The Gilded Age Season 4 Premieres Tonight: Bertha’s Ambitions, Family Feuds, and New Power Struggles
Reel Perspectives
November 1, 2026
The gloves are officially off as the drama, the rivalries, and the battle for social standing are far from over. HBO's Emmy®-nominated drama The Gilded Age returns tonight, Sunday, November 1, with an eight-episode fourth season that picks up where last season's explosive developments left off. Created by Julian Fellowes (Downton Abbey), the series takes viewers back to 1880s New York, where wealth can open doors, family connections carry enormous weight, and one wrong move can change everything.
When we last saw the Russell and van Rhijn families, life in New York's upper circles was anything but settled. Bertha Russell (Carrie Coon) had finally achieved the social recognition she had worked so hard to secure, but her victory came with a devastating personal price. Her determination to arrange daughter Gladys' (Taissa Farmiga) marriage to the Duke of Buckingham (Ben Lamb) created a serious divide between her and George Russell (Morgan Spector). George had made it clear that he disagreed with Bertha's decision to put their daughter's future in the hands of society's expectations, and the disagreement pushed their marriage to the breaking point.
Things became even more complicated when George survived a shooting connected to his railroad business. The experience gave him a new perspective on life, but it also exposed just how much damage had been done to his marriage. By the end of the season, George walked away from Bertha following her lavish Newport ball, leaving viewers wondering whether the couple could find their way back to one another. Meanwhile, Gladys revealed that she was expecting a child, adding another unexpected development to an already complicated family situation.
Across the street, the van Rhijn household was dealing with a different kind of upheaval. After Oscar van Rhijn (Blake Ritson) lost the family fortune, Ada Brook (Cynthia Nixon) found herself in control of the household's finances, a change that did not sit particularly well with her sister Agnes (Christine Baranski). Agnes has spent years establishing her authority, and suddenly finding herself without the same influence was a difficult adjustment. However, an opportunity with the New York Heritage Society could give her the chance to reclaim some of the standing she has lost.
Peggy Scott (Denée Benton) also has plenty to navigate as she prepares for marriage to Dr. William Kirkland (Jordan Donica). Their engagement should be a happy time, but acceptance from his family may prove more difficult than expected. With William's mother, played by Phylicia Rashad, presenting another obstacle, Peggy will have to figure out how to move forward without compromising the independence and identity she has worked so hard to maintain.
Then there's Marian Brook (Louisa Jacobson), who enters the new season ready to make some decisions about her own future. After navigating complicated feelings surrounding Larry Russell (Harry Richardson), Marian is looking toward a different path. Her story has always been about finding her place in a society with very specific expectations for women, and Season 4 gives her another opportunity to decide what she really wants.
So, where does everyone go from here? Per HBO's official Season 4 synopsis, Bertha's family must confront the consequences of her social ambitions, while Agnes sees an opportunity to regain her position. Marian begins forging a new path, and Peggy works to gain acceptance from her future in-laws. As the new season's tagline suggests, in this world, you really do have to be careful what you wish for.
The returning ensemble includes Carrie Coon, Christine Baranski, Cynthia Nixon, Morgan Spector, Louisa Jacobson, Denée Benton, Taissa Farmiga, Harry Richardson, Blake Ritson, Ben Ahlers, Kelley Curran, Jordan Donica, Audra McDonald, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Donna Murphy, Kelli O'Hara, and Phylicia Rashad. New and returning guest stars include Dennis Haysbert, Elizabeth Marvel, Adrienne Warren, James Scully, Neal Huff, Maggie Kuntz, Bonnie Milligan, and Jim Gaffigan as President Grover Cleveland.
One of the reasons The Gilded Age continues to be must see TV is that there's so much more happening than lavish parties and beautiful costumes. The series is about people trying to secure their futures, protect their families, find love, and gain acceptance in salacious, high society messy drama. The stories of Peggy, Marian, Bertha, and Agnes are particularly riveting because each woman is fighting for something different, and none of them is willing to give up easily.
Season 4 has plenty of unfinished business to address, especially when it comes to the Russells' marriage and the changing balance of power between Bertha and Agnes. eason 4 promises to be the most ambitious yet. If you haven't caught up yet, there's no better time to step into the world of The Gilded Age.
The Gilded Age Season 4 premieres Sunday, November 1, at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and will be available to stream on HBO Max.
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