The Gilded Age

Julian Fellowes brings his signature blend of social satire and period drama to HBO with The Gilded Age, a sprawling series that examines the clash between old money and new wealth in post-Civil War New York. Premiering on January 24, 2022, the show follows Marian Brook, an orphaned Southern girl played by Louisa Jacobson, as she navigates the rigid society of her wealthy aunts while challenging their traditions with help from Peggy Scott, portrayed by Denée Benton. The ensemble cast includes Carrie Coon and Morgan Spector as the ambitious industrialist couple Bertha and George Russell, whose rise threatens the established elite. Taissa Farmiga and Harry Richardson round out the family dynamic as the Russells' children. Spanning five seasons and forty-two episodes through August 2025, the series maintains a TV-14 rating and has garnered a steady 7.703/10 rating from its audience. The tone balances lavish costume details with sharp commentary on class, gender, and race during the late nineteenth century.[edit]