‘The Gilded Age’ Season 3 Episode 4 review: “Marriage is a Gamble”

Wedding bells are ringing in The Gilded Age Season 3 Episode 4, and only one person in town is happy about it. Bertha Russell’s (Carrie Coon) yearslong scheme to marry off her daughter Gladys (Taissa Farmiga) has finally paid off. But neither Gladys nor her groom, the Duke of Buckingham (Ben Lamb) seems much pleased with the engagement.

Bertha believes the marriage will benefit Gladys and the duke alike. Gladys will receive significant social ranking by becoming a duchess, solidifying the new-money Russells in New York society despite the condescension of the old-money elite. The Duke, in turn, gains access to Gladys’ inheritance and can save his estate back in England. (Lest these stakes seem dramatic, they’re based on Consuelo Vanderbilt, among other “dollar princesses” of the actual Gilded Age.) What more could either of them want? Why would Gladys want to marry for love when status offers her more security, Bertha suggests?

Bertha Russell, TV’s (Worst) Mother of the Year

Two seasons’ worth of The Gilded Age have taken Bertha from shrewd social climber to possibly the Worst Mother of the Year. She’s the hero in her own story, of course, by securing Gladys’ future. She’s facing opposition from her family: husband George (Morgan Spector) and Larry (Harry Richardson) both want Gladys to marry for love. In Bertha’s eyes, the men make the money and the women make social advances. There’s no talking her out of the idea that marrying the Duke is what’s best for Gladys.

Bertha takes center stage often despite The Gilded Age’s robust cast of characters, but never has the series felt more like a character study than here. Much of season 1 was spent watching her get the social capital her money couldn’t buy. And then season 2 gave her the room to force her way through doors that refused to open for her. By season 3, she has the upper hand on her peers: Bertha will have a son-in-law for a Duke! It’s a brilliant examination of a scrappy lower-class woman turned society mainstay.

A class and character case study

“Lower-class” being that the Russells, and Bertha specifically, weren’t always the wealthiest family on East 61^st Street. Her humble beginnings have been alluded to, but the unexpected arrival of her sister Monica (Merritt Wever) reminds Bertha that she can’t always get what she wants. (Shoutout to Merritt Wever having a banner year in prestige TV, from this to Severance!) Monica won’t be pushed around by her sister, the woman who can push anyone around. Whether we’ll hear more about their upbringing in upstate New York remains to be seen. Please, HBO, keep Monica around!

Other storylines, such as Peggy’s (Denee Benton) burgeoning romance with Dr. Kirkland (Jordan Donica), Jack’s (Ben Ahlers) clock patent, and Mrs. Bruce’s (Celia Keenan-Bolger) secret past, get snippets of airtime this week too. But centering this episode on the “wedding of the century,” especially concerning its reluctant bride and eager mother of the bride, culminates in what The Gilded Age has been leading up to all along.

You can(‘t) always get what you want

Where can Bertha Russell possibly go now? We have half a season left to find out, unless the series scores a renewal. She’s risen the ranks of society, but using Gladys as a sacrificial lamb has cost Bertha her dignity in the eyes of her family. The engagement didn’t go over well with any of the other Russells. Bertha’s rock-solid marriage to George, once a constant, can’t stay harmonious when George spoke up for Gladys more than once. Bertha’s unwillingness to compromise is perhaps series creator Julian Fellowes’ most layered character study yet. Star Carrie Coon (an Emmy nominee for this role last season) rises to the challenge. If The Gilded Age Season 3 wasn’t already must-watch Sunday night TV, it sure is now.

The Gilded Age is streaming now on HBO. 

Images courtesy of HBO.

Claire Di Maio

Claire was once asked in elementary school why her go-to question was always, “Watch anything good lately?” It’s still her go-to question, because she loves hearing what other people are passionate about. She often sacrifices sleep in the hopes that she will one day clear her to-watch and to-read lists (a futile effort so far).