Warning: SPOILERS for The Gilded Age Season 3, Episode 3 - “Love Is Never Easy.”
The Gilded Ageseason 3, episode 3 teasing a big wedding for Hector, Duke of Buckingham, deciding once and for all whether the Duke will marry Gladys Russell. After his surprising entrance at theend ofThe Gilded Ageseason 3, episode 2, viewers needed answers about what would really happen between Hector and Gladys.
The Gilded Ageseason 3, episode 3 also began toheat up Peggy Scott’s new romance, whileCharles Fane cemented himself asThe Gilded Age’s villain. Within the Van Rhijn household,Ada Forte’s commitment to temperancecaused more strife with Agnes van Rhijn but set up an intriguing new plot for the character in the episode’s ending.
Gladys Russell Agrees To Marry The Duke Of Buckingham
The Duke Is Profiting From The Partnership
The biggest revelation fromThe Gilded Ageseason 3, episode 3 is that Gladys Russell finally agreed to marry Hector, Duke of Buckingham. Though Bertha Russell has long been set on Gladys' partnership with the Duke,Gladys herself has always been looking for a way out. After breaking up with Billy Carlton, though, Gladys has finally accepted her fate.
After the Duke’s return at the end of episode 2 and his cryptic statement about his lawyer, audiences now understand exactly what he is up to. Based on his and Bertha’s deal in season 2,the Duke believed he would be able to negotiate a large sum of money to marry Gladys, giving him enough to maintain his property and titles.
Initially, George Russell balked at the Duke demanding more than the handsome sum he was willing to pay the Englishman. Ultimately, though, Bertha’s ambitions won again, asshe essentially guaranteed the Duke more money by saying that he could effectively take the allowance promised to Gladysby her father.
When George relents and agrees to Hector’s proposal, he betrays his promise to allow Gladys to marry for love.
Bertha’s promises to the Duke disregard all of Gladys' fears and wishes. However, when George relents and agrees to Hector’s proposal, he betrays his promise to allow Gladys to marry for love. BothGladys and the Duke admit that they don’t know each other at all and promise to be honest, though this does little to assuage Gladys' discomfort.
The Gilded Age Sets Up A Supernatural Turn For Ada Forte
Mrs. Bauer Says That She Can Help Ada Speak To Her Late Husband
Mrs. Bauer asks Ada if she would want to talk to her late husband, Reverend Luke Forte, againif she could. Since his death inThe Gilded Ageseason 2, Ada has been rudderless, devoting herself to the temperance movement while attempting to figure out how to live life without Luke, so the prospect is immediately tempting.
This question sets up one of the most exciting teased aspects ofThe Gilded Ageseason 3: a seance. Previoustrailers for the season have shown brief clips of a medium visiting the Van Rhijn houseand a seance taking place, introducing a supernatural element to the show and a potential way for Ada to deal with her grief.
Peggy Scott’s Father Already Disapproves Of Her New Suitor
The Kirklands Seem Very Judgmental
Peggy Scott has not always had the best relationship with her parents throughoutThe Gilded Age, but the family has seemed closer in season 3. Peggy’s parents even came to the Van Rhijn house with a doctor for her when she was sick in episode 2, which set upPeggy’s new love interest.
Peggy’s doctor and love interest, William Kirkland, seems nice enough, and her mother even encourages the match. After meeting William’s family in Newport, though,Dorothy and Arthur Scott came away very concerned about how Peggy will fare going forward.
While Dr. Kirkland himself seems nice,his mother, Elizabeth, is prejudiced against Peggy’s fatherbecause he is a freed slave. She clearly thinks herself better than him because her family has been wealthy for generations, while he is self-made, meaning that Peggy may face the same prejudice in coming episodes.
Elizabeth Kirkland’s behavior may become too much to bear.
Dorothy warns Arthur not to get too involved in Peggy’s love life, as that lead to tragedy in the past, butboth Peggy’s mother and father privately worry over Peggy’s future with William. Though the Scotts are determined not to say anything in episode 3, Elizabeth Kirkland’s behavior may become too much to bear.
Bertha Finds Out About Marian Brook & Larry Russell’s Romance
Bertha May Soon Turn Her Attention To Her Son’s Love Life
Marian Brook and Larry Russell continue their secretive romance, butThe Gilded Agehas also made some of their obstacles very clear. As the two are kissing in the Russell house,Bertha’s new lady’s maid walks in on them and later tells Berthawhat she saw. Of course, Bertha has never been unopinionated about her children’s futures.
Bertha likely doesn’t see Marian as a serious suitor for Larry.
Given how involved Bertha has been in Gladys' romantic future,it would not be surprising if she has objections to Marian and Larry being together.This is especially true considering Miss Brook has already had two failed engagements, and Bertha likely doesn’t see Marian as a serious suitor for Larry.
Larry also has a history with Susan Blane, whom he had an affair with briefly inThe Gilded Ageseason 2. While he does not face the same societal stigma as Marian,it could still cause a problem if Marian learns the extent of the affair. Marian and Larry are cute together, but they still have their pasts and families to contend with.
Jack Trotter Is Still Missing Investors For His Alarm Clock
He Is Starting To Lose Faith in His Invention
John “Jack” Trotter’s alarm clock has been part ofThe Gilded Age’s story since season 2,but Jack’s dreams of selling his invention remains unfulfilled so far inThe Gilded Ageseason 3. After beginning to work with Larry at theend ofThe Gilded Ageseason 2, the pair have been searching for investors, but have found no buyers.
Though the Van Rhijn house all still believe that Jack will find investors for his clock, the young inventor is starting to lose patience and faith in himself.Surprisingly, it is Mrs. Armstrong that actually makes him feel slightly better, stating that he should be happy to at least have gotten his foot in the door.
The Gilded Ageseason 3, episode 4, will air on HBO and HBO Max on Sunday, July 13 at 9 PM EST.
While she is usually angry and wrong about most things, Mrs. Armstrong does give Jack a good reminder not to give up. Nothing has come of his business meetings yet, butThe Gilded Agehas spent so much time on this story that it would be very surprising if it didn’t work out for Jack Trotter later in the season.
