Haute Takes Gilded Age? (Photo courtesy of Revelence)
Welcome to Haute Takes, where culture gets reviewed, refined and occasionally revoked. This week, The Gilded Age returns with a premiere that wastes little time reminding us why these families remain so messy.
And Peggy Scott may have the most interesting problem of all. She finally has her book in hand. She also has a wedding ahead. Yet her future mother-in-law seems to have her own ideas about what Peggy’s life should look like.
Peggy’s success meets a new set of expectations
Peggy’s first book is a major personal milestone. However, the celebration comes with tension.
Elizabeth Kirkland, played by Phylicia Rashad, is deeply involved in wedding plans. Her attention to Peggy’s appearance, social position and role within the family raises a bigger question. Can Peggy build a marriage without shrinking the career she has worked to create?
That question gives Peggy’s story weight beyond the wedding itself. She is entering a family with its own expectations while also becoming more established as a writer.
For Black women watching, that tension feels especially familiar. Success can open doors while also bringing new expectations about how you should behave once you enter the room.
Marian and Larry finally cross the line
Elsewhere, Marian and Larry are still carrying unfinished business.
After Oscar and Enid’s wedding celebration, Marian joins the group downtown. She and Larry reconnect, but their night takes an unexpected turn when a storm damages their carriage.
They end up at a hotel and initially take separate rooms. Larry later goes to Marian’s room. They spend the night together.
The morning brings a very different mood. Marian fears the social consequences of what happened. Larry appears less prepared for the weight she places on it.
That difference matters. Their attraction is no longer the problem. What happens next may be.
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The Van Rhijns have money, power and problems
Meanwhile, Oscar and Enid begin married life on their own terms. Their arrangement brings money into the Van Rhijn household, but it also creates new complications.
Agnes is pleased by the financial security Enid brings. Her reaction changes when she learns more about Enid’s past. Still, Enid offers to help with Agnes’ plans to host President Grover Cleveland.
The family is also adjusting to new social rules. Jack receives lessons in etiquette as he moves closer to high society, while Bridget worries that his changing world could leave her behind.
Then there is the score. The music gives the episode a mood of its own, moving between romance, anxiety and social tension without needing much explanation.
The Haute verdict
This premiere earns a Certified Haute.
Peggy’s book gives her a new level of independence, but her marriage could test how much room she has to keep growing. Marian and Larry finally act on years of tension, yet their future remains uncertain. Meanwhile, Agnes and the Van Rhijns are discovering that money can solve one problem while creating another.
That is enough to make episode two worth watching.
The Gilded Age airs Sundays on HBO and streams on HBO Max. HBO lists Ring the Bells as the first episode of season four.
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