Is No One Concerned That the Bride Is Crying?

Editor’s note: The below recap contains spoilers for The Gilded Age Season 3 Episode 4.

The Gilded Age Season 3 finally reaches the event it has been building to in Episode 4, “Marriage Is a Gamble,” when Gladys’ (Taissa Farmiga) wedding day arrives. After her engagement to the Duke (Ben Lamb) was announced in Episode 3, The Gilded Age skips right to the main event, but Gladys isn’t ready, refusing to come out of her room. However, she’s not the only one whose life is changing, as Jack (Ben Ahlers) makes progress in selling his clock and the Astor family court scandal. The result is an episode full of surprises, both good and bad, as the show’s characters prepare for the biggest event of the season so far.

The Russells Prepare for a Wedding That Only Bertha Wants in ‘The Gilded Age’ Season 3 Episode 4

The Russell household is full of activity as the wedding approaches, but only Bertha (Carrie Coon) is excited. Gladys has locked herself in her room and refuses to come out. Meanwhile, Larry (Harry Richardson) is getting on Bertha’s nerves as he pushes her to let Marian (Louisa Jacobson) be a bridesmaid. Even once she concedes, Larry is not done going against his mother as he urges her to invite her sister to the wedding. Despite Bertha’s protests that she wouldn’t fit into society, Larry writes to his aunt, Monica O’Brien (Merritt Wever), anyway, not telling Bertha until she arrives to stay at the house. While Gladys and George (Morgan Spector) support Larry’s choice, Bertha is angry, believing Monica will be overwhelmed by the expectations of society.

It quickly becomes clear just how different Bertha and her sister are. Monica has no need for the grand things that Bertha loves, nor does she value the ways of high society. To Bertha’s horror, she has only brought one nice dress, and even that isn’t to Bertha’s standards. She tries to convince Monica to take one of hers, and when Monica declines, her only dress is “accidentally” ruined at dinner. Yet, Bertha isn’t the only one with family in town for the wedding, as Hector has brought his sister, Sarah (Hattie Morahan), who lives with him and has no intention of leaving after the marriage, which she clearly disapproves of. But Bertha’s biggest challenge is George, who not only dislikes her ambitions for Gladys but insists that he will not force their daughter down the aisle, which is looking increasingly necessary for the wedding to take place. Despite Bertha’s impending victory, everything seems to be working against her.

‘The Gilded Age’ Season 3 Continues To Pit Ada and Agnes Against Each Other

Even Agnes (Christine Baranski) and Ada (Cynthia Nixon) prepare to attend the wedding, but their argument resurfaces as Agnes feels Ada is monitoring her spending. Yet, this time, it’s not just money that gets between the sisters, as Agnes finds Ada meeting with Madame Dashkova (Andrea Martin), a medium who offers to let Ada talk to her dead husband. Being kicked out of her committee meeting because she is not the one writing the checks, Agnes is already displeased, and finding Madame Dashkova angers her more. She orders the woman out, calling her offer folderol. But Ada keeps Madame Dashkova’s card and insists that she will not give up.

However, Agnes does share a softer moment with Marian as she attempts to bond with her niece by asking her about her relationship with Larry. Agnes suggests that her invitation to be Gladys’ bridesmaid is Bertha’s way of making Marian a suitable society bride for Larry. However, Marian doesn’t believe that Bertha would approve of her and Larry. Despite her judgmental tendencies, Agnes is nothing but encouraging, showing her rare, affectionate side.

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Jack’s Living the American Dream in ‘The Gilded Age’ Season 3 Episode 4

Episode 4 pushes forward the story of Jack and his clock when he and Larry hear back from Weston (John Ellison Conlee), whom they attempted to sell to earlier. Though Jack took Weston’s delayed response as a rejection, Weston makes them an offer. It isn’t a partnership; instead, Weston wants to buy the design and the patent outright, offering $300,000 dollars. Jack is shocked, but Larry negotiates the sum even higher, landing on $600,000 before closing the deal.

With just half of that, Jack is nearly as rich as his employers, but he is hesitant to share the good news. He confesses to Mrs. Bauer (Kristine Nielsen) that he doesn’t want to leave because the van Rhijns’ house is the only place he’s felt at home. Bauer tells him to keep the sum secret while he remains in the house, though she acknowledges that he cannot stay forever.

Peggy Clashes with Mrs. Kirkland in ‘The Gilded Age’ Season 3

In Newport, Peggy continues to develop a relationship with William (Jordan Donica) and gets to know his mother, Mrs. Kirkland (Phylicia Rashad). Though her parents noticed Mrs. Kirkland’s prejudice in the previous episode, Peggy hasn’t seen it herself. As they get to know each other, it becomes clear that Mrs. Kirkland disapproves of Peggy’s politics and her career as a journalist, though William politely defends Peggy’s work. Mrs. Kirkland attends the meeting where Peggy has been asked to speak about her experiences at the Tuskegee school, and there, Peggy hears Mrs. Kirkland speaking condescendingly about her father and understands her parents’ concerns.

Bertha Assigns the Servants an Important Task in ‘The Gilded Age’ Season 3

As the wedding approaches, the papers continue writing about Gladys and leaking details about her wardrobe. The issue has escalated to the point that George grows concerned, insisting that Bertha figure out who is selling this information. Bertha recruits Church’s (Jack Gilpin) help, and he goes to several other members of the staff, including Bruce (Celia Keenan-Bolger), Borden (Douglas Sills), Adelheid (Erin Wilhelmi), and André (Rachel Pickup). Adelheid believes it to be the dressmaker, but with Bertha’s anger, Church advises her to be careful with accusations.

Borden and Bruce’s romance continues as Borden proposes to Bruce — but she turns him down, admitting that she is already married. She reveals that her husband is in an asylum due to his “acute melancholia,” but without an affair, she cannot divorce him. Though Borden is disappointed in the rejection, the inability to marry doesn’t seem to drive a wedge between them.

‘The Gilded Age’s Society Drama Doesn’t Stop, Even During the Biggest Wedding of the Season

While the Russells have plenty going on, the rest of society has its own drama to contend with. The papers write of a duel between two men who, despite the lack of names, are transparently the husband and lover of Charlotte (Hannah Shealy), Mrs. Astor’s (Donna Murphy) daughter. Mrs. Astor bans Charlotte from the wedding, refusing to bring scandal with her. Angry, Charlotte throws the deteriorating marriage of her parents into Mrs. Astor’s face, but Mrs. Astor is firm in her stance against divorce, which Charlotte doesn’t share. Mrs. Astor endures several questions about the report at the wedding, returning only icy stares.

‘The Gilded Age’ Season 3’s Biggest Conflict Comes to an End

On the day of the wedding, George is visited by JP Morgan (Bill Camp), who reveals that his plan for the transcontinental railroad is in chaos before pulling out of the deal. However, George ignores the warning and pushes ahead. Meanwhile, Gladys still cannot be persuaded to leave her room, even when Bertha calls Marian over to talk to her. As everyone gathers for the wedding, Gladys shows no signs of attending. The delay leads Sara to doubt that Gladys is coming, though Bertha tries to cover it up.

George is the final person to visit her, reminding her how difficult it is for a young woman to recover from a scandal. George even admits that he failed Gladys; however, true to his word, he doesn’t force her to go. Just as George is giving up, Gladys comes down the stairs, ready to go to her wedding, acknowledging that they have passed the point of no return. Gladys walks down the aisle with tears on her face, going through with the wedding despite not wanting to — and ensuring Bertha’s victory in the process.

The Gilded Age

“Marriage Is a Gamble” brings the Russell family’s ongoing argument to a head at Gladys’ wedding, propelling the season forward.

Release Date

January 24, 2022

Network

HBO Max

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  Morgan Spector

  George Russell

Pros & Cons

• “Marriage Is a Gamble” does an impressive job of including every character in the series.
• Jack not only has a major victory, but earns a deep, emotional moment as he expresses his desire to stay despite his fortune.
• The contrast between Bertha and her sister Monica is an amusing addition and it reveals more about Bertha’s past.

• Gladys deserves better than this heartbreaking story.