Have you been holding your breath all week, The Gilded Age fans? The ending of episode 6 of this season was shocking enough, but the writers showed no mercy and sent a gunman to shoot George Russell (Morgan Spector) in the final moments of episode 7 of the HBO and HBO Max show. Now, the season finale has brought this portion of the story to a close. The Gilded Age Season 3, Episode 8, is one of the best episodes of the series. The emotional impact, both the happiness and the angst, is the perfect capstone for the season.
From a television writing perspective, George’s shooting is not surprising. He spent all season teetering on the edge of losing his vast fortune. Then a lucky turn of events saved him. George had just triumphed in the biggest business deal of his whole career, so naturally, some horrible twist of fate had to balance out the scales. Plus, Julian Fellowes does have a history of character deaths on this and other shows. (Who else is still traumatized by the loss of Matthew Crawley in season 3 of Downton Abbey?) But our Railroad Daddy lives! This event will have repercussions for many characters, not just George, and is just one piece of the excellent plotting of the season finale.
What happens in The Gilded Age Season 3, Episode 8, feels like the logical progression after the rest of the season. It offers many unforgettable moments. But the acting and production values are outstanding as well. It makes sense that the best season of this show (so far) would end with one of the best episodes.
MORE: Our review of The Gilded Age Season 3, Episode 7 will give you all the info you need to remember about the episode!
“The two of you could have a bright future.”
This episode opens with the most intense sequence this series has ever had. George’s assistant brings him to the Russell home, bleeding from a gunshot wound. Bannister (Simon Jones) notices from across the street, like the good butler he is. Thankfully, Dr. Kirkland (Jordan Donica) just came to see Peggy (Denee Benton), so Bannister sends him to help. It is stunning to watch the Russells’ beautiful dining table become a de facto operating table. The acting by Spector and Carrie Coon in this scene is amazing. You can question Bertha’s actions all you want, but just watch this moment and try to say she doesn’t love this man. You can’t. The relief the viewer feels when Kirkland removes the bullet intact is palpable.
This entire episode is meaningful for the Russell marriage. The distance between George and Bertha over her machinations of Gladys’ (Taissa Farmiga) life prompted him to stay at his club. He wasn’t even living at home when he was shot. Bertha is glad he has to be at home now, and she clearly thinks this near-miss will change things for the better between them. She is wrong. George appears at their Newport ball, which protects their public image, but he does not move home. George’s dominance of the business world makes it easy to forget that he has an emotional journey to go through as well. I hate to see the Russell marriage this close to danger, especially because George has always been such a “My Wife” guy. I take comfort from the fact that he never used the word “divorce” this season. Not once. That gives me hope for their future. And Coon conveys the pain perfectly in the meantime.
MORE: If you need help recalling what happened in The Gilded Age Season 3, Episode 6, don’t worry. Our review covers it all for you!
“I feel safe with you here.”
The fact that George never mentioned divorce is significant because that was actually a theme of this season. Aurora (Kelli O’Hara) was faced with a cheating husband who left her, and Mrs. Astor’s (Donna Murphy) daughter was separated and headed for that dreaded state. This episode carries through with that theme when Bertha decides to invite divorced women to her Newport ball. At first, Mrs. Astor vehemently opposes this, but she caves and attends the ball herself. Her daughter means more to her than tradition after all. This is a wonderful representation of this show’s central conflict of progress versus stagnation. I still have hope that Bertha is right when she says, “America is the future.”
One person who doesn’t need to worry about divorce (probably) is Gladys. The situation between the new Duchess and her husband is much different now than it was when they married just a few episodes ago. Hector (Ben Lamb) is obviously on the way to falling in love with her. And Gladys is happy now that she has space free from Hector’s sister to take over her duties as Duchess. Julian Fellowes based the Russells on the Vanderbilts, and though Consuelo Vanderbilt’s unhappy union inspired Gladys’ storyline, the writers happily seem to be deviating from real life to give her a positive outcome. I hope this continues. Particularly given Gladys’ giddy confession to her mother at the end of this episode that she is going to have a baby. Yep, the next generation of Russells is coming!
MORE: Our interview with The Gilded Age director Deborah Kampmeier has fascinating insights into season 3!
“We must add courage to your other virtues.”
In contrast to his sister, Larry (Harry Richardson) is not romantically happy. He was, before Marian (Louisa Jacobson) ended their engagement. (It’s amazing how the writers flipped the siblings’ love lives to mirror each other over the course of the season.) However, all hope is not lost, Larian shippers! When Dr. Kirkland leaves their house to help George, Marian rushes to help too, telling Peggy, “I have to be with Larry.” Marian immediately assists the doctor with no hesitation. Larry is understandably upset that she didn’t believe him when he told her nothing happened at the gentleman’s club. Jack (Ben Ahlers) had to tell her before she believed it. The fact that they dance together at the Newport ball at the end of the episode is proof to me that they will make their way back to each other. And now, both Bertha and Agnes (Christine Baranski) support the couple! They’re shippers too now! So bring on season 4!
Another reason I’m so glad this show was renewed for season 4 is Peggy and Dr. Kirkland’s romance. Things looked bleak at the beginning of this episode. William’s horrible mother (Phylicia Rashad) told him about Peggy’s past involving an annulled marriage and a child given up for adoption. He listens to Peggy’s explanation (good) but thinks it’s too big an obstacle (bad). But sometimes TV writers allow love to conquer all. William realizes he loves Peggy, so he casts off his mother’s influence and…he proposes! At a ball! Yes, he’s on one knee in the middle of a ballroom! Our Peggy deserves this! We don’t hear Peggy’s answer, but we know what it will be. Romantic moments like this represent the best that period dramas can offer their audience. That has been the case for much of this season, so The Gilded Age Season 3, Episode 8 is a superb finale. It emphasizes how good the entire season has been, and I can’t wait for season 4!
The Gilded Age airs Sundays at 9 PM on HBO and is streaming on HBO Max.
