The Gilded Age: 5 Good Reasons To Watch Julian Fellowes' Series

The series The Gilded Age has made its comeback on Prime Video since late October 2023. As Season 2 promises to be even more polished and enthralling than the previous one, we have listed 5 good reasons to watch this sumptuous historical saga.

To discover another creation by Julian Fellowes.

For the numerous fans of the series Downton Abbey, the mere name Julian Fellowes is the first good reason to watch The Gilded Age.

In this new historical saga, the creator of Downton Abbey explores a theme dear to him: the relationships between the aristocratic class, the nouveau riche, and the servants.

Although both series share many similarities, this "Gilded Age" is not a mere carbon copy of its famous predecessor. This fiction, very well received by the international press during its broadcast on the HBO platform in 2022, is worth watching for the quality of its historical reconstruction, its casting, and its writing.

To dive into the high society of 19th-century New York.

In The Gilded Age, Julian Fellowes offers a study of characters in the high society of 19th century New York. In season 1, young Marian Brook leaves her native Pennsylvania following the death of her father. She seeks refuge in New York with her aunts.

These two spinsters are the cash-strapped heiresses of a squandered fortune and embody the golden age of this ever-bustling city. These two representatives of an already bygone era are the opposite of their new neighbors, the Russells.

The Russells are nouveau riche who have built an expensive, luxurious residence, but their money is not enough to open the doors of high society as Mrs. Russell dreams... The series is based on the struggle between old fortunes and the new rich, as well as between the wealthiest and those who serve them.

To follow tumultuous loves and rivalries.

With the series The Gilded Age, Julian Fellowes continues his mapping of the different social classes and capitalist power. More than just an American version of Downton Abbey, this drama is a bustling historical saga where loves are as tumultuous as financial rivalries.

Already in season 1, there's no shortage of events with a death, a threatened social status, the rise of new ideas, and the inevitable struggle of masters against servants.

With this fiction set on the other side of the Atlantic, Julian Fellowes tackles the myth of the American self-made man and delivers an in-depth analysis of the birth of capitalism. The result is a series more layered than Downtown Abbey, with a depth that the famous British series did not have.

4- To enjoy a stellar cast and sumptuous settings.

Among the top 5 reasons to watch the series The Gilded Age, one must also highlight the quality of the historical reconstruction and the casting.

This sumptuous historical epic is carried by seasoned actors and actresses such as Cynthia Nixon (known for her role as Miranda in Sex and the City), Christine Baranski, Carrie Coon, Morgan Spector, Louisa Jacobson, and Denée Benton.

The sets and costumes are as breathtaking as the cast. They provide a magnificent setting for the story's twists and turns, including romances and betrayals.

5- To discover an even more captivating season 2.

If you enjoyed the first season of The Gilded Age or if you have just discovered it, you won't be disappointed by what follows. You will find pleasure in reacquainting with the characters whose paths intertwine in a tight and coherent plot.

In season 2, the power struggle between old and new money reaches its peak when Bertha Russell challenges the traditional Academy of Music where she failed to secure a box. This is the central theme of this unprecedented season, which is full of surprises.

The series expands and the emotional stakes are raised to better captivate the audience. The only downside that might dampen fans' enthusiasm: you now need to subscribe to the Warner Pass, which costs an additional €9.99 per month for Prime Video subscribers, to access season 2 of this historical saga filled with twists and unexpected romances.