Just one more Sunday until we return to New York in The Gilded Age! The fourth season premieres on November 1, and HBO is doing a particularly good job of building anticipation without revealing exactly what will happen. We have a trailer, a delightful behind-the-scenes video, Invitation to Set, and the first official photographs from the season premiere. Putting everything together, we can begin to connect a few dots, although plenty of mysteries remain. Just as they should.

What strikes me most is that Julian Fellowes seems ready to change the balance of power among his characters. For three seasons, we have primarily followed Bertha Russell’s ambitions, Agnes van Rhijn’s resistance, and the younger generation’s attempts to find their place in a world dominated by women who were unwilling to surrender an inch of authority. Now, according to executive producer David Crockett, all the younger characters have taken a step forward and are beginning to have a real impact on the world around them.

That may be the most important revelation in the new video, because the images suggest exactly that: Marian becoming more daring, Oscar and Enid hoping to control the direction of society, Peggy facing controversial decisions, and Larry becoming involved in events that go far beyond his romantic life. Louisa Jacobson promises that people will be pretty wild this season, and judging by what we have seen so far, I believe her.

Marian Is Finally Letting Her Hair Down. But How Far Will She Go?

Louisa Jacobson uses a wonderful expression to describe Marian’s transformation: she will finally let her hair down. And that could mean many things for a character who has spent much of the series trying to please the people she loves, even when she disagrees with them. Marian has always been more independent than Agnes would like, but she is also careful, considerate, and frequently willing to sacrifice her own desires to avoid hurting others. Now, things appear to be changing.

The official photographs from the first episode show Marian dancing enthusiastically with Larry Russell at a party decorated with Oriental-inspired motifs. It is a particularly interesting image because, although the two remain emotionally connected, we still have no confirmation that they have reconciled as a couple. Their dance suggests intimacy and happiness, but not necessarily a romantic reunion.

The trailer also includes a romantic sequence involving a carriage during a storm, as well as glimpses of Marian’s growing involvement in social causes. She seems increasingly interested in finding a purpose that is not limited to marriage. But there is an even more provocative detail: we know that Agnes will support Marian in a decision that Ada opposes. How did that happen?

Agnes, who spent three seasons trying to discipline her niece, will become her defender, while Ada, traditionally Marian’s greatest ally, will discover something she considers unacceptable. One possibility is that Marian will finally explore a romantic or sexual freedom she has previously avoided. Another, equally intriguing possibility involves her growing connection with Oscar and Enid.

The first-episode photographs show Marian attending the same party as the pair, while the video suggests a celebration considerably more daring than the traditional society balls, with drinking, lively dancing, and an almost can-can atmosphere. Ada is more prudish and morally conventional than Agnes in certain respects. Agnes may be conservative, but she is also profoundly pragmatic and understands society’s hypocrisies. If Marian is supporting Oscar and Enid’s extravagances, perhaps Agnes will find reasons to tolerate behavior that Ada considers scandalous, especially since Enid represents money, something the van Rhijn family desperately needs.

We do not know whether these storylines are directly connected, but the possibility of Agnes defending a newly adventurous Marian while Ada becomes the guardian of propriety is simply too delicious to ignore.

Larry Russell: Dancing, Theater, and a Desperate Run

Larry also appears in several very different situations. Besides his dance with Marian, we see him with Simon and attending a performance of The Pirates of Penzance, the celebrated operetta by Gilbert and Sullivan. Simon is onstage, and Larry joins him holding a glass of champagne before an enthusiastic audience.

The operetta, which premiered in New York in 1879, is an intriguing choice for a series that has always enjoyed incorporating real cultural events into its characters’ personal stories. What is Larry celebrating, and what role will Simon play in this new chapter?

Another moment is even more mysterious. During the celebrations surrounding the dedication of the Statue of Liberty, Larry appears to be running frantically through a crowd of carriages, American flags, and people filling the streets. Historically, the dedication took place on October 28, 1886, in the presence of President Grover Cleveland. We do not know what has prompted Larry’s desperate run, but the contrast between a national celebration and his apparent personal emergency makes this one of the most intriguing images in the video.

Is he trying to find someone, prevent something from happening, or respond to unexpected news? Whatever the answer, Larry will clearly have more to do than remain Marian’s romantic interest. Considering the crisis within the Russell family, that may be exactly what his character needs.

Peggy May Do Something We Won’t Approve Of

Denée Benton makes one of the video’s most intriguing statements, suggesting that Peggy will have moments when audiences may not support her decisions. It is an important observation because Peggy has consistently been a character who faces injustice, prejudice, and social obstacles. Now, apparently, she will also have the opportunity to make mistakes of her own.

Her engagement to William Kirkland remains one of the major developments of the season. The images show the couple together and affectionate, but we already know that Elizabeth Kirkland, played by Phylicia Rashad, has no intention of making life easy for her future daughter-in-law. Peggy will also have to balance the expectations of her new family with her professional ambitions, and the trailer suggests that their careers could become another source of tension.

But does the controversial decision Benton mentions involve William, Peggy’s career, her family, or something we have not yet imagined? What interests me most is that the actress is not simply promising more suffering for Peggy. She is suggesting a woman willing to make choices, even at the risk of losing the approval of those around her. That is a fundamental difference.

Bertha Russell Has Conquered Society, but She May Lose George

Carrie Coon confirms what the third-season finale had already made clear: the Russells will face a serious marital crisis while attempting to preserve the public appearance of a happy family. Bertha has achieved almost everything she wanted. She has become one of New York’s most influential women, won seemingly impossible social battles, and secured an extraordinary marriage for Gladys. The price, however, has been enormous.

George has discovered how far his wife was prepared to go to fulfill her ambitions, and the trust that sustained their marriage has been deeply damaged. The promotional images show George looking serious, distant, and apparently resistant to Bertha’s attempts to approach him. In one official photograph, she places a hand against his chest while he maintains a closed, troubled expression. They certainly do not look like a reconciled couple.

The irony is obvious. Bertha spent years organizing her family’s life to achieve social recognition. Now she must convince the world that the family she helped build is not falling apart. And Enid Winterton, naturally, will not miss an opportunity to provoke her.

In the trailer, Enid questions the appearance of happiness in the Russell household, reviving a rivalry that seemed to have reached a temporary truce at the end of the third season, when she even suggested that the two women might become friends. Friendship between Bertha and Turner? I’ll believe that when I see it.

Meanwhile, Gladys will have challenges of her own following her marriage to the Duke of Buckingham. The pregnancy revealed at the end of the third season adds another dimension to the story of a young woman who has already paid a considerable personal price for her mother’s ambitions.

Is Agnes Changing, or Simply Adjusting Her Strategy?

One of the most curious images from the behind-the-scenes video shows Agnes calmly walking with Ada after apparently leaving the Russell mansion. Yes, Agnes van Rhijn crossing the street after visiting her former adversaries without displaying her usual indignation.

The visit may be purely circumstantial, but it becomes particularly interesting when we remember that Agnes is determined to regain her social standing after losing financial control of her own household. The trailer also anticipates a dinner honoring President Grover Cleveland, an occasion that should put her organizational abilities and social influence to the test.

One official photograph is especially suggestive: Agnes shows Ada a family coat of arms. At a time when Oscar is considering marriage to Enid, the importance of the van Rhijn lineage may acquire a whole new meaning. Agnes has always believed that a distinguished surname is an incomparable asset, but perhaps she is about to discover that it can also become part of a negotiation.

The real question is how far she is prepared to go to protect her family and recover her authority.

Oscar and Enid Want to Rule New York

Bertha Russell’s former lady’s maid may be approaching her most ambitious transformation yet. The trailer shows Enid and Oscar discussing the possibility of challenging the social authority of Mrs. Astor and Bertha Russell, while the behind-the-scenes footage reveals that their alliance goes far beyond a marriage of convenience.

Kelley Curran explains that the two characters believe they can become cultural tastemakers. Blake Ritson goes even further, suggesting that they want to be the ultimate arbiters of taste, the people who establish trends and decide what deserves society’s approval. That is considerably more ambitious than simply earning a place among the wealthy.

Enid tells Agnes that she would be surprised by all the wonderful things she and Oscar can accomplish together. Coming from Turner, the statement sounds almost like an elegantly disguised threat.

The video also shows Enid visibly upset by something she reads in a newspaper. In other scenes, however, she is seen speaking with President Grover Cleveland and sitting beside him at a dinner. There is also a sequence in which she receives public applause. What exactly is she doing to acquire such influence?

The first-episode photographs show Oscar and Enid together at a party, accompanied by Marian, all holding drinks. The celebration itself appears particularly lively, quite unlike the rigid social gatherings we became accustomed to during the earlier seasons.

Could this be one of Oscar and Enid’s first attempts to establish themselves as New York’s new tastemakers? We do not know, but if their intention is to challenge Bertha and Mrs. Astor, beginning with culture, parties, and entertainment makes perfect sense.

And there is an even more intriguing possibility: Agnes, who once helped dismiss Turner from the Russell household, may soon have to learn to live with her as a daughter-in-law.

Jack and His New Invention: A Mixing Machine!

While the aristocracy debates surnames, marriages, and invitations, Jack Trotter remains occupied with something that genuinely changes the world: inventions.

The video features a fair dedicated to inventors and industrialists, displaying machines and technological innovations. Jack appears beside a new creation, identified in the exhibition setting as a mixing machine. After the success of his previous invention, he seems to be entering a new phase of his professional life. The idea of a mechanical mixer is particularly interesting because it transforms an ordinary domestic activity into an industrial opportunity.

The series has always been fascinated by the contrast between inherited wealth and self-made fortunes. Jack represents an America in which a young servant can achieve financial independence through his own ingenuity. The official photographs also show him working while Bridget watches nearby. Will his professional success finally allow him to consider building a life with her?

The exhibition itself, with references to Edison, sewing machines, telephones, and other innovations, reinforces the production’s attention to an era when new technologies were transforming everyday life.

Weddings, Parties, and a Changing New York

The video also includes images of a religious wedding ceremony, with a bride walking down the aisle, as well as a flower-decorated carriage outside a residence. Are these images from the same wedding, and who is getting married?

We also see lavish parties, unusually energetic dancing, theatrical performances, and elegant gatherings. One celebration features Oriental-inspired decorations, peacocks, lanterns, and plenty of music, while another has a more traditional atmosphere.

The official photographs confirm that at least one of these parties will play an important role in the premiere, with Marian, Larry, Oscar, and Enid attending the same event.

All of this unfolds during an especially eventful period in American history, marked by the dedication of the Statue of Liberty, the presence of the President of the United States, and the cultural and technological transformations of the late nineteenth century.

This is precisely what I have always enjoyed about The Gilded Age: major historical events are never merely decorative. They allow Julian Fellowes to confront his characters with changes they do not always understand or know how to control.

HBO seems to be building suspense intelligently, revealing just enough to capture our curiosity while carefully avoiding the consequences. We see Larry running, but do not know why. We see Enid applauded, but have no idea what she has accomplished. We know Peggy will make difficult choices, but not what those choices will be. And Marian promises to embrace greater freedom just as Ada appears ready to oppose her.

Meanwhile, Bertha must pretend everything is fine, Agnes attempts to recover her authority, and Oscar may be about to discover that his new partner is even more ambitious than he imagined.

There is just one more Sunday before we return to New York, and this time I have the feeling that every character is preparing to break at least one of the rules they spent three seasons trying to respect. I cannot wait!