THE END OF A POWER COUPLE?! 😱 The Gilded Age Season 4 trailer just dropped, and George & Bertha’s marriage is on the brink! 💔 Will New York’s elite watch their empire crumble? Click to uncover the shocking twist! 👉

HBO’s The Gilded Age, created by Julian Fellowes, has captivated audiences with its lavish portrayal of 1880s New York, where ambition and romance collide in a glittering yet ruthless world. The Season 3 finale, “My Mind Is Made Up,” aired August 10, 2025, and left viewers stunned as George Russell (Morgan Spector) walked out on Bertha (Carrie Coon) after her social triumph at the Newport Ball, citing her role in their daughter Gladys’ arranged marriage. The Season 4 trailer, released August 14, 2025, via Rancher’s Review on YouTube, declares, “The Gilded Age Season 4 Is About To Change Everything!” with a bold claim: “George and Bertha’s marriage will have to end.” With HBO’s renewal on July 28, 2025, and a 95% Rotten Tomatoes score, Season 4 promises seismic shifts. This article explores the Russell marriage crisis, other key arcs, and the historical context shaping this dramatic chapter.

The Russell Marriage: A Breaking Point?

The trailer’s assertion that George and Bertha’s marriage “will have to end” underscores the gravity of their Season 3 fallout. In the finale, George, recovering from a near-fatal shooting in Episode 7, attended Bertha’s Newport Ball but left the next morning, telling her he couldn’t return to their marriage as it stood. His decision, rooted in an “existential crisis” after the shooting and Bertha’s manipulation of Gladys’ marriage to the Duke of Buckingham (Ben Lamb), shattered their once-unbreakable partnership. The trailer shows Bertha in distress, possibly in her 61st Street mansion, and George in a new setting—perhaps a business office or temporary residence—hinting at a prolonged separation.

Morgan Spector, in a TVLine interview, expressed intrigue at exploring the Russells’ path back to each other, suggesting Season 4 will delve into their emotional and logistical divide. Carrie Coon, speaking to Variety, emphasized Bertha’s resilience: “Her wheels are already turning about how to fix it”. Showrunners Julian Fellowes and Sonja Warfield noted that 1880s couples could live apart without formal divorce, leaving room for reconciliation. Episode 1 may depict Bertha strategizing to win George back, possibly through a grand social event or a confrontation with rivals, while George grapples with his values. The trailer’s dramatic claim of an “end” may be a tease, but it signals a season-long arc, with divorce a real threat given historical parallels to the Vanderbilts’ 1895 split.

The Shooting Mystery and Bertha’s Empire

The unresolved question of who shot George, likely Richard Clay (Patrick Page), a fired aide, will likely resurface in Season 4. The trailer’s mention of “whispered secrets” suggests Episode 1 introduces new clues, perhaps tying the attempt to Bertha’s social enemies or George’s business rivals. This mystery could complicate their marriage, as George’s absence may stem from safety concerns or a desire to protect Bertha. Meanwhile, Bertha’s social empire, solidified by her Newport Ball triumph, faces new challenges. Her normalization of divorce, allowing figures like Aurora Fane (Kelli O’Hara) to reenter society, positions her as New York’s tastemaker, but old-money foes like Agnes van Rhijn (Christine Baranski) may retaliate.

Other Key Arcs: Weddings and Ambition

Season 4 will weave multiple threads, as hinted in the trailer’s promise of “new alliances, weddings, and betrayals.” Marian Brook and Larry Russell’s reconciliation at the Newport Ball sets up their potential wedding, a cross-class union that could further strain Bertha and George’s relationship, given Larry’s role as their son. Harry Richardson told Collider that their Season 3 struggles were a growth moment, suggesting Season 4 will test their trust. Peggy Scott’s engagement to William Kirkland, celebrated in the Season 3 finale, faces obstacles from his mother, Elizabeth (Phylicia Rashad), and societal prejudice. Denée Benton described the proposal as a “feast” to TVLine, but Season 4 will explore Peggy’s balance of love and journalism.

Oscar van Rhijn’s strategic proposal to Enid Winterton (Kelley Curran), a “lavender marriage” to secure wealth and status, will unfold, potentially sparking betrayal if Enid’s past as Bertha’s maid resurfaces. Gladys’ pregnancy, revealed in the finale, may see her navigating motherhood in England or New York, as Taissa Farmiga hoped in Marie Claire, adding tension to the Russell family. These arcs, interwoven with the shooting mystery, promise a season of personal and societal upheaval.

Historical Context: Echoes of the Gilded Age

Set in the mid-1880s, Season 4 reflects the Gilded Age’s economic disparity and social flux, drawing on the Vanderbilts’ rise. Bertha’s arc mirrors Alva Vanderbilt’s bold maneuvers, particularly her push to legitimize divorce, a progressive yet self-serving act. The Russells’ potential divorce, rare for the era, would be a scandal, echoing William and Alva Vanderbilt’s 1895 split. Peggy’s story highlights African-American resilience, akin to journalist T. Thomas Fortune’s influence, offering a lens on Black upward mobility in a segregated society. The trailer’s “lavish ballrooms” and “stunning fashion” will showcase Emmy-winning production designer Bob Shaw’s work, amplifying the era’s extravagance.

Production and Fan Expectations

Season 4, expected in late 2026 or early 2027, will feature returning cast members like Coon, Spector, Jacobson, Benton, Baranski, and Farmiga. Filming, likely starting in 2026, will maintain the show’s visual splendor, with a 60% week-over-week increase in social chatter signaling strong fan engagement. X posts like @cinemichh’s distress over the Russells’ split and @ladywestcliffs’s hope for reconciliation reflect a passionate fanbase, with some anticipating multiple weddings (Marian/Larry, Peggy/William),. The trailer’s tease of “shocking twists” fuels speculation about betrayals or a new antagonist.

Conclusion: A Season of Fracture and Ambition

The Gilded Age Season 4, teased by its dramatic trailer, promises a transformative chapter, with George and Bertha’s marriage crisis threatening their empire. As Marian and Larry plan their wedding, Peggy navigates love and ambition, and secrets like the shooting mystery unfold, the season will captivate with its blend of romance and scandal. Set against the Gilded Age’s glittering backdrop, this new era will redefine New York’s elite. Stream Seasons 1–3 on HBO Max and brace for a 2026 premiere that will change everything.