I think the reviewer wanted this to be an American version of Downton Abbey which it wasn't. It's a brash, in your face story about a time in America's history past when the world was changing.
America was post-Civil War. Fortunes were being made and lost. A new class of the super wealthy were emulating the royalty of Europe with their mansions, balls, embellishments of home and person, and arranged marriages.
Maybe it's just me, but I found the series captivating and definitely binge worthy.
I didn't know what to expect when I decided to watch this HBO series on a Sunday evening other than it was set during the period of time when America seemed to be minting millionaires by the dozen.
The era of The Gilded Age was the American equivalent of the latter part of England's Victorian era.
PRODUCTION TEAM
Created by Julian Fellowes, the man behind the beloved Downton Abbey, The Gilded Age displays the same class separation, the same materialism, and the same use of arranged marriage to strengthen a family's power and wealth.
Directed by Michael Engler and Salli Richardson Whitfield and Produced by Holly Rymon and Claire M. Shanley, this HBO production is a must see if you're a fan of Regency and/or Victorian England.
CAST
The reason I chose to watch this was because Christine Baranski was one of the leads. I'll watch anything she's in because she's just so darn good in everything. In this, she plays the iron-willed Agnes van Rhijn, a widow who married to support her sister.
CAST
The reason I chose to watch this was because Christine Baranski was one of the leads. I'll watch anything she's in because she's just so darn good in everything. In this, she plays the iron-willed Agnes van Rhijn, a widow who married to support her sister.
Most of the remaining cast members were new to me, but they are superb in their roles. These include:
Carrie Coon as Bertha Russell, a woman determined to be admitted to New York's "high society" ruled by Caroline Webster "Lina" Schermerhorn Astor played by Donna Murphy.
Louisa Jacobson is completely believable as Marian Brook, the impoverished and sweetly naive niece who comes to live with her Aunt Agatha and Aunt Ada.
Carrie Coon as Bertha Russell, a woman determined to be admitted to New York's "high society" ruled by Caroline Webster "Lina" Schermerhorn Astor played by Donna Murphy.
Louisa Jacobson is completely believable as Marian Brook, the impoverished and sweetly naive niece who comes to live with her Aunt Agatha and Aunt Ada.
I think the reason I found him likable was because of his honesty, his obvious love for his social-climbing wife, and the fact that he was faithful to her. He didn't dally with the women who worked for him.
Cynthia Nixon as Ada Brook, a spinster who missed out on her opportunity for marriage, was such a nice surprise. She wasn't as flighty as she first appeared. She was gentle and loving. You'll be surprised when you discover why she wasn't able to marry.
Denée Benton as Peggy Scott was remarkable. She's a young journalist estranged from her family and trying to make her way in the world as a writer. In that era, she had two strikes against her: being a woman and being African American.
Harry Richardson as Larry Russell, the son of George and Bertha Russell, is intelligent, sweet, and honest. His desire is to make his own way in the world and not live in his famous father's shadow.
Cynthia Nixon as Ada Brook, a spinster who missed out on her opportunity for marriage, was such a nice surprise. She wasn't as flighty as she first appeared. She was gentle and loving. You'll be surprised when you discover why she wasn't able to marry.
Denée Benton as Peggy Scott was remarkable. She's a young journalist estranged from her family and trying to make her way in the world as a writer. In that era, she had two strikes against her: being a woman and being African American.
Harry Richardson as Larry Russell, the son of George and Bertha Russell, is intelligent, sweet, and honest. His desire is to make his own way in the world and not live in his famous father's shadow.
Taissa Farmiga is Gladys Russell, Larry's sister who hasn't had her "coming out" yet, and who is already a mark for Oscar van Rhijin, Agnes's unscrupulotus son played by Blake Ritson.
Of course, there are many other cast members, and it was nice to see Jeanne Tripplehorn, Robert Sean Leonard, Audra McDonald, and Nathan Lane.
If you find yourself interested in the America of The Gilded Age, you might want to check out some of the books on the subject. The one shown above is by Milton Rugoff and is a Kindle edition of his hardcover published in 1989.
If you want the original Hardback edition of Rugoff's book, it's also available on Amazon.
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