Max’s hit series The Gilded Age, now renewed this summer for a third season, continues the story of Marian Brook, who moves to New York City to live with her wealthy aunts, Agnes and Ada. She meets Peggy Scott, a smart and determined Black writer who becomes her friend. Across the street, the Russell family, wealthy from railroads but new to the upper class, tries to break into the old-money social circle. Bertha Russell hosts a fancy ball to win over New York’s elite, while her husband, George, deals with a dangerous train accident scandal.

In season one of the series, Marian falls for the charming lawyer, Tom Raikes, but he leaves her when he sees a better chance with someone richer. Peggy learns that her son, thought to have died, is actually alive and begins searching for him.

Then, in Season 2, Bertha sets her sights on the opera world and works hard to get power and respect there. She wins in the end, getting a box at the Metropolitan Opera. George handles a workers’ strike at one of his mills and starts learning to balance business with fairness.

Marian becomes more independent, starts teaching art, and begins a new romance with Larry Russell, Bertha’s son. Ada gets married, but her husband dies soon after, leaving her a large inheritance, which gives her unexpected power in the family. Oscar van Rhijn, Marian’s cousin, tries to marry into the Russell fortune but fails, and his poor financial choices hurt the Van Rhijn family.

Now in Season 3, tensions are rising. Bertha Russell continues her social machinations, refusing to allow her daughter Gladys to marry Billy Clark, the man she loves. Instead, Bertha schemes to match Gladys with the Duke of Buckingham for social advancement. Faced with her mother’s unyielding control and seeing no other options, Gladys makes the shocking decision to run away, finally rebelling against Bertha’s iron grip on her life.

Meanwhile, George Russell faces his own challenges in the business world. His ambitious plans to build a new railway route in Arizona meet fierce opposition, testing his ability to expand his empire westward. The resistance to his railway project threatens to undermine his broader business ambitions, demonstrating that even the most powerful industrialists face significant obstacles.

The Van Rhijn household experiences its own power struggle as Ada and Agnes clash over household authority. The servants find themselves caught in the middle, receiving conflicting orders from both women and uncertain who to obey. Though Agnes owns the house, it’s Ada who controls the finances, creating an awkward dynamic. Ada also discovers a new sense of purpose through her involvement in the temperance movement, giving her an outlet for her energy and convictions.

The episode establishes the season’s theme about control and authority in a society undergoing massive transformation. As old-money traditions clash with new wealth ambitions, the characters navigate a world where the rules rarely favor women. Yet, many of the female characters find ways to assert themselves and challenge the established order. Overall, this episode did well focusing on the power dynamics and development of the characters. While the series’s tone has become more serious, it has added the dramatic depth that previous seasons needed. Audiences can expect high stakes and more emotional drama this season to keep viewers well-engaged.

Rating: 8/10