Jack Trotter, affectionately referred to as the “clock twink” by viewers, has been a fan favorite character for a while now. It’s hard to trust anyone who isn’t utterly endeared by his goodness, but thankfully, that isn’t something we have to worry about. How Ben Ahlers plays on his softness, as well as how the character goes about things, makes him someone everyone in the fandom wants the best for. And in an episode as thrilling as The Gilded Age Season 3 finale, it’s precious that we also get a sweet moment to leave Jack and Bridget with.
I was devastated after “If You Want to Cook an Omelette,” when Ada and Agnes decided that Jack could no longer be a footman with the income he now has. It was heartbreaking to think that he’d be all alone, without the family members who’ve grown to become everything for him. So the fact that the finale, “My Mind Is Made Up,” gives him and Bridget a beat alone is everything to ensure that he’ll be anything but lonely. The house is too big for him, and it’s not quite yet a home, but in those few moments, there’s more intimacy surrounding the four walls than in any glistening ballroom scene because it’s an instant bursting with transparency.
At the Van Rhijn home, Bridget is a servant—she reminds Jack of the detail herself—but in the presence of Jack, she’s his guest. He confirms as much. And not only that, he goes the extra mile to pull up a seat for her, treating her not as someone who’s less than or in any way beneath him, but as someone who’s still and will always be his equal. Unambiguously.
Their time spent together, however fleeting the moments, has often been brimming with a substantial tenderness, but perhaps none more wholesome than when Jack admits that she makes him feel safe. Yet, that’s not all. It’s what Jack voices afterward, stating that he hopes his declaration doesn’t make her uncomfortable, wanting to ensure that she has just as much agency in his home as he does—wanting to ensure that she feels just as safe with him.
It also feels important to acknowledge the writing in this scene because the softness in the words is what makes it such an intimate declaration. Jack has money now—as a man, he’s technically more than safe in his home. But it’s Bridget looking out for him by bringing him food from Mrs. Bauer’s kitchen, which ensures he feels at home. It’s Bridget who makes him feel cared for. Appreciated. Heard. It’s the emphasis on the word “very.” The word “you.”
It’s also why, after confessing his truth, he asks her to tell him about her day because he wants to hear her, too. He wants to know everything. He wants to listen and remember. He wants her stories to permeate through to the dreary four walls and add warmth to them, as her presence has always done for him. He wants to remember every word, savor it like every meal that comes from the cook who’s always welcomed him home. He wants to be the same sense of hope for her as she is for him, and Ben Ahlers’ performances reveal how hard Jack is trying to do right by her.
At the same time, Taylor Richardson meets him halfway beautifully with shy, honest smiles that feel so in character, it makes my heart squeeze every time I think about it. Jack has no expectations, so much so that the choice she makes to bring him the dish isn’t something he’d even let himself dream of. But she does it anyway, so he wants to try a little harder to make sure that she stays. He wants to make sure that their friendship continues to evolve and the foundation on which their trust stands is fortified. He wants to keep building, making this house a home and a place where she can feel comfortable to continue returning.
The candles surrounding them, the lighting, the intimacy of the two of them being alone—it’s all a subtle yet sweet revelation of what their future could maybe look like. More quiet nights like this. More moments of honest conversation. More stories. More smiles and comfortable silence, stretching and settling between them, allowing them to share their time and strengthen the feelings that are there, demanding to be felt.
The Gilded Age Season 3 is now streaming on HBO Max. What are your thoughts on Jack and Bridget’s scenes in “My Mind Is Made Up?” Let us know in the comments below.
First Featured Image Credit: ©HBO Max