Top 10 Most Romantic Moments on The Gilded Age
#10: Mr. Borden Understands
“Marriage Is a Gamble”
The Russells’ chef Josh Borden and housekeeper Mrs. Bruce seem fairly casual in their special friendship. Then Borden proposes marriage from out of nowhere. His mood drops just as suddenly when Mrs. Bruce turns him down. But she reveals that her husband is still alive and committed to a hospital due to mental illness. She worried that the truth would make Borden see her as a victim or unfaithful. He instead praises her strength and empathy for her estranged husband. This exemplifies their own relationship as being based on a respect that high society would likely stigmatize. Borden and Bruce don’t need a piece of paper to understand their commitment to one another.
#9: Mutual Support, with a Bit of Passion
“Wonders Never Cease”
George is rattled after conceding to the steelworkers union to avoid a violent strikebreak. Bertha consoles him with intimacy that night, but is quick to change the subject to her pettier problems. Of course, the so-called “Opera War” doesn’t seem petty to George. He eagerly advises his wife to not yield to Mrs. Astor’s offer of a box seat at the Academy of Music if she ceases promotion of the Metropolitan Opera House. The stakes are hardly as high as the financial and moral crisis in the business community’s feud with unions. So George putting that aside to help his wife sums up the mutual support that defines a mature marriage. The aforementioned intimacy does help, though.
#8: John Adams Invests in Oscar
“What the Papers Say”
Oscar van Rhijn and John Adams IV have their own love language, muted by 19th century society's suppression of homosexuality. John reluctantly accepts reality when his lover ends the affair in Season 2 to find a wife. By the time they reunite at a party in Season 3, Oscar is scammed out of his inheritance and struggling to raise capital. John doesn't hesitate to offer a loan to entice investors, out of his love and respect for Oscar. They could never be together in public, but this seemingly typical scene of two men doing business is distinguished by a deeper motivation. Only after John dies in a carriage accident does Oscar come to terms with his true love.
#7: Larry and Mrs. Blane in Bed
“His Grace the Duke”
“The Gilded Age” is generally far off from what modern audiences and HBO would consider scandalous. In fact, when Larry and Susan Blane cozy up in bed together, they talk through the scandal of their affair. Larry accepts that he must not be seen in public with the wealthy widow, but he assures her of his love. Mrs. Blane in turn reveals that she’s been developing feelings beyond a mere tryst with a handsome younger man. It doesn’t last, of course, as Mrs. Blane ends the affair to protect Larry’s reputation. For a moment, though, she knew that she could love again.
#6: A Walk Through Central Park
“Face the Music”
Upstart lawyer Tom Raikes seems to embody all of Marian Brook’s romantic ideas about her fellow New York transplants. Their meager courtship suddenly escalates during a stroll through Central Park with Peggy. When the couple is alone, Tom waxes poetic about his dreams in the Big City, then shocks Marian with a marriage proposal. She eventually accepts, even if it means being cut off from the family fortune. The passion is always evident, but sadly not enough. Tom ends up begrudgingly opting to marry Cissie Bingham for financial security. This dampens his and Marian's once-sincere love story, but the fantasy of that fateful afternoon in the park is undeniably infectious.
#5: Bertha and George Reconcile
“His Grace the Duke”
It’s anything but a romantic moment when Bertha discovers that before her former lady’s maid Enid Turner married into money, she attempted to seduce George. This leads to a heated rift, despite Bertha believing that her husband did not succumb to the advances. She’s just hurt that he didn’t trust her to trust him. The two embrace and apologize for how they’ve hurt each other. This tees up the aftermath of a narrowly successful society dinner, when George coyly reminds Bertha that he only has eyes for her. Their retirement to their chambers finally, and literally, puts this matter to bed.
#4: Bridget’s Dinner with Jack
“My Mind Is Made Up”
Van Rhijn housemaid Bridget has had a flirtatious friendship with footman and aspiring entrepreneur Jack Trotter, but childhood trauma has made her apprehensive toward men. Romantic prospects seem dashed when the fortune Jack makes off of selling his alarm clock allows him to acquire his own household. However, he invites Bridget to join him when she brings dinner to his lavish new home. Finally, someone treats her like the ladies she's always treated. While there's still an air of will-they-won’t-they over this enchanted evening, this distortion of class marks the beginning of a deeper friendship and Bridget finding peace with a good man.
#3: Ada and Luke Dance
“Warning Shots”
Ada’s lonely days are merely stalled by her tragically brief marriage to Luke Forte. It is a love story of mere moments between the pastor’s sweet proposal and sudden death. But one seemingly mundane moment makes it all count. As the newlyweds settle into married bliss, their new music box begins loudly playing Strauss’s “The Blue Danube.” The couple turn the parlor into their personal ballroom, expressing all the giddy, youthful feelings they had thought were lost to time. Luke is diagnosed with cancer soon thereafter. In their final moments together, Ada affirms that the long-sought love of her life has finally given that life the strength to carry on. With that, it feels as if their fleeting happiness will linger.
#2: Marian and Larry’s First Kiss
“In Terms of Winning and Losing”
There were the usual hints at romance between Marian Brook and Larry Russell throughout the first two seasons of “The Gilded Age.” After several rich yet ill-fated romantic arcs, they finally realize the obvious while walking home from the Met. Their euphoric talk of the future and their friendship is interrupted by an impulsive kiss. Thus begins the initially secretive romance that fans had been waiting for. Then the relationship really gets complicated throughout a messy Season 3. With how Marian and Larry’s courtship began, after so much buildup, we’ll continue to root for them.
#1: Dr. Kirkland Proposes
“My Mind Is Made Up”
Peggy Scott’s poor luck in love continues into her courtship of Dr. William Kirkland. Even within the overburdened community of Black high society, Peggy is stigmatized because her father was born a slave. William is torn between his love for her and his respect for his mother’s wishes, especially after learning about Peggy’s tragic past. Mrs. Kirkland eventually concedes to her son’s devotion when her husband takes a stand for love. Thus, William surprises Peggy at the Newport ball. In front of their entire community, he gets down on one knee and proposes. Besides a symbol of solidarity among Black Americans, this moment at last marks true happiness for Peggy and the very height of romantic television.
What moments on “The Gilded Age” put down your emotional guard? Mingle in the comments below.