Are you ready to return to Old New York, period drama fans? Season 3 of The Gilded Age is almost here! We loved all of the drama between the old-money Van Rhijn family and the new-money Russells, who live across the street from each other. Of course, their servants get in on the action too. The 1880s are never dull with this kind of company! We can’t wait for all the conflict and romance to continue when the third season premieres on June 22 on HBO and Max, and we have definite ideas about what we want to see. Let’s talk about 5 things we want to see in The Gilded Age season 3!
MORE: In case you needed convincing, we have 5 Reasons to Watch The Gilded Age for you!
The Russell Marriage Staying Strong
George (Morgan Spector) and Bertha Russell (Carrie Coon) had a solid and established marriage when the show began. They had two young adult children, a new mansion on the Upper East Side, and all the money they could ever need. Bertha supported George while he made his fortune. Now he supports her as she sets out to conquer New York society during seasons 1 and 2.
That’s not to say there was no conflict between them. They are both strong-willed. During season 1, George rejected the advances of Bertha’s maid, and when Bertha found out that he didn’t tell her about it, she was not pleased. But George is very much a “My wife” kind of guy. We know he places her above pretty much anything else. However, we all know how television writers like to break up couples. Bertha’s ambitions for their daughter, Gladys (Taissa Farmiga), at the end of season 2 could easily be a source of friction in season 3. If they are, all we ask is that the Russells stay together. A happy marriage can still provide storytelling opportunities.
Happiness for Larry and Marian
Marian Brook (Louisa Jacobson) moves in with her aunts, Agnes Van Rhijn (Christine Baranski) and Ada Brook (Cynthia Nixon), in the first episode after losing her father. Larry Russell (Harry Richardson) has just graduated from Harvard and wants to make his way in the world free of his father George’s shadow. Despite Agnes’s distaste for the Russells, Marian and Larry struck up an easy friendship during seasons 1 and 2. Their respect and support for each other made viewers hope for more between them. Even when they each had other romantic prospects. The season 2 finale gave fans what they wanted when they shared a sweet kiss.
Season 3 gives creator and writer Julian Fellowes the chance to commit to this romantic relationship. The foundation he’s built so far is solid, and the drama for this storyline doesn’t have to come from angst between Larry and Marian. Agnes is not going to like her niece having a romance with someone who’s not from an old-money family. And you know Bertha will have something to say about it, too. That’s where the conflict can come from. I hope Larry and Marian get to enjoy their strong connection to each other. Dare we hope for a proposal during season 3?
MORE: If you need help to remember what happened last season on The Gilded Age, we’ve got the season two teaser to jog your memory.
More of Ada in Charge
Agnes dominated the Van Rhijn household during the first two seasons of this show. Her pride and stubbornness, combined with the fact that her late husband’s money paid for everything, meant that Agnes controlled the house. Season 2 changed that. Ada got a genuine love story with Reverend Luke Forte (Robert Sean Leonard), and though she was sadly widowed soon after they married, he was secretly rich and left her wealthy. At the same time, Agnes’ son Oscar (Blake Ritson) lost almost all of the Van Rhijn fortune when he was swindled out of it. That means that at the end of season 2, Ada is paying the bills. The staff is asking for her orders. This is quite a change that Agnes still has to get used to, and Ada has always been submissive by nature, so this will be a good challenge for both of them. It will evolve their characters. I’m looking forward to seeing the dynamic shift between these two sisters.
A Full Future for Peggy
Peggy Scott (Denee Benton) proved her strength of character when she helped Marian in the first episode, and she continued to do so throughout the first two seasons. As a Black woman, she provides storytelling potential that the other characters do not. There’s her career to begin with. Agnes hired Peggy as her secretary, but Peggy later began writing as a journalist and also working as an activist to help the African-American community. Second, she also had a romantic flirtation with a problematic man in season 2. She’s allowed to be messy! The writers did not fall into the trap of making Peggy just Marian’s friend, and instead, they wisely made sure she has her own plots and an emotional backstory. Besides that, Peggy and her parents occupy the middle class that was emerging at this time. This places them in a different social space from all the other characters. I would like to see all of these areas of Peggy’s life explored in season 3. Let her have more success with her writing. Let her have a romance that works for her. I’d happily watch all of that.
More Gorgeous Costumes
I’d like to get a little fun and frivolous with this last wish for season 3. The lavish production values are one of the highlights of this series, and that includes the costumes. Bertha’s gowns are particularly memorable. I could make an entire gallery of screencaps of her outfits throughout both seasons. But all the characters look great, even the men’s similar costumes. This time period has been covered so much on screen, it would have been easy for the designers here to rely on historical accuracy to the point of being boring. They didn’t do that. The costumes are faithful to the time but also have fresh details that make them feel modern. They are beautiful. I’m not surprised they earned an Emmy nomination. And I want that quality to continue in season 3.
Tell us what you’d like to see in season 3 of HBO and Max‘s The Gilded Age in the comments!
MORE: Back before season 2, we recommended The Gilded Age to Downton Abbey fans.
The Gilded Age seasons 1 and 2 are streaming on Max.
