The Gilded Age

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:After the most recent episode, does anyone else think that Mr. Russell is going to lose all the money he just put into his railroad scheme? And since that money was meant to be Gladys‘s dowry, her marriage to the Duke will fall through and the Duke will run away to some other rich girl.

Also, should Peggy marry the Doctor with the snobby, racist mom?

Mr. and Mrs. Russell will get divorced, as well as Gladys and the Duke.

I like that they are setting the scene for this now with the other woman (can't remember her name) getting divorced and becoming an outcast, and you can see the more modern characters think this is ridiculous, showing how divorce became more normalized, especially ong the very wealthy during this time. It's another thing that Mrs. Astor (and Aunt Gladys) and Mrs. Russell will be on opposite sides of, renewing their rivalry. Mrs. Russell will win of course.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:After the most recent episode, does anyone else think that Mr. Russell is going to lose all the money he just put into his railroad scheme? And since that money was meant to be Gladys‘s dowry, her marriage to the Duke will fall through and the Duke will run away to some other rich girl.

Also, should Peggy marry the Doctor with the snobby, racist mom?

Mr. and Mrs. Russell will get divorced, as well as Gladys and the Duke.

I like that they are setting the scene for this now with the other woman (can't remember her name) getting divorced and becoming an outcast, and you can see the more modern characters think this is ridiculous, showing how divorce became more normalized, especially ong the very wealthy during this time. It's another thing that Mrs. Astor (and Aunt Gladys) and Mrs. Russell will be on opposite sides of, renewing their rivalry. Mrs. Russell will win of course.

You mean Aunt Agnes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This article on how the created the wedding and its relationship to Consuelo Vanderbilt's wedding/marriage is worth the read: https://www.vulture.com/article/the-gilded-age-gladys-wedding-behind-the-scenes.html

Some highlights:

- They clearly could not copy the Vanderbilt wedding exactly because Consuelo married in the 1890s and Gladys' wedding is happening about a decade earlier, so it's more of an "inspired by"

- It was filmed at a gothic revival cathedral in Albany because the church Vanderbilt wed in burned down in 1901. The Albany church was designed by the same architect.

- They actually had to tone down the amount of flowers in the church and the Russell house versus real life because the real thing was so over the top it just wouldn't look elegant or appealing on the show (or would get in the way of some of the long shots they wanted to get). They also noted they do the same thing with the art in people's homes, especially the Russell's -- if the set was more true to life, it would be impossible to film in because there'd be so much priceless artwork in the background it would be distracting. These people were all about showcasing wealth to the exclusion of taste or good sense.

- IRL Consuelo was literally locked in her room in the weeks leading up to her wedding and openly weeping at the ceremony. They toned both details down in order to give Gladys more agency as a character, which I get because otherwise this storyline would be too depressing.

Thanks so much! I was honestly just enjoying this as a period drama. I had heard of Mrs Astor and knew the main family was based on the Vanderbilts, but I didn’t realize how closely it followed real stories.

Thanks. This is so fascinating. I love the historical ties. Did you know that Conseulo was an ancestor of Princess Diana.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m going to be really shallow, but none of the men are very good looking to me (except for the bearded railroad magnate guy, and he’s always off somewhere making land deals).

And looks aren’t everything, but there’s zero chemistry between any of the potential pairings on the show—everyone talks and acts so stiltedly and are one-dimensional. They don’t make it easy to root for any of them.

+1
And all of the men sound so prissy and frankly, not masculine. Except Mr. Russell, of course. He oozes masculinity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ada and her temperance nonsense is annoying. And foisting it on the servants shows an unempathetic side of her.

Is Marian going to have a happy ending with James or is there something fishy about it all?

Billy: weak. His mother: ugh.

Peggy is obviously going to get with the doctor.

I feel bad for Aurora. Her husband is such a jerk.

Aurora’s husband really is the worst. Throughout the first seasons, I always thought he looked far younger than Aurora and that he was miscast.

Also, would a still-married man really bring his mistress to a party (at his own house, no less)? That seemed so outlandish. You’d think his mistress would have been mortified to be “outed” like that too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/a39125848/who-was-ward-mcallister-nathan-lane-the-gilded-age-interview/

Another article in which Nathan Lane discusses his research into the real ward mcallister who was a “flamboyant southerner”.

His portrayal is probably a lot closer than many of you believe it to be.

Bull shite. That accent is pure crap.

It really is. It’s a complete caricature of a southern accent.

[Anonymous]

My god, the writing is absolutely atrocious. I can't understand how the creator of Downton Abbey - a beautiful, well-written show - could also have created this drivel. And the only time they're not filmed on a set is during the very few outdoor scenes in Newport.

And Jack's alarm clock - why on earth isn't he getting the full $600,000? Why should he have to split it with an already fabulously wealthy man? If Larry Russell was a true gentleman, he would insist Jack keep all of it.

Does Julian Fellowes just hate Americans and is making this show awful on purpose?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My god, the writing is absolutely atrocious. I can't understand how the creator of Downton Abbey - a beautiful, well-written show - could also have created this drivel. And the only time they're not filmed on a set is during the very few outdoor scenes in Newport.

And Jack's alarm clock - why on earth isn't he getting the full $600,000? Why should he have to split it with an already fabulously wealthy man? If Larry Russell was a true gentleman, he would insist Jack keep all of it.

Does Julian Fellowes just hate Americans and is making this show awful on purpose?

Because he didn't know how to market or sell it. If the show was true to history he probably would have gotten $100 shiny dollars and the buyers would have negotiated only with Larry and Jack would never have known what it sold for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Call me crazy but I think this show gets better each season - it is a bit ridiculous but I enjoy it anyway. I can’t wait to see what happens with Gladys, Miss Brooke and Jack the now rich servant (whatever his title is).

I agree! Every season is better.

Waiting for the divorces.

[Anonymous]

Gladys' father looks like he just got off a boat at Ellis Island.
Not great casting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Gladys' father looks like he just got off a boat at Ellis Island.
Not great casting.

He is hot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gladys' father looks like he just got off a boat at Ellis Island.
Not great casting.

He is hot.

+100 The beard and the super intense eyes!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My god, the writing is absolutely atrocious. I can't understand how the creator of Downton Abbey - a beautiful, well-written show - could also have created this drivel. And the only time they're not filmed on a set is during the very few outdoor scenes in Newport.

And Jack's alarm clock - why on earth isn't he getting the full $600,000? Why should he have to split it with an already fabulously wealthy man? If Larry Russell was a true gentleman, he would insist Jack keep all of it.

Does Julian Fellowes just hate Americans and is making this show awful on purpose?

Because he didn't know how to market or sell it. If the show was true to history he probably would have gotten $100 shiny dollars and the buyers would have negotiated only with Larry and Jack would never have known what it sold for.

+1 I was waiting for that to be the plot, and mildly surprised that Larry had “only” taken half.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My god, the writing is absolutely atrocious. I can't understand how the creator of Downton Abbey - a beautiful, well-written show - could also have created this drivel. And the only time they're not filmed on a set is during the very few outdoor scenes in Newport.

And Jack's alarm clock - why on earth isn't he getting the full $600,000? Why should he have to split it with an already fabulously wealthy man? If Larry Russell was a true gentleman, he would insist Jack keep all of it.

Does Julian Fellowes just hate Americans and is making this show awful on purpose?

Because he didn't know how to market or sell it. If the show was true to history he probably would have gotten $100 shiny dollars and the buyers would have negotiated only with Larry and Jack would never have known what it sold for.

+1 I was waiting for that to be the plot, and mildly surprised that Larry had “only” taken half.

Agreed, but I like where they are taking it instead, with Larry continuing to be friends with Jack and maybe sort of mentor him about being wealthy in NYC.

A central plot of the show is that the Russells are "new money." Yes, Larry was born into wealth, but to parents who were not and who have normalized the idea that if you work hard enough, you are entitled to whatever you want. Larry is totally open minded to Jack in part because he's not as hung up on the idea that there is some uncrossable divide between a butler and a railroad baron.

So while it's still kind of unrealistic, I like Larry and Jack becoming friends, and Larry cutting a more fair deal with Jack over the money (keep in mind Larry negotiated an extra 200k out of the deal, the idea that it's unfair for him to take half ignores the fact that without Larry, Jack would have been completely swindled by those guys) is part of that. Plus with Larry's guidance and connections, we will get to see what it means to have the opportunities of NYC open up to someone who just came into a fortune like Jack. I think it could be really fun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ada and her temperance nonsense is annoying. And foisting it on the servants shows an unempathetic side of her.

Is Marian going to have a happy ending with James or is there something fishy about it all?

Billy: weak. His mother: ugh.

Peggy is obviously going to get with the doctor.

I feel bad for Aurora. Her husband is such a jerk.

Aurora’s husband really is the worst. Throughout the first seasons, I always thought he looked far younger than Aurora and that he was miscast.

Also, would a still-married man really bring his mistress to a party (at his own house, no less)? That seemed so outlandish. You’d think his mistress would have been mortified to be “outed” like that too.

Turns out Kelli O'Hara and Ward Horton are the same age, both born in 1976.