After Gladys Russell’s (Taissa Farmiga) wedding in the last episode, the big changes keep coming on The Gilded Age. Specifically, the character relationships go through important moments in this new episode. The Gilded Age Season 3, Episode 5 also brings back familiar faces for maximum drama. But it’s drama that makes sense for these characters and their growth at this time.
Now that she has married the Duke of Buckingham (Ben Lamb), Gladys moves to his estate in England. Adelheid (Erin Wilhelmi) has gone with her to train her replacement maid. She’ll return to New York after that. George Russell’s (Morgan Spector) finances are getting shakier and shakier. He needs more capital to buy the land he needs for his railroad expansion, but he also can’t get the owners to sell the land in Arizona. He needs to gain the majority shares of the rail company that owns the existing line in Chicago, too. Footman Jack (Ben Ahlers) has to decide what the next chapter of his life looks like now that he is wealthy from selling the clock he invented. And that’s only some of what’s happening in Old New York on this HBO and HBO Max series.
The stakes for everyone are slowly climbing higher and higher, and The Gilded Age Season 3, Episode 5 is an enthralling piece of the overall story this season. It is also a major episode for the ships on the show, in both good and bad ways.
MORE: If you need a refresher on what happened in the last episode, our review of The Gilded Age Season 3, Episode 4 will help you out!
“I’m always a bit shocked to see myself in you.”
George takes action to make his railroad plans happen. He fires his secretary, Richard Clay (Patrick Page), and hires a new one. He also asks his son Larry (Harry Richardson) to go to Arizona to buy the land he wants. He thinks Larry will be successful where Clay was not. As for the shares he needs to control the line he needs in Chicago, George has a plan for that, too. He invites one of the family who owns the company, Mr. Merrick (Paul Alexander Nolan), to dinner to convince him to sell. He enlists Bertha (Carrie Coon) to help. They already know each other because Merrick is on the board of the Metropolitan Opera House, which Bertha led to success last season. The night does not go well and adds to the already strained marriage between George and Bertha.
George is already stressed. He’s worrying about Gladys, wondering if she is happy in her new life in England. He feels guilty about participating in Bertha’s schemes to marry Gladys to the Duke. He knew Bertha was right about the marriage making their daughter one of the most famous women in the world, and there is power in that, but he is still uneasy. Only Gladys’ happiness will make him feel better about the situation. And if Gladys is not happy, he will blame Bertha. Which is exactly what happens when a letter arrives from Gladys at the end of the episode. Turns out, Glady is having trouble in England.
MORE: Our review of The Gilded Age Season 3, Episode 3 will remind you of all the drama on 61st Street!
“You made me weak. And I don’t think I can forgive you for that.”
The trouble is not between Gladys and Hector, the Duke. At least, not really. The problem is Hector’s sister, Lady Sarah (Hattie Morahan). She has run the family home since their parents died, and although she doesn’t directly antagonize Gladys, she does impose her will so that Gladys won’t exercise her rights as the lady of the house. Sarah discusses the estate with Hector without including Gladys. She insists that Gladys doesn’t know “English” ways and that she’s trying to help her. That’s a bunch of crap. She just doesn’t want to give up her dominant position.
Hector hasn’t stepped up to support Gladys yet, either. At the end of the episode, Sarah tries to fire Adelheid and send her back to New York. Gladys confronts her and Sarah dismisses her concerns, but Hector questions his sister for the first time in this scene. This is a good start, but it is time for both he and Gladys to step up and assert themselves if they want their marriage to become a real one and thrive. Given that she is George and Bertha’s child, Gladys must have it in her. I hope that’s a treat for another episode.
MORE: Do you remember all the drama of The Gilded Age Season 3, Episode 2? Our review has you covered!
“That’s a true partnership.”
In contrast, Peggy (Denee Benton) has no problem setting boundaries. Dr. William Kirkland (Jordan Donica) is courting her, and things are going well. They run into Mr. Fortune (Sullivan Jones), her former editor. He is the married man she shared a kiss with, but Peggy wisely removed herself from the situation. Now, Fortune asks her to go interview suffragette Frances Watkins Harper. Peggy agrees because she assumes she’ll be going alone. When Fortune tries to go with her, Peggy shuts him down. That strength of character is a big reason why Peggy is such a likeable character. The moment also allows for Kirkland’s feelings for her to come to the fore in the form of a physical altercation between him and Fortune. I don’t want to add to stupid patriarchal ideas but Peggy deserves men fighting over her.
Another pairing that gives us a huge ship moment in this episode is Larry and Marian (Louisa Jacobson). Before he goes to Arizona for his father, Larry does what he’s been wanting to do all season. He proposes! This is such a joyful moment for these two, and it’s so romantically staged. The smitten look on Larry’s face when Marian says yes is so beautiful. When he takes Jack to celebrate their business success at a notorious club (yeah, THAT kind of club), we don’t worry about what he will do. “A Different World” keeps the audience invested in all of these relationships. That makes The Gilded Age Season 3, Episode 5 fit right in with the rest of the season so far.
The Gilded Age airs on Sundays at 9 PM on HBO and is streaming on HBO Max.
