The gilded age Season 4 is nowhere near being released yet, but I already think incredibly sorry for Bertha (Carrie Coon). Granted, she hasn’t been my favorite person in the last three seasons of Hit HBO Max show, nor is she the most comfortable.
However, she has the weight of the world on her shoulders after the shocking last moments of the Season 3 final.
Let’s rewind for a moment. In section 7, Bertha’s husband George (Morgan Spector) was left at the door of death after being shot by a 19th century hitman disguised as a courier. We learn in section 8 that he (almost) pulls through, but later uses his brush with death to tell Bertha that he doesn’t love her.
Well, at least he’s no longer sure if he does. As he slides over it, George travels to New York without as much as an amicable thought between them. Meanwhile, Gladys (Taissa Farmiga) has hung to the Duke of Buckingham and announced his pregnancy in the last moments of the season.
In short, all this means Bertha’s living her dream life vicariously through her daughter, Sans man. The gilded age Season 4 will definitely be her redemption arc, but I think there are two other potential enemies in her way that we haven’t even considered.
Agnes and Enid could both come to Bertha in Gilded Age Season 4
Instead of Bertha peacefully trying to assimilate herself in the British royal family, she potentially has two other matches on her hands: with many years of rival Enid (Kelley Curran) and a new potential sparring partner in Agnes (Christine Baranski).
Let’s start with Agnes first. When the Season 3 final rolled around, Niece Marian (Louisa Jacobson) and Larry Russell (Harry Richardson) did not officially get their engagement back on the field, though both have said they will do it. This is a nightmare for Agnes, because so far she simply tolerated the new money that the Russell family represents.
If marriage goes ahead, there is sure to be arguments galore as the two families try to interfere in one. Bertha had Agnes’ approval after winning Season 2 opera war against Mrs. Astor (Donna Murphy), but this tolerance can be removed in one case.
This is where Enid comes in. Agnes’ son, Oscar (Blake Ritson) has potential news on the cards with Enid, the woman who was fired from being Bertha’s maid by sexually suggesting George. Oops.
Once again, she is new money, and after Oscar was scammed out of all the family’s money (coming up again in season 3 Haymarket Double Crossing) is the bad news. Larry and Marian, who marries, would make Enid essentially a part of the Russell family, so there are several problems with stake the potential fire of the feud.
We currently have no idea if George is coming back to The gilded age Season 4, but again this can cause additional problems. Bertha would have to welcome Enid back in the family if the news goes ahead, and it is set to open old wounds if George still kicks around (and worse if he decides he will no longer be with Bertha).
Is some of this what Bertha needs in the gilded age season 4? Definitely not. Will the potential new rivals make new episodes even juicier for us? You can trust it.
All three seasons of The gilded age Streamer at HBO Max in the US, now TV in England and Paramount+ in Australia.
