I’m still so annoyed with Marian that I can barely focus on recapping what was another incredible episode of The Gilded Age — arguably the best this season. Classic drama at its finest: misunderstandings, suspense, heartbreak, romance, and fresh starts. Amazing! But Marian… grrr.

Bertha: The Queen of Chaos

The most frustrating character this season has undoubtedly been Bertha Russell. Acting like a spoiled rich teenager, she’s arrogant and completely out of touch with those closest to her. Now that she’s “achieved” what she wanted — smoothing things over between Gladys and Hector — she’s ready to move on to the next party, the next scandal, and is surprised to find herself alone in her own mansion.

George, who seems to be on the brink of ruin every season, only to end up richer, has been in serious trouble for six episodes. But only now — when he can’t pay his daughter’s dowry — does Bertha seem to grasp the severity of the crisis. Or perhaps she’s just pretending to care, as her real focus is on Ward McAllister’s book and aligning with Mrs. Astor to exile him from society. Oh, and planning the Newport ball, of course.

In this context, she’s even more tone-deaf when it comes to her son. Larry is heartbroken after being ghosted by Marian (more on that shortly) and becomes furious when Bertha shrugs off the broken engagement, suggesting that if Marian won’t speak to him or explain herself, she doesn’t deserve him. Many might agree with Bertha — but coming from her, after all she’s done and said, it’s too much. Larry explodes, calling out exactly what he is to her: just another pawn in her game. When George sides with his son, Bertha is shaken — realizing she’s lost control of them both.

Bertha spends most of the episode begging for the attention of two men who are simply exhausted by her vanity and refusal to acknowledge how justified they are in having absolutely no patience left for her.

Marian: Where Did Our Heroine Go?

Oh, Marian… what happened to the shy, intelligent, quietly spirited young woman from Season 1?

Let’s start with her most sensitive moment in the episode. Now more comfortable around her family, she worries about Oscar, who is silently mourning John Adams. After learning that John had spoken of him to his sister — and even left him a house and money — Oscar loses control.

Agnes and Ada bombard him with awkward questions about John, and he explodes. Marian goes upstairs to console him, and he opens up to her, terrified she might reject him. But she embraces him with love and compassion — a moving, tender scene.

And yet, when it comes to Larry, Marian is cold, angry, and unwilling to even consider the unanimous advice to hear him out. For her, knowing he lied is enough. When Larry finally tracks her down at school, he begs her to at least let him explain. She unloads all her frustration, and he tells her the truth: he didn’t know how to tell her where he was going, but he didn’t actually do anything wrong. Marian is so set on ending things that she declares the problem still stands — if he felt the need to lie, that’s bad enough. Larry gives up, heartbroken — for now.

Back home, Peggy tries to persuade her to reconsider. Ada does the same, reminding Marian that she’s making a mistake by not even giving Larry a chance. But Marian insists: every man in her life has deceived her, and she’d rather be alone.

And then, finally, someone gives her a reality check. While helping Jack — the former footman — buy a house, he confronts her. She doesn’t want to hear it, but he pushes: Larry is innocent. Nothing happened. When she questions him, Jack is firm: I was with him the entire time. He had one drink and went home. Boom. Your move, Marian.

Ward McAllister: A Social Suicide

Much of the episode draws from real events. The release of McAllister’s book led to his immediate social exile. He’s shunned from balls, teas, and the very society he once worshipped.

Before that happens, he has a great scene with Bertha, asking for help. She tells him she plans to ignore the rules that punish divorced women — since they’re judged far more harshly than men. But as for McAllister, well… he chose to write that book and air everyone’s secrets. There’s nothing to be done.

The Spy Downstairs

It was great fun watching Church, Mrs. Bruce, and Bolder finally catch Mrs. Andre red-handed. Yes, she was selling Russell family secrets for $40. And now she’s gone.

Peggy: Activist… and Avoidant?

Peggy is all in on the women’s suffrage campaign, with support from Marian and now Ada. But as we’ve said before, she seems to have abandoned the William Kirkland situation a little too easily.

She never told the doctor the truth about her marriage annulled, her baby put up for adoption, and so on. It was not only about a fling with a married man, which William forgave and forgot.

She’s watching Marian cut Larry off for maybe sneaking around, but hasn’t stopped to consider how William might react to her truth?

Well, now it’s out: the disapproving mother-in-law found out everything and told William. So what does Dr. Kirkland do? He goes straight to Peggy, wanting to hear it from her — and understand why she kept it all hidden.

Are you listening, Marian?

Oh, and he shows up at the Van Rhijn house… but anyone who’s seen the spoiler knows he has another reason to be on 61st Street at that very moment.

Gladys and Hector: The Game-Changer

Meanwhile, in England, we get a little Downton Abbey-style romance. Hector and Gladys are slowly falling for each other. He’s not fazed by the Russell family drama — he just wants to be with her.

Together, they inform Lady Sarah that they’ll be traveling to the U.S. for Bertha’s Newport ball. And when they return, they believe she’ll be happier living in her own London home. A power move.

George Russell: 19th-Century CEO

While everything else crumbles, George remains laser-focused on business. Larry saves the family fortune by purchasing the copper mines, giving George the leverage he needs to strike back at his enemies and resume his railroad ambitions.

He also seizes another chance to humiliate and threaten Clay, who warns him: I’m like a cockroach — I always come back. I was terrified. George? Completely unfazed.

Then, as he’s gathering documents at the end of the day, a man walks into the house with a message… pulls a revolver from his coat… and fires.

Next Week: Season Finale Incoming

Next week brings the season’s final episode — and after that cliffhanger, the speculation begins…