Editor’s note: The below recap contains spoilers for The Gilded Age Season 3 Episode 5.
The Gilded Age Season 3 has covered a lot of ground in the first half of the season, as it explores the Russell family’s argument over Gladys’ (Taissa Farmiga) marriage, but with Season 3, Episode 5, “A Different World,” the show moves into the fallout. The previous episodes weren’t just big for Gladys, who, in the end, was headed for a new life in England, but Jack (Ben Ahlers) came into a life-changing sum of money, Mrs. Astor’s (Donna Murphy) family courted scandal, and Ada (Cynthia Nixon) believes she has found a way to contact her deceased husband. With so much going on in the series, it should be no surprise that Season 3’s latest episode includes new twists for each character.
‘The Gilded Age’ Season 3 Finally Moves Forward With Marian and Larry’s Romance
The Gilded Age has long teased the possibility of Marian (Louisa Jacobson) and Larry (Harry Richardson) as a couple. After a Season 2 cliffhanger kiss and a secret relationship, they are finally officially together. Larry proposes to Marian, receiving a resounding yes, but neither has faced the main obstacle to the relationship: their families. The couple first shares the news with Agnes (Christine Baranski) and Ada. While Ada is thrilled, Agnes puts on a decent act, though she tells Ada that she feels lied to and worries that Bertha (Carrie Coon) will claim kinship with them.
Across the street, they receive very similar results. When they announce their engagement, George (Morgan Spector) congratulates them, but Bertha is caught off guard. Later, George and Bertha argue about it, but George insists he has the final say, standing up for Larry in a way he never did for Gladys. The differing responses from Marian and Larry’s families could prove to be a challenge for the couple moving forward.
Gladys Adjusts to Her New Life in ‘The Gilded Age’ Season 3
After her wedding to Hector (Ben Lamb), Gladys is starting a new life as a duchess and moving to Sidmouth Castle, but her sister-in-law, Lady Sarah (Hattie Morahan), presents a new challenge. Overshadowing Gladys as she holds onto the position she has enjoyed, Sarah continues to redecorate the castle and act as hostess, when that role should belong to Gladys. Hector shows some understanding of this, rearranging the seating assignments to give Gladys her proper place at the dinner table, which is refreshing.
Hector is at least trying to do right by Gladys, but Sarah continues to be a thorn in her side. The country’s humor and customs are new to Gladys, and as she struggles to adjust, her maid, Adelheid (Erin Wilhelmi), who has temporarily come along, is a source of comfort, until Sarah fires her. So, Gladys takes matters into her own hands, sending a letter to Bertha. This transition was never going to be easy for Gladys, but so far, the series has refrained from making Hector the villain, which might indicate there is hope for her marriage.
After the Wedding, the Russell House Is Full of Drama in ‘The Gilded Age’ Season 3
Having just hosted a major event, Episode 5 should feature a calmer Russell household, but that is not the case. Information about the family is still leaking to the papers, and worse, George’s business is struggling. When his long-time advisor, Clay (Patrick Page), tells George that what he wants is impossible, as the Merrick family won’t sell their shares in the Illinois Central line, George fires him. He sends Larry to Morenci, Arizona in Clay’s place, hoping his son can make the deal happen. Hoping to solve his other problem, George also has Bertha set up a dinner with Alfred Merrick (Paul Alexander Nolan), where Bertha charms the man, but George is displeased.
Things only get worse when, despite George’s generous promises, Merrick doubts him and refuses to consider selling. The only other option requires George to buy the necessary shares elsewhere with money he doesn’t have. Bertha overhears George’s meeting, learning of his financial troubles. The situation worsens further when George receives Gladys’ letter. He blames Bertha for the struggles their daughter is facing, and though Bertha promises to go to England and fix things, George doubts her. He announces that when she returns from England, he will not be home. While many issues are contributing to George and Bertha’s situation, Bertha’s choice regarding Gladys is certainly not going to be forgiven quickly, and it seems to be contributing to the marital stress between the Russells.
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Peggy’s Past Mistakes Come Back to Haunt Her in ‘The Gilded Age’ Season 3
Peggy’s (Denée Benton) new romance is progressing nicely, as she continues to see William (Jordan Donica) in Newport despite his mother’s interference. They attend a baseball game together, but it turns awkward when the two encounter Peggy’s former editor, T. Thomas Fortune (Sullivan Jones).
Seemingly ignoring the intimacies they shared in Season 2, Fortune asks Peggy to interview Frances Ellen Watkins Harper in Philadelphia, which interests Peggy enough to consider pausing her novel and returning to journalism. But when William goes to the train station to see her off, Peggy discovers that Fortune is planning to accompany her on the trip. Peggy’s refusal to travel with Fortune escalates into a fight between the two men. Though Fortune leaves, Peggy now owes William an explanation of her past, which could cause problems for her reputation.
‘The Gilded Age’ Season 3 Introduces New Drama for the Van Rhijns
Marian’s engagement isn’t the only news floating around the van Rhijn house. After Jack’s massive success in selling his clock for his own fortune, the footman kept it a secret, but Larry revealed the sale, and Agnes wants to know how much he received. While Jack has resisted giving that information to all except Mrs. Bauer (Kristine Nielsen), she accidentally reveals the sum to Bannister (Simon Jones) and Armstrong (Debra Monk), so it won’t be long until it gets back to Agnes, who is already worked up about it.
Meanwhile, Ada fulfills her promise from the previous episode, defying Agnes to visit the medium Mrs. Dashkova (Andrea Martin), whom she believes can help her communicate with her deceased husband. Dashkova’s vague messages of love are enough to convince Ada, who is quick to accept the comfort their session brings. After the tragedy of her Season 2 storyline, watching Ada reopen this emotional wound, when Agnes, who is usually right, believes it is fake, adds to the undeserved treatment Ada has received.
However, the biggest twist for these characters is much more unexpected. Larry takes Jack with him to celebrate a friend’s upcoming wedding at the Haymarket, a place notorious for offering vices ranging from alcohol to female company, where they see Maud Beaton (Nicole Brydon Bloom), the same woman who tricked Oscar (Blake Ritson) out of his fortune. She claims not to know Larry and calls herself Dolly Trent, but convinced of what he saw, Larry tells Oscar. Still angry with the woman, Oscar later brings up his predicament to John Adams (Claybourne Elder) as he debates what to do. Maud Beaton’s surprising return finally gives Oscar something to do this season, though her current employment as a sex worker is a shocking turn of events that suggests Oscar’s stolen fortune is truly gone for good.
‘The Gilded Age’ Season 3 Sets Up Another Society War
While there has been plenty to explore between the central families, New York society is the source of continuing drama on The Gilded Age this week. The season began with Aurora Fane’s (Kelli O’Hara) marriage falling apart, and she is still suffering from that incident. Marian visits her in Newport, where she has been staying during the proceedings, to tell Aurora of her engagement, and Aurora is truly happy for her. But the trip becomes less pleasant when Marian attends Mrs. Fish’s (Ashlie Atkinson) party with Aurora, and Mrs. Astor shows up.
Having invited Aurora before her divorce was made public, Mrs. Fish suggests that Aurora leave. Though Bertha stands up for her, Aurora and Marian both depart, but Mrs. Fish warns Mrs. Astor that if she doesn’t loosen up on the rules, the same thing will happen to her daughter, Charlotte (Hannah Shealy), whose own marriage seems to be on the rocks. With Mrs. Astor put in a difficult situation as the rules of society are questioned, The Gilded Age has set up another society battle for the back half of Season 3.
New episodes of The Gilded Age Season 3 premiere Sundays on HBO Max in the U.S.
The Gilded Age
As “A Different World” explores the fallout from Gladys’ wedding, everyone gets a new and exciting twist.
- Release Date
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January 24, 2022
- Network
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HBO Max
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Morgan Spector
George Russell
Pros & Cons
- “A Different World” moves Larry and Marian’s love story forward, and George actually stands up for his son’s relationship.
- Maud Beaton’s return is intriguing and gives Oscar something to do instead of just moping around.
- George and Bertha’s relationship problems come to a head, causing a major shift in their storyline.
- After suffering so much, Ada deserves better than being conned by a medium.
