The Gilded Age Recap: Marriages Crumble

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The current state of “The Gilded Age” is more thrilling than ever before! The connections and plotlines that have been gradually developing for quite some time now are reaching their climax. To put it simply, it’s mostly the Russells dealing with these crises, yet they are at the heart of our narrative, as she rightly pointed out. Gladys is navigating her new life as a duchess (can you believe it?), Larry is taking on the role of his father, George is teetering on the edge of ruin, and Bertha is confronted with the potential disintegration of all her aspirations. If these were real people, it would be heartbreaking, but since they’re fictional characters, I find myself quite intrigued!

Things are progressing rapidly for our protagonists. I was considering using a railroad metaphor, but I’m not confident about my knowledge on trains. George aspires to gain dominance over the Illinois Central Line, yet his aid, Clay, can only secure 30% of it for him. It seems no one is willing to relinquish control over Chicago. Ha! To the other cities, you might as well not exist! Chicago reigns supreme! The Merrick family holds the keys to Illinois Central, but strangely refuse to cede their influence. Such a puzzling behavior against human nature. George urges Bertha to extend an invitation to Alfred Merrick, a Met board member, for dinner with the intention of winning him over.

In this version, I’ve used simpler language and tried to maintain the same tone as the original passage.

Alongside Clay’s struggles with the Chicago train projects and his inability to acquire Arizona land due to mine owners refusing sale, George is displeased. He remarks that the old Clay would have gone to extreme lengths for him, even disrespecting his mother’s grave. This is akin to “you no longer prioritize our friendship like before.” However, he expresses this sentiment as “you no longer tread on your mother’s grave for me anymore.” Subsequently, George dismisses Clay from his service. George! You rely on Clay, who knows you better than anyone. But George appears to be showing signs of mental instability, rejecting those who don’t support him wholeheartedly. Despite this, his ambitious plans are seen as common during that era, so they were not necessarily viewed as problematic. Clay advises that George is overstepping boundaries, while George believes he should push even harder.

As a movie reviewer, let me share my thoughts on George, the business magnate who’s known for his bold moves and questionable methods. While he’s built an empire through calculated risks, even the shrewdest of us need to listen when everyone from long-time investors to fellow risk-takers are urging caution.

However, I’m one to cling onto my iPhone box rather than taking drastic action. So, it seems we have a stark contrast in our risk tolerance levels. But what if George becomes the Railroad King and can proudly say “I told you so”? That would be quite a tale to tell!

But there’s always a chance he’s playing a game of spite, pushing boundaries just to prove everyone wrong. Only time will tell, my friends. Time will tell.

Examining the situation more closely, it’s evident that George finds himself struggling to maintain control, which he dislikes intensely. Unfortunately, Gladys finds herself in an expensive, unhappy marriage. George’s associates are leaving him, a development he can no longer manipulate people as he once could, and now Bertha is courting the man who refuses to do business with George. Is it Bertha’s fault? Not really, as she followed George’s request to win over Merrick by inviting him for dinner. However, many feel that George has been rather unfair towards Bertha, given her past actions, which may have been unforgivable but we’ve all moved on from that. The problem is, he’s excluding her from his business ventures and making baseless accusations against her. It seems like everyone’s marriages are facing challenges at the moment!

Regarding the storyline of Gladys, let’s catch up on how she’s doing. I’m really enjoying the Gladys narrative and craving more. More specifically, I’d love to see more of Gladys in England, interacting with Lady Sarah and the ducal tenants who shower her carriage with flowers as if it were 1513. The town of Sidmouth is stunningly beautiful, and Gladys could easily reenact a version of “Beauty and the Beast” with Lady Sarah playing the beast. I can vividly imagine this scenario!

In the story, Lady Sarah reluctantly allows Gladys to use the library if she wishes, and they frequently cross paths there. After much tension and discussions about books, they eventually share a kiss. However, Gladys expresses reservations, but Hector steps in, stating that everything works out because he’s comfortable with whatever happens and didn’t plan for any of this to occur in the first place. In the end, Gladys and Sarah would be buried together, and historians would discuss their unique friendship. I can’t help but feel that the show could benefit from a more pronounced romantic storyline between Gladys and Sarah, as the only other openly gay characters simply converse across a table. While we do engage in conversations, it would be great to see some passionate moments between them too.

At Sidmouth gatherings, Sarah seems rather rigid regarding etiquette, yet she never adjusts her seat until Hector does it for her. Consistency, Sarah, would be nice to see. All the English aristocrats are chuckling at a witty remark, and when Gladys doesn’t get it, Hector quips, “He mixed up the valet with the rector.” Sarah claims she needs time to understand their humor. You can all go to the devil. The joke is hardly amusing. When Gladys remains seated after dinner, Hector jokes, “Are you staying for some port? Ho ho ho.” Quit it, Hector. (Hector’s semi-standing up to Sarah, which makes him seem less awful, but I still can’t stand him.) Sarah dismisses Gladys’ maid and sends her back to America because she lacks the ability to teach her to be a duchess. Granted, I see your point. But you can’t just fire her, Sarah! Lady Sarah is an exaggerated character, and it’s quite entertaining, though not for Gladys, but for me.

In New York City, it’s becoming common knowledge that Jack pocketed $300,000 from his invention, yet he remains tight-lipped about it. Meanwhile, Ada holds another séance, revealing the potential therapeutic benefits of mediumship during the late 19th century. The question arises as to whether Andrea Martin is adorned with dead rabbits on her chest this week. Peggy’s links to our other characters are quite thin this time around. She attends a baseball game with William, and lo and behold, T. Thomas Fortune, the married newspaper editor, is also present. He invites Peggy to Philadelphia for an interview with Frances Ellen Watkins Harper about her suffrage movement. Given Harper’s impressive stature, it’s no surprise that Peggy is intrigued by the opportunity. In fact, she was among the first Black American women to publish a novel, and despite some conflicting claims regarding the “first,” her literary work remains highly influential. She was also a poet, an abolitionist, a temperance advocate, and a strong proponent of women’s suffrage. Here’s hoping we get to see Harper next week!

It turns out that Peggy intends to conduct the interview and travel to Philadelphia herself. William sees her off at the train station, and an unexpected individual named T. Thomas Fortune appears to accompany her. Peggy manages the situation with poise. She informes him that she will write the article alone or not at all (meaning no one else can be involved). When William advises Fortune to depart, Fortune shoves William instead. The situation rapidly escalates! Peggy once more tells Fortune that she will pen the piece on her own or return home. Eventually, Fortune leaves. Fortunately, he does. It seems his plan backfired. Poor timing. By the way, William did a commendable job standing up for Peggy. If only he could extend similar support to his mother.

In simpler terms, after George asks Larry to replace Clay and travel to Arizona, Larry informs George that he plans to propose to Marian. George approves wholeheartedly. However, George also tells Larry to leave immediately for Arizona. So, Larry and Marian go for a stroll in the park, where she reveals they both created and sold a clock. “That’s a true partnership,” she says. But one might question if that’s truly the case, or if Larry only leveraged his connections to make it happen. If any of the Shark Tank investors had demanded half ownership of Jack’s invention, viewers would be shocked, thinking “Fifty percent? And Lori isn’t even offering QVC?” It’s hard to believe.

Larry guides Marian to a group of trees that he refers to as willows, although they might not be. He proposes marriage, and she agrees. A long shot follows of their kiss. Later, Ada and Agnes congratulate them. Larry mentions he’s going out for dinner with friends at a place called “Delmonico’s,” which is actually his secret club, and plans to leave for Arizona the next day, returning in a month. The term “Delmonico’s” was a code name. Larry takes Jack to The Haymarket instead. There are women boxing and men playing violins. Larry suggests that you can find women there, or “men, if you prefer.” Is that your preference, Larry? We all recall the scene with Jack. Larry recognizes a woman he knows. I thought it would be Laura Benanti, the lady from his affair, but it turns out to be Maud Beaton, who had stolen Oscar’s money.

The following morning, Larry bids farewell to Marian and informs Oscar that he encountered Maud. Over breakfast with John Adams (displaying homosexual behavior), they discuss whether Oscar should pay her a visit. John advises against it if revenge is his intention, as she’s already suffered enough by working at The Haymarket. I truly hope Oscar connects with her again to discover the reason behind it all. What a mystery, Maud!

At the behest of Mamie Fish, I find myself making a quick trip to Newport for a charity event. Accompanying me is my friend Marian. However, upon our arrival, Mamie cautions me, “You might want to consider leaving.” It turns out that the esteemed Mrs. Astor is in attendance and harbors displeasure towards my marital status. The other women at the gathering shun me, but Bertha, a complex woman, extends kindness. She shares her insight that Mrs. Astor may be using my divorce to divert attention from her daughter Charlotte’s marital issues. Not exactly gracious, Astor. As Marian and I depart, Mamie admonishes Mrs. Astor, stating that she must either welcome me into society or exclude her own daughter once she divorces, if she chooses to do so. Mrs. Astor remains silent in response.

It’s clear that we were all concerned about George and Bertha, and this latest episode only confirmed those fears. After his frosty behavior towards her, George reaches a breaking point upon receiving a letter from Gladys revealing that she is truly miserable in her marriage. Given the circumstances, it’s understandable, isn’t it? He gambled away money he can ill afford to lose on a marriage that was meant to be beneficial for his daughter (as his wife believed), and now finds himself on the brink of bankruptcy while his daughter despises her life. To add fuel to the fire, George thinks Bertha is pursuing Alfred Merrick. In his words, she made him weak, and he struggles to find it in himself to forgive her. Overwhelmed, Bertha vows to go to England and sort everything out. George coldly retorts, “Don’t expect me to be here when you return.” Oh my, where will George go now? The DRAMA is escalating by the minute! Five stars. This is exactly what I hoped for – let’s see Bertha stand up for George.

Gossip Items for Mrs. Astor’s Next Ball

The phrase “haunted” in this context can be interpreted as meaning something is eerily beautiful or captivating, and when used in a complimentary manner, it suggests that the person being addressed has a striking or alluring appearance. However, the use of such an unconventional term might have left Bertha Russell perplexed or uncertain about Alfred Merrick’s intentions, as “haunted” is not typically associated with flattery in everyday conversation. It is essential to consider cultural and personal differences, as what one person finds charming may not resonate the same way with another. In this case, it would be interesting to explore Bertha Russell’s reaction and whether she found Alfred Merrick’s compliment endearing or off-putting.

It seemed like everyone believed that George was planning to make an indecent proposal to Bertha towards Alfred Merrick, didn’t it? However, things suddenly changed course instead.

• Are there enough gay people on this show? Feels like no.

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2025-07-21 05:55