One of my greatest achievements to this day is getting my S.O. to fall in Love with Abbey at DowntonHe covered his ears as the trailer for the movie played in the theater. This was before he had caught up on all the series. It would have been quite the shock, he was correct. (spoiler alert) Mary and Henry Talbot together in the trailer when he was still blissfully unaware of Matthew’s fate. Downton Abbey is a delightful show with upstairs-downstairs drama and incredibly low-stakes plotlines you can’t help but get wrapped up in (remember the case of Violet’s missing letter opener?). Needless to state, he has been following the trail with me. Downton AbbeyFor a long time, the price was high and it has remained that way for some time. The Gilded AgeWe may have found it, as it is now on our screens.
From the creator who gave it all Downton Abbey, The Gilded Age follows Marian Brook (played by Louisa Jacobson, and if you can’t quite figure out why she looks so familiar to you, it’s because she’s The Meryl Streep’s daughter) as she moves from a no-name town in Pennsylvania to New York City to live with her estranged aunts, Agnes and Ada. Marian is more open-minded than Ada and Agnes, who are both old-money and resistant to change. This causes a rift as Marian’s family, an up-and coming, new-money one, builds a home. Positively garishThe palace is just across the street. Though we’re only one episode in, I can already tell that The Gilded AgeIt has everything I love Downton Abbey—and I am all in.
Watch The Gilded Age live on HBO Max Mondays at 9 PM. ET.
Why? Downton AbbeyIt will be loved by fans
Characters You’ll Love… or Love To Hate
Starting with our heroine, Marian Brook is already someone I’m rooting for. She’s loyal, defiant, and wants to make something of herself in a world where women of her class are supposed to sit around and wait for a husband. In just one episode, she proves she doesn’t care about the status quo and could be the bridge between the warring old-money and new-money families.
Marian’s aunts have a dynamic to die for. Cynthia Nixon’s Ada Brook is the Possibly slightlyMarian is more open-minded of the two and was the reason she came to New York. Agnes, on a contrary, exudes a superiority that intimidates Please send me even though I’m safely behind a screen. The two make for a compelling pair of guardians for Marian, whose youthful openness to the changing times doesn’t exactly mesh with their steadfast traditionalism. This conflict is quickly exacerbated by the introductions of their new neighbors.
Those new neighbors are the Russells, and I can’t tell just yet whether I love them or love to hate them. They provide endless entertainment, regardless of their gender. Bertha, the Russell matriarch, will stop at nothing to be accepted by New York’s elite, despite the fact they want absolutely nothing to do with her. Larry, her son is already emerging as the beloved heir to the series. Downton’s Matthew Crawley.
It wouldn’t be a show after Downton’s heart if it didn’t feature a billion characters we somehow grow to love, loathe, and root for. Although the first episode of The Gilded Age focused on the families upstairs, it’s only a matter of time until we get to know the downstairs cast as well. And if I’m being honest, that’s where some of the best of Downton’sEntertainment was provided.
A Setting To Get Lost In
The Russell palace is a great place to find your love for the Abbey. It’s a monstrous home built on prime New York real estate with an interior to die for. This is in stark contrast to the Brook’s home across the street, which screams, “we’ve been rich since the Revolution.” While the homes are a marvel in their own right, the backdrop of New York City promises an expansive setting we just didn’t get with Downton—and I, for one, can’t wait to dive in.
It was difficult to imagine myself in the English countryside. But, it was easy to hear the characters. The Gilded Age mention streets like Fifth Avenue brings the series down to Earth in a way that’s kind of spectacular for being set so long ago. I may never live in a home as grand as the Russells’ or sit in a parlor like the one at the Brooks’, but the New York outside of their homes doesn’t look You can also different from the one I’ve seen in person—of course, aside from the horse-drawn carriages and dirt roads. There’s something special about watching a historical drama and being able to shout “I’ve been there!” at the screen.
Plotlines that Pull You In
One of my absolute favourite parts of Downton AbbeyThe low-stakes, lighthearted nature of some plotlines was what kept me coming back. Don’t get me wrong—they absolutely dealt with more serious issues, but the heart of the show, and what kept me coming back, was the daily drama on the Crawley estate. Violet’s utter confusion with the changing times (remember when she didn’t know what a weekend was?), Sybil daring to wear pants instead of a dress or skirt, and Carson’s shameful history as a stage performer, among so many others. As I’ve said before, The Gilded Age is just beginning, but it’s already showing hints of the silly, endearing plotlines that kept me thoroughly enthralled by Downton Abbey. Without giving too much away, there’s a scene in episode one that came straight out of a rom-com and I’m still giddy thinking about it.
Final Thoughts
Listen, I get it. There’s a ton of great TV shows begging for your attention. On Monday evenings, you should pay attention for an hour. The Gilded Age. If you’re someone who could rewatch Downton Abbey‘s six seasons until the end of time—and I’m right there with you—you definitely won’t want to miss The Gilded Age. Just give the first episode a try, and I promise you’ll be back for more. As I mentioned at the beginning, I am a diehard. Downton fan, and I’m All in.
Watch The Gilded Age live on HBO Max Mondays at 9 PM. ET.
Source: The Every Girl
