The Gilded Age (Season 3, 2025): Society, Secrets, and Sisterhood in High Stakes New York
HBO’s luxurious period drama The Gilded Age, created by Julian Fellowes, returns in 2025 for its third season, continuing its exploration of social power, class rivalry, and ambition in 1880s New York. The show remains an opulent blend of high-society drama and historical context, pitting old money aristocrats against the rising industrial elite in a world where reputation and legacy are everything.
This season picks up after the climactic events of the previous year, in which Bertha Russell finally forced her way into elite society by backing the Metropolitan Opera. Season 3 opens with Bertha facing her biggest social challenge yet: orchestrating the high-profile wedding of her daughter Gladys to a European duke. While the alliance appears perfect on paper, emotional complexities and cultural clashes threaten the arrangement from within.
George Russell, Bertha’s ambitious husband, embarks on a bold expansion of his railroad empire, navigating political obstacles and business betrayals. His storyline this season touches on the tension between economic growth and moral boundaries—one of the series' consistent themes.
Meanwhile, across town, the more conservative Brook–van Rhijn household is thrown into turmoil. Agnes van Rhijn clings to fading traditions while her niece Marian increasingly asserts her independence. Marian’s growing involvement with New York’s educational and artistic circles opens new romantic and ideological possibilities. The show cleverly uses their dynamic to portray generational shifts in social values.
A standout plot this season is Peggy Scott’s journey. Having established herself as a respected journalist, Peggy begins to engage with New York’s emerging Black elite. Her romantic connection with Dr. William Kirkland and her growing presence in the city’s cultural and professional spheres add depth and diversity to the series. Her story highlights the complexity of navigating identity and ambition within a racially divided society.
Episode 4, centered on Gladys’s wedding, delivers the season’s emotional high point. It explores the personal cost of social climbing, as Bertha wrestles with controlling her daughter’s future and Gladys questions her own desires. The ceremony is grand, but beneath the surface, resentment and regret simmer.
New characters introduced this season add fresh intrigue. Bertha’s estranged sister Monica, portrayed by Merritt Wever, adds family drama and comic relief. Meanwhile, historical figures like J.P. Morgan and other titans of finance appear in key business dealings with George, giving the season a sharper economic edge.
Visually, the show remains stunning. Lavish ballrooms, intricate costumes, and period-accurate sets elevate every scene. But Season 3 also digs deeper into its characters’ inner worlds. It’s less about gowns and more about power, strategy, and sacrifice.
After delays due to industry strikes, fans welcomed Season 3’s return with enthusiasm. Early reviews praise its tighter pacing and more emotionally grounded storytelling. The show continues to balance historical spectacle with relevant social commentary, cementing its place as one of HBO’s standout period dramas.
The Gilded Age Season 3 doesn’t just maintain its elegance—it sharpens its social critique, delivering a compelling and resonant look at ambition, identity, and the American dream during one of history’s most transformative eras.
