Editor’s note: The below contains spoilers for The Gilded Age Season 3 finale.
Season 3 of HBO’sThe Gilded Agedid not disappoint. With new twists and turns, each episode dove deeper into a broad cast of complex characters, predominantly following the drama that engulfed the Russell family. While George (Morgan Spector) and Bertha (Carrie Coon)became embroiled in marriage troubles, Gladys (Taissa Farmiga) found unexpected, genuine love with her new husband, while Larry (Harry Richardson) went back and forth with Marian Brook (Louisa Jacobson) and the status of their engagement.
Between the aforementioned plots, there were also storylines ranging fromPeggy’s (Denée Benton) new romance with the handsome Dr. Kirkland (Jordan Donica)to Jack Trotter’s (Ben Ahlers) financial success from his invention catapulting him into a new tax bracket.With Season 3 being as packed as it was with other characters dominating the narrative, one fan-favorite presence didn’t earn the spotlight she deserves— butnow that the show has been confirmed to return for a fourth season, there’s plenty of opportunity for this queen of New York society to make a comeback.
Agnes van Rhijn Has Been Through Ups and Downs in ‘The Gilded Age’
Season 3 saw Agnes van Rhijn (Christine Baranski) met with dramatic ups and downs, as she went from the head of her household to a more humble presence. After Agnes’s son Oscar (Blake Ritson)lost their fortune to con woman Maud Beaton(Nicole Brydon Bloom) in the second season, the van Rhijn house experienced a significant change in day-to-day operations. Just when the family was convinced they’d lost everything, Ada (Cynthia Nixon) discovered that her late husband, Luke Forte (Robert Sean Leonard), had left her his entire fortune, in a move that saved the day and also gave her financial control over the household expenses. This, of course, didn’t sit well with Agnes.
Agnes, for the first time in her life, was forced to relinquish power to her sister, and she and Ada proceeded to butt heads in their new roles, confusing the staff in the process.This uncertain chain of commandcontinued throughout Season 3, often leading to awkward moments in which the household butler, Bannister, frequently questioned who to address household matters with. On a bigger level, it also meant thatAgnes didn’t get the screen time she deserved this season. Losing her fortune in turn meant also losing some of her social influence, a very big deal for that point in time.
However, in one of the most beautiful moments of Season 3, Agnes officially relinquished her position as head of the household in favor of Ada. This act of kindness came about just after she was surprised with an offer to become the vice president of the New York Heritage Society. Yet, despite Agnes and Ada’s relationship previously having been a prominent fixture of the series and their bond taking a significant turn for the better, if you blinked, you missed it. Overshadowed by many other, larger plots,the sisters' storyline barely scratched the surface compared to other families in Season 3. Given recent developments in their dynamic both at home and within society, seeing them return to the forefront of the series in Season 4 would be a welcome adjustment — and honestly, Agnes more than deserves the spotlight.
‘The Gilded Age’ Season 4 Needs to Give Agnes More Screen Time
In a particularly monumental moment in the Season 3 finale, Agnes finally allows Ada to sit at the head of the table. This huge moment symbolizes the turnover of power between the sisters, but it was easy to overlook among everything else playing out in the admittedly packed episode. Agnes and Ada’s role reversal was a long time coming, andSeason 4 now provides the show with the perfect opportunity to let the sisters' storyline take center stage. Moving forward, it will be exciting to see what Ada will do with the household now that she has been handed total control. Despite putting her foot down on certain things, such as Ada asking the staff to sign a pledge to abstain from alcohol, perhaps Agnes will enjoy handing over the burden of running their home.
With the show still having many loose ends left to resolve, primarily revolving around the Russell clan,Agnes is worthy of continuing to have her story told just as prominently. We’ve only ever known her as the leader of her family, but without the checkbook, she became a stranger in her own home last season. Now that she’s been offered this new position of power, she’s found her old self again.With much anticipation for the fourth season, the hit HBO series will hopefully give more of the van Rhijns the spotlight in the process. Considering Oscar’s imminent proposal to Enid Winterton (Kelley Curran), the pending status of Marian’s engagement to Larry, as well as Agnes' new role, there is a lot of potential drama to look forward to in this household.
The Gilded Age
A wide-eyed young scion of a conservative family embarks on a mission to infiltrate the wealthy neighboring clan dominated by ruthless railroad tycoon George Russell, his rakish son, Larry, and his ambitious wife, Bertha.
