‘The Gilded Age’ Season 3 finale recap: divorces, proposals & lavender marriages

Spoilers for The Gilded Age’s Season 3 finale, “My Mind Is Made Up.”

What a way to end the third season! We got so many amazing wrap-ups and cliffhangers, hopefully enough to keep people interested and engaged for the fourth season, whenever we get it (probably in 18 months, sob). Our low-stakes show turned out to have some really high stakes after all. Here’s an incomplete list of everything that happened in the finale:

*George Russell survives being shot, thanks to Dr. Kirkland. Dr. Kirkland was across the street to talk to/confront Peggy, but they didn’t get a chance to talk because George’s people deliver him to his home (to keep the cops out of it). Dr. Kirkland and Marian rush to the Russells’ mansion and Marian helps the doctor save George’s life. Marian later tells Larry that she would do anything for him and his family, which is the truth – she’s always looked out for the entire family and tried to help out wherever she can. She’s done that for three seasons.

*Peggy and Dr. Kirkland finally had their talk and she confirms much of what his (horrid) mother told him about her past. Kirkland needs some time to think and Peggy thinks it’s all over. That scene between Denee Benton and Audra McDonald on the staircase was heart-wrenching and beautifully written!

*Jack (the “clock twink” as he’s known to fans) is still figuring out his life as a newly rich man. He came to visit the Forte house and had coffee with his “downstairs” family. Bridget later goes to his new house to bring him food, and he invites her to sit at the table and not act like a servant. Are they setting up a more serious love story there? I wouldn’t be surprised.

*One of my favorite scenes was Agnes and Ada talking about Larry and Marian, and what they wanted for Marian. Ada gently reminds Agnes that her marriage to a well-born man kind of sucked, and that Marian would probably be much happier with Larry, even though he’s nouveau riche. Agnes finally changes her tune and later encourages Marian to apologize to Larry.

*Bertha finally becomes a big believer in “Larian.” Marian impressed Bertha with her behavior when George was shot – Bertha is basically like, you’re strong, resourceful and brave, I want you with Larry now.

*Agnes finally gets a job! She will be vice president of some sort of New York heritage society. She’s so pleased! She’ll finally get some mail!

*In Newport, Mrs. Scott is at the dressmaker when Mrs. Kirkland comes in. That scene between Audra McDonald and Phylicia Rashad was INCREDIBLE. Soon after, Mrs. Kirkland is still lying about Peggy and discouraging her son from considering Peggy as a future wife. Rev. Kirkland has finally had enough, and he tells off his wife at long last.

*Oscar is feeling better after John Adams’ death and he’s back to his scheming ways. He goes to Bertha and convinced her invite Mrs. Winterton. They’re setting it up so Oscar will finally get his lavender marriage, to a wealthy widow with secrets of her own.

*Larry brings Dr. Kirkland to the Russells’ home in Newport, where the good doctor checks in on George. George acknowledges that Kirkland saved his life and that if George had died, Kirkland would have been blamed and probably a lot worse. George hands Kirkland a check. We don’t know how much, but I suspect it was probably the equivalent of a million dollars, right?

*The crescendo of the episode had back-and-forth scenes between the two Newport balls. The Black end-of-season ball where Peggy gets her fairytale ending with Dr. Kirkland, who asks her father for permission to marry Peggy, then Kirkland proposes to Peggy in the middle of the ballroom. My one complaint about this was that Peggy’s dress could have fit better, but it was actually true to the story of Peggy not going to her dress fitting! Meanwhile, at Bertha’s ball, divorced women are finally allowed in society, George is recovered enough to make an appearance, and Larry and Marian are finally working through their sh-t.

*Gladys and the Duke’s marriage is finally on track and they seem to really adore each other now. He’s sending his horrible sister away and Gladys is smiling and happy every time she’s seen now. As it turns out, she’s knocked up! She told her mother after the ball.

*The last part of the finale, the cliffhanger, was George leaving Bertha. He’s been furious with her since Gladys’ wedding, and while he doesn’t say “I’m divorcing you,” he’s certainly considering it. I doubt it will happen though.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red/HBO.

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11 Responses to “‘The Gilded Age’ Season 3 finale recap: divorces, proposals & lavender marriages”

  1. lorent says:

    But will Peggy agree to marry Dr. Kirkland? We never saw her give an answer.

  2. booboocita says:

    I’m sure I’m in the minority on this, but … I really don’t care for the Larrian storyline. George and Bertha (Morgan Spector and Carrie Coon) share such amazing chemistry, such “zing,” that everyone else’s relationship seems slightly pallid. I do like the Peggy/Kirkland storyline, and the Russells’ chef and housekeeper (don’t remember the actors’ names) are cute together. I particularly liked them at the Met, gasping at the grandeur. But Larrian is just so vanilla. There’s no burn, even in the kissing scenes. What do they have in common anyways?

    • atorontogal says:

      I am so with you! That relationship is just too easy.
      Stay with me now. How about Jacarrion? I’d love to see her with new money Jack.

    • agirlandherdogs says:

      I actually dislike anything to do with Marian. As a character, she lacks depth or charisma, and the actress isn’t bringing any redeeming quality to the role. I agree that Larian has the chemistry of a wet dish towel.

      I’m in it for the other storylines. And the other actors are amazing. Carrie Coon’s final scenes… gah, just give the woman the Emmy.

      Obviously I can’t spoil a season that hasn’t been written yet, but if you know the real family the Russells are based on, you know what’s going to happen there. And they’ve been setting it up this season.

  3. JenC says:

    Season 4 might start off with Peggy’s wedding planning. Mrs Kirkland might have a few tricks up her sleeve-maybe digging up Peggy’s 1st husband?
    George still needs to find out the identity behind the shooting. Maybe it isn’t Clay, because that’s so obvious?
    Marian & Larry will draw their plans out thru the season. Larry needs to grow up somewhat. Marian might come into money with the railroad stock and further muddy her marriage plans.
    The Duke might be killed off at some point, because Julian Fellowes!

  4. Kiera says:

    Anyone else notice the laundamun(I know not spelled right) bottle that George had.

    Predicting he has issues with it next season and Larry forces him out of the company and Bertha stands by him.

    Also yes @jenc the Duke is totally going to die because they’re happy and Julian Fellowes

    • agirlandherdogs says:

      They were a little heavy handed with the easter eggs in the episode. It lacked finesse. The laudanum was one of them.

  5. Lightpurple says:

    Audra McDonald’s Dorothy had the best ball gown. That dress was gorgeous.

  6. agirlandherdogs says:

    I wonder if Mr. Russell’s gift to Dr. Kirkland is actually a donation or endowment to a HBC. I feel like that would mean more to Dr. Kirkland since his family is already wealthy. Not Russell wealthy, but he’s not hurting for money, and I don’t think money would mean that much to him.

  7. Becks1 says:

    The real life Vanderbilts got divorced, so its possible that it happens here.

  8. Yvette says:

    I couldn’t breathe last night until the very last second of the episode! I thought for sure George Russell would drop dead before the closing credits. 🙂 I love this show so much!

    Dr. Kirkland’s mother is a WITCH. Will Agnes get a salary with her new appointment? I thought Jack-John would ask Bridgitte to go to the ball with him. I’m surprised Larry didn’t invite him. I’m beginning to think that Marian doesn’t deserve Larry, but I still want them to get together. 🙂

    From the first season I’ve thought that Oscar and Mrs. Winterton nee Turner would end up together. They are SO much alike!

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