Is That Character Really Dead?

Warning: this article contains spoilers for The Gilded Age season 3, episode 6, “If You Want to Cook an Omelette.”

The Gilded Age season 3 has included numerous big events in the final moments of its episodes, but none have been quite as shocking as the ending of episode 6. After The Gilded Age season 3, episode 5’s ending, episode 6 seemed to be setting things right for Bertha Russell and Gladys Vere, but their win was quickly overshadowed.

The Gilded Age‘s characters have faced more turmoil than ever this season. Between George Russell’s business troubles and the van Rhijn household’s power struggle, the series has shown that everything can turn upside down. Now, after episode 6’s twist ending, The Gilded Age season 3’s final two episodes will have a lot of ground to cover for each character.

Did The Gilded Age Really Just Kill Off John Adams?

Oscar’s Former Love Interest’s Fate Was Left Unclear

John Adams sitting down and smiling in The Gilded Age

Across its 3 seasons, The Gilded Age has never been a show that seemed too concerned with killing off its characters. In fact, the only character who died was Ada Forte’s husband, Luke. With his death, the characters knew it was coming and got to say goodbye, but the show has changed everything with episode 6’s accident.

The episode left him lying on the ground, unresponsive, making it unclear whether he was dead or alive.

John Adams has never been a huge character, but he was important, especially in Oscar van Rhijn’s story. This made it a huge shock to see him hit by a horse and carriage at the end of episode 6. The episode left him lying on the ground, unresponsive, making it unclear whether he was dead or alive.

Because The Gilded Age has never truly seen any of its characters meet a violent end before, this is completely unprecedented for the series. In other words, The Gilded Age season 3 continues to prove that it is willing to be more chaotic than ever, though this is arguably necessary to keep from becoming repetitive or boring.

The series could also choose to pull back, as it often does at the last minute, and have episode 7 open with John Adams being revived. After all, he still has business with Oscar. If The Gilded Age does choose to kill him, though, unfortunately, John Adams will become just the most recent victim of the “bury your gays” trope.

George Russell’s Former Ally May Spell Doom For His Company

Clay Is Not Happy About Being Fired

The Gilded Age season 3 made George Russell more reckless, and as part of that, the businessman fired Clay, his longtime secretary, in season 3, episode 5. George Russell does not like being told what he can and cannot do, and Mr. Clay crossed that line. Now, Clay is out for revenge, and he knows exactly how to get it.

After working for George for such a long time, Clay knows exactly where the bodies are buried, as he tells Risley Sage following their joint business meeting.

After working for George for such a long time, Clay knows exactly where the bodies are buried, as he tells Risley Sage following their joint business meeting. This becomes immediately clear, as the next day, George’s business prospects are already shrinking rapidly thanks to a newspaper report that uses Clay’s information.

The Gilded Age Season 3 Introduces Another Famous Historical Robber Baron

The Gilded Age has woven several real historical figures into past seasons, and season 3 introduces a famous and powerful real-life businessman.

George Russell’s business ventures have been risky in season 3. In the first half of episode 6, it seemed like things were looking up a bit, with him convincing the Merricks to sell the controlling share in the Illinois Central line to him, but the ending put George in a worse place than ever, with no clear solution.

Gladys Is Finally Becoming The Duchess She Needs To Be

Bertha Russell Finally Helps Her Daughter

Gladys Vere has not had it easy in The Gilded Age season 3. She married Hector, Duke of Buckingham, in episode 4 with tears in her eyes, and in the very next episode she was already being bullied by his pushy sister, Lady Sarah. The Gilded Age season 3, episode 6 finally begins giving Gladys the story she deserves.

The-Real-Heartbreak-Of-The-Gilded-Age-Season-3-Episode-3-Is-Gladys-Getting-Betrayed-v2

The Gilded Age Called Out Gladys’ Biggest Marriage Problem Before It Happened

Gladys Russell was never excited about marrying the Duke, but episode 5 shows that she has another big problem that was foreshadowed in episode 4.

After writing to tell her parents how miserable she is at Sidmouth Castle, Bertha Russell arrives in England in episode 6 to fix her daughter’s marriage. Bertha may not be great at being a mother to Gladys, but she excels at getting what she wants, and episode 6 entertainingly shows her teaching that skill to Gladys.

Gladys is the Duchess and head of the household, not Sarah, and it was the highlight of the episode to watch her fully embrace her new title and power.

Their bonding in the episode does not make up for everything that Bertha has put Gladys through, but it was very fun to watch them make Lady Sarah increasingly angry. Gladys is the Duchess and head of the household, not Sarah, and it was the highlight of the episode to watch her fully embrace her new title and power.

Why Marian Brook Decides To End Her Engagement, Again

Marian Rushes To Judgment On Larry’s Lie

Marian Brook’s relationship troubles have come up in every season of The Gilded Age thus far, but I was hoping season 3 would avoid that. Her relationship with Larry Russell has been going strong all season. The young couple had even gotten engaged just before he left for Arizona.

This all changes, though, when she eventually learns of Larry’s visit to the Haymarket in episode 5. Larry was simply there for the bachelor party of one of his friends, but the reputation of the place and the presence of sex workers is enough to drive Marian over the edge when she finds out from Oscar.

Because Larry has just reached Arizona, he and Marian can’t talk about the issue in person for him to explain himself.

Yes, maybe Larry should have told Marian the truth about where he was going, but he actually did nothing wrong while at the Haymarket. In fact, he even found Maude Beaton and told Oscar about it, allowing them both to get closure for that season 2 story.

The Real Life Heiress The Gilded Age’s Gladys Russell Is Based On, Explained

Gladys Russell has had a huge season 3 story, and episode 4 only cemented that further, but the downtrodden character actually has a real inspiration.

Because Larry has just reached Arizona, he and Marian can’t talk about the issue in person for him to explain himself. Marian could easily send him a letter or wait for him to return to actually have that conversation, but instead she panics and ends the engagement, perhaps a result of being burned twice before.

Jack Trotter Says His Goodbyes To The Van Rjihn Household

Jack Trotter’s alarm clock story has been ongoing since season 2, and it has seen the inventor become hugely successful. So successful, in fact, that he is now wealthier than his employers, the van Rhijns. Jack was paid $300,000 for his clock patent, making him a very rich man.

Close up of Jack Trotter in The Gilded Age

The Gilded Age Season 3 Is Telling A Uniquely American Story That Isn’t Possible In Downton Abbey

The Gilded Age’s Jack Trotter is pursuing the American Dream, and his ambition is a story that wouldn’t work in a British show like Downton Abbey.

Having worked his entire life, Jack does not know what to do with that amount of money and does not want to leave his life at the van Rhijn’s behind. Understandably, he makes the point that they are the only family he has ever known. This is an incredibly sympathetic position, but Ada Forte still insists on his leaving.

The Gilded Age season 3, episode 7, “Ex-Communicated” will air on HBO Max on Sunday, August 3, 2025, at 9 pm EST.

Strangely, after he leaves the next morning, she does not mention to her family that she fired him, simply claiming he must have felt it was time to move on. Especially knowing Jack left money for the house’s members, reaffirming him as one of the most wholesome characters, Ada may be feeling a bit guilty right now.

Did Bertha’s Servants Solve Her New Enemy Mystery?

The Show Has Set Up One Clear Culprit

The Gilded Age season 3 has set up a big mystery surrounding Bertha Russell. Someone has been leaking Russell family secrets to the newspapers, causing chaos in the household as different members attempt to locate the source. Now, Mrs. Bruce has one culprit in mind.

The source of the leak had to have intimate knowledge of the Russells’ lives, down to what Gladys and Bertha would wear to specific events. Very few people would have this information, leading Mrs. Bruce to believe that Bertha’s new lady’s maid, Miss André, is the leak.

The Gilded Age is certainly setting Miss André up to be the most suspicious character, with her lingering around Bertha unnecessarily long.

The Gilded Age is certainly setting Miss André up to be the most suspicious character, with her lingering around Bertha unnecessarily long. This makes her the most obvious answer, but it could still be a misdirect. If the show does go for a twist, it could be Mr. Borden, who has made a few suspicious comments this season.