Episode 5 of The Gilded Age season 3 finally seems like it’s hitting the brakes on Bertha’s antics. I’m not even sure I can call them that, but it is quite sad to see how she built her daughter up to living a dream life, only for Gladys to be entirely miserable. I know miserable is a strong word, but it isn’t anything like what Bertha wanted for her daughter, and she’s going to have to admit she was wrong. There’s no other way of fixing this mess. And on the other hand, I entirely understand George’s reaction, because he’s been very involved in his kids’ lives and genuinely cares for them. Meanwhile, amongst all the blue, there is some good news; all I hope is that it’s not short-lived. Additionally, we see the return of an old character who messed up Oscar’s life. Will he find the answers he’s looking for, though? Or is he out for revenge? Let’s find out and dive straight into episode 5.
Spoiler Alert
Is Gladys Unhappy?
The Gilded Age episode 5 begins with Gladys and Hector heading to Sidmouth Castle. They’re greeted by a crowd, raring to meet the new Duchess of Buckingham, of course. Immediately, Gladys’ sister-in-law shows the duo around and reminds everybody who is in charge. Moreover, she thinks the special portrait of Gladys is best suited for New York. I guess the stereotype started here, when all the English women who had sons marry American women were so uptight and focused on their rules that they essentially ruined everything (we saw the same thing with Conchita’s wedding in The Buccaneers, another show about Americans set in the Gilded Age). Now, Hector’s sister won’t even let Gladys help decorate the shabby rooms of the house, because she just doesn’t trust American taste, but her own home is so dimly lit it looks like a dungeon (obviously, you’ll have rats).
Gladys tells her lady’s maid, who has fortunately accompanied her, that she finds comfort in the fact that she’s there with her. However, it’s Lady Sarah, her sister-in-law, who is the real problem. Later, when Gladys heads out for a gathering, Lady Sarah immediately insults her hairdo, which she really liked, with diamond stars decorating it. There’s a dinner, and rather than being delighted about her brother’s wedding, Sarah simply insults Gladys every second of the way. Moreover, when Hector brings up the fact that she wanted him to marry some rich American woman, she says she didn’t expect her to come live with them. Yikes, lady, you’re sounding weirder by the second. Later, she fires Gladys’ lady’s maid, and when Gladys confronts her, she says she doesn’t meet English standards. This happens to be the last straw for her, because Adelheid is the only thing that feels familiar and ties her to her home.
What Happens With Peggy?
Peggy and Kirkland are spending a lot more time together. While she’s working for Agnes, she’s also got to do an interview in Philadelphia. In his letter, Fortune makes it seem like she must go alone, and he’s busy. Marian wonders if it’s wise to leave, but Peggy tells her in front of Agnes that she’s going to be fine and it’s a great opportunity. Marian does suggest that Kirkland go with her, and lucky for her, he decides to drop her off at the station. However, Fortune shows up too, and the two men get physical when he refuses to leave, even though Peggy expects him to. Meanwhile, Ada speaks to the psychic woman again. She lied to her sister about going to Temperance. The woman tells Ada that her husband would’ve wanted her to be at peace and be happy again. I suppose this is like a weird version of therapy. When Ada returns home, she decides to wear some color rather than black to feel less sad.
Why Is George Upset?
George decides to fire Clay, because all he’s been doing lately is giving him bad news. The family that has land in Chicago doesn’t plan on budging for his tracks, even if it would mean much more connectivity. Clay believes George doesn’t have any more money to buy out the families governing Chicago. Clay claims he’s driving his company off a cliff, but it doesn’t matter anymore because he’s fired. Meanwhile, Bertha’s still angry about the press covering their family’s intimate details. I mean, the obvious answer here is that it’s Enid’s doing. She’s got her little spies at the Russell household. When Bertha asks George to help find out who is leaking family secrets, he reminds her that there are 20-30 people working at their place, so what they should be doing really is not having too many secrets.
George asks Bertha to help get a meeting with a man named Alfred Merrick, who is on the board of the Met. Hence, the association with Bertha. Now, George wants to buy their shares on the Illinois Central line, and he needs Bertha to charm the guy into selling them. Later, he tells his son, Larry, to essentially take Clay’s place and go to Morenci. Larry, who has just come into his own money, thanks to a wonderfully smart footman, does have good negotiating skills. He asks his father what’s in it for him, and his father’s impressed to see a version of himself in his boy. What’s his is Larry’s anyway, so honestly, if things go well now, they’re sorted. But the real shocker is that Larry can’t wait any longer to be with Marian, so he’s decided to propose. He simply tells his dad because he has to do it immediately and then leave. George is over the moon and tells his son he’s chosen wisely, giving him his blessing instantly. Larry immediately takes Marian out and makes the proposal. They go and tell her aunts, asking for their blessings, and it’s all wonderful. Yet, Agnes is turning this around on herself, as if Marian kept a big secret from her rather than saying she was being cautious. She’s also mad about John making a fortune under her roof and asks her butler to find out how much it is. But Bertha doesn’t know yet. When Bertha finds out, there are other people around, and she can’t really react the way she would honestly like to.
The dinner with Merrick doesn’t go as well as George had hoped. Rather than charming the guy, it looks like he’s simply lusting after Bertha and her ambition. However, when George brings up the shares, Merrick doesn’t agree at all. He tells him he knows George’s wife, but he doesn’t know him at all. Meanwhile, Larry takes Jack to the Haymarket, and he’d rather not be there. However, the most important bit is that he sees Maude Beaton there (the woman who conned Oscar) and immediately tells Oscar about it. Oscar does have revenge on his mind, but Adams’ the one who tells him that he also cheated Maude, in a way, and if they had married, he’d have ruined her entire life. Adams tells Oscar he should step back, but Oscar still wants some answers. Whatever it is, the fact that she’s at the Haymarket means she’s lost all the money, because she’s been reduced to selling her body.
George is really upset by the fact that he’s not able to buy the shares, but more so that Bertha was basically flirting with Merrick rather than just “charming” him. She argues that this whole thing is not her fault, but he basically accuses her of cheating (maybe the intellectual kind?). For the first time since the show started, we see George actually worried. He’s certainly misplacing his anger on Bertha, but he’s right to ask her to check on their daughter. I do feel like the Russells are going to face some trouble for a bit before bouncing right back up.
What Happens With Aurora?
At the end of The Gilded Age episode 5, Marian joins Aurora at a luncheon at Mrs. Fish’s. The only reason she accepts the invitation is that Mrs. Astor shouldn’t be there, but she is. Mrs. Astor has been spreading the word about Aurora’s divorce, just so that people get over the talk of her own daughter’s lover challenging her husband to a duel. But after humiliating Aurora and sending her away, Mrs. Fish actually sides with Aurora, because if Mrs. Astor is trying to shun her from society, she has to shun her own daughter, because that divorce will come for her too. It’s interesting to see Mrs. Fish being just a good person; maybe it was just because she needs Bertha, who is kind to Aurora. On the other hand, George gets a letter from Gladys, proving to him that she’s miserable. He immediately tells Bertha that he’s not sure who he should blame, her or himself, for trusting her judgment. She claims she can fix the mess she created and that she’ll sail to England immediately, but he says that by the time she comes back, he won’t be around anymore. Now this part is honestly quite messed up, because when he knows Gladys is miserable, shouldn’t he do something to help, too? Sure, it’s Bertha’s fault, but she is still his daughter. The old George would’ve rushed to England himself, but right now, he’s way too caught up with his failing business and the recession.
Also, I don’t mean to jinx anything, but why am I worried something might happen to Larry when he’s gone? Honestly, Marian’s faced enough trouble so far, and he’s the perfect guy for her, so I truly hope they’re married soon after he’s back. I do think there will be a big dent in George’s business that he will need to fix for long-term success, but I don’t know in what form the fix will come.
