Gilded Age - Episode 5
Even though he was only involved in a short scene, I enjoyed Nathan Lane so much! I hope he comes back in future episodes! Natan Lane played Ward McAllister, a society gatekeeper which Bertha was utterly delighted to be invited to meet at Mrs. Fane’s luncheon. Bertha was also invited to be part of the journey to Danville in support of Clara Barton’s expansion of the Red Cross which Bertha, for a number of reasons, has chosen to support.
In Danville, they encounter a shocked and appalled Mrs. Morris who blames her husband’s suicide on the Russells and calls Bertha the “daughter of a potato digger.” Upper crust folks really didn’t like Irish people back then. Mrs. Morris is also appalled that Peggy is there and allowed to interview Clara Barton and join them on a tour.
Other happenings in Danville include the presence of Mr. Raikes, who attended the luncheon with Mr. McAllister and arranged the accommodations for the ladies. Mr. Raikes and Marian share a SCANDALOUS kiss which Peggy breaks up. Marian and Peggy have a heart-to-heart afterwards, which leads me to believe that there is more heartbreak and possibly secrets in Peggy’s past related to the stock boy she fell in love with that met with her father’s disapproval.
Ok, here is my theory about the real life person Bertha is based on - I believe her character is based, in part, on Alva Vanderbilt Belmont. A few strong similarities emerged in previous episodes. Like Bertha, Alva was a wealthy social climber, determined to break her way into the pinnacle of New York society. She was known for the lavish homes she built on Fifth Avenue as well as in Newport. The similarity I noticed in this episode involves her relationship with her poor long-suffering daughter Gladys and Gladys’ perspective beau, Archie Baldwin. Archie, as George Russell points out, is a perfectly acceptable gentleman of New York society, but, Bertha wants more. Here is where I see another strong parallel to Alva. Like poor Gladys, Alva dominated her daughter, Consuelo. Alva wanted a highly prestigious match for Consuelo, so Alva pretty much forced her to marry the Duke of Marlborough, who did not love her, but needed her dowry to for the maintenance of Blenheim castle (the Duke of Marlborough was also Winston Churchill’s first cousin, and Winston liked Consuelo!) Consuelo was in love with a perfectly acceptable society gentleman, Winthrop Rutherford, with whom she was secretly engaged. Alva threaten to kill Rutherford, and Alva pretended that the whole situation made her deathly ill. Finally, Consuelo acquiesced to her mother’s wishes and Alva experienced a miraculous recovery. Poor Consuelo cried behind her veil at the alter.
I definitely think that Bertha, like Alva, will strong-arm Gladys into a match that Bertha feels will elevate the Russells in society, and Gladys will secretly pine for the lost Archie Baldwin. I guess Archie had it better than Winthrop, as at least he is offered a lucrative career opportunity.
Side note - After his first wife died, Winthrop Rutherford married Lucy Mercer, former social secretary to Eleanor Roosevelt and former mistress of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Reportedly, it was a happy match despite the fairly large age difference. After Rutherford died, Lucy resumed her friendship with FDR. She was with him in Warm Springs, Georgia when he died in April 1945. Okay, could Julian Fellowes please do a sweeping mini-series on the Roosevelts? There is so, so, so much material.
Final note - The alliance between Oscar Van Rhjin and the scheming lady’s maid to Bertha, Turner, will produce a lot of drama!
