Season 3 of HBO's "The Gilded Age" is the best season to date

Reel Perspectives

June 23, 2025

Season 3 of HBO's popular period drama, The Gilded Age, is back promising plenty of romance, scandal, and sweeping costume designs against the backdrop of opulent mansions. The highly anticipated new season premiered on June 22 and will consist of eight episodes, with new episodes released weekly through its season finale on April 10. This season delivers major drama for our ambitious socialites, making it one of the best series of the summer.

Created and written by Julian Fellowes, the series is set in 1882 and initially follows Marian Brook, who moved from Pennsylvania to live in New York City with her aunts Agnes van Rhijn and Ada Brook after the death of her father during the time period where new money and inherited wealth clashed with "immense economic and social change when empires were built, but no victory came without sacrifice."

The official synopsis reveals that in Season 3, the shifting power dynamics between the old guard and the new shift into high gear, setting the explosive stage for this season. 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.

Expect many twists and turns this season as 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.

HBO

The series stars:

• Carrie Coon as Bertha Russell

• Christine Baranski as Agnes Van Rhijn

• Cynthia Nixon as Ada Forte

• Morgan Spector as George Russell

• Louisa Jacobson as Marian Brook

• Denée Benton as Peggy Scott

• Taissa Farmiga as Gladys Russell

• Harry Richardson as Larry Russell

• Blake Ritson as Oscar Van Rhijn

• Ben Ahlers as Jack Trotter

New cast members shaking things up for Season 3 include Jordan Donica, Andrea Martin, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Hattie Morahan, Leslie Uggams, Merritt Wever, Bill Camp, and Phylicia Rashad.

Season 3 reminds viewers why it's one of the best dramatic series on television. The interpersonal relationships between the characters provide a sharp edge, interspersed with light hearted moments. Social issues, power imbalances, romance, and emotional conflicts remain at the forefront, making this season highly entertaining with several moving parts and diverse storylines. With a large ensemble cast showcasing an embarrassment of riches featuring terrific performances, notably by Barinski, Nixon, and Coon, as well as McDonald and Rashad, this season is the best season to date from the series.

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New episodes of The Gilded Age Season 3 drop every Sunday at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and Max.

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