The Gilded Age

The Gilded Age is an American historical drama television series created and written by Julian Fellowes for HBO that is set in the United States during the Gilded Age, the boom years of the 1880s in New York City. Originally announced in 2018 for NBC, it was later announced in May 2019 that the show was moved to HBO. The series premiered on January 24, 2022. In February 2022, the series was renewed for a second season, which premiered on October 29, 2023. The series has received mostly positive reviews, with particular praise for the costumes, cast and performances of lead actors Carrie Coon, Morgan Spector and Christine Baranski. Premise A young woman entering 1882 New York City's rigid social scene is drawn into the daily conflicts surrounding the new money Russell family and the established van Rhijn-Brook family, who are neighbors across 61st Street near Fifth Avenue on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. The series also shows conflicts faced by the upper and upper middle classes, the Black upper class, and the domestic workers who tend to all of their needs. Cast and characters Main Carrie Coon as Bertha Russell, determined to use her money and position to break into a polite society that resists change and newcomers at every turn Morgan Spector as George Russell, Bertha's husband and a classic robber baron representing "new money" Louisa Jacobson as Marian Brook, penniless young gentlewoman whose circumstances force her to live with her estranged aunts Denée Benton as Peggy Scott, a young ambitious African-American writer who works as Agnes' secretary Taissa Farmiga as Gladys Russell, innocent and naïve, yet ready to be treated as an adult Harry Richardson as Larry Russell, a recent Harvard University graduate eager to make his way in the world Blake Ritson as Oscar van Rhijn, Agnes' intelligent and charismatic son who is looking for a rich heiress to guarantee him a proper standard of living and act as a shield for his homosexuality. Thomas Cocquerel as Tom Raikes (season 1), a sensible young lawyer, smitten when he meets Marian, his late client's orphaned daughter Simon Jones as Mr. Bannister, the Van Rhijns' self-aggrandizing English butler who keeps the rest of the staff in check Jack Gilpin as Mr. Church, the Russell family's butler, a supporter of Mrs.