In The Gilded Age, few rivalries are as subtle and revealing as the one between Bertha Russell and Marian Brook, the show’s two leading women. Neighbors, yet separated by age, class, temperament, and life goals, the two never truly connected—yet their paths have always been intertwined.

Throughout three seasons, their journeys make it clear: the real conflict isn’t between opposites, but between misaligned mirrors. Marian is, in some ways, the young woman Bertha once was—and never allowed herself to remain. The problem is, today Marian stands in the way of Bertha’s ambitions.

Origins: What We Know—and What It Means

Much has been revealed about Marian’s past. Daughter of Henry Brook, a former Civil War general from a once-prestigious family, Marian learned in the show’s first episode that her father had lied to her about everything—including the ownership of the home she grew up in. With nothing left, not even enough to survive, she moved to New York to live under the guardianship of her stern aunt, Agnes Van Rhijn, and kind-hearted Aunt Ada Brook—two women she had never met before her father’s death. As Agnes explains, the Brook name still carries some social weight, even without wealth.

In New York, Marian is welcomed into her aunts’ home, meets her cousin Oscar Van Rhijn, and is “adopted” as a cousin by Aurora Fane (niece of Agnes’s late husband). In the blink of an eye, she gains a new family, affection—and a long list of rules, most of which conflict with what she wants for her life.

Bertha Russell’s background, in contrast, remains mostly a mystery. In Season 3, we discover she has a sister, Monica, and that she lived in New York years before George became a millionaire. But these details remain sparse and cryptic. In a key moment, Bertha tells her daughter, Gladys:

“My background doesn’t matter. I was nobody.”

That line is telling: Bertha likely came from even humbler origins than Marian, whose family name carries status, even in ruin. Bertha’s marriage to George Russell was her launching pad—not just emotionally, but strategically. It was a deliberate investment by a woman who turned marriage into a career.

Marian, by contrast, despite lacking a dowry, believes marriage must be rooted in love. Naïve and romantic, she fell for Tom Raikes, a charming lawyer who later revealed his ambitions by choosing a wealthy woman over her. Hurt and disillusioned, she briefly considered a secure match with Dashiell Montgomery, another of Agnes’s in-laws, but declined when he demanded she quit working and never asked what she truly wanted.

Marian wants the impossible: love and freedom. In this, she diverges completely from Bertha’s worldview—even though Bertha also married for love, she sees that as a rare, almost accidental luxury.

Bertha Disapproves of Marian—but Understands Her More Than She Admits

Carrie Coon, who plays Bertha, once said the character sees more of herself in Marian than in her own daughter, Gladys. It sounds counterintuitive—Bertha has never shown fondness for Marian—but it makes perfect sense. Marian is young, inexperienced, idealistic—with potential Bertha can see, even if she refuses to acknowledge it. She could have been that young woman once, had she not hardened herself to survive.

Bertha despises romanticism as a life plan because she knows how cruel society is to naïve women. She is ruthless with Gladys, controlling every aspect of her daughter’s life, even handpicking her husband—a Duke—and scaring off all other suitors with not-so-veiled threats.

Ironically, Bertha may believe she introduced Marian to her son, Larry, when Marian defied Agnes and attended a dinner at the Russell mansion alone. While George immediately appreciated Marian’s quiet courage and grace, Bertha projected her frustrations onto her. What neither she nor Oscar knows is that Larry and Marian met by chance—he was instantly taken with her. The seed of “Larian” was planted in Episode 1.

At first, Bertha saw their friendship as harmless. But now that she knows they’re in love, she sees not just a threat to the Russell dynasty—but a challenge to her control over her son.

Larry Russell: A Bridge Between Two Worlds

Larry is a bridge. Raised in privilege, but modern, kind, and less obsessed with status than his parents, he has always admired Marian for her dignity, honesty, and idealism—traits his mother sees as weaknesses but he views as virtues. Marian has supported him from the beginning, encouraging his dreams of becoming an architect and his first independent business ventures.

Their romance was a fan favorite and only blossomed in the final scene of Season 2—only to be short-lived.

In Season 3, they break up over a seemingly small lie—but one filled with meaning. On the night of their engagement, Larry lies to Marian about where he was. Not because he did anything wrong, but because he assumed it wasn’t important. A typical male habit from centuries past, it clashed violently with Marian’s past trauma.

She has been deceived by men who appeared honorable—her father, who squandered the family’s fortune, and Tom Raikes, who nearly used her as a stepping stone. She no longer tolerates lies—not because she’s moralistic, but because she can’t bear to be betrayed again.

Bertha and Marian: Two Women Who Punish Omission

In their shared demand for honesty, Bertha and Marian are more alike than either realizes. In Season 1, Bertha nearly ended her marriage when George failed to tell her that Turner tried to seduce him. He resisted, but he didn’t confess. For Bertha, that omission was nearly equivalent to betrayal. It broke her trust.

By the same logic, Marian is now justified in ending things with Larry. But because Bertha doesn’t want her as a daughter-in-law, she’s likely to side with Larry. She often brushes things off with “boys will be boys” logic, excusing male behavior as harmless fun. It’s here that Bertha and Marian diverge: Bertha applies double standards when it suits her.

When George omitted the truth, Bertha felt justified in holding him accountable. But when Marian expects the same honesty from Larry, she’s “too sensitive.” Hypocrisy divided women long before the idea of sisterhood ever entered the picture.

Ideally, once Bertha learns the real reason for the breakup, she’d recognize Marian’s strength. Or at least acknowledge that Marian has learned to protect herself. But instead, she sees the situation as an opportunity—to match Larry with a “better” candidate.

The Growth of Bertha and Marian: Mirrors, Not Opposites

Over the seasons, Bertha has gone from ruthless outsider to legitimate host of New York’s “Four Hundred.” She’s built palaces, forged alliances, and orchestrated marriages. She’s learned the rules and bent them. And through it all, she’s kept a functional and loving marriage with George.

Marian began as passive, almost invisible—but quietly evolved. She defied Agnes, broke off an engagement for the sake of her integrity, and insisted on working as a teacher. Her wardrobe changed—from neutral tones to bolder colors reflecting her growing confidence. Her gaze, too, has hardened—still kind, but now more discerning, less easily swayed.

What’s Next? A Moment That Could Change Everything

In the trailers for the final episodes of the season, we see Marian devastated, Ada comforting her, and Larry confronting his parents. Bertha, as always, tries to justify her meddling:

“I only want what’s best for everyone.”
Larry responds bluntly:
“You only want what’s best for you.”

But the biggest twist is yet to come—and Carrie Coon accidentally revealed it in an interview.

In the upcoming episodes, George Russell will be the target of an attack. And the person who saves him—against all expectations—will be Marian Brook.

In a life-or-death moment, Marian will rush Dr. Kirkland to the Russell mansion just in time. Her heroic action, nearly fatal in its urgency, echoes an earlier moment in Season 1 when Marian unknowingly delivered key information that saved George’s business.

If George admired her before, he may now all but command Larry to marry her. Joking aside, Marian’s actions eliminate any rational or social objection to her suitability. She is loyal, brave, and selfless—three qualities Bertha has always valued, even if she won’t admit it.

And here comes Carrie Coon’s major spoiler:

“After that, Bertha will finally recognize Marian’s worth and come to appreciate her.”

But… will it be too late?

Marian may have shut that door. And if Larry is to win her back, it won’t be because of his parents—it will have to come from her. The scar from the lie still hurts. But perhaps, in witnessing Bertha and George bow their heads—a rare sight indeed—Marian will rediscover her faith in love. For the first time, she will not be treated as “less than,” but as an equal.