The glittering streets of 1880s New York are anything but serene in Season 2 of HBO’s The Gilded Age. Beneath the lace gloves, opera boxes, and gilded ballrooms lies a ruthless struggle for power between old wealth and new money, between tradition and change, and, often, within the characters themselves.
Julian Fellowes (Downton Abbey) returns with a sharper, bolder season that deepens its exploration of class, identity, ambition, and the price people pay to belong—or to break away.
Here’s a detailed recap of everything that went down in The Gilded Age Season 2.
Marian Brook: Torn Between Duty, Love, and Selfhood
Marian Brook (Louisa Jacobson) continues to be a woman out of step with her time—a modern spirit caught in a corseted world. At the start of the season, she’s still reeling from the events of Season 1, having narrowly escaped a misguided marriage to Tom Raikes. Her heart is bruised, but her independence has never burned brighter.
Despite protests from her staunchly traditional aunt Agnes Van Rhijn (Christine Baranski), Marian returns to teaching art—a decision viewed as beneath a woman of her standing. But Marian is beginning to define her own values, not her aunt’s.
Enter Dashiell Montgomery (David Furr), a widower and distant relative who moves to New York with his daughter Frances. Marian is drawn to Dashiell’s calm demeanor and kindness, and their mutual affection builds steadily. The relationship, at first, feels like a second chance at romance. But when Dashiell proposes in public, things take a sudden turn.
Marian reluctantly accepts—more from politeness and pressure than passion. When Dashiell later calls her by his deceased wife’s name, Marian is jolted into clarity. This isn’t love—it’s an echo of the past. She breaks the engagement and walks away, this time choosing herself.
Marian ends the season focused on her career, quietly growing more independent, and subtly connecting with Larry Russell. Her arc is less about grand gestures and more about small revolutions—precisely the kind that redefine lives.
Oscar Van Rhijn: Between Desire and Desperation
Oscar Van Rhijn (Blake Ritson), Agnes’s flamboyant and closeted son, spends the season walking a dangerous tightrope. After a terrifying run-in due to his homosexuality, Oscar resolves to marry, not for love, but for protection and financial security.
His eyes fall on Gladys Russell (Taissa Farmiga), the bright and headstrong daughter of Bertha and George Russell. Her dowry is substantial, her reputation untarnished, and Oscar believes he can offer her freedom in exchange for a discreet marriage.
But while Oscar schemes, his financial life is unraveling. Investments go south. Risky ventures don’t pay off. In a bid to recover, he gambles everything on the Chicago Atlantic Railroad—introduced to him by shady businessman Mr. Crowther and socialite Maude Beaton.
The gamble fails. Oscar loses nearly everything, including the Van Rhijn's financial stability. His secret motives for marrying Gladys are exposed, and he’s left humiliated. When he finally confesses the losses to Agnes, she’s livid—but the reality is undeniable: Oscar’s high-wire act has snapped, and the fall is brutal.
George Russell: Industrialist on the Edge
George Russell (Morgan Spector), the steel magnate and avatar of new money, faces his greatest challenge yet—not in the boardroom, but in the mills. When his Pittsburgh workers go on strike, backed by organized unions, George initially responds the way powerful men do: with arrogance, money, and intimidation.
He attempts to bribe union leaders. He calls in allies to plot ways of crushing the strike. For a moment, it seems he’ll resort to hiring scabs and risking violence just to keep control.
But George, unlike many of his peers, is capable of evolution. After weighing the consequences and facing mounting pressure, he chooses a path few expected—negotiation over destruction. It’s a calculated risk, but one that hints at a more complex morality under his steel-plated exterior.
Meanwhile, George quietly supports Bertha’s social ambitions by secretly funding The Metropolitan Opera. He knows when to stay in the shadows—and when to step in.
Bertha Russell: Social Conqueror with an Iron Spine
Bertha Russell (Carrie Coon) is nothing short of a force of nature this season. Still considered a “nouveau riche” outsider by the Astor-led old guard, Bertha sets her sights on conquering New York high society once and for all—and her battlefield is the opera house.
She throws her support—and George’s fortune—behind the Metropolitan Opera, a bold rival to the Academy of Music, which remains the stronghold of established wealth. The season plays out like a chess game of galas, invitations, and political maneuvering, as Bertha pulls every string to claim dominance.
When society hesitates, she goes international, courting the attention of the Duke of Buckingham. But when his loyalty waivers, Bertha doesn’t blink. She offers him her daughter Gladys’s hand in marriage to secure his public favor. The move shocks even George, but it works.
By season’s end, Bertha has secured the most powerful symbol of social acceptance: the center box at the Met. She's no longer knocking at the door—she's holding the keys.
Ada and Agnes: Sisters In A Clash
Agnes Van Rhijn, ever the guardian of old values, spends the season clashing with almost everyone—Marian, Oscar, and even her sister Ada (Cynthia Nixon), who dares to fall in love.
Ada’s suitor is Reverend Luke Forte, a kind-hearted and principled man who brings real joy to her life. Agnes, as always, disapproves. But Ada finally chooses herself, marries Luke, and steps out from under her sister’s shadow.
Tragedy strikes when Luke is diagnosed with terminal cancer and dies, leaving Ada a widow—and unexpectedly wealthy. As Oscar’s financial ruin threatens their home, it is Ada’s fortune that saves them.
The reversal of roles is profound. For the first time, Ada holds the power, and Agnes is forced to acknowledge her sister's strength. Their bond, tested and reforged, is one of the most quietly moving arcs of the season.
Themes and Takeaways: Shifting Sands in the Gilded World
Season 2 of The Gilded Age isn’t just about dresses and debutantes—it’s about shifting power, gender roles, and economic structures. Whether it’s Marian forging her path, Bertha toppling social empires, or Ada rising from the background, this season belongs to the women who dare to break the mold.
Oscar’s collapse, George’s labor conflicts, and the old guard’s crumbling facades remind us that the American aristocracy of the 1880s was anything but stable. Behind every curtain of refinement lies a cutthroat game of control, survival, and reinvention.
Looking Ahead to Season 3
With HBO confirming Season 3 for 2025, expect even more drama as the lines between old and new, public and private, continue to blur. Will Marian and Larry finally give in to their connection? Can Bertha maintain her new seat at the top? Will Oscar rebuild—or implode?
The Gilded Age, no fortune is safe, and no reputation is permanent.
Stay tuned to the blog for exclusive updates, behind-the-scenes breakdowns, and more into the world of The Gilded Age
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