As the fifth episode of The Gilded Age begins, Gladys Russell (Taissa Farmiga) tries to sneak out of the house with help from a servant. On her way out, she is caught by her mother, Bertha (Carrie Coon), who asks where she is going. Bertha forbids her from meeting with young men while claiming that is her crime as well. Gladys insists she will need to find society herself if her mother won’t let her out in society. Once Bertha sends her daughter to her room, George (Morgan Spector) argues Gladys should be out right now. He recommends inviting Archie Baldwin (Tom Blyth) to dinner to look him over. Bertha wants more than what Archie offers and tells George he’ll find out what it is when she finds it. She is warned keeping their daughter in secrecy could backfire. Turner (Kelley Curran) interrupts to tell Bertha the seamstress is there and she needs to know which skirt to cut down for Gladys.

Peggy Scott (Denee Benton) asks Armstrong (Debra Monk) whether she has anything special planned for her day off, but Armstrong is rude and doesn’t want to answer. Mrs. Bauer (Kristine Nielsen) offers her a piece of apple pie to take with her. Jack (Ben Ahlers) says Bannister is waiting on the ladies to change before they announce lunch. Marian Brook (Louisa Jacobson) talks to Agnes Van Rhijn (Christine Baranski) about the Red Cross and Clara Barton (Linda Emond). Since Aurora Fane is going, Marian would like to accompany her. Marian tells Agnes people would think she is against it. Agnes says charity has two functions with the first being to raise money for the less fortunate. The second is to provide a ladder for people to climb into society when they do not belong there. Agnes agrees to let her go, but she wants Peggy to accompany her. She admits she doesn’t trust her now that she found out Chamberlain was on her guest list.

Seconds later, Marian approaches Peggy and learns her story was published. Marian brings up the shoes and says she was curious because Tom knows more about her life than she does. Peggy says Tom Raikes (Thomas Cocquerel) is a lawyer who can help her find out things she needs to know. They had a falling out and they shouldn’t make things worse. She goes on to say Marian has a good heart, but she runs her own life. When she says Marian if that is clear, Marian says yes. George and Bertha tell Gladys and Larry (Harry Richardson) that they’d like to invite Archie to dinner. Bertha asks for his address and insists they won’t make a party out of it. Marian steps outside where she finds Dorothy Scott (Audra McDonald). Dorothy was told her daughter was out so she didn’t get to see her. They walk together while Dorothy questions whether Peggy said terrible things about her father. Marian says no although it seems like Peggy feels her father forced her into a course of action that she regrets.

Dorothy explains parents do things to protect their children whether they like it or not. Peggy belongs in Brooklyn where she could find a suitable husband and walk through front doors instead of back entrances. Marian says the past won’t let Peggy go, but she loves her very much regardless. Armstrong visits her mother who says she just lays in bed all day. She brought what her mother wanted and will get other items next week if she just writes them down. Her mother asks if she better get started because she is too ill to manage. She questions if she is so taken up with the joy in herself. Marian meets with Aurora to tell her she can go, but she has to take Peggy with her. Aurora mentions how generous Agnes has been to Peggy so Marian suggests she admires people who help themselves and it doesn’t matter if they are black.

Aurora reveals she has invited Bertha over for lunch to meet Mr. McAllister. She wants Marian’s help ensuring it goes smoothly. He’ll be interested in Bertha’s money and house. McAllister is the first gatekeeper Bertha will need to pass through to gain footing in New York. He is adamant about protecting Mrs. Astor who uses him to filter the new arrivals. Marian asks if she will invite Mr. Raikes even though she isn’t sure he’ll be able to get away. Aurora agrees and promises he’ll come because she’ll tell him Marian will be there. Mrs. Armstrong (Brenda Wehle) continues belittling her daughter about lunch and everything else. She has also destroyed the pie.

As Armstrong tries to get her mother up and into a chair, Mrs. Armstrong screams she is pinching her. While riding in a carriage with Pumpkin, Agnes, and Ada (Cynthia Nixon), Marian tells them about the dinner Aurora is setting up with Bertha Russell and McAllister. Marian asks Agnes whether she likes Astor. Agnes compares that to asking if she likes rain because Astor is a fact of life they have to deal with. Marian doesn’t think Aurora has invited many more and suspects they’re only there to take the edge off their meeting. Agnes jokes that woman has the resilience of a cockroach. Adelheid (Erin Wilhelmi) sits down with Miss Turner to say Gladys may receive a real lady’s maid to watch her. She has been doing the job for a while now with no complaints. She thinks she could do it thanks to Turner’s teaching. Turner tells her not to be ridiculous.

When Turner leaves, Adelheid tells Mrs. Bruce (Celia Keenan-Bolger) she knows she could be a property lady’s maid because she copies every bit of Turner’s work. Mrs. Bruce approaches Gladys and asks her in private whether she approves of Adelheid becoming her lady’s maid. Gladys is fine with it as long as there won’t be any more governesses. Once Gladys admits she likes the girl, Mrs. Bruce agrees to see what she can do. Gladys says Mrs. Bruce is the first person to ask her about something that actually involves her. After George’s meeting, he returns to Bertha and says there is no point in going back to his office. Bertha gets a note confirming McAllister is coming to Aurora’s luncheon. She says they’re finally getting to where they belong. Marian tells Peggy about Aurora inviting Raikes to the luncheon.

Marian believes he likes high society more than he thought he would. Peggy asks whether he’ll get used to it and have trouble giving it up to settle down. Marian doesn’t think so since he wasn’t used to it before. Then, she tells Peggy about her mother being there earlier because she wants her home. Although Marian says she game a good argument, Peggy says she shouldn’t have involved her. When Ada joins them, Peggy decides to leave. While they’re alone, Ada asks Marian who is actually going to be at the luncheon. Marian admits Tom is coming, but she didn’t want Agnes to be against him before they know each other. Ada says she was against him already. She says Tom isn’t what they planned. They repeat quotes to get their points across. When Armstrong makes it back, she tells Bauer that her day was lovely and she enjoyed the pie. She lies while saying she has been spoiling herself all day.

Mrs. Bruce tries to convince Bertha to let Adelheid become Gladys’s lady’s maid. She promises to report back to her and tell her anything she needs to know. Bertha agrees to promote Adelheid, but they’ll manage Gladys together. Bertha goes to George to tell him about her decision as he praises Mrs. Bruce. George insists she won’t be sorry. Marian goes to Aurora’s place where she learns that Tom is already there with Bertha and Charles. Mr. McAllister is fashionably late. Marian approaches Tom to say she thought this was interest him. She asks how he is getting on in his conquest of New York, but he says it isn’t the conquest that interests him. Bertha interrupts to tell them Aurora has been informing her about Mrs. Barton’s activities. Bertha and George would like to support her efforts so she might travel with Aurora to Dansville. Marian agrees to travel with them. Charles (Ward Horton) tells them they’ll have to spend the night since it is so far away.

Marian asks how they find out where to stay. Tom offers to arrange it for them and will include Bertha in his travel plans. Then, Bertha tells Aurora and Marian that she will go with them to Dansville to support Mrs. Barton. Until then, she intends to make a generous donation. Aurora admits that is a better way to start although she’ll likely encounter complications. Ward McAllister (Nathan Lane) enters to join them seconds later and apologizes to Aurora for being late. He insists he was arguing with his butler who thinks he knows everything. He jokes that the difference is that Ward actually does know everything. He talks to Marian briefly about Ada and Agnes before turning his attention to Bertha.

He is promptly introduced to Charles and Tom too. Ward hopes he can be of some help to Mr. Raikes. As they prepare for lunch, Ward asks to know more about George’s railroad empire. Turner isn’t happy when she finds Adelheid dressed like a lady’s maid and learns she is a lady’s maid now. Adelheid says Gladys goes to her painting class on Monday and Baldwin has been invited over so they must be willing to accept him. That conversation ends when Church (Jack Gilpin) tells them that is enough. Meanwhile, Ward suspects Mrs. Russell has a very good French chef and a palace of a house, but her guest list isn’t what she’d like it to be. She confesses he sees through her like glass so Ward says they can amend that. He can do that along with the people he will introduce her too. Bertha hopes he’ll be her protector. Ward says she’ll soon be his protector though.

Turner runs into Oscar Van Rhijn (Blake Ritson) outside. Although she has seen him, she doesn’t think he would’ve noticed her because she is Mrs. Russell’s maid. Turner says he hasn’t been there for a while and she thinks she knows why. She says it is a shame he backed off when George had that trouble with the aldermen. George knows Oscar was interested in Gladys and he is keen on finding a love interest for her. Oscar asks her to meet him at the park in an hour because he has an idea that she might be helpful with. Agnes works with Peggy and tells her it is good of her to accompany Marian although Peggy says she is happy to go. Peggy wants to ask Barton about her endeavors. Agnes doesn’t want to know any more about it if she is doing it for her journalistic efforts. She tells Peggy she is going to face obstacles and will need determination to get anywhere. Since Marian is determined and reckless, she is counting on Peggy to protect her.

Peggy insists she is not going to spy on Marian for her. Agnes insists she isn’t asking her to spy and just wants her to make sure Marian is safe. Bannister interrupts to tell Agnes lunch is served and Ada is already in the dining room. Tom meets with Marian and the others when they arrive. Bertha believes they should leave their luggage and go straight to the event because they’re late already. Marian tells them about Peggy writing a story about Barton. Tom decides to go with them. As they arrive, Clara is being introduced to the crowd. Aurora says what is important is that their presence and Bertha’s will be recorded in the newspaper. Anne Morris (Katie Finneran) doesn’t like hearing that. Aurora explains she and Clara are very grateful for Bertha and her generosity. Anne complains that the murderer’s wife is trying to buy herself a place in society and Aurora is happy to take her money. Bertha gets involved in the argument as Barton prepares to speak.

Clara reveals they’re going to be opening three new branches thanks to Bertha Russell. She invites Bertha on stage while Aurora tells Anne she is a fool and shouldn’t pick a fight until she knows the facts. Anne knows the facts. She says her husband is dead, her house is sold, and her money is gone. Now, Aurora will turn her back on her like the others have. Clara talks about the amount of suffering they’ll be able to alleviate. Once her speech finishes, she leaves the stage and asks Marian to join them for an inspection. She is introduced to Peggy and agrees to answer some questions for The New York Globe. Peggy asks if the Red Cross will help all who suffer regardless of race. Barton insists they aren’t going to turn anyone away. Anne doesn’t like this and questions Aurora whether Peggy will be coming in with them. Clara asks Peggy if she’d like to join them inside. They go inside where they are introduced to the survivors of a fire from just a couple of days ago.

Clara explains how the Red Cross intends to help these people while Bertha grimaces at the sight of blood. Anne tells Aurora that she isn’t going to let Bertha beat her although Aurora believes she already has. Peggy goes to her room to write the article while Anne Morris leaves. Clara has dinner with Bertha, Marian, and the others. Bertha insists she should go to bed too. Before she goes, she encourages Clara to thanks her husband for his generosity. Once she is gone, Aurora apologizes for Anne while Marian hopes she won’t listen to everything she says about Bertha Russell. Clara knows Bertha is using the charity to climb into the ballrooms of New York, but she can still be grateful that she picked her charity to be that ladder. Clara mentions Chamberlain who has been generous to charity in the past despite her reputation. Since Marian knows her, she offers to talk to Chamberlain about the Red Cross.

Aurora says Aunt Agnes would never forgive her, but Marian and Clara believe there is more at stake than Aunt Agnes’s smelling salts. After that, Marian talks to Tom about what he is doing next week. He isn’t doing much besides doing to a ball. Marian asks whether he realizes all of this may come to an end one day. Tom argues they’d still be invited to parties. Once they reach her room, Tom says he must wish her good night. She asks what else he has in mind. He admits he isn’t brave enough to save and that isn’t entirely the reason he decided to make the journey. She says not at all surely, but he says a man can always hope. She says he surprised her. Tom asks her to let him surprise her a little before going in for a kiss. Peggy interrupts to ask Marian whether she has her key. Once Tom leaves, Peggy tells Marian she saw that coming because she has more experience. Marian asks if there was a man once and follows up by asking what his name was.

Peggy says his name was Elias and he was a stock boy at her father’s pharmacy. She had never been in love before and he changed her life. Since her parents didn’t approve of him, she decided to give him up. Peggy argues they should remember that there will be no mention of Marian’s aunts or her parents in their wedding vows if they ever happen. Marian asks if she should be insulted by the kiss. Peggy says yes if Tom thinks he can have her easily, but no if he wants her just as much as she wants him. Oscar tells John Adams (Claybourne Elder) that he is going to pay Turner to spy on the Russell family for him. She’ll enjoy it because she wants to get a little revenge on her employers. She doesn’t think the Russells want Oscar for her daughter. In the morning, Baudin (Douglas Sills) asks Turner about her trip and her attitude since she no longer seems down in the dumps. She thought about his advice that she should change things. Now, she intends to have some fun.

Marian tells Ada and Agnes about her trip and how Bertha Russell is the heroine of the hour. She says Clara Barton is more a reformer than she initially thought. Agnes believes in small changes and not running around with a banner and gun. Church checks on the staff as they argue about Archie and whether George and Bertha are coming around. All he knows is that Bertha plays the long game. Peggy visits Marian who believes she did very well writing the story about Clara. Peggy says she stops charity from feeling patronizing. Marian tries to explain the shoes again while saying she didn’t know people like Peggy until she came here. People back home were quick to access their respective roles. They agree to keep the article from Aunt Agnes and Peggy hopes Mr. Fortune is happy with it. Marian asks whether she is happy there. She warns her that her father will be gone one day and she doesn’t want the burden of regret that she never made up when she could.

Peggy isn’t sure it’d be heavier than what she is carrying now before leaving in a hurry. Baldwin has dinner with the Russell family. Gladys tells Bertha that Archie’s parents are building a house in Newport. Before long, George is left alone with Archie. Richard Clay (Patrick Page) gets an urgent cable for George Russell. He leaves in a hurry while George tells Archie he and Gladys are very young to have intentions. Archie says he is 24 which is the age his father got married. When asked if he wants to marry Gladys, he admits he thinks she is the best girl. He calls her clever, sensitive, and beautiful, but George stops him to remind him he isn’t courting him. They talk about Archie being an investment banker in an unexciting position. George suspects he can change that as he begins telling Archie about the Seligman Brothers. Archie has no problem with them being Jewish.

George says he has spoken to them and they have agreed to take Archie on as a broker. He is told there are conditions. First, he will send a final letter. After that, he will never speak to Gladys again. If they encounter one another, he should avoid her. If Archie refuses, George will make sure he never works in the financial sector of their economy again. He promises Archie he’ll be rich if he honors the agreement. Once they join the others, Archie tells Gladys that he was very generous in a way because he wants to help him. He insists he’ll write to her and explain while George confirms to Bertha that he made everything clear. George wonders if Bertha will regret it since he seems like a decent fellow, but Bertha says Archie isn’t what she wants. Before Archie goes, he tells Gladys she is one of the best girls he will ever know. He thanks them for dinner, says God bless, and leaves.

Larry asks what they’ve gone. George tells Gladys that he hasn’t spoiled anything for Mr. Baldwin. Mr. Clay arrives at the house as Archie leaves. Clay tells George that the train came off the rails just outside of Millbourne, Pennsylvania and three men are dead with scores more badly injured. Gladys tells her mother she thinks she loved Archie. Bertha promises she wouldn’t ask anything of her that wouldn’t benefit her in the end. She wants the whole world for her daughter and she’ll get it any way she can. Bertha leaves to see what happened with Clay. Larry offers to go to Archie’s office to find out what happened. Bertha learns about the crash and is told to wire Clara Barton with the details and to ask her to go to Millbourne. They’ll give her whatever she ends. George admits this could bring them down. Bertha tells him to make sure he survives it.

 

The Gilded Age Review

While The Gilded Age is watchable, I am not sure it has ever hit its peak or that it ever will. When things are going well, the scenery is beautiful, the dialogue is fun, and the characters are enjoyable. However, the series seems to be more complicated than it really should be. Its writing isn’t as clever as it believes so the scenes end up being bogged down as it tries to juggle a massive cast of characters. At any given time, there is just so much going on so it is clear the series has tried to be a bit too ambitious for its own good.

Viewers haven’t been given enough time to really fall in love with any of the characters since some are only shown in little snippets each episode. Jack and Bridget weren’t in this episode at all even though that could be a better storyline than anything else going on right now. Exploring Armstrong’s life outside of the van Rhijn house was a good touch though. Some of the scenes are just so dark too. I wish there was better lighting so we could see the characters’s facial expressions when they’re inside.

At times, it feels like the show is just going through the motions without any genuine passion or emotions. The show isn’t bad, but I suspect it could’ve been a whole lot better. Personally, I enjoyed Hotel Portofino quite a bit more so far. The episode scores a 6.5 out of 10. Find the latest recaps of The Gilded Age on Reel Mockery here. Learn how to support the Reel Mockery project by following this link.