The Gilded Age season 3 finale leaves the Russell family at a pivotal crossroads, mixing high society triumph with the tremors of personal upheaval. George Russell survives a desperate gunshot thanks to Peggy’s Dr. Kirkland, but the victory is tempered by a devastating shift in every corner of Bertha’s world. Gladys has embraced her duchess status and appears content in her marriage to the duke, yet the final moments reveal that Bertha and George may be drifting apart just as a new chapter begins.
Over three seasons, the Russells have been presented as a true power couple: George driving business success while Bertha commands social influence. Their partnership has been a core appeal of the show, especially as Bertha pushed for Gladys to marry for status rather than love—a stance that divided fans but underscored a larger theme: the limits—and costs—of female agency in that era. The finale revisits these tensions, offering a pointed meditation on how wealth, status and love intersect when a couple’s unity is tested from within.
In interviews about the finale, Carrie Coon (Bertha) spoke about the consequences of Bertha’s choices. She noted that Bertha has often been ahead of the curve, challenging what she sees as “silly” rules while battling to keep her family on a path she believes is best for their future. Yet the season’s end suggests Bertha’s long-term bets may not pay off in the way she expected: she has fought to shape Gladys’s life and society’s expectations, only to face a moment where her own alliance with George is strained and her control over her children’s destinies feels more fragile than ever.
A recurring thread is Bertha’s manipulation of marriage as a social currency. She argues that marrying well is a form of power that can outlast flirtations or premature romances, and she often justifies her methods as acts of love and protection for Gladys. The England trip with Lady Sarah and the lessons Bertha shares when they return hint at a shift in how Gladys might view her mother’s wisdom—potentially opening a path for a renewed partnership between mother and daughter, even after the heartbreak of the season’s cliffhanger.
The finale also casts light on the broader social climate of the era. Bertha’s comment that women couldn’t even have their own credit cards until the 1970s underscores a persistent wall between wealth and personal autonomy. Even with resources and influence, Bertha must navigate a rigid social order that constrains what a woman can truly control. This tension is at the heart of Bertha’s drive: to use her power to secure meaningful, purposeful lives for herself and her family, even if the world around them remains stubbornly resistant.
As George is carried away in the carriage at the end, Bertha’s longing to fix what has been fractured collides with the reality that her most trusted partner may be shifting. The finale leaves both characters poised for a difficult repair, should they get the chance. Bertha’s response—quiet grief followed by a plan to rebuild—signals that her indefatigable nature will push her to seek a new strategy to preserve her family’s status and influence.
What this means for season 4 is palpable: expect Bertha to double down on her most enduring strengths—strategy, social leverage and an unyielding will to advance her family’s standing. The season’s end also tees up a potential reconciliation arc with George, or at least a reimagining of their alliance as they navigate a future that could include Gladys’s ongoing influence and possibly a new chapter for Marian, who Bertha respects for her ambition and taste.
Summary of the season’s key threads:
– Bertha champions Gladys’s marriage for status, drawing a line between love and social power.
– George’s shooting creates a rift, forcing Bertha to confront what she’s willing to sacrifice for family and influence.
– Bertha’s England trip and the lessons she shares with Gladys hint at a possible rebuilding of trust and collaboration.
– The era’s limitations on women’s autonomy remain a throughline, shaping Bertha’s decisions and the audience’s understanding of what true power looks like.
In a hopeful light, Bertha’s arc is one of resilience. Even as she faces heartbreak and a moment of potential separation from George, her energy and ingenuity suggest she will not give up on securing a future she believes in—for her daughter, for her son, and for herself. Season 4 is poised to explore whether the Russells can repair their bond and how Bertha’s relentless drive will adapt to a world that may finally require a broader approach to power and partnership.
If you’re looking for a longer-term takeaway, the finale reinforces The Gilded Age’s core message: ambition and love can coexist, but only if the people steering them are willing to reassess and redefine what success looks like when the social machinery around them is slow to change. The next season should illuminate how Bertha negotiates that balance and whether the family’s most cherished ideals can withstand the pressures of a rapidly evolving era.