It’s almost like detective work: piecing together the footage from the season finale trailer, the episode summary, the released photos, and what we know from spoilers. There’s so much drama and so many storylines to resolve!

The third season of The Gilded Age managed to be the most intense and interesting of them all. Moving into the fourth—which could be the final season—it becomes even more important to decipher the hints about where the story is headed.

Here we go:

Ep 8 “My mind is made up”

Despite objections from Mrs. Astor, Bertha finalizes the guest list for the ball – and faces the consequences of her actions.

Meanwhile, Kirkland makes a decision about his future with Peggy.

Oscar reconnects with a previous acquaintance.

Marian struggles to move forward.

The title of the episode worries me because we have two couples in conflict—Peggy and William, as well as Marian and Larry—and the phrase hints that one side will not back down…

I don’t know about you, but I was already Team George even before the assassination attempt. The world was falling apart, and they were still arguing about a ball?? Exactly. But since I couldn’t spoil anything in the earlier summary, now we can connect the dots.

In the shocking final moments of the penultimate episode, a gunman breaks into the Russell mansion intending to assassinate George — just as he had managed to save his fortune with Larry’s help. When the finale opens, George is lying between life and death, and the one trying to save him is Dr. William Kirkland, who just happened to be across the street visiting his beloved Peggy. So yes, the hero of the moment is the very doctor currently caught in emotional turmoil.

In short, George doesn’t die. Carrie Coon let it slip in interviews that Bertha initially disapproves of Marian and Larry as a couple, but changes her mind when she “brings Dr. Kirkland to save George’s life.” That’s right — I didn’t even bother to worry about George. And more than that, the season trailer already showed him dancing with Bertha at the Newport ball, looking very much in love. So yes, there will be immediate drama from the attack, but Marian — who was with Peggy and Kirkland at the Van Rhijns’ — will likely earn points for being there and helping. I’m not sure if Larry will be ready to pick things up again, but one thing’s for sure: George will always love Marian as a daughter-in-law.

Now, about Larry and Marian: based on what’s been said in trailers, photos, and interviews, while George is fighting for his life, Larry will be the one to take the first step toward repairing the deep rift with Marian. At some point, she’ll also apologize and declare herself to him, but it looks like they only really face a make-or-break moment at the ball (the episode’s final scenes), and Marian’s tearful expression doesn’t give me much hope.

It’s not completely over, but Larry makes it clear: they have serious communication issues, and it’s not something that can be fixed in one night. As those who’ve seen the episode say, we’re in for “broken hearts, shattered conventions, apologies, redemptions, and dreams coming true” — and everything revolves around one word: Trust. According to co-showrunner and writer Sonja Warfield, “Trust is vital in all relationships. And when that falters, it calls everything into question.”

Speaking of Larry and Marian: according to the trailer, the photos, and the interviews, she will apologize and confess her feelings to her boyfriend, but the ball will only see a brief give-and-take (at the episode’s finale), and Marian’s tearful glance does not give me hope. It’s not definitively over, but Larry warns: they have serious communication problems, and one night won’t solve everything.

Back to the ball: Mrs. Astor opposes Bertha, who wants to include the divorced Aurora Fane among the guests. This would benefit Caroline’s own daughter, but she is radically against bending the rules to accommodate exiles. In real life, Mrs. Astor broke definitively with her daughter after the scandal, divorce, and second marriage—will the show stay true to history?

Photos and the trailer show that Bertha is still dealing with family drama and explaining herself to Gladys for forcing the marriage with Hector, Duke of Buckingham, but all goes well between the couple, who are happy and seen dancing among the guests.

From the tears and the comforting words Peggy receives from her mother — assuring her of her worth — we can tell that William won’t be able to accept his fiancée’s omission about having been previously married and having had a child. A temporary victory for the arrogant Elizabeth Kirkland, at least for a few scenes. Peggy is about to face a true emotional roller coaster, because she had intended to tell William the truth, but Elizabeth got ahead of her — and caused a deep wound. “This presents an enormous hurdle in their relationship,” says showrunner Sonja Warfield.

At the Newport ball, Peggy not only attends, supported by her friends and family, but dances with another man in front of a frustrated Dr. Kirkland. He loves Peggy, and I’m sure he “will make his decision” to break with his mother and be with her. I’m betting on the couple!

Oscar will also play an important role in the season finale. He asks Bertha for a favor and, in a surprising turn, reconnects with Enid Winterton, now a widow. Remember her? She was Oscar’s accomplice back in Season 1 — they crossed paths again in Season 2 and remained friends. Enid, once a fierce rival of Bertha’s, is present at the ball — most likely thanks to Oscar’s invitation. Could this friendship turn into a marriage of convenience? That remains to be seen.

When it comes to Marian and her struggle to move on, the issue remains the same: she judged Larry harshly and never gave him a real chance to explain himself. Now she’s dealing with the consequences. It won’t be easy to forget what she did — and perhaps impossible to pretend it never happened.

Agnes van Rhijn will have to deal with Oscar courting a widow whose past she knows little about, but she receives an unexpected historical honor — something we already sensed in the previous episode! Meanwhile, Ada consolidates her status as the true leader of the household.

There’s also speculation that Jack Trotter will finally achieve his dream and be invited to the ball. And who will he bring as his date? Bridget! A promising ending for two servants who dared to dream big — even if, as the showrunner put it, “this social rise will put him at odds with his past.” That’s because Jack is about to discover the same barriers Marian once questioned: as a gentleman with a beautiful new townhouse, he’s just beginning a new life — one filled with unfamiliar rules. Will he succeed without losing his soul along the way? Will he stay with Bridget or become the next Tom Raikes, chasing a woman with pedigree? Time will tell.

And of course, we can’t forget George. Despite the attempt on his life, he attends the ball and reconciles with Bertha. But will things truly be alright between them? We’ll only know for sure in 2027, when The Gilded Age returns for its fourth season.

In the final moments of the episode, the Russell family receives a welcome surprise — but also a major twist that could deeply change Bertha’s life. And we can’t wait.