‘The Gilded Age’ Season 3 Recap: What To Remember Before HBO’s Period Drama Returns

In the growing list of period dramas, The Gilded Age has earned a top spot. Created by Downton Abbey‘s Julian Fellowes, the HBO drama has received critical acclaim, and rightfully so. Now three seasons in, the captivating story highlights the drama of New York’s upper class in the 1890s. Known for its drama, The Gilded Age delivers shocking twists every season — and with Season 4 fast approaching, it’s time to recap Season 3’s most important events.

‘The Gilded Age’ Season 3 Introduces Chaos for the Van Rhijns

The Van Rhijn household is rarely quiet, but Season 3 sees a shift. After losing his fortune, Oscar (Blake Ritson) moves back into his mother’s house, which is only being sustained because of Ada’s (Cynthia Nixon) unexpected inheritance. As the new head of the household, Ada no longer defers to Agnes (Christine Baranski), hosting Temperance meetings and controlling the purse strings. Meanwhile, Agnes must come to terms with her fading relevance. Yet, in the end, she receives an invitation to become the Heritage Society’s vice president, giving her a new focus for Season 4.

While his mother and aunt clash, Oscar must rebuild his life, but no one is willing to trust a bankrupt banker. However, his lover, John Adams (Claybourne Elder), helps Oscar repair his reputation. When Oscar finds Maud Beaton (Nicole Brydon Bloom), the woman who stole from him, he helps her rather than seeking revenge, showing his growth. But Oscar’s progress stalls when John is suddenly killed, leaving Oscar to mourn his loss without revealing their true relationship to anyone but Marian (Louisa Jacobson). At the end of Season 3, Oscar becomes reacquainted with Mrs. Enid Winterton (Kelley Curran), whom he knew as the Russells’ maid. Now widowed, she has a fortune and no social connections, while Oscar has the opposite. This is the mutually beneficial marriage Oscar’s always wanted, setting up another interesting storyline for The Gilded Age to pick up when it returns.

‘The Gilded Age’ Season 3 Explores the Black Elite and the Lower Class

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Agnes and Ada aren’t the only ones whose circumstances change. Last season, the van Rhjins’ footman, Jack (Ben Ahlers), invented a more accurate clock, and Season 3 explores his journey to sell it. Teaming up with Larry Russell (Harry Richardson), Jack sells the patent for a fortune, setting him up for life. The Gilded Age has much to explore as Jack quickly starts working on other inventions, though a visit from his former coworker, Bridget (Taylor Richardson), to his new house suggests the potential of a blossoming romance.

While Peggy (Denée Benton) has quit her job at the newspaper, she has decided to publish her first novel. However, her progress is interrupted by a sudden illness. Dr. William Kirkland (Jordan Donica) treats her and quickly takes a liking to her. While visiting family in Newport, Peggy and William develop a romance despite his mother’s protests. Mrs. Kirkland (Phylicia Rashad) disapproves of Peggy and tries to thwart the couple, ungraciously revealing gossip about her past to William. When Peggy reveals the truth about her lost son, William initially hesitates but eventually realizes it doesn’t matter. Season 3 ends with William proposing to Peggy, setting up potential wedding bells in Season 4.

‘The Gilded Age’ Season 3 Highlights the Russell Siblings

While The Gilded Age is an ensemble show, the Russells are central, especially in Season 3. At the start, Gladys (Taissa Farmiga) has fallen in love with Billy Carlton (Matt Walker), but Bertha (Carrie Coon) doesn’t approve of the match and threatens to sabotage Billy’s career. Instead, Bertha manipulates Gladys into marrying Hector, the Duke of Buckingham (Ben Lamb), hoping the marriage will raise her daughter’s position in society. Though Gladys’ situation seems bleak, she makes the most of it, and after she wrestles control away from her new sister-in-law, Lady Sarah (Hattie Morahan), she finds some happiness with Hector, leaving them with a child on the way in Season 4.

Meanwhile, Larry isn’t as lucky in love. Season 2 began with a romance between him and Marian, and Season 3 picks up where they left off. Though Marian is cautious, they soon become engaged. That same evening, Larry meets friends at a less-than-reputable establishment and lies about it. Having been hurt similarly before, Marian breaks off their engagement. While Jack, who was there that night, confirms Larry’s innocence and Marian wants to make it right, Larry is unsure how they can move forward. Ultimately, Season 3 leaves the couple on the road to reconciliation, but it’s unclear whether they will fully rekindle their relationship.

‘The Gilded Age’ Season 3 Explores Tension in Bertha and George’s Marriage

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The Russell children aren’t the only ones with drama, as Bertha and George (Morgan Spector) have their own issues. Gossip about the Russells leaks to the papers, and their staff discovers the culprit is Miss André (Rachel Pickup), Bertha’s maid, ending her time at the Russell house. She isn’t the only one spreading gossip, as Ward McAllister (Nathan Lane) publishes a book exposing all of society, including the Russells, and gets himself excommunicated.

Season 3 also highlights society’s treatment of divorced women through Mrs. Fane’s (Kelli O’Hara) journey as her husband decides to leave her in the wake of his affair. Bertha opposes ostracizing her, but Mrs. Astor (Donna Murphy) holds fast, which is ironic since her own daughter Charlotte (Hannah Shealy) is heading for a divorce. When McAllister’s gossip brings that scandal to light, Mrs. Astor asks Bertha to host the final ball. In response, Bertha invites divorced women, allowing her to restructure society.

Throughout the season, George has his own endeavors, focusing on building a transcontinental railroad. To do so, he must ally with his competitors, but his work makes him enemies, including his former right-hand man, Clay (Patrick Page). This story culminates in a gunman showing up at George’s office and shooting him. He’s rushed home, and fortunately, Dr. Kirkland is visiting at the van Rhijns house across the street and performs immediate surgery. George pulls through and chooses to hide the experience from the press. While George survived, his marriage to Bertha may not. Despite a near-reconciliation, the season ends with George and Bertha at odds over her treatment of Gladys — and George declares that he wants a separation right before Gladys announces her pregnancy, leaving Bertha experiencing both joy and despair.

The Gilded Age is streaming on HBO Max, with Season 4 premiering on November 1.

Release Date

January 24, 2022

Network

HBO Max

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  Morgan Spector

  George Russell