‘THE GILDED AGE,’ SEASON THREE EPISODE EIGHT RECAP: THE FATE OF GEORGE RUSSELL AND A LOVE STORY!
In the wake of last week’s episode seven cliffhanger (!!), the season three finale of The Gilded Age is here. Finally. The popular HBO show has earned legions of fans, making its third season its highest ratings earner yet. Created by Julian Fellowes (of Downton Abbey fame), the show is about wealthy and upper-class characters living in the 1800s New York during the industrial business age where old versus new money clash. Let’s look back (as a brief refresher) at last week’s revelations and then dive into this week’s ‘My Mind is Made Up’ finale; this is The Gilded Age season three recap!
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‘THE GILDED AGE,’ SEASON THREE EPISODE EIGHT RECAP: THE FATE OF GEORGE RUSSELL AND A LOVE STORY! Recapping *all* of the season three #TheGildedAge drama (!!) in this finale recap. #JulianFellowes #PeriodDrama #Romance #TVShow Share on XMore than one thing or revelation from last week needs unpacking, meaning we have the “aftermath” of things to pick up in this finale. The first “shocker” is Agnes realizing that her son, well, he prefers the same sex in relationships. This isn’t new for the audience, but of course, no one in the Van Rhijn home discusses it. They still don’t (with exception to Marian’s well meaning but perhaps awkward attempts) but we see Agnes realize this as she watches her son, Oscar, grieve the departed John Adams. Elsewhere, there is a ticking love bomb (or actually two) and then, yes, a shooting that could kill a key player!
Going into this finale what I want most is to see some of these characters HAPPY! Give us a happy ending for some of these love stories. Despite the stable love story of the equally ruthless and ambitious George and Bertha Russell, even they are squabbling. So, let’s just press ahead and learn about the answers to all of these exposes.
Spoilers will follow.
THE FATE of GEORGE RUSSELL
Last week, the biggest cliffhanger of all was that someone (or this is what we would have to assume) arranges for a gunman to appear at the club where George and Larry (both miffed at wife and mother Bertha) are staying and attempts to assassinate George Russell. We quickly learn that the bullet doesn’t end George’s life (in large part thanks to Dr. Kirkland) though does shake them all up. (This is not something Fellowes is shy about; we all remember Matthew Crawley, right?)
This sends Marian running to the side of Larry, telling him he must know she would do anything for him. In grief, the pair don’t really reunite, but might they still…?
Bertha buries herself in planning the end-of-season ball which she is taking over from the by-proxy scandal ridden Mrs. Astor. She makes plans to have a grand ball, because after all, this is what she does and knows how do.
IT’S a LOVE STORY or BREAK-UP
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed by Marian’s gut reaction to end things with Larry Russell. This isn’t to say I don’t understand her hesitation, but she owed it to Larry and herself to let him tell his side before making her choice. Regardless of this, last week also leaves us with the cliffhanger of Dr. Kirkland discovering (by gossip!) that Miss Peggy Scott, the woman he’s lovingly courting, had a child (!!) who has now died. Unlike Marian, William does extend to Peggy the courtesy of letting her tell him the story.
He leaves her with a broken heart. Still, they do lock eyes at the ball, and Peggy’s heart leaps as he twirls her around the grand ball which, in a stunning scene, ends in a proposal. The hope is that these two are going to be happy. Larry and Marian, however, are less sure.
‘THE GILDED AGE,’ SEASON THREE EPISODE EIGHT RECAP: THE FATE OF GEORGE RUSSELL AND A LOVE STORY! Recapping *all* of the season three #TheGildedAge drama (!!) in this finale recap. #JulianFellowes #PeriodDrama #Romance #TVShow Share on XThey speak and Marian softens towards him (even helping the family fight for Mr. Russell’s life including keeping their secret), likely in part to Larry’s understandable grief. Time passes, and in spire of her attempts, but really it does not feel like they are a “we”? Ada and Agnes have a quarrel (all very soft and proper) about Marian’s love life and her possible future with Larry. Agnes, perhaps surprisingly, tells Marian to go to Larry…
Larry apologizes and Marian explains how her past wrongly is shaping her present. They agree to try again, but he asks her if things go wrong, would she walk out again? The pair share a laugh and a dance, with hope and smiles for a brighter future.
…the real breakup comes in the final moments when George Russell, well, he walks out on a tearful Bertha…
Questions still remain and while now we must play the waiting game, we know a fourth season is coming. So, what will be next for these characters?
ELSEWHERE in THE GILDED AGE SEASON THREE RECAP FINALE
Despite a rocky beginning, all signs point to Gladys Russell aka the Duchess, and the Duke of Buckingham may possibly have a happy ending. They seem to be sharing deeper conversations and Glady’s wedding day tears seem to be turning to appreciation for her husband. She in turn seems to be helping him realize that he does matter and his voice is important. Dare we hope these two are, well, good for and to each other? Is this the happy ending no one would see coming? She is excepting, too!
Young John visits his friends in the Van Rhijn (or is it Mrs. Forte?) household; later, Bridget visits him in his grand home where he treats her as a lady and guest.
Speaking of Mrs. Forte, Agnes finally admits (out loud! And to someone else!) she doesn’t have the funds to donate to charities, and she then relinquishes her head of table chair to her sister.
Mrs. Scott defends her daughter and has it out with Mrs. Kirkland in a scene that makes us cheer.
Mrs. Russell tries to end the scourge on divorced women in society – the scandal! Oscar convinces Mrs. Russell to invite the recently widowed Mrs. Winterton (heavens, what will this scheming lead to?) and in exchange he will convince a determined Marian to attend the grand ball! Speaking of the ball, the battle of wills is again won by Mrs. Russell when – gasp! – Mrs. Astor attends the ball the former took over hosting duties for.
Photos: The Gilded Age Instagram | Poster Feature Art: HBO
Stream, at publication, the entire third season of The Gilded Age now on HBO along with seasons one – two. Season four is coming and will presumably drop in 2026.
What do you think? Did you love how season three ends? What are your thoughts on the most shocking reveals? Do you have a favorite thing we talk about in this The Gilded Age season three finale recap; what moment did you love? Who do you want to see together happily ever after? What do you want to see in season four? Comment your thoughts below.
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