HBO’s "The Gilded Age" continues to captivate audiences with its third season, plunging deeper into the intricate lives of New York City’s elite during a time when social standing was everything. At the heart of this drama is the Russells, a couple whose rise from modest beginnings to the pinnacle of high society reveals the heavy price of ambition and the fragility of family bonds.
Bertha Russell, portrayed by Carrie Coon, is a woman haunted by her agrarian past. Once a farmer’s daughter, she fiercely conceals her humble origins, especially when her sister Monica O’Brien visits in Episode 4, reminding her of the life she desperately wants to forget. Bertha’s discomfort is palpable, underscoring the social stigma of her background among the old-money families she now seeks to join. Her relentless drive to secure her family's place in high society manifests in lavish parties and bold moves like funding a rival opera house, a strategic play to cement the Russells’ elite status.
George Russell, played by Morgan Spector, is a self-made railroad tycoon who shares Bertha’s ambition but is more attuned to the emotional toll their pursuits exact on their family. Their marriage, once a genuine partnership grounded in love, starts to fray under the weight of Bertha’s social climbing. While George remains committed to their children’s happiness, Bertha’s schemes increasingly alienate them, straining the family’s unity.
The tension reaches a peak in Episode 5 when their son Larry announces his engagement to Marian Brook. Bertha’s disapproval contrasts sharply with George’s support for his son’s choice, highlighting the growing rift between the couple. Meanwhile, Bertha’s manipulative orchestration of their daughter Gladys’s marriage to Hector, the Duke of Buckingham, underscores her willingness to sacrifice personal happiness for social gain. Despite George’s promise to Gladys that she could marry for love, Bertha pushes for the ducal match, seeing the alliance as a strategic boon for their family’s empire.
This decision casts a long shadow over Gladys’s future. Initially, Bertha drives away Gladys’s true love, Billy Carlton, to clear the path for the Duke. Though the marriage elevates the family’s status, it leaves Gladys isolated and miserable. George’s resentment grows as he watches his daughter’s unhappiness mount, especially as Gladys writes to him from England, revealing her distress. Bertha’s obsession with status, fueled by her fear of poverty, starkly contrasts the affection that once defined her relationship with George.
The Duke of Buckingham, portrayed by Ben Lamb, emerges as a complex figure. Initially perceived as a calculating suitor interested only in Gladys’s wealth to maintain his English castle, he reveals a gentler side, expressing a genuine wish for Gladys’s happiness. In Episode 3, away from Bertha’s meddling, he acknowledges the strangeness of their union and shows signs of kindness, offering a glimmer of hope for the young couple.
However, their honeymoon paints a more troubling picture. The Duke pressures Gladys to fulfill her marital duties, reflecting the era’s expectations of women’s submission rather than personal cruelty. Upon arriving at Sidmouth Castle in England, Gladys faces the harsh reality of aristocratic life, especially from the Duke’s sister, Lady Sarah. Played by Hattie Morahan, Lady Sarah embodies the rigid snobbery of the British aristocracy, looking down on Gladys as an uncultured American and undermining her at every turn.
Lady Sarah’s hostility intensifies when she insults Gladys’s fashion choices at a dinner party and fires her maid, Adelheid, who had been a rare source of comfort for Gladys. The Duke appears hapless against his sister’s domineering nature, unable or unwilling to stand up for his wife, which threatens to unravel the fragile hope for their marriage. Yet, the possibility remains that if the Duke asserts himself against Lady Sarah, he and Gladys might find common ground and build a genuine connection.
Bertha’s anticipated arrival in the upcoming episodes could be pivotal. Her presence might challenge Lady Sarah’s influence, potentially altering the dynamics at Sidmouth Castle. The storyline echoes historical parallels, notably the real-life socialite Consuelo Vanderbilt, whose similarly arranged marriage ended unhappily after decades. This historical context adds a layer of poignancy to Gladys’s predicament, as viewers wonder whether her fate will mirror Vanderbilt’s or defy expectations.
While the Russells’ saga unfolds on screen, Carrie Coon’s portrayal of Bertha Russell is garnering critical acclaim, bolstering her prospects for Emmy recognition. According to Gold Derby, "The Gilded Age" made a significant impact at last year’s Emmy Awards with six nominations, including Best Drama Series. The current third season, airing now, will be eligible for next year’s Emmys, and Coon’s compelling performance is seen as a strong contender for her third Emmy nod, following previous nominations for "Fargo" in 2017 and "The Gilded Age" in 2024.
Simultaneously, Coon stars in the third season of HBO’s anthology series "The White Lotus," where she plays Laurie Duffy, a recently divorced corporate lawyer from New York City who embarks on a girls’ trip to Thailand with longtime friends. Early predictions suggest this role could finally secure Coon the Emmy win she’s long been poised for, with her high-profile work in "The Gilded Age" amplifying her visibility and acclaim.
As the season progresses, viewers are left to ponder the true cost of ambition and social climbing. Bertha’s relentless pursuit of status comes at the expense of her marriage and her children’s happiness, while George grapples with balancing his industrial empire and his family’s well-being. Gladys’s uncertain future in England, marked by a loveless marriage and aristocratic hostility, encapsulates the era’s harsh realities for women caught between love and duty.
"The Gilded Age" Season 3 offers a rich tapestry of complex characters and social dynamics, reminding us that behind the glittering facades of wealth and power lie deeply human stories of sacrifice, love, and resilience. Whether the Russells can reconcile their ambitions with their family bonds remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: in this gilded world, the price of prestige is steep indeed.
