TOset in the United States at the dawn of the 20th century, The Gilded Age 2 arrives with eight new episodes exclusively on Sky and streaming only on NOW starting today. Designed by the father of Downton Abbey Julian Fellowes, This period drama confirms the good impressions of the first season. Enriching even more, without ever weighing down, the plots of the protagonists of New York’s so-called “Golden Era”.
The Gilded Age 2the plot
If in the first season tradition is embodied by the uncompromising and proud heiress Agnes van Rhijn (Christine Baranski) – supported by her sister Ada Brook (Cynthia Nixon) – , modernity has the flashy appearance of the bourgeois couple made up of George Russell (Morgan Spector) and his wife Bertha (Carrie Coon). Progress, modernity, the innovative and free lifestyle that now reign supreme in New York, and which the couple best represents, undermine the foundations of that old status quo which now seems to have to give way to a more dynamic society.
In the middle, the protagonist Marion Brook (Louisa Jacobson), the unfortunate niece of Agnes and Adafinds himself, against his will, together with aspiring writer Peggy Scott (Denée Benton), in the middle of a dispute between his aunts and the new, rampant neighbors in the neighborhood. In parallel, Bertha challenges the old system, working not only to gain a foothold in society, but to potentially take on a leading role in it. While her husband George faces his own battle against a growing union at his Pittsburgh steel mill.
Carrie Coon and Morgan Spector in a scene from “The Gilded Age 2”. (Barbara Nitke/HBO)
A period drama fun and busy
After the good response of the first season, The Gilded Age returns with a second season that resembles a “light” version of Downton Abbey. Not necessarily a bad thing considering that the show remains absolutely enjoyable, like a richly decorated “luxury” soap opera. With the added benefit of incorporate 19th century history, such as the early struggles of the labor movement and unions (perfect timing given Hollywood’s recent troubles) and the inauguration of the Brooklyn Bridge. Thus, even in the forays into the social strata of the time, the creator Julian Fellowes doesn’t forget to include a critical, albeit playful, gazetowards the stupidities and extravagances of the rich social classes.
As in the case of Downton However, class struggle generally takes a back seat to more romantic concerns. Including a potential love interest for Marian while Peggy grapples with her own personal and professional complications. Fellowes, who as usual writes each episode, juggles all the narrative threads of the complicated plot well and Compared to the previous season, these eight new episodes bring some interesting news.
Skillfully balancing the psychologies of the characters, the episodes are lively and engaging and, most welcome, the series is sexier this time around. The romantic plots, so leaden in the first season, find real warmth here, also thanks to the introduction of new characters. Like Reverend Matthew played by Robert Sean Leonard, the unforgettable protagonist of The fleeting moment. Still comparing the first season, which perhaps did not have a real narrative urgency, this second instead lays the foundations for plots destined to continue up to a potential third season and beyond.
As for the cast, which is full of Broadway stars, Once again the amazing Aunt Agnes, played by Christine Baranski, and Nathan Lane stand out as Ward McAllister. Real-life historical figure who often determined which families were deemed worthy of acceptance into high society or not. Without forgetting Cynthia Nixon as the conservative Ada, sister of the fearsome Agnes. Applause, to be expected, also goes to the opulent sets and sumptuous dresses wonderfully created by Kasia Walicka-Maimone.
Louisa Jacobson, like mother, like daughter
Meryl Streep’s youngest child and her ex-husband Don Gummer – the two made their separation official a few days ago -, the actress born in 1991 studied psychology at Vassar College and after graduation chose the path of acting. Enrolling in the prestigious British American Drama Academy in Oxford.
After a second degree from Yale University’s theater school, Louisa made her stage debut in 2017 in the play Mary Jane and in 2019 she is Giulietta in the transposition of Romeo and Juliet at the Old Globe Theater in San Diego. During the same period, she gets engaged to her colleague Jonathan Higginbotham and then makes her debut on the small screen a couple of years later in the TV movie Gone Hollywood. In 2022 he gets it the coveted role of Marian Brook in The Guilded Age.
Speaking about her role, the actress said: «I’m a huge fan of Downton Abbey and the period drama It’s my favorite genre. Marian knows that her likely destiny will be to marry as best she can and survive, but she wants more. She is limited by the rules of her time, but there is also a modern streak in her.” Still far from the world of cinema, Louisa will return to her beloved theater very soon in Sarah Einspanier’s play Lunch Bunch. Much to the joy of mother Meryl, who has always been her staunchest supporter.
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