‘The Gilded Age’ Boss Previews Season 3 Finale: Relationship Hurdles, Big Steps & More
Preview
In the shocking final moments of the penultimate episode of the 1880s costume drama’s third season, a gunman burst into the palatial home of railroad titan George Russell (Morgan Spector) and his wife, NY society queen Bertha (Carrie Coon), aimed at assassinating George, just as he had saved his failing fortunes with the help of his son, Larry (Harry Richardson).
When The Gilded Age Season 3 finale opens, George lies between life and death as Dr. William Kirkland (Jordan Donica), who was visiting his fiancée, Peggy Scott (Denée Benton), across the street, tries desperately to save his life.
As George lies grievously wounded, his son tries to heal the serious breech with his neighbor’s niece, Marian Brook (Louisa Jacobson), who ended their engagement after discovering that on the night of telling their families the news, Larry spent the evening at what Marian calls “a house of ill-dispute.”
There is, of course, plenty more emotional drama to come including broken hearts, shattered conventions, apologies, redemptions, and dreams coming true, much of which takes place at two glamorous balls, one each for New York and Newport, R.I.’s segregated Black and white societies’ elites. Much is about trust, says Sonja Warfield, The Gilded Age’s co-writer and showrunner. “Trust,” she explains, “is vital in all relationships and when that falters, it calls everything into question.”
Before the big events, the vicissitudes of love — and distrust — continues with Marian’s dear friend Peggy, beginning when William’s snooty mother, Elizabeth (Phylicia Rashad), a grandee in Brooklyn’s long established Black community, maliciously shares with William the info about Peggy’s annulled early marriage and resulting child that she falsely was told was stillborn. “Peggy was going to tell William,” says Warfield. “It’s heartbreaking that Elizabeth beat her to it. This presents an enormous hurdle in their relationship.”
Karolina Wojtasik/HBO
The annual opulent Newport ball now hosted by Bertha, who supplanted the former society queen Mrs. Astor (Donna Murphy), has even more cache of the Duke and Duchess of Buckingham, Hector (Ben Lamb) and his wife, Gladys (Taissa Farmiga), the Russells’ daughter. Though Gladys was essentially forced into a bought-and-paid-for marriage that her mother desperately wanted in her rise in New York’s “old money” society and Hector needed to pay his bills, the couple seems to be falling in love.
That is thanks to Bertha, who rushed to England to aid her homesick daughter, saving the marriage, “by emboldening Gladys as only Bertha can,” says Warfield. “She challenged Gladys to ask questions about the Duke’s estate and the renters on it and put Hector’s overbearing sister in her place.” Bertha will also side with women in a decision that breaks a long-held convention to bar scandal-ridden women from galas, indeed from society — even if they weren’t at fault.
You can expect romantic and other domestic decisions to dominate the dance floors at both balls. Even Marian’s deeply closeted cousin, Oscar van Rhijn (Blake Ritson), who has been grieving his closest male friend John’s sudden death, takes a big step, “as he navigates that world where he cannot be authentic,” says Warfield. At the fête, he makes an interesting proposal to a wealthy widow with a huge secret, with the help of a beautiful country cottage that John had basically bequeathed him.
In other news, “old money” snob, the long-widowed Agnes van Rhijn (Christine Baranski) is given an unexpected historical honor, while her younger and now wealthier, also widowed sister, Ada (Cynthia Nixon), gains prestige at home.
As for John “Jack” Trotter (Ben Ahlers), Agnes and Ada’s former footman turned successful inventor and entrepreneur, “he’s pulled himself up from service to become a gentleman [with a beautiful new townhouse],” says Warfield. “It won’t be an easy journey and will put him at odds with his former life.” Can this sweet young man follow the lowly roots of George and Bertha Russell and move up in society, but without becoming ruthless along the way, like ditching his onetime fellow servant, Bridget (Taylor Richardson), whom he’s pined for, for a woman with a pedigree? Time will tell.
And finally, there is a nice surprise for the Russell family, but there’s also another huge shock for Bertha in Season 3’s final moments, which could change her life deeply when The Gilded Age returns. We can’t wait.
The Gilded Age, Season 3 Finale, Sunday, August 10, 9/8c, HBO
Christine Baranski
Cynthia Nixon
Carrie Coon
Morgan Spector
Denée Benton
Louisa Jacobson
Taissa Farmiga
Blake Ritson
Simon Jones
Harry Richardson
Jack Gilpin
Ben Ahlers
Michael Cerveris
Celia Keenan-Bolger
Debra Monk
Donna Murphy
Kristine Nielsen
Kelli O'Hara
Patrick Page
Taylor Richardson
Douglas Sills
John Douglas Thompson
Erin Wilhelmi
Kelley Curran
Sullivan Jones
Nicole Brydon Bloom
Ashlie Atkinson
David Furr
Ward Horton
⨁Full Cast & Crew
Conversation28 Comments
Please read the TV Insider Community Guidelines.
Comments are closed on this story.
-
K
"House of ill dispute"? Are you serious? Try "house of ill repute." What in the world did you think "ill dispute" could mean in reference to a brothel?
Also it's "cachet" not "cache."
40
-
C
And Mrs. Kirkland is in Newport not Brooklyn.
2
-
O
Traffic court?
-
B
I noticed a number of grammar errors as well. Surely, Ai can do a better job than this.
6
-
O
Guess no one checks their copy anymore, and/or attends English class.
1
-
C
🤣
-
G
Do you actually watch the show? Marian did, indeed, call it a "house of ill dispute [sic]".
1 1
-
B
Yes, I do watch the show, quite regularly, and I heard "ill repute." I don't see how it could have been "ill dispute," unless they're having duels or fistfights.
4
-
B
I watched it again -- which is not hard, as HBO seems to have each week's episode on a non-stop loop -- and Marian called it a "house of ill repute" and a "disorderly house." You and the writer must have mashed "disorderly" and "repute" together and mistakenly heard "dispute.".
2
-
-
-
A
The Gilded Age has really grown on me as the complexity of the natures of the characters has been gradually revealed. Bertha has gone from the schemer I loved to hate to a sympathetic woman for whom I hold grudging respect. This show is right up there with the best of the British family dramas.
37 2
-
G
Hi. Bertha is my favorite on the show, so strong and a go-getter. ALL the actors/actresses are so natural; I like this series. (I didn't see seasons 1 and 2- just came across the show this summer.)
-
A
One thing I found very refreshing was her openness about her schemes. There was never any duplicity or sneakiness. She owned every decision and action she took.
1
-
-
-
C
I think the author of the article should proof read the article, or perhaps she mis-heard the term. It is not a house of ill-dispute, it is a house of ill- repute. Meaning house of bad reputation, which is what they called houses with hookers in the olden days
19
-
P
Wasn’t George shot at his office, and not at home?
16
-
P
actually at the club where he is staying.....
6
-
R
No it was at his office. He hadn't yet gotten in the cab to go to the club.
5
-
-
-
P
Mr Russel isnt dead they are not in Black for mourning
11
-
R
Maybe they are hiding his death till the railroad west line is consolidated.
-
-
O
What AI writes this dribble that gets so much wrong? George was shot at his office, not his home. Dr. Foster is not engaged to Peggy Scott, they are merely courting. Young Russell visited a house of ill-repute not ill-dispute. I expect much more of TV Line.
4
-
O
Drivel is what you meant to say, right?
-
R
You mean Dr Kirkland? There is no Dr Foster as far as I know.
-
-
B
I can not wait for the finale. Love Bertha, Marion needs to get over it and talk to Larry.
2
-
B
The shooting did NOT take place in his home as this article states. He was at his office.
1
-
G
a house of ill dispute? hahaha hahaha hahaha
dear author, please do not change the word. Hilarious and a good seek and find
for readers
-
K
Aunt Agnes is back on my bad list. Her jealous tantrums about Jack's sudden wealth are disturbing. She was born and married into wealth but somehow believes she "deserves" it more than someone who earned it through hard work. So much for her "simple manners."
-
B
Jack? John? It seems like different characters call him by a different name. What is the character's true name?
1
-
R
This is something they showed in Downton Abbey also. The servants were required to use their christian name upstairs while downstairs permitted nicknames. Jack is a nickname for John.
1
-
R
People called John, also go by Jack, it's always been this way, I have no idea why,just like President Kennedy, his name was John F. Kennedy, but he went by Jack most of the time.
3
-
Watchlist Easy access to only the shows you care about — all in one simple place
Alerts Only important notifications — when a show is returning, when it becomes available to stream, and more.
Special Offers Exclusive products we release related to your favorite shows and streaming services