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

I think Ada is going to be torn between her love for the Rev and her 'duty' to the sister who has financially supported her 'all these years'. And you know Agatha will pull out all the 'guilt' stops! I hope she makes the right choice, but unfortunately if she chooses the Rev I can't see the happy couple having a continuing storyline. They'll probably happily sail off to the mission field in Africa.

Love, love, love Bertha vs Turner. I think this is going to be a neck and neck race in insult and 'revenge' with each taking the lead turn and turn again. And I have a feeling Mr Winterton will have quite a reaction to the knowledge that his 'impoverished gentlewoman who was forced to become a companion' is in fact a working class girl who had a job as a lady's maid. Score one for Mrs Astor AND Bertha, each unbeknownst to the other and for different reasons. And I'm looking forward to Bertha's scheming with the Duke. Not just becoming his 'BFF', but in trying to interest him in Gladys. If I lived back the I would sooo want to be Bertha's BFF!

I still have an odd feeling about Cousin Dashiell.

The Tuskegee storyline really has me nervous. There are so many things that could happen, or nothing could happen. What I hope doesn't happen is Peggy and her married boss starting an affair. Peggy is too good and her character is written as too principled for that.

I predict Mrs Astor putting Bertha and Turner against each other could backfire on her…

I disagree that the storylines are too slow, nothing much ever happened on Downtown either, still loved it - little bit of history wrapped up in a fluffy blanket week to week.

First time posting here but I'm a lurker.
I'm enjoying s2.
It hadn't occurred to me that the vicar might he a wrong un! I had assumed that Ada would end up denying herself a happy ever after to stay with her sister out of duty.
I too hope she isn't let down by Vicar Dead Poets but that is a good shout.
Russell v Turner is shaping up to be quite the battle I think.
Go Bertha!

I’m glad you are enjoying it 😊 Though i have to disagree that nothing much ever happened in Downton! Downton totally used the ‘Love, Death, Ruin’ stakes!

It did the ‘Love’ element well (the romances of Mary and Matthew, Sybil and Branson and Anna and Bates were much better than any here. You wanted them to get together, I’m not rooting for any couple in this series).

Downton also had Death and Ruin with the Mr Pamuk storyline the consequences of which ran on for more than one series. ‘Ruin/high stakes’ was also there in terms of the inheritance issue.

The stakes don’t have to be huge but you need something to propel the story, not just a few zinging lines and beautiful outfits and architecture (all of which I still appreciate mind).

Vicar Dead Poets But he was so young then. I think of him as Vicar Dr. Wilson.

I really like this season. I don't miss dead bodies. While the Mr. Pamuk story line in Downton was good, the Mr. Bates/Anna in and out of jail business got mighty boring after a while in my opinion.

I'm nervous about the Tuskegee story line too. I have been so impressed with how it's been handled so far from a historical perspective. The debate at dinner between Booker T. Washington and T. Thomas Fortune about Washington's cooperation with white people (some former slave owners) is one that continues to this day regarding Washington's legacy. As to Peggy and Fortune having an affair, I do hope that does not develop. Fortune was a real person with a legacy of his own, and I hope Fellowes and Co. continue to be respectful of that.

Do you think Bertha will keep Turner/Wintertons secret if she helps her fill the Met opera? This could go so many ways?

One thing that bothers me on this series is the lack of variation in dialects. Bar one or two staff, everyone, (not just the staff) talks the same way.

Also, the staff are the most boring group of people I have ever seen on my screen. I can’t remember which set belongs to which house.

I hope the vicar doesn’t have some scandal in his past. But if Ada does find happiness with someone, I think it might be an end-of-series storyline. I think it is too early in the series for that.

I hear variation in accents, although not many of the American servants speak with a traditional New York accent, which you would expect. But for example, when Monsieur Boudin the chef is outed as plain Mr. Borden from Kansas, he speaks with a midwestern accent.

Robert Sean Leonard's Boston accent seems to come and go a bit, but I like him so much that I can forgive it.

I reckon Dr Wilson is a bad un, but Ada won't believe Agnes because she thinks Agnes is just worried about being alone.

Cousin Dashiell is a creep. I have no evidence for this apart from his shit beard and annoying daughter.

So if Bertha didn't dob Turner in to Mrs Astor - who did?

I wonder if there would be the expectation that 'upper servants', especially those 'public facing', would speak in a more 'cultured' accent, just the way that Carson spoke a more 'cultured' English than the 'lower' non-public facing servants.

On Gilded Age I can think of only one servant who speaks with a NY accent, that's the footman who is tinkering with his alarm clock. The rest of them have various accents from German, Irish, British, Mid-western, to the 'neutral' (to my ear) American accent.

Most of the upper class speaks in the same 'neutral' accent, rather than sounding 'Eastern Seaboard/New England' to my California ears. With the exception of Nathan Lane's fantastic Southern Accent. I can't quite place that accent though. The 'real' McAllister was born in Savannah, but that accent doesn't sound anything like my Savannah GA born and raised BFF's accent. Maybe Alabama or Mississippi?

Most of the upper class speaks in the same 'neutral' accent, rather than sounding 'Eastern Seaboard/New England' to my California ears. With the exception of Nathan Lane's fantastic Southern Accent. I can't quite place that accent though. The 'real' McAllister was born in Savannah, but that accent doesn't sound anything like my Savannah GA born and raised BFF's accent. Maybe Alabama or Mississippi?

I agree that no one has that particular upper class Northeastern accent, but I think it's hard to duplicate and not sound odd today. It is essentially the accent that Jackie Kennedy had, verging on mid-Atlantic.

As to Ward McAllister, I did a bit of research in connection with last season to try to determine how he spoke because it is more of an exaggerated theatrical Southern accent. As much as I like Nathan Lane, his accent jars. I'm from the same area of the US that Ward McAllister came from, and no one talks that way in coastal Georgia. It's possible that the accent Lane uses is authentic for the time, but it sounds very exaggerated to my ear. His wife's accent (from last season) seems much more authentic to me. The Savannah area accent has a mixture of non-rhotic and rhotic features, and it's not as drawly as the accent Nathan Lane uses. If anything, Lane's is more Alabama or Mississippi (maybe from five decades ago) than coastal Georgia.

@SenecaFallsRedux

Yes, Jackie Kennedy's accent, a very 'genteel' sound.

Sounds as if you're from the same neck of the woods as my BFF. I'll bet you're fond of a good Low Country Boil.

Nathan Lane can be a bit OTT at times in just about any role he plays. But I just love him so much that I can forgive him.

I read a bit (well Wiki) on Ward McAllister too. Quite a character. But somehow I doubt he was as 'camp-ish' as Nathan Lane plays him.

@AcrossthePond55

We do love a low country boil! My brother has a purpose-made cooker and we often do it for large family gatherings. Not today, of course. Turkey and all the trimmings.

Happy Thanksgiving if you're celebrating!

Nice! I'm going to have to start hinting to my friend. Or maybe I'll try to cook one myself. lol

Same back to you. T Day was wonderful, hope yours was too.

Now the BIG question.....cornbread or regular bread and do you do stuffing (in the bird) or dressing (in a pan). Ours is BOTH! lol

I'm also worried about the Reverend!!

Now the BIG question.....cornbread or regular bread and do you do stuffing (in the bird) or dressing (in a pan). Ours is BOTH! lol

Cornbread dressing cooked outside the bird. My grandmother's recipe.

Who did the vicar have an altercation with on the church steps? I must have missed that. I confess to fast forwarding some scenes because I'm also finding it a bit boring. That'll teach me 🙈

Also <whispers> I don't think there are a lot of good actors in this show. With the exception of Christine Baranski and Carrie Coon. You'd think Meryl Streep's daughter would be good, but nope.

@GordoStevensMustache
I am rewatching series one currently and the acting is much better in season 2!!

@GordoStevensMustache <whispers back> I agree!

Who did the vicar have an altercation with on the church steps?

The rector has a brief disagreement with a parishioner. I don't think it suggests that the rector is a bad 'un, but it may foreshadow drama to come.

Ooh so much action in today’s storyline…! I even had a little cry at one point.

That last scene alone was worth the price of admission.

Agree @SenecaFallsRedux @Netaporter

Sooo much satisfaction in last night's episode!

Im just watching it now.

I’ve just finished rewatching season 1 and already had a cry at the ball when Gladys did her dance.