The year is 1890, and New York City is a world shimmering with contradictions — dazzling wealth and crushing poverty, towering ambition and quiet despair. The skyline climbs higher, fortunes rise and fall in the blink of an eye, and behind every ballroom’s glitter lies a battlefield of power.
Bertha Russell: Reaching Across the Atlantic
After years of relentless maneuvering, Bertha Russell (Carrie Coon) is no longer the outsider. She has forced her way into the heart of society, commanding attention with her lavish soirées, unshakable will, and unapologetic vision of progress. But for Bertha, New York is not enough.
Now her gaze turns toward London, where aristocracy and tradition rule with an iron grip. Determined to secure her family’s place among the international elite, Bertha prepares to challenge the rigid British class system, bringing her signature mix of boldness and extravagance across the Atlantic. Yet London proves even more treacherous than New York, and Bertha must navigate jealous duchesses, suspicious lords, and scandals that cross oceans.
Her ambition comes with risks. For in the pursuit of titles and crowns, Bertha may discover that money can open doors — but cannot buy true acceptance.
George Russell: A King Under Siege
While Bertha battles on the social stage, George Russell (Morgan Spector) faces a war of his own. Reformers, empowered by rising public outcry, target his railroad empire as the symbol of unchecked monopoly power. Political rivals see him as the perfect villain — a titan of industry whose downfall could ignite a movement.
George, a man who built his empire from sheer determination, finds himself cornered between defending his fortune and defending his marriage. As his legal troubles mount, whispers suggest that Bertha’s rise in London is fueled not by his support, but by his vulnerability.
For the first time, cracks appear in the Russell dynasty — and the question emerges: can love survive when the empire that bound it begins to fracture?
Marian Brook: Between Art and Duty
Across Fifth Avenue, Marian Brook (Louisa Jacobson) stands at her own crossroads. An artist at heart, she longs for independence, for the freedom to pursue her craft outside the gilded cages of society. Yet the pressures of marriage — from family, friends, and suitors — weigh heavily upon her.
To complicate matters, secrets from her family’s past resurface, shaking the foundations of the van Rhijn household. Ties of blood and loyalty are tested, leaving Marian to wonder whether forging her own path means abandoning the very legacy she was born into.
Marian’s journey becomes a mirror of the age itself: a young woman torn between tradition and modernity, between security and self-expression.
Old Money vs. New Money: The War Intensifies
The war between “old money” and “new money” burns hotter than ever. The Astors, the van Rhijns, and the entrenched aristocracy cling desperately to their fading dominance. The Russells, armed with wealth and audacity, rise to claim a seat at the table.
Every ballroom, every opera house, every whispered scandal becomes a weapon. Behind the glitter of chandeliers and champagne lies betrayal, manipulation, and ruthless survival. For in the Gilded Age, reputation is as fragile as crystal — and just as easily shattered.
Themes of Season 4
- Ambition: How far will the powerful go to secure their place in history?
- Marriage and Love: What sacrifices must be made for security, and which for true happiness?
- Power and Reform: As the modern world dawns, can industry titans remain untouchable, or will democracy and reform break their grip?
- Legacy: In an age defined by transformation, what will endure: wealth, bloodline, or courage?
The Grandeur and the Shadows
With dazzling costumes, meticulously crafted sets, and sweeping cinematography, The Gilded Age – Season 4 immerses viewers in the opulence of 1890. But beneath the silks and diamonds lurks scandal, betrayal, and heartbreak — proof that wealth buys influence, but never true security.
The season builds to a thunderous crescendo, where fortunes, marriages, and reputations hang in the balance, and every character must decide: what is worth protecting when everything can be lost overnight?
Tagline:
“In a world of glitter and shadow, legacy is the only crown worth wearing.”