TV Tonight: The Gilded Age returns for series 4

The champagne is chilled, the ballrooms are ready and the battle for social supremacy is about to begin again as The Gilded Age returns to Sky Atlantic tonight (Monday 2 November) for its hotly anticipated fourth series.

Created by Downton Abbey mastermind Julian Fellowes, the Emmy-nominated historical drama returns with eight brand-new episodes, bringing viewers back to the extravagant world of 1880s New York, where enormous fortunes, family loyalties and social ambition collide.

With its spectacular costumes, grand historic mansions, lavish parties and deliciously sharp dialogue, the series has become essential viewing for fans of sumptuous period drama. But beneath all the glitter and glamour, there is a world of fierce competition, complicated relationships and people prepared to do almost anything to secure their place at the top.

And after the events of the previous series, the stakes have never been higher.

Bertha Russell (Carrie Coon) has succeeded in changing the face of New York society, but her social triumph has come at a considerable personal cost. Now her family must deal with the consequences of her ambitions, while old rivalries threaten to resurface and those previously pushed aside see an opportunity to reclaim their influence.

The official synopsis teases: “Bertha Russell changed Society at a cost. Now, her family must reckon with the consequences as Agnes van Rhijn seizes an opportunity to regain her position. Meanwhile, Marian forges a new path for herself, and Peggy works to be accepted by her future in-laws. In this new era, you must be careful what you wish for.”

A new battle for the top of New York society

At the heart of the drama is the ongoing rivalry between the established old-money families and the ambitious newcomers whose wealth is transforming American society.

When the story began in 1882, young Marian Brook (Louisa Jacobson) arrived in New York following the death of her father, moving in with her wealthy aunts, Agnes van Rhijn (Christine Baranski) and Ada Brook (Cynthia Nixon).

Marian quickly found herself caught between two very different worlds. Her aunts represented the traditions and expectations of established New York society, while their neighbours, the Russell family, embodied the extraordinary wealth and ambition of a new generation.

George Russell (Morgan Spector) is a powerful railroad tycoon whose business empire has made him enormously wealthy, while his wife Bertha has an equally formidable ambition to secure a place among the city’s most influential families.

Bertha’s determination to break into the highest levels of society has driven much of the drama, particularly her increasingly complicated relationship with the formidable Mrs Astor and the established social elite.

But success has never come without a price. Having achieved so much, Bertha now faces the difficult task of managing the consequences of her decisions, particularly within her own family.

Agnes, meanwhile, is not someone who accepts defeat easily. With an opportunity to restore her standing, she is ready to remind New York that old money still has plenty of power.

Expect sharp exchanges, social manoeuvring and plenty of behind-the-scenes plotting as the two women continue to navigate a world where reputation can be everything.

Marian, Peggy and the next generation

Away from the battle for social supremacy, the new series also puts the spotlight on two of the drama’s most compelling characters.

Marian has spent much of her time challenging the expectations placed upon women of her position. Rather than simply accepting the life mapped out for her, she has increasingly sought independence and the freedom to make her own decisions.

With the new season promising that she will forge a new path, viewers can expect further developments in her personal life, as well as the continuing complications surrounding her relationship with Larry Russell (Harry Richardson).

Peggy Scott (Denée Benton) also faces a significant new chapter. A talented and ambitious writer, Peggy has been determined to build a career for herself in a society that places considerable restrictions on women, particularly Black women.

Her relationship with Dr William Kirkland (Jordan Donica) has opened the door to a new future, but winning the acceptance of his family is proving to be another challenge.

With Peggy working to secure her place among her future in-laws, her storyline promises to explore family expectations, identity and the difficulties of finding acceptance while remaining true to herself.

The series continues to balance its grand society drama with the experiences of the people whose lives exist beyond the magnificent drawing rooms and elaborate ballrooms.

A spectacular returning cast

One of the show’s greatest strengths is its outstanding ensemble cast, with familiar faces returning to bring Fellowes’ richly drawn characters to life.

Carrie Coon once again leads the drama as the ambitious Bertha Russell, with Morgan Spector returning as her husband George. Their marriage and family life remain central to the unfolding story.

Christine Baranski is back as the formidable Agnes van Rhijn, while Cynthia Nixon reprises her role as her sister Ada Forte, whose gentler outlook frequently provides a contrast to Agnes’s uncompromising approach.

Louisa Jacobson returns as Marian Brook, alongside Denée Benton as Peggy Scott and Harry Richardson as Larry Russell.

The returning ensemble also includes Taissa Farmiga as Gladys Russell, Blake Ritson as Oscar van Rhijn, Ben Ahlers as Jack Trotter, Kelley Curran as Enid Winterton and Audra McDonald as Dorothy Scott.

Other familiar faces include Phylicia Rashad, Bill Camp, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Kelli O’Hara, Debra Monk, Douglas Sills, Hattie Morahan, Donna Murphy and John Douglas Thompson.

Meet the new faces joining season four

There are also some exciting additions to the cast, with a collection of new characters set to shake up the established social order.

One of the most notable arrivals is comedian and actor Jim Gaffigan, who joins the drama as President Grover Cleveland. The historical figure brings an entirely new dimension to the story, as the American president becomes involved with New York’s powerful social elite.

Dallas Roberts also joins as Daniel Manning, Cleveland’s Secretary of the Treasury, while Neal Huff takes on the role of the legendary businessman and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller.

The arrival of Rockefeller is particularly interesting given the show’s focus on America’s industrial fortunes and the enormous influence wielded by wealthy businessmen during the period.

Dennis Haysbert joins as Dr Reginald Harris, who becomes involved in efforts to raise funds for Freedmen’s Hospital, while Elizabeth Marvel plays nurse Virginia Saville.

Andrew Burnap also arrives as Porter, a wealthy young investor, bringing another potentially influential figure into the increasingly complicated world of New York’s elite.

Elsewhere, Bonnie Milligan plays journalist Louisa Knapp Curtis, the pioneering first editor of Ladies’ Home Journal, while James Scully joins as painter Lee Klein.

Maggie Kuntz plays Fiona Summers, a cousin of the powerful Astor family, and Taylor Trensch takes on the role of Oliver, a new member of the van Rhijn household.

Completing the new arrivals is Adrienne Warren as Ava, Peggy’s cousin, a singer who shares cultural traditions with the Kirkland family.

The expanded cast promises to introduce fresh relationships, new allegiances and further complications as the series explores the changing face of American society.

A feast for the eyes: where is The Gilded Age filmed?

Part of the enduring appeal of The Gilded Age is its extraordinary visual world. The series recreates an era of unprecedented wealth and architectural extravagance, transporting viewers into a New York filled with magnificent mansions, elaborate interiors and beautifully dressed characters.

Although the story is set primarily in New York City, much of the production takes place elsewhere, with Newport in Rhode Island playing a particularly important role.

The historic mansions of Newport provide some of the most spectacular settings in the series. These include The Breakers, Marble House, The Elms and Château-sur-Mer, all of which help recreate the grand residences of America’s wealthiest families.

The properties are particularly fitting for a drama about the industrial fortunes of the late nineteenth century, when wealthy families competed to build increasingly extravagant homes as symbols of their status and influence.

Newport’s famous summer mansions were originally built by some of America’s richest families, making them an ideal backdrop for Fellowes’ fictional world.

The fourth series also returned to Rhode Island for filming, with production working alongside local organisations and employing hundreds of people from the area.

Other filming locations across the wider production have included Albany, Troy and Schenectady in New York State, where historic streets and buildings help recreate the atmosphere of nineteenth-century Manhattan.

The attention to detail extends well beyond the locations. The elaborate costumes, intricate hairstyles, furniture and interiors all contribute to the show’s distinctive look, with extensive historical research helping recreate the fashions and social conventions of the period.

It is this combination of real historic settings and meticulous production design that makes The Gilded Age such a visual treat.

Why The Gilded Age remains essential viewing

While its lavish surroundings might initially suggest a straightforward tale of wealthy families and extravagant parties, The Gilded Age has always had much more to say.

At its heart, the drama explores a society undergoing enormous change. Industrialisation is creating fortunes on an unprecedented scale, traditional class structures are being challenged, and women are beginning to push against the restrictions imposed upon them.

The series also explores the experiences of Black New Yorkers, the lives of domestic workers, religious and social expectations, and the difficulties faced by people whose identities and ambitions do not fit comfortably within the rules of the time.

These wider themes give the drama a contemporary relevance, even while its characters inhabit a world of horse-drawn carriages, elaborate gowns and candlelit dinners.

With Bertha facing the consequences of her ambitions, Agnes plotting her return to prominence, Marian seeking independence and Peggy fighting for acceptance, the fourth series looks set to deliver another compelling chapter.

And with new characters arriving to complicate an already crowded social landscape, nobody’s position is guaranteed.

The battle for New York’s most exclusive circles is far from over.

The Gilded Age returns tonight, Monday 2 November, at 9pm on Sky Atlantic and NOW. The eight-part fourth series continues with new episodes weekly. In the US, the series can be streamed on HBO Max.

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