By the time Season 3, Episode 7 ofThe Gilded Age, had aired, the period drama left the fate of one key character hanging in the balance. In the third season’s penultimate episode. The patriarch of the show’s main family,Morgan Spector’s George Russell, has spent much of Season 3 trying to save his business. While it seems like he might have been able to ultimately achieve that, the enemies he has made along the way might just be too many. Season 3, Episode 7, titled “Ex-Communicated,” provides a bigger blow for audiences as George Russell’s (Spector) fate is left unclear following a gunshot before the screen cuts to black. This followsthe sudden death of John Adams' (Claybourne Elder)in the previous episode. So that begs the question. Will we have to endure two major deaths in one season?
Speaking ina recent interview, actor Spector commented on his character, George Russell, being shot at, and even provided some valuable insight intowhether George will die or not. George had just emerged victorious in his ambitious plan for the transcontinental railroad and was taking some time at a gentlemen’s club. However, an unknown assailant invades his quarters and fires a gun at him. While the scene does not show the projectile hitting the businessman, the episode cuts out as the bullet leaves the gun. So should we be worried about this key character? The short answer is yes. Spector explains:
“You should be very worried. In the 19th century, gunshot wounds from up close were extremely dangerous. Many people didn’t survive them. I don’t have a contract for next season yet, so who knows?”
‘The Gilded Age’ Might Be a Period Drama, But It Draws Some Modern Parallels
For a large part ofSeason 3, the Russells have been split overGladys' (Taissa Farmiga) marriage, while George struggles to save his business. However, his son, Larry (Harry Richardson), supplies much-needed relief, perhaps, establishing himself as a worthy successor in his father’s eyes. Describing how he felt reading the script, Spector drew parallels with the real-life case ofLuigi Mangioneand how things have not changed in certain ways:
“When I read the script, it wasn’t that long after Luigi Mangione shot the United Healthcare CEO. I was like, [‘The Gilded Age’ creator] Julian Fellowes is clairvoyant. It redoubled my sense that there’s a way that this show, however subtly, however quietly, is really in dialog with our current moment, simply by virtue of there being structural similarities between the two eras. Both of these time periods have massive wealth and massive inequality. Both of them are characterized by industrial titans who are kind of swinging the state around by its tail. The consequences of that can be violence.”
The Gilded Agewas created byJulian Fellowes, who originally intended for it to be a prequel to his most popular creation,Downton Abbey. The series boasts an impressive ensemble cast, which includesCarrie Coonas Bertha Russell,Louisa Jacobsonas Marian Brook,Taissa Farmigaas Gladys Russell,Harry Richardsonas Larry Russell,Jordan Donicaas Dr. William Kirkland,Christine Baranski as Agnes Van Rhijn, andDenée Bentonas Peggy Scott, among others.
The GildedAge’sthirdseason streams on Sundays onHBO Max. Stay tuned to Collider for more information about the HBO hit.
The Gilded Age
