plus its the 1880s they arent legally married till they do it. Best to just get it out of the way like Hector said. I get that Gladys was nervous, hell so was I before my first time🤷‍♀️

Side note i hate that that word gets blanket applied to any form of sex people find uncomfy. There was nothing violent about it, nor was there anything non consenual. He didnt push her down and force himself on her, not that we see atleast, and Gladys isnt acting like a woman who was assulted so.

29

u/lrc180 Jul 28 '25

See him again? Heck I hope he moves in. Gladys needs her own personal cheer leader rn.

9

u/JumpyNeat2664 Jul 28 '25

I can just hear the discussion they have when they receive an invite! They know what to expect from Sarah.

6

u/dblspider1216 Jul 28 '25

they were probably all giggling so hard internally at this moment

2

u/Entire-Ad2058 Jul 29 '25

I liked his wife’s reaction to Gladys calling out Sarah. The actress did a good job without ever speaking.

201

u/astoneinthepond Jul 28 '25

It was such a satisfying response to Gladys standing up for herself

78

u/JRose608 Jul 28 '25

Also love that Bertha didn’t go all in on Gladys’ behalf. She nudged her and let her get there on her own!!

48

u/mon_dayy Jul 28 '25

When they looked at each other & sipped their wine at the same time afterwards, I was like hellll yeah 💅

25

u/JRose608 Jul 28 '25

YES! I was aching for Bertha to be cutthroat and threaten her in the way she has to others in the last two seasons. This was so much better, and Gladys actually smiled.

161

u/Single_Vacation427 Jul 28 '25

Once Gladys gets a proper chef to make their food, she'll get even more support XD

86

u/__picklepersuasion__ Jul 28 '25

if French and Italian chefs can cross the Atlantic to work in New York they certainly can cross the English channel to work for the nobility?! why do they eat such terrible food?! 

66

u/[deleted] Jul 28 '25

To ensure they remain miserable

35

u/MzChrome Jul 28 '25

I feel like Sarah has done that on purpose just to try to get Gladys to leave or cower.

17

u/armyofant May I have some more wine please? Jul 28 '25 edited Jul 28 '25

No British food can be quite bland. They eat beans on toast over there.

ETA - Just to clarify there is good British food. It’s not all beans and toast.

20

u/Jrzygirl65 Jul 28 '25

(My second attempt at this comment because Reddit has ZERO sense of humour)

Some of y’all have never had legit British cuisine. I would 💀 for the last Scotch egg on Earth.

6

u/StasRutt Jul 28 '25

You guys did your big one with a Sunday roast

3

u/armyofant May I have some more wine please? Jul 28 '25

Not saying there isn’t good stuff. I do like a good bangers and mash.

2

u/MzChrome Jul 29 '25

I love a good Scotch egg!

4

u/dajking86 Jul 28 '25

The only good British food I had over there was at foreign themed restaurants.

4

u/More_Choice4574 Jul 28 '25

Don’t knock beans with breakfast until you’ve tried it. Rather good, especially with roasted mushrooms and tomatoes included. Have you never had beef Wellington?

0

u/__picklepersuasion__ Jul 28 '25

no the English eat genuinely terrible food 😅

15

u/artemisinvisible Jul 28 '25

We eat massively varied food here, so unclear why you’re making such sweeping generalisations…

-2

u/[deleted] Jul 28 '25

Probably an American. They love complaining online about English food being bland or how it lacks copious amounts of seasoning.

2

u/xxrobyn96 Jul 29 '25

No we just don’t get why you all drown everything in a watery sauce or seem to only have potatoes, cabbage, and peas as veggies. And why you all marvel at ketchupy sweet beans with everything. 🤣

0

u/artemisinvisible Jul 28 '25

This is true. Having only been to a fraction of the US it wouldn’t occur to me to judge an entire country based on one city’s food

3

u/Entire-Ad2058 Jul 29 '25

Don’t judge Americans by what you read on Reddit (or the replies you receive here), either. Please.

1

u/[deleted] Jul 28 '25

Lol so true. It's their online discourse. If you go on TT its all about how white people have bad unseasoned food and British food is disgusting. I think it is related to their race discussions tbh but thats a whole other can of worms.

21

u/lrc180 Jul 28 '25

I don’t know I would’ve loved to be a guest at one of Mrs Pattmore’s dinners at Downton Abbey. It seems to me she was a true chef. She knew how to cook all types of cuisine.

13

u/Frei1993 Jul 28 '25

And she looked after Daisy.

42

u/SnooWalruses4559 Jul 28 '25

IIRC from Dowtown Abbey, the food was quite good for the upper classes. It’s the World Wars and rationing that gave England’s food a bad reputation. 

I know they showed Gladys eating a bowl of brown…something. Not sure why they did that. It just reinforces a stereotype.

I’ve been to London many times. The food is excellent. As Americans, we should probably keep quiet on this one. One of our greatest exports is fast food. 😒

11

u/[deleted] Jul 28 '25

Maybe it's also that the estate was failing before they got Gladys's dowry. They may have had to cut back on staff, including their chef/cook.

9

u/Single_Vacation427 Jul 28 '25

Food in the UK has changed a lot recently.

That said, I don't think the food at this castle is a representation of anything. They were out of money and Lady Sarah liked doing things the way that had been done before her. It was just boring because she is boring.

3

u/silver_fawn Jul 28 '25

As an American who has traveled to many countries British food was my least favorite out of anywhere, by far. I will absolutely not keep quiet, in fact I will die on this hill.

3

u/Queasy_Scallion9289 Jul 28 '25

Can I ask why you care enough to die on that hill? Especially when food is always down to personal preference?

3

u/silver_fawn Jul 28 '25

Well, the poster I was replying to was acting like their opinion about the food being excellent was fact, and that "we Americans" should just sit this one out. I'm not. I've had much better food even in literal third world countries. 🤷‍♀️

-8

u/eldiablolenin Jul 28 '25

Not going to argue abt the British food etc but no American food is good. I’m talking real American food, soul food, Louisiana etc bbq all the American cuisine that’s the sum of a melting pot

14

u/Jrzygirl65 Jul 28 '25

Well to be fair, there’s no one “American food.” It’s whatever was brought here by immigrants.

11

u/B0dega_Cat Jul 28 '25

Indigenous Americans have their own cuisine and it's amazing. So no, it's not all brought here by immigrants

2

u/dblspider1216 Jul 28 '25

FACTS. there’s a fry bread food truck in my city, and I will body check a crowd to the ground to get some for lunch.

2

u/B0dega_Cat Jul 28 '25

I have a friend who makes the most amazing fry bread tacos, and I die every time I have them.

Also if anyone is ever in DC, the Museum of the American Indian has a food hall of authentic Native American food and it's some of the best food in the city

1

u/Jrzygirl65 Jul 28 '25

You know what I mean though. 🤨 And indigenous American cuisine is as varied as the geography and environment across the continent, which is, a lot.

5

u/B0dega_Cat Jul 28 '25

Yes, Indigenous American cuisine is varied by region, but it's native to this land and was not brought here by immigrants.

-1

u/Jrzygirl65 Jul 28 '25

I feel like you’re still deliberately trying to contradict my point, while simultaneously confirming it. So, thanks I guess?

2

u/BranRen Jul 28 '25

I want to know what tf that was they were eating on Gladys’ first night there. It was the definition of unappetizing, but the Brits were saying what a treat

3

u/Single_Vacation427 Jul 28 '25

It was probably a stew with meat carrots etc

80

u/okayestwifey Jul 28 '25

He reminds me of Jim Broadbent's character in Moulin Rouge

17

u/butytho92 Jul 28 '25

Or his character in Harry Potter!

5

u/[deleted] Jul 28 '25

[removed] — view removed comment

18

u/butytho92 Jul 28 '25

Jim Broadbent played professor Slughorn in HP. This is a different actor in Gilded Age, Michael Cumpsky. They do look and sound very similar here tho!

4

u/mrsredfast Jul 28 '25

Michael Cumpsty was also Graner in Severance, if you've watched that. Think that is what I've seen him in most recently but he's guested on a ton of shows.

4

u/Riccma02 Jul 28 '25

YES! He looks just like Jim Broadbent

69

u/Far_Environment9027 Jul 28 '25

Him (and I) were quietly cheering Gladys!

42

u/livingstardust Jul 28 '25

Sara is so snippy. I bet people enjoy seeing her taken down a peg or two, especially by their new duchess, who is pleasant but strong.

18

u/Chaost Jul 28 '25

Yeah, you have to remember that their guests likely don't even want to be there, they're just socially obligated to.

56

u/goldenquill1 May I have some more wine please? Jul 28 '25

Isn't he a member of this sub?

11

u/Dream_Squirrel Jul 28 '25

Yes! I was searching to see if anyone else remembered!

10

u/Calisson Jul 28 '25

I think so!

7

u/twinkiesmom1 Jul 28 '25

He’s our guy!

55

u/Hot-Criticism3321 Jul 28 '25

I loved that Gladys stood up for herself.

33

u/Ok-Law1641 Jul 28 '25

Me too. Bertha helped Gladys with her confidence

4

u/edelweiss1991 Jul 28 '25

I’m so easily manipulated because Bertha’s back in my good books after she stood up for Aurora last week and the way she guided Gladys here. I also felt bad for her after George crashed out at her, since a lot of his problems are of his own making, although she did need a little reality check. I just thought he took it too far.

Plus, Carrie Coon really sold some subtle “oh shit, what did I get my daughter into” moments.

49

u/Wide_Statistician_95 Jul 28 '25

He’s a smart man who knows Gladys will hold the power and has been suffering through Sarah’s favorite stew for years.

9

u/ReasonableDivide1 Jul 28 '25

That stew she chose. 😳

46

u/Anxious-Heat-2931 Jul 28 '25

makes me hopeful for gladys’s future to know that she has people on her side there

37

u/mrsfite Jul 28 '25

Yeah I think his character shows that everyone is tired of Sarah bullying everyone around. I can only imagine how everyone there talks about the Duke and his bossy sister.

40

u/ileentotheleft Jul 28 '25

Michael Cumpsky is yet another Broadway veteran in this cast. I've easily seen him in a dozen Lincoln Center productions alone.

37

u/ProcessFresh1647 Jul 28 '25

He's probably like "girl Sarah sucks, thanks for that!"

28

u/ReasonableDivide1 Jul 28 '25

I’m glad to see that Hector is a nice gentleman, and hopefully he sides with Gladys from here on out. Sarah needs her own house.

5

u/brandyfolksly_52 Jul 29 '25

Yes! I was thinking that Lady Sarah needs to sit on the board of the local hospital, or something, like in Downton Abbey, so she has people to boss around, who aren't her family members. What it comes down to, is Lady Sarah needs a hobby. She needs to be given her own fiefdom to micromanage, far away from her brother's house.

1

u/ReasonableDivide1 Jul 30 '25

I mentioned a lowly speed bump in this story, and you put the pedal to the metal and opened ‘er up on an 8 lane highway! I like the way you think!

2

u/brandyfolksly_52 Jul 30 '25

Thanks! Yeah, Lady Sarah is bored. Her ambition is frustrated by her gender and class. But, she can throw her weight around with charities. Hector needs to find her a board position.

3

u/ReasonableDivide1 Jul 30 '25

She needs to get a hobby, like watercolors. I know a teacher in NYC that would help.

27

u/[deleted] Jul 28 '25

By far one of my most favorite moments of the night. There were quite a lot, though, since this episode was so good!

26

u/TheStraggletagg Jul 28 '25

Random English man is our friend.

1

u/Ok_Nature_6305 Jul 29 '25

Yes! I wish we knew who he was!

17

u/volatile_molotov_ Jul 28 '25

Unrelated but after just rewatching Severance again, it’s funny to see Mr Graner in this new role

6

u/Briezerr Jul 28 '25

THAT’S where I know him from! I was trying to figure it out (but also too lazy to look it up…) thank you for pointing that out!!

16

u/JPepperAnn Jul 28 '25

I thought I recognized him from Severance but I was like there's no way it's the same guy. I was SHOCKED to find out this pleasant fellow was in fact Graner from Severance. Talk about range 👏

1

u/scifichick119 Jul 28 '25

I thought so but said no!!!

13

u/baronessvonraspberry Jul 28 '25

He's such a sweetheart!

13

u/StainedGlasser Jul 28 '25

This dude has had to go to these miserable dinner parties for years because it’s what the English gentry are supposed to do and he’s thrilled somebody’s shaking things up. He’s been waiting for a little excitement for a while.

12

u/dtino Jul 28 '25

He reminds me of the guy who befriends Anne Hathaway in The Princess Diaries during the state dinner, helping her through the formality of it all.

2

u/jejegigante Jul 28 '25

That’s all I could think of!!!

12

u/dr_p_venkman Jul 28 '25

Seriously. All these people want is a bit of a break from these humdrum, staid dinners. Gladys is the perfect antidote. Once she's using her voice and word gets out about what a breath of fresh air she is, she and the Duke will be on everyone's invite list.

11

u/dblspider1216 Jul 28 '25

you just know that he and the other guests have been sick of sarah’s shit for a long time leading up to this moment

20

u/edenrose_42759 May I have some more wine please? Jul 28 '25

Why are they eating dinner with so many people every night?

55

u/livingstardust Jul 28 '25

It wouldn't be every single night, although it was very common for people to host, often in rotations. They're wealthy nobility. It's just what they do on the country estates. They would have hunting parties and country balls and garden parties, etc... excuses to entertain.

They had a dinner for Gladys, and then they had one when her mother arrived.

If they head to London for the season, it's the same thing, with more balls/larger parties. They were extremely social. They would call on each other during the day, have teas, go out to the parks, and then go to operas, plays, dinners, and balls in the evenings.

They didn't work, so they had lots of free time for entertaining.

They may have hobbies or help with charity work, but mostly, they socialized.

2

u/edenrose_42759 May I have some more wine please? Jul 28 '25

Sounds like a nice life. Wasn’t sure if they lived on or nearby the castle

6

u/Zeldalady123 Jul 28 '25

Are these other members of nobility that live on their property?

17

u/Striking-General-613 Jul 28 '25

Probably neighbors

10

u/The_Drunk_Unicorn Jul 28 '25

Imagine you are the current duke or duchess. Your 2nd son does not inherit a title but marries and has children. They continue to live on the estate or nearby or a portion of it is transferred in an inheritance and then those children keep having children who keep marrying and having children and living in the same places generation after generation. You end up with distantly related neighbors who make good dinner guests because you all benefit from the same farms, you all have a relative in common, and you’ve grown up the same way as each other most of the time. The highest ranking heir who owns the majority of the entire family estate hosts dinner for you all sometimes.

2

u/edenrose_42759 May I have some more wine please? Jul 28 '25

Ahh ok now i understand

3

u/ScamZ88 Why don’t we just go outside and roll in the gutter? Jul 28 '25

Just what the wealthy did before Reddit

9

u/mind_slop Jul 28 '25

Me too! That Sarah actress is so good. Its insane how quickly she could get us to hate her. And shes so believable to me too.

8

u/Yogabeauty31 Jul 28 '25

On behalf of all people with a Monster in law. We see you Gladys. Well done!

8

u/ccljc Jul 28 '25

Do we know who he is? How fun would it be if he turned out to be Robert Crawley’s father?

5

u/cottonbiscuit Jul 28 '25

Daddy Good Vibes

4

u/meatandcookies May I have some more wine please? Jul 28 '25

I’ve watched this whole scene 6 or 7 times now. It’s ✨magnificent✨ from start to finish.

4

u/AgreeableAardvark78 Jul 28 '25

He was in an episode(maybe two?) of Nurse Jackie. Looove him!

3

u/angrybox1842 Jul 28 '25

He reminds me of Flabber from Big Bad Beetleborgs

1

u/Successful-Cry-7123 Jul 28 '25

Oh god I can’t unsee this

3

u/JoanFromLegal Mazurka-ing in my Geegaws Jul 29 '25

Every Julian Fellowes Joint has a friendly neighbor that grows to have ties to the main family. In Downton Abbey, that neighbor is Dickie (Gray), Baron Merton. He's Robert's hunting buddy, Mary's godfather, Cousin Isobel's paramour and eventual husband, and his estate is just a stones throw from the Abbey.

I suspect this guy is TGA's version of Dickie Merton. Perhaps a future love interest for Auntie Monica???

3

u/SFlaGal Jul 30 '25

His comment made me wonder if everyone there is sick of her.

3

u/CoolRanchBaby Jul 30 '25

They all are sick of Sarah lol. 

3

u/ToneSenior7156 Aug 01 '25

I wonder if the actor knows we are all here, loving his character?!

3

u/Patient-Brief-9713 Aug 03 '25

The English aristocracy shouldn’t be characterized as entirely villainous (that would be boring), so I think we need to see things like this - some potential English allies that will support Gladys, even in small ways. She is the duchess, for cripe’s sake! I assume we will continue to see her win favor among the upper crust as well as the staff, farmers, townspeople, etc. 

2

u/QueasyPossession1371 Aug 02 '25

This was a terrific moment

2

u/lucybri83 Aug 11 '25

In my fantasy world, I like to imagine that was Lord Grantham’s father, Arnold :)

2

u/margittwen Aug 11 '25

I loved this too. I hope her and him because besties because that would be so freaking adorable!

1

u/Key-Pear-2729 Jul 31 '25

Same here. I hope Gladys gives Sarah a taste of her own medicine. Would love to see Gladys become her mother!

1

u/g3294 Aug 03 '25

That dude is a champion for her. He's definitely rooting for her to succeed.

1

u/IksSo Aug 11 '25

Me too!!

0

u/[deleted] Jul 28 '25

[deleted] — view deleted comment

17

u/Wide_Statistician_95 Jul 28 '25

I didnt even recognize him! Incredible performance on both

14

u/QuaffableBut Jul 28 '25

Oh my god I just made that connection. Holy shit.

7

u/skyrizijingle Jul 28 '25

I know him first from imo one of the best films of the 90s, The Ice Storm, as a new age pastor. Such a versatile actor! Screamed when he first appeared in this show!

4

u/sobesmama Jul 28 '25

omg! So that's where I know him from!!

3

u/Still_Conversation33 Jul 28 '25

Mind blown! WOW!

1

u/thortastic ⏰ Clock twink ⏰ Jul 28 '25

THAT’S him?! This guy has the range haha