Assassination attempts, blackmail, scandals… none of it comes close to the real tension at the heart of The Gilded Age Season 3: do Marian and Larry break up for good — or find their way back to each other?

Larian — yes, for those of us who’ve embraced the ship name with our whole heart — is exploding. What once seemed like the most promising couple of the season has now become the center of a drama that no one knows will end in reconciliation… or a final goodbye. And the worst part? The show is using everything — images, actor quotes, trailers, interviews — to keep us dangling in the most frustrating way possible.

Let’s start with the basics: Season 3 carefully built what looked like Marian’s emotional maturity. After the heartbreak with Tom Raikes and the failed attempt at settling into a traditional marriage with Dashiell Montgomery, she finally seemed to find something different in Larry Russell. A kind, cultured man, with real artistic ambition — and, more importantly, someone who didn’t expect her to be just a decorative wife. Their engagement was quiet, sincere, and filled with hope. And then… it shattered.

When Marian finds out Larry went to the Haymarket with his friends, everything collapses. And the problem isn’t even where he went — it’s that he hid it, lied, and then acted like it was no big deal. But for Marian — who’s trying to live with integrity, transparency, and equality (which was radical for the 1880s) — it was a big deal. She ends things bluntly, with no room for discussion. And just like that, one of the most beloved romances of the season becomes a heartbreaking emotional void.

The fandom is deeply divided. Some defend Marian fiercely — saying she has every right to demand honesty, to reject lies, and to pursue a more modern kind of marriage, even if the world around her isn’t ready. Others argue she overreacted. Larry made a mistake, yes, but he deserved a chance to explain before being cut out of her life. On Reddit, Tumblr, and Twitter/X, opinions are intense. Some call Marian “the most annoying character on TV” (yes, The Daily Beast even ran a piece with that headline), while others praise her as the most consistent and principled woman on the show.

Behind the scenes, it’s clear the creators are leaning into this ambiguity. Writer Sonja Warfield said on a recent podcast that “if that story between them is meant to happen, it will eventually happen” — so, nothing is final, but nothing is certain either. Series creator Julian Fellowes has previously said the chemistry between Louisa Jacobson (Marian) and Harry Richardson (Larry) helped shape this romance on the page. But he’s also made it clear that their relationship reflects the broader clash between modern ideals and conservative structures of the era.

Director and executive producer Salli Richardson-Whitfield also commented on Episode 7 in a recent interview that’s circulating online, and in this YouTube short, she gives a knowing smile that says she’s hiding something big. It’s clear she’s referring to the drama so far — specifically Episode 7 — but the future? Wide open. Even the promo images, with Larry and Marian always pictured separately but both looking devastated, suggest that the feeling is still there. Unresolved. Maybe even intentional misdirection.

As for Larry: he’s had one of the most interesting arcs this season. He’s stepped away from his father’s model of masculinity — rejecting politics and financial speculation in favor of architecture and creative autonomy. When he falls for Marian, he means it. He really believes he can offer something different from what women were used to in 1885. But even with all that good will, he still stumbles into the behaviors of his time. When he lies, he doesn’t really apologize. When confronted, he shuts down. He believes he “did nothing wrong,” and that’s exactly the problem: to Marian, it was wrong.

Now we’ve reached the most critical point of the season. Episode 7 ends with an assassination attempt on George Russell — and it’s Marian who calls for Dr. Kirkland. This moment might be the key to everything. For the first time, Marian and Bertha are united — through pain, fear, and uncertainty. If George survives (and all signs point to yes), this crisis could melt the ice between daughter-in-law and mother-in-law… and open the door to a new conversation.

In the trailer for the season finale, we even hear Agnes telling Marian she “overreacted” and should apologize to Larry. And we see Larry crying (for his father? for Marian?). Marian says she “would do anything for him.” Yet… we also see her leaving the Russell home alone, standing at the entrance of the Newport ball alone, trying to hold back tears with Aurora, and clearly emotional in front of Larry. No happy images. Nothing resolved.

With the official renewal of Season 4 (announced in July after Season 3’s strong ratings), the writers no longer need to rush to close these arcs. So it’s very possible Marian and Larry don’t get back together in this finale — but the path stays open. Maybe they reconnect quietly at the ball. Maybe there’s no words, just a look across the room that says what they can’t yet say aloud. It wouldn’t be surprising at all if the season ends with a subtle, heavy moment — the kind of emotional weight only The Gilded Age knows how to deliver.

Personally? I still root for them. Because they’re not easy. Because they’re flawed. Because they’re trying to grow in a world that doesn’t allow much room for growth. But I also get why some fans have run out of patience. Because yes, sometimes you just want to scream: YOU LOVE EACH OTHER, JUST SAY IT ALREADY!

The season finale airs on Sunday, August 11, and it promises to either tie — or further unravel — the threads between Marian and Larry. Whatever happens, one thing’s for sure: Larian still gets to us. Despite all the frustration, no one can look away. Because maybe — just like Marian and Larry — we’re all still trying to figure out what it means to truly love in a world that makes it nearly impossible.