‘The Gilded Age’ Season 3 Episode 5 review: “A Different World”

The Gilded Age Season 3 Episode 5 goes international! With Gladys Russell (Taissa Farmiga) now a duchess, her new life in England proves to be exactly what everyone feared: miserable. Gladys’ American ways and unfamiliarity with British aristocratic customs make her the perfect target for her steely sister-in-law’s (Hattie Morahan) ridicule. Sarah, used to running the house for her brother the duke (Ben Lamb), continues running Gladys’ new home without interference. Poor Gladys can’t even wear her favorite hairpins without Sarah’s disapproval!

The Russells rule the roost.

Across the pond in New York, Gladys’ mother Bertha (Carrie Coon) continues to believe she’s in the right. No news is good news, according to Bertha – and no letters must mean Gladys is happy in England. The rest of the family’s opposition to the marriage is a thing of the past in her eyes. Russell family patriarch George (Morgan Spector) deals with continued business failings, while son Larry (Harry Richardson) is succeeding professionally and romantically; Louisa Jacobson’s Marian is ready to go public with their romance. Never a dull moment in the Russells’ house!

The Gilded Age has always posited the Russells as one half of the central drama in the series’ large ensemble. Between this episode and last week’s, it feels as though the show is now run almost entirely by the Russells. Christine Baranski has largely been sidelined all season – give the legend something more to do! This week she snoops around in her own house, curious to know just how successful footman Jack’s thriving business deal has made him.

And here’s where we find everyone not named Russell.

When this week’s episode does deviate from the Russells, intrigue abounds. Peggy’s (Denee Benton) budding romance with Dr. Kirkland (Jordan Donica) collides with her past, as editor T. Thomas Fortune (Sullivan Jones) returns on the scene. In an ensemble full of top-notch performers, Benton continues to be one of the series’ best. The married Fortune still harbors feelings for Peggy, whose many shining qualities include dignity and steadfastness. Bringing Fortune back into the fold promises great drama ahead.

And speaking of bringing characters back, Oscar (Blake Ritson) gets news that spells intrigue for future episodes. He’s been laying low since getting swindled out of his fortune by con artist Maud (Nicole Brydon Bloom) last season. But that doesn’t make Oscar innocent: as John (Claybourne Elder) reminds him, Oscar has just as many secrets as Maud did. It’s a rare moment of reflection for anyone in the upper class on this show. Maybe John should have a chat with Bertha next…

Season 3: the best The Gilded Age has ever been.

Last week was a high point in The Gilded Age’s drama thus far, and Season 3 shows no signs of slowing down. Series writer Julian Fellowes pulls back on the show’s signature melodrama not at the expense of its intrigue, but to support it. The stakes are earned and the payoff magnificent. HBO’s must-see Sunday night programming has a worthy successor in The Gilded Age. Long may it reign. (And let Gladys wear her lovely hairpins, for goodness’ sake!)

The Gilded Age Season 3 Episode 5 is available 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).