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 love this show, I love a good period drama!!

I make sure baby is fully asleep and that I have chocolate before I press play so I can watch the whole hour show uninterrupted!!

I never thought of the guy who committed suicide as a coward for leaving his wife and children to face the music but it is sooo true!!

I like the Russells relationship it's really genuine and supportive if each other.

I'm rooting for the Russell's too, it annoys me that the other business men tried to make a fool of Mr Russell but he won and now they still wont accept him.

OMG, it never occurred to me to wonder what Peggy was doing in Pennsylvania!! Either a secret baby or she left with a man who later didn't/couldn't marry her? There is obviously something with her and her dad but other than 'he wanted me to work at the pharmacy' no hints have been given.

For those interested in the Clara Barton, she is America's Florence Nightengale and also a supporter of women's suffrage and equal rights. She was quite a remarkable woman.

(From the preview of next week) What I want to know is what sends Agnes steaming in high dudgeon across the street to the Russell's front door.

Perhaps the older ladies are only in their 40s. But older actors have been used as they are going to age over the series.

I am so rooting for the Russells. I love the way George Russell said at the end that he felt bad offering the suitor what he did as the boy seemed seemed decent but he did what he did to keep Bertha happy, loved the fact that the very wealthy are slowly being forced to accept new money and adapting to the new society.
I loved the Red Cross woman too.
Still dislike the lawyer - poor Marion, somehow i think that Miss Scott is going to rescue her from him

I wonder if Mrs Russel has a title in mind for Gladys. A nice link into Downton as it's around this time that Lord Grantham married Cora to save downton.

Gladys is like Cora in that she has money but it's new and therefore not in the highest society. She'd be very popular though with English lords looking for fortunes.

@Twizbe - oh wow ! Really ? I love that link you have made with Cora and Gladys

I'm thinking that Mr Raikes wants Marion's railway shares that he said were worthless. I bet they aren't because of George Russell's railway expansion. He's definitely a wrongun. He was hedging his bets at the opera when he was there with another woman wasn't he?

Misty I concur with your thinking. Raikes was a bit too quick to waive his fee and tell Marion the shares were worthless whilst also trying to" plight his troth" at the start of episode 1. and he has pursued her to NY. After his behaviour outside Marion's bedroom I think we can definitely conclude that he is no gentleman! (although Marion did encourage him somewhat)

Marion is just a bit insipid and wet isn't she? Or just very naive.

loved the fact that the very wealthy are slowly being forced to accept new money and adapting to the new society.

And the new money are JP Morgan and I think Rockefeller was mentioned - so we know who wins out in the end!

I agree Misty. Marion is a grown up ( although I'm not sure exactly what age she is meant to be) supposedly lived with a mercurial father who brought them to ruin but seems to know absolutely nothing about the world or how to behave. Just because you are from a small town doesn't mean that as an upper class lady she wouldn't have gleaned some knowledge and something about the "rules" of society.

I find that Marion and Miss Scott don't really gel well.

I was a bit surprised she unlocked her bedroom door and opened it whilst talking/flirting with Raikes arther than waiting until he had left.

@SapatSea yes I see scandal in Marion's future 🤔

I also think Mr Russell is going to get more annoyed with Mrs Russell and her social climbing. He's already not sure getting rid of Gladys' suitor was the right thing to do. I think he might be tempted by Turner after all 😭

[quote MistyFuckingQuigley]@SapatSea yes I see scandal in Marion's future 🤔

I also think Mr Russell is going to get more annoyed with Mrs Russell and her social climbing. He's already not sure getting rid of Gladys' suitor was the right thing to do. I think he might be tempted by Turner after all 😭[/quote]
I think that as long as Bertha's maneuverings don't interfere with his money-making schemes OR truly endanger Gladys he's more than happy to facilitate her, no matter what.

What I wonder is what would happen if one of Bertha's desires came smack up against one of his business ventures. And I think that if Bertha knew Oscar was gay she still wouldn't cavil at the idea of Gladys' marrying him for the Van Rhijn name, but I think George would have a BIG problem with it. What would George do then?

@MistyFuckingQuigley

Marion is just a bit insipid and wet isn't she? Or just very naive.

Ha ha ha harsh but fair.

And I think that if Bertha knew Oscar was gay she still wouldn't cavil at the idea of Gladys' marrying him for the Van Rhijn name, but I think George would have a BIG problem with it. What would George do then?

That's a plot twist I hadn't thought of! I think that George would definitely put his foot down and put a stop to it.

I'm really enjoying it and find it very annoying having to wait a week to watch the next episode.

The only thing I don't like is I think the sets look a bit plasticy and fake.

@SapatSea

I agree Misty. Marion is a grown up ( although I'm not sure exactly what age she is meant to be) supposedly lived with a mercurial father who brought them to ruin but seems to know absolutely nothing about the world or how to behave. Just because you are from a small town doesn't mean that as an upper class lady she wouldn't have gleaned some knowledge and something about the "rules" of society.

I find that Marion and Miss Scott don't really gel well.

I was a bit surprised she unlocked her bedroom door and opened it whilst talking/flirting with Raikes arther than waiting until he had left.

I'm surprised by how pearl clutching I was over this scene! Marion needs a good shake and a telling off. She's already broke if she ruins her reputation then it's game over for her smh. Hurrah that Miss Scott rolled up to put a stop to these shenanigans.

And we also need to consider that the suffragette's will be on the scene shortly, will they welcome a woman to join the cause if she's got a scandal attached to her name??

LoooL I'm ridiculously invested in this story arc, I'm almost strangling myself with these pearls....

I love Peggy, she knows what's what. But i think whatever her secret is might ruin her and I hope Marion steps up and is a good friend.

It would seem I too am ridiculously invested @NurseButtercup

@MistyFuckingQuigley

It would seem I too am ridiculously invested *@NurseButtercup*

LooL

My friend has just sent me the trailer for the new Downton Abbey film, it should be in the cinema in May. The plot is centred around a villa in the South of France that has been gifted to grandma (Dame Maggie Smith). I can't wait.

I love it too.

My guess is that Peggy is married. If I remember correctly, didn’t we see in episode one that it’s set in 1882 which is the same year as The Married Women’s Property Act came in so I’m wondering if we’ll see that what she’s trying to do is break away financially?

Love Christine Baranski.

Love the Russells. They’re pretty impressive as a couple, a real team.

Love Carrie Coon’s voice and accent.

I don’t trust Raikes.

I wonder if George will learn that Oscar’s gay (thinking the lady’s maid will double-cross him) and Bertha will blackmail him into marrying Gladys?

Maybe he could buy poor ol’ Glads a hair straightener.

It's my guilty pleasure. Tuesdays are happy again!

@VodselForDinner

I love it too.

My guess is that Peggy is married. If I remember correctly, didn’t we see in episode one that it’s set in 1882 which is the same year as The Married Women’s Property Act came in so I’m wondering if we’ll see that what she’s trying to do is break away financially?

Love Christine Baranski.

Love the Russells. They’re pretty impressive as a couple, a real team.

Love Carrie Coon’s voice and accent.

I don’t trust Raikes.

I wonder if George will learn that Oscar’s gay (thinking the lady’s maid will double-cross him) and Bertha will blackmail him into marrying Gladys?

Maybe he could buy poor ol’ Glads a hair straightener.

The MWPA 1882 was a law passed in the UK. These types of laws in the US normally fall under state legislation.

New York (Peggy's domicile) and Pennsylvania (where Peggy and Marian met) passed theirs in 1845. So Peggy would have already had control over her own earnings/finances.

The US versions were done gradually state by state starting in 1839 and by 1874 pretty much all states had some form of married women's property rights.

LoooL I'm ridiculously invested in this story arc, I'm almost strangling myself with these pearls....
I was horrified too! How dare he try it on! Her reputation could be ruined etc.