The Gilded Age: A Soap Opera of the Gilded Era: A Fascinating Glimpse into Late 19th Century New York Society

The Gilded Age is a period drama that explores the lives of the wealthy and powerful in late 19th century New York society. The show is rich in qualities that many viewers love, such as the extravagant hats and Broadway stars of a certain pedigree. However, despite the clear effort and expense put into making it, the events of New York society glide on by, with women dressed in fine, frilly clothing dipping in and out of dramas that are sometimes important, sometimes trivial, but almost always afforded equal weight. The household of the sisters Agnes Van Rhijn (Christine Baranski) and Ada Forte (Cynthia Nixon) has undergone a significant shift in power. After their nephew Oscar almost ruined the family by losing Agnes's fortune, the crisis of impending poverty was averted at the last minute by the revelation that Ada's husband, the Rev Luke Forte, was actually stinking rich thanks to a profitable textiles business, leaving Ada a fortune. The Gilded Age can be so soapy that the suds practically foam on the screen. The previously timid Ada is now funding the household, while the more domineering Agnes is struggling to adjust to her new position as a dependent. When Ada is drawn towards the temperance movement, her attempts to get the staff and her family to join her crusade against the evils of alcohol get short shrift. This goes on for some time, but Nixon and Baranski are great actors and their scenes are contrived simply so we can watch them act. Baranski gets to deliver the Maggie Smith lines, such as responding to claims of an unhappy marriage: "Unhappy? What is this babble?" The nouveau riche Russell household is also undergoing a similar power shift. At the beginning, George Russell (Morgan Spector) is out west, buying mines, making money and plotting to build a railway across the US. This leaves his wife, the imperious Bertha (Carrie Coon), in charge in New York, and being in charge is a position she relishes. She spends much of this season pondering how to rule the roost and meddling in the romantic prospects of her son Larry (Harry Richardson) and daughter Gladys (Taissa Farmiga), who are hot tickets on the New York marriage scene. In previous seasons, it could be hard to work out whether the creator, Julian Fellowes, had been too constrained by what he was supposed to be making or too free to make exactly what he wanted to make. But this time around, it's a lot more fun. Modernity is coming through the railways and commercially viable small clocks. Money comes and goes. Divorce rears its reputation-destroying head. Marian (Louisa Jacobson) announces she has taken a job at an ordinary high school, which prompts aunt Agnes to ask "But won't she need a bodyguard?" Peggy (Denée Benton), one of the least tiring characters on the show, has been destined for greatness, but now we finally get to see her on the verge of achieving it. Overall, The Gilded Age is a curious and unwieldy period drama that is worth watching for its rich characters and intricate plotlines. Despite its oddly slight nature, it offers a fascinating glimpse into the lives of the wealthy and powerful in late 19th century New York society.