Episode 2 of The Gilded Age is largely focused on Gladys and her mother’s antics. Last week we saw that George wasn’t around, and now that he’s back with massive plans, he’s struck with a family in commotion. Meanwhile, the Scotts come to visit their daughter, and the question arises: are they making the right choice in leaving her at the Van Rijhn household? On the other hand, the problem of who really runs the house is finally sorted out, but I suppose we already had the answer to that. I watched the first two seasons in one go because I hadn’t seen it before, but seeing an episode at a time makes me realize that, at that moment, it feels like not much is going on. But of course, the season has only just begun, so there’s a long way for us to go. Anyway, with that said, let’s dive into everything that goes down in episode 2 of season 3.
Spoiler Alert
What Does Bertha Do With Gladys?
The Gilded Age episode 2 begins with the Russell household in a daze because Gladys is missing. Larry’s the one who tells his mom that his sister’s missing, and that it might be her fault. Bertha learns where Gladys is and goes to Billy’s house. She tells his mom that Gladys is going to be engaged to the Duke. What’s interesting is that Billy’s mom wants her son to marry Gladys, but she later tells her son that Gladys’ family is new money and is trying to use him for their benefit. Funny what a little humiliation can do, I suppose. Gladys is promptly taken back home, where her dad arrives. She tells him that she ran away because he didn’t come back in time to rescue her. She shows him the papers, where it says she’s going to be engaged, but she doesn’t even know the man. George wants to keep his promise to his daughter, but it’s looking difficult because his wife is determined to give her a “good” life. This to her means power and not necessarily love.
What Is Ada Up To?
Meanwhile, Aurora finds herself unable to cancel a charity luncheon despite her situation with her husband. Agnes and Ada have no advice for her, but she manages to tell the butler that Ada is the new head of the household, as much as Agnes hates it. Aurora’s luncheon is disrupted when her husband brings his mistress along without hesitation. Mrs. Astor, of course, makes it known that she’s been put off by this display and leaves.
On the other hand, Ada is convinced that everybody should take the Temperance Oath because it’s the cause she believes in. She tells all the servants about it and asks them to take it as well, but of course, it’s their choice to actually do it. Not even Marian is interested in really taking it because she doesn’t think it’s wrong to want to drink a glass of wine with dinner. On the surface, Ada seems okay, but it looks like she’s kind of losing purpose, and she’s going to need something else to do before she becomes entirely dejected because nobody’s going to side with her. Also, Larry is now sneaking in through the servants’ door to meet Jack, whom everyone is proud of, but Marian and he are sneaking off to share passionate kisses in carriages. She wants to take it slow, but he claims he’s in love with her. I do hope he realizes that Jack should be explaining his clock, before Larry embarrasses himself and Jack has to help him out. On the other hand, Oscar is going to get a helping hand from his ex-lover, Adam, because nobody trusts him to invest on their behalf anymore. He’s going to have to prove himself now that he’s entirely penniless.
What Happens With Peggy?
The Scotts arrive on 5th Avenue to see their sick daughter with Dr. Kirkland, an old acquaintance, it seems. This man does seem to look mixed-race, but we’ll have to see about that later. Peggy’s mom worries they shouldn’t go in via the front door of the house, because that’s what they’ve known, but Mr. Scott refuses to go through the servant’s entrance. When the doctor arrives, he asks them to join him through the front door. Agnes invites both parents to wait with her while the doctor is taken up to see Peggy. In their discussion, Mrs. Scott talks about how Agnes treats them differently from the rest of the people on her street. Agnes tells her that that’s how she’s been raised, and her family won’t behave any differently. But Mr. Scott reminds her that just being polite and well-mannered isn’t going to change the country’s centuries-long legacy of slavery. Mr. Scott believes it took Agnes too long to tell them about their sick daughter. He thinks it was a misjudgment, essentially telling her she’s not looking out for his daughter well enough. Agnes tells her about a time when Oscar had typhoid when he was little. While the situations aren’t the same, she’s reassuring them that she understands how they feel about their daughter, and will not have a lapse in judgment.
The Scotts do trust that Agnes will take good care of Peggy and agree not to take her back until she’s recovered. But they have invited her to an event with her cousins where she has to give a speech. I wonder what that’s going to be about. Also, there was interesting eye contact between Marian and Peggy when Kirkland was in the room, meaning this could develop into a welcome romantic entanglement. Peggy’s parents do know the guy.
Is Gladys Going To Marry The Duke?
At the end of episode 2, Bertha threatens Billy’s mom, saying that she will disinherit Gladys and make sure Billy doesn’t get any work if they get married. His mum then tells him that they’re just using him, and finally, he’s left with no choice but to tell Gladys he’s not going to marry her because he’s changed his mind. They’re so young and impressionable, after all. Gladys is left heartbroken and rushes into her brother’s arms, only to be thrown into the Duke’s welcoming party right after. It is quite adorable how much of an advocate Larry is for Gladys, but maybe he’s also got rose-tinted glasses on since he’s a man. He does seem like quite the dreamer, with the whole show-off speech. But I do want Marian to be happy, and Gladys too. Finally, when the Duke shows up, he’s brought a lawyer along, which makes George angry, because whatever Bertha’s planned, he had no idea about it. The episode ends with Gladys being stunned by the Duke and her dad promising her to make things okay.
