After the power exchange at the end of last season, the idea with the new season of "The Gilded Age" as Episode 1 begins is that life goes on. The sisters power dynamic between Agnes (Christine Baranski) and Ada (Cynthis Nixon) has changed the dynamic but that doesn’t stop Agnes from still trying to spend to host a presidential visit. The behind the scenes rigmarole is just a prelude to tragedy that is waiting to happen...but whether it is the old money or the Russells, it depends who blinks first. A new addition to the family hasn't changed that possibility. A new marriage exposes a context likely more prevalent in this society but the nonetheless quite damaging where an agreement of sorts can lead to better placement.
Lust tends to take over, even on darkened streets but everyone can see. The men don’t seem to realize the chastity or virtue card that is key in this part of society for women. All sides are watching, even if one side is more right than the other. It is just a matter of how to play the game back and forth. The handling of the colored elites of the society is very specifically done but also has to do with the aspect of money. Also a former servant who has risen in strata is perhaps the most interesting of all asking his former colleagues (of the service class) of how to act in high society. Proper etiquette simply has to do with who is watching which actually takes a new member of the circle by surprise. This episode wonderfully floats from scene to scene understanding the delicate balance of these lives but it is also about the correlation of ones who coming from nothing who don’t worry about risking it all. Those who have (and are born into it) are comparably deathly afraid of losing it. Then there is a strata even above this where power corrupts absolutely and it is no longer about any of that. It becomes simply about longevity. 88%/B+
By Tim Wassberg
