According to Deadline, The Gilded Age, HBO‘s period drama, continues to flourish. This series comes from Julian Fellowes (Belgravia, Downton Abbey), and it started its third season with 2.7 million U.S. cross-platform viewers for the opening episode released on June 22 opening episode within its first three days of availability. This number is 27% higher from the Season Two opener, which had 2.1 million viewers, and 30% from the Season One debut with 2 million viewers. 

The Gilded Age has come a long way from its unpromising launch in January 2022 on a low profile Monday night for HBO. Carrie Coon (Gone Girl, The Leftovers) stated that “The gays saved it,” as the show received significant support from the gay community, as well as strong word of mouth. The series attracted enough of an audience to renew for a sophomore season and has been growing ever since, moving to HBO’s marquee Sunday 9 PM slot. Moreover, Season two emerges as a major awards contender.

The new season will likely gain similar traction, following the preceding seasons’ trajectory of steady growth. In the end, Season two averaged 7.1 million U.S. viewers, and its finale posted a series Live+3 high 3.2 million multi-platform viewers, Deadline notes. 

Already, the Season 3 premiere has gotten a lot of attention on social media, fresh in viewers’ minds, they are reminded of the Bridgerton spin-off. Fans are reacting to Bertha’s (Coon) merciless plan for her daughter’s future, in addition to Aurora’s divorce bombshell news, as mentioned by Deadline. 

The third season is joined by several new faces, including Kate Baldwin (Hello, Dolly!, Supergirl), John Ellison Conlee (Boardwalk Empire, The Deuce), Dylan Baker (Hunters, Good Wife), Bobby Steggert (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Mad Men), Michael Cumpsty (Severance, Billions), and Hannah Shealy (Law & Order: SVU, Rose Tattoo)

Executive producers include Michael Engler (Sex and the City, 30 Rock), David Crockett (Escape at Dannemora, Ed Wood), Gareth Neame (The Last Kingdom, Downton Abbey), Salli Richardson-Whitfield (Being Mary Jane, Eureka), who is also directing. Erica Dunbar (Hamilton: History Has Its Eyes on You, Truth Be Told) is a historical consultant as well as co-executive producer.