The finale of Season 3 took us through a harrowingly close encounter with death, two reconciliations, and a pregnancy, while also leaving us with an unanswered marriage proposal and family abandonment. In many ways, you’d think this would be how a series would kick-off a new season, but by doing the opposite, The Gilded Age sets the tone of what we can look forward to in Season 4.

The previous week’s episode provided what can easily be considered the most riveting cliffhanger of the series: the story of Peggy’s (Denée Benton) past is maliciously embellished and spread throughout society by Mrs. Elizabeth Kirkland (Phylicia Rashad), the mother of Dr. Kirkland (Jordan Donica), while George Russell (Morgan Spector) and his staff are gunned-down by an unknown assailant.

Last night’s finale opens with a heart-pounding setup of Mr. Russell being rushed back to his 61st Street palace by carriage. The footmen and house staff quickly spring into action to assist with transporting him inside. However, the family doctor isn’t readily available. Dr. Kirkland, who happened to be across the street at the Van Rhijn household, is brought over to help and is able to save Russell’s life. With his life spared and on the mend, Bertha Russell (Carrie Coon) dives back into preparing for the annual ball with an emphasis on ending its exclusionary practices against divorcees.

Meanwhile, Peggy is devastated when Dr. Kirkland visits her in Brooklyn and expresses his concern regarding her past. She and her mother arrive to Newport shortly after, where Mrs. Scott (Audra McDonald) confronts Mrs. Kirkland during a dress fitting, standing up for Peggy’s character in the process. When Mrs. Kirkland returns home to complain and further dissuade her son from maintaining a relationship with Peggy, his father, Frederick Kirkland (Brian Stokes Mitchell), steps in to vocally chastise her behavior and remind Dr. Kirkland that love and happiness truly matter.

Back in Manhattan, Agnes van Rhijn (Christine Baranski) begins to more readily accept her sister Ada (Cynthia Nixon) as the new head-of-house, even proactively relinquishing her seat at the head of the dining table. Oscar van Rhijn (Blake Ritson) quickly sees dollar signs and opportunity in the newly-widowed Mrs. Winterton (Kelley Curran). With the Newport ball approaching, Oscar and Mrs. Winterton agree to hash out their plans to potentially marry once they return to New York. Marian Brook (Louisa Jacobson) and Larry Russell (Harry Richardson) awkwardly come to an impasse in their lover’s quarrel, with Larry now uncertain he’s able to move beyond Marian’s initial distrust. 

As the episode comes to a close, we’re woven seamlessly through the parallels between Bertha Russell’s Newport ball and the nearby fundraiser ball attended by the Scotts. Mrs. Astor (Donna Murphy) arrives at Russell’s ball in a surprising show of acquiescence to Bertha’s new position at the forefront of high society. Simultaneously, Dr. Kirkland arrives at the fundraiser ball, deliberately steers clear of his mother, and asks Peggy to marry him. Both scenes begin to cement the newly shifting dynamics of power and class that have gripped the elites throughout the last three seasons. 

At the very end with Bertha believing she has finally achieved everything she’s wanted, George relays the heartbreaking news that he has been questioning the ethics of the roles they’ve played in their relationship, and states that he will not be returning home along with their son, Larry. Immediately after George exits the room and Bertha begins to register this emotional blow, their daughter Gladys (Taissa Farmiga) excitedly bursts in with the news that she’s pregnant. We end with George and Larry taking off in a carriage, leaving Bertha in a state of masked devastation at the window.

With the stellar acting from this powerhouse cast that includes numerous Broadway actors, we were treated to phenomenally executed scenes that explored a wide range of character growth this season. Mixed with conscientious writing and thrilling plots, this is easily the best season of The Gilded Age thus far.

With an order for Season 4 already approved, we can be sure to expect more shuffling in the hierarchy of these elites, along with new twists regarding the pending marriage proposals, pregnancy announcement, and family shakeups.