The Gilded Age dove right into the drama with the third season premiere, and it’s not letting up. This is true of all the main characters, all the central relationships, and all the plotlines of the story. The Gilded Age Season 3, Episode 2, tightens the tension of the character arcs. It also features plot points that will have consequences for the rest of the season.
Dramatic starting points abound for many characters in this episode. Whether they are old money or new money, or neither, significant things are happening. George Russell (Morgan Spector) is returning home to New York from a business trip to Arizona because some banks are in rough shape. He doesn’t yet know that his daughter, Gladys (Taissa Farmiga), snuck out of their house in the middle of the night. Her mother, Bertha (Carrie Coon), refuses to approve of the boy Gladys wants to marry. Across the street, Peggy Scott (Denee Benton) has a bad chest cold that is getting worse. Season 3 of this HBO and Max show certainly has not forgotten the drama part of this period drama.
The Gilded Age Season 3, Episode 2 advances the conflicts steadily. But “What the Papers Say” does so in ways that stay true to who the characters are and their relationships with each other.
MORE: Remind yourself what happened last week with our review of The Gilded Age Season 3 Episode 1!
“It was because you left her no choice.”
It turns out that Gladys has run off to the home of the boy she wants to marry, Billy Carlton (Matt Walker). Bertha employs her usual heavy-handed methods to retrieve her and make it clear to Billy’s mother that he and Gladys will not marry. Bertha intends for Gladys to marry the Duke of Buckingham (Ben Lamb), and she is ruthless about achieving that goal. Just like she was ruthless about establishing the Russells’ place in society. Gladys’ character is growing. She is voicing her own desires more than before, insisting that she wants to marry for love. Farmiga is taking advantage of every syllable of this writing in her performance.
George returns home in the middle of this. He wants to make his daughter happy, but his loyalty to his wife is warring with his suspicion that she is going too far in this situation. George doesn’t know Bertha has promised Gladys to the Duke. He begins to suspect the truth in this episode. Even though Bertha is good at persuading him that she is doing everything for Gladys’ best interest, George is not about to break his promise to his daughter that she can marry someone she loves. George agrees to hear Billy’s case. Bertha’s threats have already done their job, though, and Billy chickens out. I feel bad for Gladys. She deserves someone who will fight for her when things get tough, and that’s clearly not Billy.
MORE: Read about what we want to see in season 3 of The Gilded Age!
“If you fail, you’re on your own.”
One good thing does come out of this situation. We get to see more of Gladys and Larry’s (Harry Richardson) relationship than ever before. The two siblings are getting more screen time, and that means more time to develop their interaction. Larry has been staunchly defending his sister this season. This episode also allows her to lean on him for comfort, which deepens their bond, and it’s exactly what TV shows should do. As time goes by, the characters’ relationship should change and engage the viewer more and more.
Larry has other concerns besides Gladys. He has realized his mistake and is taking Jack (Ben Ahlers) with him to meetings about the clock Jack invented, which we knew he would. Larry has always been a straight-shooter. That’s part of the reason Marian (Louisa Jacobson) wants to be with him. She may not be ready to go public, but the two are so smitten with each other. It’s delightful. Sneaking off to make out in a carriage? Yes, please! And they don’t even go anywhere in it, they’re just using a cab as a private place to kiss! I am really enjoying this honeymoon phase for them, and I want it to continue for as long as possible.
MORE: If you love the locations of The Gilded Age, we can tell you where the show is filmed!
“I won’t question your business if you don’t question mine.”
Romance is on the horizon elsewhere, too. Peggy’s illness is so serious that her parents have arrived with Dr. Kirkland (Jordan Donica) to treat her. That’s right. He’s young. He’s hot. And he’s a doctor. And he’s interested in Peggy’s writing! Yeah, we shippers know where this is going, and we’re not complaining! Peggy deserves romantic happiness. Now that she is recovering, we are fully seated for this storyline. Creator and writer Julian Fellowes can throw in some angst on the way there, but this plot should have a happy ending.
Another benefit of the Scotts visiting their daughter is that Agnes (Christine Baranski) shares a scene with them. This makes the characters dynamic and allows the show to examine issues of race. And we get two excellent actresses accomplishing those things in this scene! It took until the third season, but we finally got Baranski and Audra McDonald as Peggy’s mother Dorothy sharing a scene. Given that the acting is one of this show’s many strong points, this scene is a highlight of The Gilded Age Season 3, Episode 2. “What the Papers Say” is an episode that whets the viewers’ appetite for more.
The Gilded Age airs on Sundays at 9 PM on HBO and is streaming on Max.
