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

@GreekGod

Yes it’s on Sky Atlantic , Christine baranski and Miranda from SATC and Meryl Streeps daughter

It started brilliantly 😊

Ooo I didn't know she was Meryl Streeps daughter!

I'm loving this series, not the sort of thing I'd usually watch but the story (s'far) is brilliant.

It's been a long time since I've seen something where I can't wait for the next episode (or have to, usually a good 6 parter binge watch on a rare day off!)

How many episodes are there and where can I watch it please?

I agree with Previous posters - to be shamed in front of your rich friends or looking after your family - hmmmm.

I shall be interested to see what the reaction is to that

A point - I love the way that niece was dressed in what I would call a very dressed up dress and was told to dress for dinner

( this was me watching it on the sofa with comfy trousers on and a snuggly cardigan) I can scrub up ( I am told - not traffic stopping - but can go out and not scare the horses ) but Oh my goodness , having to wear those frocks all day every day & then put a more uncomfortable one on later in the day - no thank you - although I would like the houses.

I'm actually loving this. It's an easy watch. Gorgeous costumes. Agree with PP about Cynthia Nixons voice.

Looking forward to see how the rest of it plays out! I'd love to see more of Peggy. And lots of respect to the Russells. Favourite character is Christine Baranski though - she's fab and I loved how she protected her sister from getting hurt in episode 3.

I'm not usually into period drama's but really enjoying this so far. May even take a look at Downton now!

@Kshhuxnxk

I'm not usually into period drama's but really enjoying this so far. May even take a look at Downton now!

Same here! Haven't seen 1 ep of Downton but I'm really liking this...tempted!

@AcrossthePond55 it would be extreme dedication to be watching at 2am 6pm is much more civilised!

On my watchlist for this weekend. Glad to hear it started well.

Love it - the dresses,the positioning, social climbing, and Chtistine Baranski steals every scene - great actress

Can't wait for the next episode

Cynthia Nixon's voice - simpering is the best I can describe it

Oh and the dresses - did I mention those - I would love to wear dive of them

I love this. Laugh out loud in places and cringe behind a cushion in others. Meryls daughter is her spit!!

Cynthia Nixon’s voice is intensely irritating, but I think that’s actually the point. Her character is a spinster, she seems to have lived in her strong willed sister’s shadow and is very weedy and wet in comparison. So whilst she’s annoying, CN is doing a brilliant acting job in my opinion.

Meryl’s girl is excellent. Miss Scott is too. Christine Baranski is a powerhouse in everything, I’ve loved her since Cybil and would watch this just for her tbf. Overall very enjoyable.

I loved that Jeanne Triplehorne popped up, I took a moment to recognise her.

i don't like the lawyer who is chasing her though - something off about him

I don’t know what it is about him, but he is either untrustworthy or just boring. The actor reminds me of Peter Brady from The Brady Bunch.

Morgan Spector. (George Russell) is married to Rebecca Hall.

@Oliack1417

I loved that Jeanne Triplehorne popped up, I took a moment to recognise her.

OMG that's who that is!! It was driving me crazy!

Apparently also too lazy to Google the cast.

New episode in 5 hours (for me). No spoilers will be posted.

Its getting better and better....

Russell has really gone up in my estimations !! Very impressed with the way he handled that bedroom situation

The discussion between the two butlers of both houses is hilarious - i love it.

The lawyer is becoming more and more annoying - awful social climber and seems very untrustworthy, even more annoying than Agnes son

Yes lawyer is clearly going to become untrustworthy (and unworthy of main lady whose name I can never remember)

Love Mr Russell. No more unscrupulous than the rest of the men and he and his wife work so well together to conquer the world.

Loved that Miss Scott was actually from a high up background (although should have been obvious based on her clothes alone) Can't believe main lady just showed up uninvited and with old shoes as a gift, what was she thinking?!

I agree about Mr Russell. I thought he was going to be the 'character you love to hate' (greedy, unscrupulous) but he is a man of principles 'in his own way'. And you gotta love a man who loves his wife. I was a bit surprised that he decided to keep Turner on, though. I think it may be a bit naive of him to think she won't cause more trouble (a la O'Brien) in one way or another. Hell hath no fury and all that.

I was thinking a bit about Oscar Van Rhijn vs Robert Crawley. Both 'fortune hunters' when it comes right down to it. The difference is that Oscar is a dishonest shit trying to seduce an innocent and Robert was (apparently) 'discreetly up front' about his need for an heiress. Plus Oscar made it clear to his lover that he sees no need to end their liaison if one of them marries, whilst Robert intended to treat his 'dollar heiress' with the dignity and fidelity due a wife.

I thought the 'old shoes' thing between Marian & Peggy's family was a bit unrealistic. Once you realized that your 'gift' was inappropriate why on earth would you even mention you had it?

Yeah, that lawyer. What's he up to? I mean, we know what he's up to but how many is he up to it with? He must realize that he's not going to get any money from Mrs VanR if he marries Marian, she'll cut her off without a penny. So does he have another iron in the fire with Mrs Schermerhorn's little friend?

I am SO excited to see Nathan Lane as the 'Beau Brummell' of Mrs Astors set, Ward McAllister. I LOVE Nathan Lane and he is superb at doing this type of character, with just a teeny bit of his tongue in his cheek.

Found the latest episode a bit dull and way too "Downton". I want more of the upstairs happenings and less of the "downstairs."

I thought it was hotting up with the intrigue last week about the railroad shares but this one was a bit formulaic and dull again. It seemed out of character for Marian to arrive uninvited at Peggy's. She knows Peggy has been evasive about her family and I think she would respect that. It felt really shoe horned in.

We did not need nudity!! It seemed like the ideal (kind of dull) thing that you couldwatch with all the family from grandma down to young ones. so that full frontal was totally unnecessary IMHO.

It's all not quite gelling for me. It looks nice though and Christine Baranski is great as usual. The toffs are always too kind and involved with the help and the servants are always too grateful of their place in Fellowes productions.

I’m really enjoying this. I think that Cynthia Nixon as Ada is superb, such a departure from Miranda Hobbs. The Russell marriage seems rock-solid, they’re a real partnership. The shoes thing was awkward and contrived, I don’t think that Marian would have been allowed to travel to Brooklyn unaccompanied for a start.

Have posted that I love Christine Baranskie, and I do, but in this most recent episode it seemed like they were trying to make her the Dowager of The Gilded Age. She spoke in one-liners said was a joke. It was off-putting.

If Marian thought Peggy needed shoes, she could have given them to her at her aunt’s house. If she really thought Peggy’s family was poor, did it not occur to her that Peggy might find it awkward that she just show up?

I thought Bertha was really cold about the man who had committed suicide.

I don't understand why yous all think the lawyer is unscrupulous/a social climber? He made it clear he liked Marion in ep1 when he was waiving his fee on account of the fact she was pretty penniless after her dad's death? He didn't know her aunts were wealthy?

Agree about the shoes though, ridiculous plot line. It's all very formulaic but it's easy watching and I love the costumes and sets so I'll forgive the not great storylines.

Yes, the lawyer wouldn’t have access to the aunt’s money by marrying Marian. He’d be better off targeting someone else, a wealthy young woman or one with a rich father.

@ThePennyJustDropped

I don't understand why yous all think the lawyer is unscrupulous/a social climber? He made it clear he liked Marion in ep1 when he was waiving his fee on account of the fact she was pretty penniless after her dad's death? He didn't know her aunts were wealthy?

Agree about the shoes though, ridiculous plot line. It's all very formulaic but it's easy watching and I love the costumes and sets so I'll forgive the not great storylines.

He knew that Marian was going to live with (and be supported by) her aunt and that her aunt is a Van Rhijn. He would have known about the Van Rhijn family just as he would have known about the Vanderbilts, Astors, Guggenheims et al. The wealthy families of the (real) Gilded Age were well known, especially on the East Coast. They were the Kardashians of their time and their 'doings' were covered in most newspapers, either for the men's business dealings or the women's social activities. That aside, Marian's family was apparently Philadelphia Main Line (although her father squandered their money) so I'd also assume that Agnes' marriage into the wealthy Van Rhijn family would have been well known in Philly.

I just think there's something smarmy and importuning about Raikes. But it wouldn't be the first time that Julian Fellowes has 'misled' about the true nature of a character. Time will tell.

Looking forward to the new episode later today, my theory is that Mr Raikes is actually secretly very wealthy and is the Matthew Crawley of the show. He is choosing Marian for love and when all is revealed the Aunt will have to backtrack..

Whenever Julian Fellowes writes anything in our family we joke about who’ll be the ‘Mr Pamuk’ of it. Some sort of scandal, assume this is Oscar VR’s job in this one? Anyway, loving it all glad I got past episode 1 which was not as good as the rest IMO.