The Gilded Age Recap: A Marriage Made on Fifth Avenue

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I’m still annoyed by this series for its constant pretentiousness. It should either maintain a serious tone or embrace its absurdity and make bold moves. Perhaps Marian has a wicked doppelganger! Gladys could be a swindler all along, mocking the duke as her schemes unfold! At last, we’d get that long-awaited musical episode the world craves! With such possibilities, it could become the finest show on television, yet they seem to be wasting its potential.

As a movie enthusiast, I must say that this season has been an enjoyable rollercoaster ride (comparatively speaking to its previous seasons). Initially, we anticipated the climax to be the wedding, but boy, were we wrong! Instead, they surprised us by having Gladys walk down the aisle. A quick turn of events? Absolutely! It’s astonishing how swiftly they managed to tie up loose ends, but Bertha seems to have orchestrated it all, and let me tell you, that woman is a force to be reckoned with. Add to that her treasure chest full of gold coins, and voila! A church adorned with flower arrangements in no time.

Did you catch the pre-wedding pep talk she gave to the household staff? She emphasized the importance of unity as OneHousehold and breaking down those barriers. If Bertha were to head Microsoft, I can imagine her pushing for more synergy in their daily operations. Quite an unexpected twist, don’t you think?

Gladys seems to be causing trouble by insisting on staying in her room. It’s important to remember that our household is like a business, and I assume you heard the speech about this? This means Gladys doesn’t seem to get along with Hector’s sister Sarah. Picture me sitting there, scribbling notes, and then exclaiming loudly, “Isn’t that HATTIE MORAHAN?” Indeed, Hattie Morahan is Blake Ritson’s (Oscar van Rhijn) partner. However, she is best known for her role as Elinor in the 2008 adaptation of Sense and Sensibility, a screenplay written by Andrew Davies. If it’s a period drama on the BBC, they rarely hire anyone else for such roles! That adaptation is excellent, so I strongly suggest watching it. I could use more Hattie Morahan on my screen! But also, who else is visiting the Russells other than Bertha’s sister Monica (Monica), played by Merritt Wever? Hooray! However, Bertha isn’t pleased that Monica is there, but Larry invited her, and now she and her unattractive dress are at dinner.

Bertha had planned to lend one of her dresses to Monica for the wedding, but Monica politely declined, saying she preferred an unflattering gown instead. This left Bertha fuming, and in retaliation, she arranged for Monica’s coffee cup to have a broken handle, causing her to spill coffee on her ruffles. Although it appeared that George was aware of the situation, he later claimed ignorance, leaving Bertha frustrated. After all, they had been married for over two decades, and Bertha was known for her quick wit and sharp intellect – having once outsmarted Mrs. Astor at opera. It seemed odd to Bertha that George couldn’t piece together what happened with the broken coffee cup, especially since he knew Bertha disliked the dress Monica had chosen. Clearly, George needed to catch up on the latest developments in their long-standing feud, which they called Operation: Marry The Duke. And as for the outcome of the operation, the Bang Watch for the Russells was still at a standstill.

Let’s rewind a bit to explore other plotlines. Ada introduces Madame Dashkova, portrayed by Andrea Martin, who could easily land the role of the Dowager Empress in a live-action remake of 1997’s Anastasia. She’s absolutely fantastic! Dashkova asserts she can communicate with Luke on Ada’s behalf, but Agnes interrupts and dismisses this supernatural claim. Ada expresses her feelings of loneliness. Could we perhaps find a more suitable support network for Ada? I’m growing worried about her well-being.

Larry asks Bertha to persuade Marian to replace another bridesmaid who couldn’t attend. Reluctantly, Bertha agrees. I wonder if Larry is appreciating this unwilling consent before his mother forces him to marry the banker’s daughter. Or she might have, had he not received his inheritance. To be clear, I’m not a fan of that inheritance. Larry was assisting Jack with an invention that belonged entirely to Jack. They sell it for $600,000 (around $20 million today, but I’m unsure of the exact year). It seems Jack received half of that amount. Larry, what exactly was your contribution here? Oh, you were negotiating with Mr. Weston? The task you struggled with before Jack intervened? Goodness gracious. Eat the rich, and so on. I can’t believe he took half. Moreover, Jack refuses to quit his job since it’s his first home. So, his wealth remains a secret between him, Larry, and now Mrs. Bauer because he shared it with her.

In their brief moments together, Peggy, her family, and the Kirklands provide an intriguing dynamic. Mrs. Kirkland, otherwise known as Phylicia Rashad, delivers a captivating performance, albeit critical. She discusses Peggy’s article in the newspaper, expressing her belief that young women no longer aspire to be good wives and mothers. Peggy retorts by asserting her desire for a life that includes being a good wife, mother, and a voter. In a witty response, she suggests, “Live your dreams, Peggy.” However, she also cautions, “The men you’re meeting aren’t good enough for you.” William Kirkland is advised to assert himself against his mother. Additionally, there’s a hopeful mention of a potential duet between William and Peggy, but their lack of permission to even hum at the piano casts doubt on its feasibility.

Peggy discusses Jim Crow laws and post-Reconstruction disenfranchisement she experienced. Aurora approaches Peggy afterwards, confessing ignorance about the topic, then leaves. It was nice to see you, Aurora! I hope you’re okay! (Dorothy shares the same concerns despite not knowing Aurora.) After speaking with the Kirklands, Mrs. Kirkland once again disparages Arthur in his absence. Dorothy defends him, and Mr. Kirkland shows a bit more assertiveness. “The audacity of that woman,” says Dorothys after the Kirklands depart (even William was there! Show some backbone, son!). This week’s episode concludes with Peggy’s departure, but I’ll let it pass because they had to squeeze in a wedding; however, there had better be more next time.

If not, J.P. Morgan is set to pay a visit to George, delivering a stern lecture. He’s certainly embodying the role of Mr. Potter from “It’s a Wonderful Life,” telling George that he will no longer back the grand transportation project and that George stands to lose all his savings. To top it off, J.P. Morgan adopts a sinister air, reminiscent of a mustache-twirling villain. His performance on this show is truly captivating. I can’t quite put my finger on why, but I can’t get enough of it. What if George loses all his money and Bertha ends up marrying Jack the Clock Hand? (Twitter came up with that clever nickname, not me.)

Indeed, I must mention an unsettling situation regarding Mrs. Astor’s family. Her daughter, Charlotte, seems to have found herself entangled in a scandalous affair, one that nearly led to a duel. This matter has been splashed across the newspapers, casting a shadow of social upheaval. Alas, Mrs. Astor has chosen not to include her troubled child in the upcoming wedding and responds coolly to any questions about Charlotte, even from a puzzled Bertha, who may not have been privy to the latest duel news.

Regarding the wedding itself, it seems Taissa Farmiga is underutilized in this series. You’ve probably noticed I rarely discuss Gladys, and that’s because her character mostly involves sitting in a room, appearing fearful. Even in The Nun 2, she had a valid reason to be scared – a demon nun was after her! The first movie made so much money that the demon nun was bound to return, but it would be nice if they gave her more significant roles instead of just having her sit around. You might argue, “Alice,” that she did run away in a few episodes, but she went to Billy’s house. Recall It Happened One Night? Her father trapped her on a yacht, and she swam ashore and hopped onto a Greyhound bus! That film is over ninety years old! Have we not learned anything about the capabilities of fictional Wall Street heiresses?

George warns Gladys that withdrawing at this point would lead to severe consequences, and she ultimately decides to attend the wedding, tears streaming down her face as she walks up the aisle. This reminds me of Consuelo Vanderbilt’s tearful procession in season one, adding an air of familiarity. However, I am left unimpressed because I had hoped for more creative storytelling from Andrew Davies and company. I had anticipated that she might refuse and flee the scene, but alas, it didn’t happen. The priest delivers the “speak now or hold your peace” line, yet no one speaks up. Bertha is ecstatic. Soon after, Gladys boards a ship bound for England with Hector, who casually mentions their upcoming intimacy and the awkwardness that will ensue. I hope Hector turns out to be a villain despite his recent attempts at endearment. As Gladys makes her way to England, we can only wonder if things will take an unexpected turn for the better. But perhaps they will! We’ll just have to wait and see.

Gossip Items for Mrs. Astor’s Next Ball

Is Aurora Fane at the brink of a major breakdown? Just about two moments away, it seems. It would be wise for someone to check up on her in Newport. However, I’m preoccupied right now with choosing the materials for my upcoming button project. Perhaps another person could help.

* Rumors about Gladys’s wedding dress are spreading in the media, yet there’s silence regarding Larry pocketing half of Jack’s money without work.

It seems the handle of the coffee cup was almost completely fractured but didn’t fall apart. I wonder how they managed to keep it together like that. Was putty used perhaps? If it had been fully broken, it would have detached when she tried to lift it. I must say, I’m quite impressed by the repair job.

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2025-07-14 05:57