As the fourth episode of The Gilded Age begins, Patrick is laid to rest while George Russell (Morgan Spector) celebrates with others. Later, Bertha (Carrie Coon) approaches George and learns about the coroner’s verdict on Patrick Morris which was suicide. George suspects people will blame him for Patrick’s suicide. Bertha reveals she intends to fire Miss Grant (Brooke Bloom) because she has lost control of Gladys (Taissa Farmiga). She claims she is working to improve Gladys’s life so he should help her. Peggy Scott (Denee Benton) tells Marian Brook (Louisa Jacobson) that the editor’s name is T Thomas Fortune and he has invited her to his office to discuss writing for The New York Globe. Peggy didn’t know until now, but she was trying to break the mold at The Advocate. Marian says she could be a published writer in no time at all. Peggy tells her she could be a bride if she gives Mr. Raikes the right answer.

Marian isn’t sure what to think about it so Peggy asks what she’d say if her aunts didn’t exist. She responds by saying good point. When they approach the Bloomingdale Brothers store, Marian pleads with Peggy to go inside with her even though she doesn’t need anything. While looking around, Sylvia Chamberlain (Jeanne Tripplehorn) greets Marian and shows her the jewelry box she purchased. Knoedler says it is Grinling Gibbons, but she isn’t sure. Other guests talk about Peggy and argue that she shouldn’t be there. A worker approaches and tells Chamberlain it is always a pleasure to have her in their store. Sylvia is introduced to Peggy who thanks her for letting her see the box too. Marian and Sylvia want gloves, but Marian is going to buy a shawl first. She says she can pay for it and they can go together, but Sylvia insists it can’t look like they’re on a planned shopping trip together. They leave a short time later.

Ada Brook (Cynthia Nixon) talks to Bannister about taking Pumpkin for a walk. Since she is busy, he agrees to take the dog around the block. George stops Charles Fane (Ward Horton) on his way to work to say he is sorry about Patrick no matter what he might think. Charles says he doesn’t think anything other than it is a sad end to a reasonably decent life. He admits they behaved badly and George punished them enough. Unfortunately, Patrick Morris wasn’t up to the task. They agree this is not a game for weaklings. Then, Charles says the new bill will be announced next week or the week after that. They won’t make back the money they lost but there is no point in crying when you play a game and lose. George promises he bears him no ill will regardless of what happened before. Before the carriage pulls away, George asks him if he has time to drop by his office this afternoon. Bannister watches as a horse bucks and goes wild before he looks down and realizes Pumpkin is missing.

He goes inside to tell Ada while Agnes Van Rhijn (Christine Baranski) reminds her that Pumpkin has an address on the collar. Unfortunately, Bannister has the collar too. Ada gets hysterical worrying about a thief selling her dog to someone else, but Agnes isn’t too worried. Agnes encourages her to pull herself together since she survived a civil war and is a soldier’s daughter. When Bannister (Simon Jones) tells the other servants, John (Ben Ahlers) wonders if they should start a search party. Since everybody on the street knows the dog, Mrs. Bauer (Kristine Nielsen) believes someone will bring him back, but Armstrong (Debra Monk) isn’t sure. John approaches Bridget (Taylor Richardson) to ask what he has done wrong, but she says nothing. She refuses to go out with him again. Meanwhile, Bertha asks Miss Grant about taking Gladys to a motel to meet a man. Grant insists it wasn’t like that and Gladys says she only knows because she opened a letter addressed to her.

Bertha claims she has every right to know who corresponds with her since she is a young girl, but Gladys believes she is a woman. Miss Grant says Baldwin didn’t mean any harm and they’re young people so it is quite innocent. She argues that Gladys is an adult and shouldn’t be cooped up here forever, but Bertha believes she is only saying these things because she knows she has lost her position. Miss Grant says yes and she’ll begin packing her stuff at once. Bertha promises to have the money ready for her when she is ready to leave. Charles Fane tells Aurora Fane (Kelli O’Hara) he believes George can help him earn the money back so they won’t have to sell their house. Aurora wonders if George is going to help because of remorse, but Charles says otherwise.

Aurora suspects George wants something from Charles and she demands to know what it is. Charles sits down before explaining that George wants Aurora to bring his wife into society. George is tired of her being excluded although Aurora doesn’t want to do anything about it. Charles wants her to try so they don’t have to be paupers or rely on her father’s money. She agrees to try but encourages him to be careful what he says about her father. Miss Grant tells Gladys she hopes they were friends. When they see Pumpkin nearby, they ask Mr. Bruce (Celia Keenan-Bolger) to try to catch him. As Bruce kneels down to get the dog, she sees Watson (Michael Cerveris) leaving. Bertha comes outside to see what is going on. They know who the dog belongs to with Gladys offering to take it back, but Bertha tells her to go to her room. Instead, she says Mrs. Bruce will deal with it. Miss Grant leaves. Bertha tells Mrs. Bruce to bathe and feed the dog.

Then, she should come to Bertha’s sitting room so she can write a note for a footman to deliver. Adelheid (Erin Wilhelmi) asks Mrs. Bruce what they’ll do now that Miss Grant is gone, but Bruce isn’t sure. Adelheid wonders if they’ll have a new governess or a proper lady’s maid before she is sent back to work. Peggy goes to The New York Globe headquarters where she ends up helping the workers there. After she helps print newspapers, Thomas Fortune (Sullivan Jones) introduces himself to her. He cleans her hand after getting it dirty and says he has been using these machines since his days at The Jacksonville Daily Union. She calls the machine fascinating while he says the same about her writing. George Parker (Michael Luwoye) joins them to talk about the subscription. Fortune says they’ll get them, but they can’t kowtow to the Republican party. George says a lot of colored people still believe in them since Lincoln was a Republican.

Peggy admits she has thought about writing political stuff, but she doesn’t align with either party since she doesn’t have the right to vote. Fortune asks her to write something about political affiliation without voting rights. Marian and the others get a note from across the road about the Russells finding Pumpkin. Agnes argues that they kidnapped it so Mrs. Russell can deliver the dog in person. She believes Bertha will arrive with the dog any second and she refuses to let Ada and Marian go get the dog. She sends Bannister to go get the dog. Ada says she’ll know the Russells one day, but Agnes says over her dead body. Mrs. Bauer talks to Bridget about Jack who she describes as being nice. She doesn’t see much romance in her future if she doesn’t let a boy hold her hand. Bauer argues that her mother would agree. Bridget knows her mother would agree. Watson watches as Flora McNeil (Rebecca Haden) enters a house across the street. Bannister goes to the Russell place to retrieve the dog and admits he wanted to come to see the property.

During a short tour of the house, Bannister is introduced to Monsieur Baudin (Douglas Sills) and learns about their menu. He doesn’t like their menu, soup, or trifle. The tour moves out of the kitchen. Marian talks to Peggy about her day. Agnes comes in just in time to hear Peggy tells Marian about the wonderful news. Peggy tells them about her story “Alone In The City” which is about a young colored woman living on the Upper East Side. She goes on to tell them about her political article. Agnes instructs her to make sure she doesn’t find out if she does it. She gives Peggy permission to go tell her parents about it on Friday. She warns Peggy to only tell them about the story since they don’t want trouble any more than she does.

Bannister tells Church what he doesn’t like about the silverware on the dining table. He tells Church (Jack Gilpin) how things are done across the street although he admits it is a matter of taste. Once the dog is back, Ada cuddles with it while Agnes looks on in disgust. Marian enters and learns that Aurora has invited her to the Academy of Music. She will hear John Knowles Paine conduct the Boston Symphony Orchestra. The event is set to raise money for Barton. Agnes tells her that Aurora will come pick her up on Friday, but she isn’t going because she can’t stand sitting through a symphony. Marian gets a delivery. She is surprised when she opens the box and finds the box that Sylvia showed her earlier. Since Marian doesn’t want to tell Agnes who sent it, she insists she’ll take it back anyway. When Marian leaves, Agnes tells Ada that they don’t know her at all. Ada argues they know she is a kind person. She doesn’t think Marian would do anything self-destructive. Agnes doesn’t like her reading those German books and recommends sticking with Louisa May Alcott.

Meanwhile, Gladys talks to her family about getting a new governess or maid. Bertha says she got a letter from Aurora Fane who is going to call on her. She wonders why so George suggests she might need help with the charity. George makes it clear that she won’t be begging for him to be merciful this time. Larry (Harry Richardson) laughs and jokes there was a time when she would’ve rolled out the red carpet for Aurora Fane, but Bertha insists she is stronger now. After dinner, Larry tells his father that he saw Oscar (Blake Ritson) and he was fishing for a dinner invitation. George knows Oscar ignored their invitations when everyone thought he was going to fail. He asks if he could be after Gladys. He hopes not since he might be looking for an heiress only. Meanwhile, Church and the others discuss Bannister’s recommendations and whether they should change anything. Mrs. Bruce asks Watson if he is down in the dumps after returning from his walk, but he claims he is just tired. When they learn that the master has gone up, they rush to return to work.

Baudin stops Turner (Kelley Curran) to ask her why she is angry all the time. When she says she is wasting her life here, Baudin recommends leaving or changing things. She insists she is going to leave when she is ready although she may decide to change things. Ada enters Marian’s room and learns that the gift was sent by Sylvia. She is worried that this could be bad. Marian knows Agnes would think they’re friends. Although they’re not, Marian does like her. Ada warns her that Sylvia is in a class of her own and far worse than Bertha Russell. She recommends taking it back tomorrow and handing it in at the door. Then, Ada asks why she wouldn’t promise Agnes that she would marry someone suitable. Marian says she can’t do that because someone suitable to her might not be suitable to someone else. Marian promises to marry a gentleman although Ada isn’t sure that’ll be enough for Agnes. Ada admits she was once taken with someone who didn’t meet her grandfather’s high standards. Marian asks if she should’ve married him anyway and whether that would’ve made her happier.

Ada argues that marrying beneath oneself is not a guarantee of happiness. She asks where Tom Raikes stands in all of this since Agnes thought he sent the carving. Ada asks her to think about it before plunging in while promising to be her friend regardless of what happens. It’d be simpler if she could find her beloved among Mr. McAllister’s 400 though. The next day, she takes the box back to Sylvia who expected her to visit. Sylvia says she’ll always regard it as Marian’s. Marian admires her pictures so Sylvia invites her into the gallery where they’re better. Sylvia shows her one of the first paintings they bought together. She explains they didn’t inherit the pictures because they’re what Agnes would call new people. Her husband had luck and that is better than birth. He started in Keweenaw County, Michigan and was there when they sank the Cliff copper mines in 1845.

Sylvia doesn’t like it when Marian asks how they met so she asks something else. Mr. Chamberlain was a widower when he married her. He and his first wife didn’t fully understand the power that money put into their hands. She showed him how to live and they had a wonderful life together. As for her son, he got tired of New York and moved to Chicago. After Marian says she needs to go, Sylvia encourages her to return again to see more of her treasures and to visit her carving. Bertha tries to find out what Aurora wants. Aurora says Mr. Russell has been very generous to them and helped during a very difficult time. She wants to return the favor if she can. She wants to begin by inviting her to luncheon with Mr. McAllister who is a sort of henchman to Mrs. Astor. She can’t sit with Astor right away because she always wants a list of guests and won’t sit with strangers. Aurora explains Astor has to let new people in or they would form a new society without her and keep her out.

She reveals Mr. McAllister is eager to see the house since it is one of the few that he hasn’t been inside. He loves money too. Aurora intends to tell her circle that they’re friends now and wants Bertha to join her at the Academy of Music on Friday. George tells Richard Clay (Patrick Page) that they keep bumping into Jay Gould now that he has the Missouri Pacific. George wonders if it is time to dine with JP Morgan before asking Clay if he saw the news from Russia. As Bertha enters the room, she hears them talking about the accident at Tcherny with more than 150 dead. George admits he’d like to get more insurance just in case something happens. Bertha suggests getting behind a charity that deals with disasters. She is going to a concert on Friday in aid of the Red Cross so it might be the perfect match. She tells them about Barton who wants to open branches across the country although she has only opened a branch in Dansville right now.

George would like to see his wife on the board, but Bertha believes Anne Morris would stand in her way. Oscar talks to Ada about Agnes not inviting them here and being turned away now. When Ada hears the story, she says Oscar dropped them and she understands why they haven’t invited him back. Marian joins them and begins telling them about her visit to Sylvia Chamberlain’s place which was very grand. Once Marian asks what Sylvia has done wrong, Oscar says she lived in sin for years with old Chamberlain. Once his long-suffering wife died, he finally brought Sylvia to New York and they pretended they have only just met. Sylvia says she was married before to explain the boy. Oscar believes the boy moved to Chicago because he got tired of people whispering when he walked into a room. Ada confesses that people think it is too. When Agnes interrupts, they quickly change the subject. Marian reveals she intends to go to Brooklyn to cheer someone up with a surprise visit.

Later that night, Mrs. Bauer finds a sad Bridget in her room. She joins her as Bridget says she didn’t know kindness until she came to his house. A part of her wants to tell, but she isn’t sure she is ready to talk about it. Bauer asks if her mother beat her. She says no and it had more to do with what her mother didn’t do. Her mother knew about things and did nothing to stop them. Bauer asks who was doing those things before Bridget leans over and whispers in her ear. Bridget complains that he was mad, but her mother was evil for sitting downstairs and letting it happen. George enters the room and finds Turner in the bed with her shirt off. He tells her that this is never going to happen, but she believes he is lonely and needs a woman to help him become the best man he can be. Turner says Bertha has many things going on. Instead, she would only think of him and create a temple to his greatness. George says the flaw in her argument is the fact that he loves his wife and doesn’t want a mistress.

She asks what her punishment is going to be for falling in love with him. He throws the cover over her and demands she go back to her room now. If she says nothing more, they’ll never mention the subject again. He says Bertha holds her in high regard and he doesn’t want to spoil that for her because of Bertha’s misjudgment. Next, Peggy goes to dinner with Arthur (John Douglas Thompson) and Dorothy (Audra McDonald). Arthur tells them about his Uncle William who was sold away before the emancipation came. Dorothy says she ran into Mrs. Barber at church and learned that her son just graduated from Howard University’s medical department. Peggy remembers Paul although she hasn’t seen him in a long time and she doesn’t seem eager to have dinner with him. They try to pester her into having dinner with them before she tells them about selling her story to The New York Globe. Arthur believes they’ll give her mother opportunities, but not as much money as The Advocate.

Marian arrives outside as Arthur complains about his daughter living like a servant instead of working with him at the pharmacy. Dorothy wants to toast her daughter being a published author, but Arthur calls it a fool’s errand. Ellen (Sandra Caldwell) answers the door, invites Marian inside, and asks if she has a card. When she gives Ellen the card, Ellen walks away. Marian looks around anxiously while waiting. They’re surprised to learn that Marian has arrived. Arthur doesn’t understand why she is there and quickly gets rude with her. Marian brought something she thought would be useful, but she isn’t sure now. Dorothy asks her to see what it is anyway. She shows them the old shoes she brought as Dorothy questions whether she thought they’d need cast-off shoes. Peggy tries to cover for her saying she brought them to give to a charity although her father isn’t buying it. Peggy gets her gloves and they leave in a hurry. Dorothy sarcastically thanks Arthur for them taking a step forward today.

He argues their responsibility was to raise a child who knows right and wrong. He won’t put that aside to play happy families. She responds by saying it isn’t a game they’re well equipped for. Peggy scolds Marian outside and tells her she knows nothing about her, her life, or her situation. She goes on to say she lives in a different country than the one she knows. When Marian apologizes, Peggy tells her to stop saying sorry and stop pretending she is her friend. Bertha comes down the stairs in a big red dress. Turner helps her put on a cloak and she steps outside. After eyeballing George, Turner is sent back to work. Once she joins the others, Bertha tells them how George wants to help the Red Cross. Marian tells Bertha she wishes she had a fan so she could cover her face and look fascinating. Tom Raikes (Thomas Cocquerel) shows up behind her and says she is fascinating. She introduces him to everyone before learning he is with Mrs. Henry Schermerhorn who has the next box.

Bertha admits she doesn’t have a box. Charles Fane offers to introduce her to some people. Once they’re alone, Tom says his lady was in a high window so he realized he needed a long ladder. He knows her aunts don’t think he is suitable. He is trying to improve himself as a result. Two years ago, he took a property law course at the University of Pennsylvania and Gerry Schermerhorn was on the same one. They ran into each other when roller skating. Although he is enjoying himself, he hasn’t got what he wants yet. Marian says he might be right and should call on them again. He asks what she’d say if her aunts didn’t exist which she has been asked before. Marian admits it was Peggy before saying they must win them over or everything will be lost. Tom doesn’t care as long as he has Marian. Mrs. Henry Schermerhorn (Lisa Howard) interrupts to ask Tom to rejoin her party since she promised him to Miranda Fife. Tom urges Marian to send him a message when she wants to see him.

Bertha returns and learns about Tom Raikes who seems right at home in New York. Marian admits he doesn’t like money in the sense that Bertha is talking about. Bertha suspects Tom will have a difficult time keeping up without money. Aurora says the next segment is A Romance of Springtime. She asks Marian if she likes the sound of it. Marian says she does as long as there is a happy ending.

 

The Gilded Age Review

The Gilded Age has gotten progressively better with each episode, but many of the initial problems remain and they’re making it difficult for the show to break out of mediocrity. The biggest problem is quite possibly the show’s inability to create interesting, genuinely likable characters. It is clear that the writers wanted Marian to be the most sympathetic character, but it hasn’t clicked with me just yet.

The episode hurt the image of the character with the whole shoe situation. Unfortunately, that didn’t seem to fit into the episode and felt out of place since the scene quickly jumped over to the symphony without addressing it again. There are no clearly defined antagonists or protagonists since most characters waver between the two. Some of the acting is noticeably weak, but I can ignore that as long as the story is strong.

The Gilded Age may be one of those shows that is good overall despite some of the episodes not being particularly strong. Still, the series isn’t as bad as some of the critics initially said. The episode scores a 6.5 out of 10. The Gilded Age recaps can be found on Reel Mockery here. Learn how to support the Reel Mockery project by clicking this link.