“The Gilded Age” Episode 1 Re-Cap

There has been a Downton Abbey sized hole in my entertainment life for a while now. I love a good period drama, and I was very, very excited when HBO announced “The Gilded Age” as a series. Created by Julian Fellowes, the same writer behind Downton Abbey and the move Gosford Park, the first episode provides the same snappy pace and the upstairs/downstairs dramas of the wealthy and their servants.

The first episode opens in 1882 New York featuring Agnes Van Rhijn, an “old money” matron who is disapprovingly watching an elaborate mansion being built across the street by the “new money” Russell family. Agnes lives with her meek spinster sister, Ada, and soon they are joined by the their penniless, but lovely and proper niece, Marion.

Marion had a rough journey from Pennsylvania and was offered assistance from Peggy, a Black woman and aspiring writer. Somewhat surprisingly, Agnes offers Peggy a job as her secretary and Peggy lives among the servants in Agnes’s home.

Meanwhile, across the street, Bertha Russell is stridently plotting her entrance into New York society. The new money Russell family consists of George, a railroad tycoon, and his wife Bertha, and their seemingly nice children, recent Harvard grad Freddy and young Gladys who will soon have her debut in society.

The first episode had gorgeous costumes, sets, and excellent pacing to the storyline. On the downside, I found that Bertha Russell was very one dimensional and her quest to enter upper crust New York society was banged over the viewer’s head like a hammer. I hope Bertha gets a bit more character development. I also enjoyed cameos from real Gilded Age characters like Stanford White. Blink and you would miss a reference to James “Rosy” Roosevelt, the older half brother of Franklin D. Roosevelt who was married to Helen Astor.

Overall, “The Gilded Age” is not high quality drama, but rather an engaging story enhanced by historical customs, beautiful period costumes and sets. Perfect escapism!