The Gilded Age

[GreekGod]

Anyone watched the first episode ? The US Downton Abbey set in New York in 1882.

Everyone keeps calling it the "US Downton" I loved it. I think possibly even more than Downton.

I would if it really was like that then in New York ie Old Money - v - New Money and the snobbery that came with that

Oh yes, I know the Russell's are wealthy, I never gave any thought to the wealth disparities when I watched Downton Abbey. I think I pointed it out because of how little Mr Russell think's of the wellbeing of his workforce. I work 13.5hr shifts 3-4 days per week, and I'm exhausted, so this insight into the lifestyle of the Uber rich in the 19th century is irking me a tiny little bit. Oh and they also mentioned on the podcast that the wealthy also "rented" pews in church, the location of the pew that was rented reflected income and social status. This practice only stopped in the 1960's...I guess they replaced the pew rental with the practice of giving a tithe to the church.

The chemistry between Carrie Coon and Morgan Spector aka Mr & Mrs Russell is so well played.

I agree. They have worked together before. And Carrie Coon was a late addition to the cast. She replaced Amanda Peet who had scheduling issues when production was delayed due to covid.

Unpopular opinion incoming - I'm 2 Episodes in now and still not enjoying this series. Is it me? Just seems like I didn't have much to hold my interest. Will try ep3 and hope for the best but I'm disappointed after loving series 1 so much.

Hang in there! I didn't like Ep 1 and 2, but loved 3. I am unsure as to what we are allowed to discuss here; should we change the title to spoilers allowed?

Anyway Ep 3 has several intriguing storylines, though I continue to have zero interest in Marian's love life. But I did love the opera standoff, Turner turning up and being sarky, and the union rep. Carrie Coon and Morgan Spector are brilliant.

Cynthia Nixon's wavery quavery voice annoys me.

I'm fed up with the Opera box tale. I do like the Union storyline. I knew George was making a mistake by inviting Henderson to lunch at the house. It's a palace and the stark difference in how George lives like a king compared to a workers family would make my blood boil and set me against George even harder. When you see the Russell mansion how could you not think that George could easily afford to pay workers a bit more or employ more safety measures at work. It's obscene.

I'm a bit distracted by Turner/Mrs Winterton as she looks (to me) quite similar to both Bertha and Gladys - tall, slim and dark haired, similar facial features. I think perhaps they should have cast someone who looked quite different to the Russell women.

Does anyone else think that the vicar will turn out to be a wrong'un (given his altercation with a man on the church hall stairs)?

The valet story is strange. He hasn't had any real contact with his DD since she was tiny and she seemed alarmed by his presence when he was following her in S01 and at the dinner this season. I thought he was given a good offer and perhaps could have pushed for some contact through being able to write letters to his daughter and maybe later on be introduced as a gentleman from SF. It seems George doesn't know the Valet's history but I thought in S01 the valet said that Mr Russell was the only one who would give him work when he fell from his position in society, so I assumed George knew his history.

It's so soon after the end of slavery that I just don't believe that even Peggy would be naive enough to go to Alabama especially as single woman accompanied by a married man or that it would not be a scandal that Marion was a painting mistress at a school whilst living in the VR household. Peggy isn't a very reliable employee, she's just resumed her secretarial dutie sbut can zip off to Alabama.

Does anyone else find the scenes outside the Russell and VR mansions on 5th Avenue strange - are the main actors parts CGI'd in on top of the traffic?

The podcast said that the street the Van Ryans and Russells live on id made to look busier to show its a more popular area.

Im confused to why Peggy is allowed time off work for her journalism.

It's so soon after the end of slavery that I just don't believe that even Peggy would be naive enough to go to Alabama

Peggy is based on several historical figures, one of whom is Ida B. Wells, who did actually live and work in the South before moving to Chicago, in part due to racist threats. I think that Peggy is being depicted as strong and brave rather than naive.

IIRC Peggy was born 'up north', I don't remember if it was NYC, Philly, or elsewhere and has lived a 'privileged' life within a well to do black community. I think she has no idea of the 'real reality' of the South. I agree she's bold and brave for a woman during this Age (especially a black woman) but I think in this instance it's a combo of overestimating her ability to keep herself safe & 'it can't be that bad', so to me she is being a bit naive. It's going to be a helluva story arc.

It's reminding me of the portrayal of young Emmet Till in 'Till'. He also had no idea of the realities of the South despite what his mother and other relatives tried to tell him.

@SapatSea

The valet story is strange. He hasn't had any real contact with his DD since she was tiny and she seemed alarmed by his presence when he was following her in S01 and at the dinner this season. I thought he was given a good offer and perhaps could have pushed for some contact through being able to write letters to his daughter and maybe later on be introduced as a gentleman from SF. It seems George doesn't know the Valet's history but I thought in S01 the valet said that Mr Russell was the only one who would give him work when he fell from his position in society, so I assumed George knew his history.

I thought in season 1 that she thought that Watson was some strange man following her. I think I remember him and her in a scene on her front steps but I can't remember what was said, if anything. If not, I suppose she just figured out who he was.

I think that George only knows that Watson was 'a gentleman fallen on hard times'. It would explain why George hired him (apparently) without references. I also think that George values loyalty highly and he'd probably feel that Watson would be extremely loyal after being 'saved' and given a respectable job. I also assume that Watson made & lost his money somewhere other than NYC otherwise guests to the Russell house would recognize him.

It sounds to me as if either his daughter wants nothing to do with him or her husband is insisting on it. At this point I don't think Watson is in a position to make any demands. I'm not so sure how far George would go in 'championing' him if there was a public scandal. Although George being George, he might just take great pleasure in ruining Watson's daughter's husband. Wouldn't be the first time he's ruined a man in revenge. I hope Watson refuses the offer of SF. It could make for a juicy story line and we need some good 'downstairs' storylines!

It's going to be a helluva story arc.

True. I hope they do it justice. There are so many historical nuances, and I have been impressed with how they have been handled so far.

Also, in my earlier comments about Peggy and Ida B, Wells, I was trying to make the point that it was not unusual for educated African-Americans to travel back and forth between the North and the South. This was the period in which many of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities were founded, mostly in the South. Of course, one of the main reasons for this is because segregation in the South prevented African Americans from accessing higher education. But they attracted faculty and students from other parts of the country.

To this day, the majority of HBCUs are in the South, and Alabama has the most.

Does anyone else think that the vicar will turn out to be a wrong'un (given his altercation with a man on the church hall stairs)?

@SapatSea I have this feeling too

I’m finding this series a bit dull. Not loving it as much as I did series 1.

I loved the Oscar Wilde scene!

Ooh today’s ep had a lot to unpack….look forward to everyone’s thoughts..!

@Netaporter

I agree!

Soo good, has everyone seen it now? Can we talk about spoilers?

I loved the latest episode - you have got to hand it to Bertha. The way that woman handles everything. She is so ahead of the game. Looks as though Turner/Mrs Winterton can't keep up - I loved her discussion with Oscar. And those sun glasses of Oscar's !!

I fear Ada’s heart will be broken in this series.

Poor Bertha, had nothing to do with the outing of Turner but will feel the flack…

Reckon Peggy will fall for her boss?

I fear Ada’s heart will be broken in this series.

I do worry about this. I hope that Julian Fellowes is not going to make her an older, American version of Lady Edith (spurned at the altar version).

Ok so truthfully I’m a little bored by it I think. It’s not grabbing me. I don’t understand why I am as it’s usually the sort of thing I’m interested in. Loved series 1 but this series Im just not into. But I love Bertha!

This series seems a little lacklustre, I can’t put my finger on why but is it because a series and a half in there is either:

1. No particularly compelling romantic storyline/set up
2. No murder/dead body
3. No big ‘if this ever got out we’re totally fucked’ situation yet?

You don’t need all of them but Love, Death or Ruin is usually what propels most stories and yet we have opera boxes and watercolours here. It’s a bit boring. The stakes in this series are all so low which just isn’t interesting.

The minor romance storylines (Larry and rich widow, Peggy and married boss, Ada and ‘Hot in Dead Poets Society’ Priest) are tepid and there is no chemistry between the actors.

Bertha is awesome though. She should have to hide a dead body and Larry falls in love with the murder victim’s wife - then we’d be on to something!

I'm loving it so far, particularly the slow burn type of it. However there are too many little plots which of course will be amazing when they come to a head but it would be nice for them to be spaced out a bit rather than a fantastic final episode.

Love Bertha, and poor Marian. I don't think the priest is a wrongun but he's hiding something.