The White Lotus meets Downton Abbey: The Gilded Age’s “tremendously good” third series will surprise you

With Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes behind it and The White Lotus’s Carrie Coon in the cast, we’re calling The Gilded Age the perfect period drama. Rather excitingly, it’s about to return to Sky Atlantic and NOW for a tremendously good third series - and, having pored over the new trailer (for far too long, we might add), we have a feeling that what’s in store may well surprise you.

The hit period drama, which first aired in 2021, follows Marian Brook, a young woman entering 1882 New York City's social scene who finds herself in somewhat of a war between her old money van Rhijn-Brook aunts and their new money Russell family neighbours. The first two series brought us high society drama aplenty and it seems the new instalment is about to top it. Think arranged marriages, risky business ventures and even divorce.

Ahead of series 3's arrival on our screens, here's everything you need to know about next instalment of The Gilded Age, including the plot, cast, trailer and release date.

What is The Gilded Age about?

If you’re new to The Gilded Age, let us start at the beginning. The first series aired in 2021 and took us to the American Gilded age, period of immense economic change, of great conflict between the old ways and brand new systems, and of huge fortunes made and lost. The story began in 1882 with young Marian Brook (Louisa Jacobson) moving from rural Pennsylvania to New York City after the death of her father to live with her old money aunts Agnes van Rhijn (Christine Baranski) and Ada Brook (Cynthia Nixon).

Accompanied by Peggy Scott (Denée Benton), an aspiring writer seeking a fresh start, Marian inadvertently found herself in a social war between one of her aunts, a scion of the old money set, and her tremendously rich neighbours, a ruthless railroad tycoon and his ambitious wife, George (Morgan Spector) and Bertha Russell (Carrie Coon). Exposed to a world on the brink of the modern age, Marian was faced with a choice between following society’s rules or making up her own.

Over the course of two series (the second arrived in 2023), the drama has covered topics such class wars, hiding homosexuality in a world that bans it, African-American upper class, domestic workers and womens’ rights. As we mentioned, Downton Abbey’s Julian Fellowes is the creative genius behind the series, so it’s hardly surprising that he’s managed to assemble such an incredible cast including The White Lotus’s Carrie Coon and And Just Like That’s Cynthia Nixon.

What will happen in The Gilded Age series 3?

According to the official synopsis, "Following the Opera War, the old guard is weakened and the Russells stand poised to take their place at the head of society. Bertha sets her sights on a prize that would elevate the family to unimaginable heights while George risks everything on a gambit that could revolutionize the railroad industry - if it doesn’t ruin him first.

“Across the street, the Brook household is thrown into chaos as Agnes refuses to accept Ada’s new position as lady of the house. Peggy meets a handsome doctor from Newport whose family is less than enthusiastic about her career. As all of New York hastens toward the future, their ambition may come at the cost of what they truly hold dear."

We also know that in the third series, the Kirklands are entering the scene, a prominent black family from Newport with ties dating back to the American Revolution. The matriarch of the family, Elizabeth Kirkland (Phylicia Rashad), is described as a woman with "high standards" and “an occasionally sharp tongue". We’ll also meet her husband, Frederik Kirkland (Brian Stokes Mitchell), a pastor of a prominent Black church and leader in the Newport community, as well as their son, Dr. William Kirkland (Jordan Donica).

Another new character making her debut in series 3 is Joan Carlton, a kind, genial woman from the old money side of New York high society, who finds herself “in a complicated and insulting situation." Very intriguing indeed...

HBO Executive Vice President Francesca Orsi has teased that divorce will also feature in the new series. "I think, broadly, it’s an interesting way in which we’ve explored that era of how divorce came to the forefront in United States relationships,” she says. “I think that there’s a conversation to be had about arranged marriages, and if it doesn’t necessarily work, what divorce looks like in that time, and what that bodes for society. And then whether you’re accepted in society or not, based on a divorce.”

Is there a trailer for The Gilded Age series ?

Yes, Sky has just released a new trailer for The Gilded Age series 3, which you can watch below.

View full post on YouTube

Who's in the cast of The Gilded Age series 3?

The returning cast of The Gilded Age includes:

• Carrie Coon (The White Lotus, Gone Girl) as Bertha Russell
• Morgan Spector (Homeland) as George Russell
• Louisa Jacobson as Marian Brook
• Denée Benton (Our Friend) as Peggy Scott
• Taissa Farmiga (American Horror Story) as Gladys Russell
• Harry Richardson (Poldark) as Larry Russell
• Blake Ritson (The Crown, The Sandman) as Oscar van Rhijn
• Simon Jones (Brideshead Revisited) as Mr. Alfred Bannister
• Jack Gilpin (Billions, Succession) as Mr. Church
• Cynthia Nixon (Sex And The City, Ratched) as Ada Forte (née Brook)
• Christine Baranski (Mamma Mia!) as Agnes van Rhijn (née Brook)
• Ben Ahlers (When The Lights Go On) as John "Jack" Trotter
• Debra Monk (American Horror Story) as Mrs. Armstrong
• Kelli O'Hara (13 Reasons Why) as Aurora Fane
• Taylor Richardson (The Time Traveller’s Wife, American Horror Story) as Bridget
• Celia Keenan-Bolger (The Visit,) as Mrs. Bruce
• Patrick Page (Spirited) as Richard Clay

The cast of series 3 will also feature some new additions, including:

• Phylicia Rashad (The Beekeeper) as Mrs. Elizabeth Kirkland
• Brian Stokes Mitchell (Trapper John M.D.) as Black pastor Frederick Kirkland
• Jordan Donica (Charmed) as Dr. William Kirkland
• Victoria Clark (The Blacklist) as Joan Carlton

Is The Gilded Age any good?

Yes – if you’re a Downton Abbey fan we’d highly recommend it, but do be prepared to be transported across the pond and for the fact that the US and British class systems are wildly different. The show has been nominated for 59 awards and won five, and with each series bringing us even more elaborate costumes and sets, we’ve got high hopes for the incoming third instalment.

How can I watch The Gilded Age series 3?

Good news - there's not long to wait until the new episodes of The Gilded Age arrive on our screens! The eight-part series will launch on NOW and Sky Atlantic on Monday 23rd June. In the meantime, you can catch up on series 1 and 2 here.