HBO’s new teaser for “The Gilded Age” season 4 brings back everyone’s favorite crafty socialites, with Carrie Coon’s Bertha Russell at the center of another battle for influence as her marriage to railroad tycoon George Russell under severe strain and Christine Baranski’s Agnes van Rhijn ready to reclaim ground she lost. The fourth season picks up after the dramatic Season 3 finale, which left George alive after being shot.
The new episodes take place after Bertha “changed society at a cost,” according to HBO’s official synopsis. Her family must deal with the fallout as Agnes sees an opening to restore her social position. Marian Brook, played by Louisa Jacobson, chooses a new direction, while Peggy Scott, played by Denée Benton, tries to win acceptance from her future in-laws after her engagement to Dr. William Kirkland.
The teaser gives a sharper look at the conflicts ahead. George tells Bertha that she could be “the key to our family’s survival,” while Bertha acknowledges that power can shift at any moment. Their marriage appears increasingly fractured after George blamed Bertha for arranging Gladys’ marriage to the Duke of Buckingham. Morgan Spector has described the Russells’ relationship as a “mess,” with the couple facing the possibility of separate lives.
Agnes has her own score to settle. A presidential dinner becomes crucial to the van Rhijn family’s reputation, and the usually formidable Agnes declares, “Vengeance shall be mine.” Peggy’s storyline also takes a dramatic turn as she marries into the Kirkland family, only to face scrutiny from Phylicia Rashad’s Mrs. Kirkland over her past. Oscar van Rhijn and Enid Winterton also join forces as they plot their way toward the top of New York society.
Coon, Baranski, Cynthia Nixon, Morgan Spector, Jacobson, Benton, Taissa Farmiga, Harry Richardson and Blake Ritson return for the eight-episode season. New additions include Tony winner Bonnie Milligan and Tony nominee Taylor Trensch, with Jim Gaffigan also joining the cast. Julian Fellowes remains creator and executive producer, with Sonja Warfield serving as writer and executive producer.
“The Gilded Age” Season 4 premieres Nov. 1 on HBO and HBO Max.