The Gilded Age: George’s Struggles and the Fallout from His Marriage to Bertha in Season 3 Finale

In the Season 3 finale of HBO’s *The Gilded Age*, George Russell walks out on his wife, Bertha, after a difficult and emotional period in their lives. Despite his role in arranging their daughter Gladys’s marriage to the Duke, George cannot forgive himself for following Bertha’s manipulative actions, which he believes went against his own instincts. Creator Julian Fellowes and executive producer Sonja Warfield discuss George’s internal conflict and the complexities of Bertha’s character. While Bertha’s actions were driven by pragmatism—ensuring her daughter’s future by marrying into a powerful family—George feels that his wife manipulated him into compromising his values. Fellowes also reflects on the broader social issues of the time, including the challenges faced by women, such as forced marriages, and the role of divorce in reshaping societal norms. In a season marked by personal and social struggles, the finale highlights the consequences of these decisions, leaving viewers with a conflicted understanding of the characters’ choices and motivations. The show’s portrayal of these complex issues offers a critical look at the Gilded Age’s societal norms while also resonating with modern concerns about personal autonomy and familial pressure.