The next eight weeks are about to be a dizzying delight with the return of The Gilded Age Season 4. As a show that’s time and again proven just how crucial it is to let its stories find their footing, there’s absolutely nothing that can actively prepare you for what’s ahead. From the season premiere to the finale, it’s nothing you expect, and an array of emotions that effectively work together to deliver a compelling story.
In truth, as a show that isn’t actively a romance, I’m almost always prepared for the worst. But for four consecutive seasons now, The Gilded Age instead demands patience and understanding. It asks us to bask in the glow of absurdities, as it often delivers narrative beats that touch on human complexities.
That much is still true in the fourth season, and it’s amplified from what we’ve gotten before. These characters aren’t perfect. They’re deeply flawed, and they’re bound to be frustrating, yet the emotions they evoke from their actions make for excellent TV that we’ve been missing. I don’t need my characters to be perfect—their ugly parts are equally captivating, and we get a good chunk of that in Season 4. And while it’s not every arc that’s well executed, it all mostly ties together in a lavish bow.
The Gilded Age Season 4 Glows With Excellent Writing
There’s a line in the trailer where Agnes tells Ada, “The same instincts that plan to replace my curtains? They don’t even make tassels like that anymore,” and what an astute metaphor it becomes: a series that questions how much can be changed when the world around these characters is becoming harder to keep with.
In addition, there’s something to be said about how many of us as critics have complained about the fact that shows are catering to second screeners by stressing the exposition and forcing words out of the characters’ mouths that don’t feel organic. Thankfully, The Gilded Age is saved from this atrocity. It’s still very much the show that demands its audience pay close attention to every word and movement in order to get the full scope of the story and its depth. As a result, it’s going to be the reason why we’ll have so many incredible—hopefully nuanced—conversations as the eight episodes air weekly.
Part of what’s so exceptional about the historical genre is the chaos—the mess and the disarray. We can’t expect these characters to behave with the experiences and understanding that we have. We can’t expect them to know better when they’re in the trenches of learning. Because of what they know and how they operate, we get character growth that’s rooted in thoughtful depictions of the time. It’s grand and over-the-top in a way this show’s particularly great at, but it never loses the authenticity of the spectacle it’s now known as.
Every character, no matter how much you love them, will frustrate you at some point. They’ll grate on your nerves and make you roll your eyes, yet the result of their understanding takes them from point A to B in an arc that feels natural. In the instances where it feels like we’ve meandered too far, the end is still a riveting turning point that emphasizes how things can’t be as we imagined them. More importantly, no one’s behaving out of character or forced into situations that seem curated solely for the drama. There’s a real care and understanding that threads the season together, and it’s an admirable feat when the big picture becomes clear.
The Performances Never Miss
When it comes to The Gilded Age, we’re always in for the type of entertainment that can’t be found elsewhere. As such, the cast is so incredible this time around that it’s impossible to even choose an MVP. With so much happening, each episode gives us something and someone to marvel at. A game-changing moment that acts as a spark to ignite another massive flare. Not to mention, because the conflict makes sense and the stakes are understandably higher, each actor understands what’s needed to sell the emotional turmoil (and occasional bliss) it’s putting their respective characters through.
There’s plenty of heart scattered throughout the elitist woes and perils that make up the show’s gorgeous fabric, and it’s precisely what makes the season so thrilling. With the gratifying performances, even the moments that can feel a little agonizing are amplified by the cast.
There’s plenty of heart scattered throughout the elitist woes and perils that make up the show’s gorgeous fabric, and it’s precisely what makes the season so thrilling. With the gratifying performances, even the moments that can feel a little agonizing are amplified by the cast. It’s impossible to adequately explore the layers in the season without veering toward spoiler territory, but suffice it to say, it’s best to watch each episode right as it premieres.
In short, The Gilded Age continues to be one of the best shows of the decade, and there’s no denying that fact after the splendor that unfolds in Season 4.
First Featured Image Credit: ©HBO