OMG, is Gladys Russell’s fairy-tale marriage crumbling? 😱

The Gilded Age Season 4 trailer just dropped a bombshell inspired by a shocking real-life story! Will heartbreak tear this iconic family apart, or is there more to this scandal than meets the eye? 👀 Dive into the drama and uncover the truth behind the divorce rumors!

HBO’s The Gilded Age has captivated audiences with its lavish portrayal of 1880s New York, weaving fictional drama with historical inspiration. As Season 3 concluded on August 10, 2025, fans were left reeling from a finale that hinted at seismic shifts for the Russell family, particularly the marriage of Gladys Russell and the Duke of Buckingham. The Season 4 trailer, as suggested by sources like Nextfilm on YouTube, teases a darker turn, with Gladys facing a potential divorce that mirrors the real-life struggles of Consuelo Vanderbilt. This article explores the narrative arc of Gladys’s marriage, its historical roots, and what Season 4 might hold, while critically examining how the show balances fact and fiction.

The Gilded Age: A Tapestry of History and Drama

Created by Julian Fellowes, The Gilded Age thrives on the tension between old-money elites and new-money climbers, set against the opulent backdrop of 1880s Manhattan and Newport. The Russell family—George, Bertha, and their children, Larry and Gladys—embody the ambitious spirit of the era’s nouveau riche, drawing heavily from the real-life Vanderbilts. Season 3 saw Bertha (Carrie Coon) achieve social triumph by hosting the coveted Newport ball, supplanting Mrs. Astor (Donna Murphy). Yet, this victory came at a personal cost, with George (Morgan Spector) distancing himself from Bertha over her ruthless orchestration of Gladys’s (Taissa Farmiga) marriage to Hector, the Duke of Buckingham (Ben Lamb).

The Season 4 trailer, as described by Nextfilm, suggests that Gladys’s marriage may unravel, echoing the historical divorce of Consuelo Vanderbilt from her duke. This plot point raises questions about how closely the show will hew to history and whether it will diverge to serve its narrative. Let’s delve into Gladys’s storyline, its real-life parallels, and the broader implications for Season 4.

Gladys Russell: A Pawn in the Social Game

Gladys Russell, the sheltered daughter of George and Bertha, has been a quiet but pivotal figure in The Gilded Age. In Season 3, her arranged marriage to Hector was a strategic move by Bertha to secure a title and cement the Russells’ place in high society. This mirrors the real-life marriage of Consuelo Vanderbilt, who was pressured by her mother, Alva Vanderbilt, into marrying Charles Spencer-Churchill, the ninth Duke of Marlborough, in 1895. Consuelo’s union was famously unhappy, marked by control, infidelity, and eventual divorce after 25 years.

In the show, Season 3 ends on a hopeful note for Gladys, who is pregnant and growing fond of Hector, suggesting a potential happy ending. However, the Season 4 trailer hints at a darker future, with divorce looming. This aligns with Consuelo’s real-life trajectory, where her marriage, initially a glittering alliance, became a source of misery. The trailer’s focus on Gladys’s divorce suggests The Gilded Age may explore the emotional toll of her arranged marriage, reflecting the societal pressures on women of the era.

Taissa Farmiga, who plays Gladys, has expressed hope that her character’s arc might deviate from Consuelo’s, perhaps allowing Gladys to return to New York and bring “English manners and chaos” to the storyline. She also noted a desire for Gladys to emulate George’s empathetic parenting rather than Bertha’s controlling approach, hinting at a complex mother-daughter dynamic in Season 4.

Historical Context: Consuelo Vanderbilt’s Divorce

Consuelo Vanderbilt’s story provides a rich historical backdrop for Gladys’s arc. Born in 1877, Consuelo was the only daughter of William Kissam Vanderbilt and Alva Erskine Smith. Alva, a formidable social climber, saw her daughter’s marriage as a means to elevate the Vanderbilt name. In 1895, Consuelo wed the Duke of Marlborough, a union that brought prestige but little happiness. The marriage was strained by cultural differences, financial dependence, and mutual infidelity, culminating in a separation in 1906 and a divorce in 1921, finalized after the Catholic Church annulled it in 1926.

Consuelo’s divorce was groundbreaking for its time, as divorce carried significant social stigma, particularly for women. Alva, who herself divorced William Vanderbilt in 1895 citing infidelity, became a trailblazer in making divorce more acceptable for society women. This historical precedent suggests that The Gilded Age may use Gladys’s potential divorce to explore themes of female agency and societal change, especially as Bertha, inspired by Alva, is depicted as advocating for divorced women’s acceptance.

However, The Gilded Age has a history of diverging from its historical inspirations. While Consuelo’s divorce followed her parents’, George and Bertha’s separation in the Season 3 finale precedes Gladys’s marital troubles, flipping the timeline. This creative liberty allows Fellowes to craft a unique narrative while maintaining the emotional weight of historical events.

What to Expect in Season 4

The Season 4 trailer’s focus on Gladys’s divorce sets the stage for a season of personal and societal upheaval. Several key questions arise:

Will Gladys’s Marriage Collapse?
The trailer suggests that Gladys’s initially promising marriage to Hector may sour, mirroring Consuelo’s misery. However, Farmiga’s comments indicate that the writers might explore a redemption arc, perhaps allowing Gladys to find agency or happiness, either in England or back in New York. The show could delve into her pregnancy and motherhood, contrasting her approach with Bertha’s.

How Will Bertha Navigate the Fallout?
Bertha’s role in arranging Gladys’s marriage has strained her relationship with George, who admires her ruthlessness but cannot condone its impact on their daughter. Carrie Coon has hinted that Bertha’s efforts to normalize divorce may be self-serving, potentially to protect her own social standing if her marriage to George dissolves. Season 4 may see Bertha leveraging her influence to reshape societal norms, much like Alva did in real life.

George’s Transformation and Laudanum Concerns
George’s near-death experience in Season 3, surviving an assassination attempt, has left him questioning his values. The trailer’s lingering shot on a laudanum bottle raises concerns about potential addiction, a plausible plot point given the era’s reliance on the drug. This could complicate his reconciliation with Bertha and impact Gladys’s storyline, as George’s emotional absence might push her further into her own struggles.

Societal Shifts and Other Characters
Season 4 is likely to continue exploring the changing social landscape, with Bertha potentially overtaking Mrs. Astor as the queen of New York society. Other characters, like Peggy Scott (Denée Benton) and her fiancé, Dr. William Kirkland (Jordan Donica), may take center stage with their engagement, while Marian (Louisa Jacobson) and Larry Russell (Harry Richardson) navigate their renewed romance. The show’s focus on Black high society and women’s suffrage, inspired by Alva’s activism, could further intertwine with Gladys’s story, highlighting parallels in their quests for autonomy.

Critical Analysis: Balancing Fact and Fiction

The Gilded Age excels at blending historical inspiration with dramatic license, but it’s worth questioning how much the show relies on the Vanderbilt story versus creating its own path. The trailer’s emphasis on Gladys’s divorce feels like a direct nod to Consuelo, yet the show’s timeline and character dynamics suggest deviations. For instance, George’s fidelity contrasts with William Vanderbilt’s alleged infidelity, and Gladys’s pregnancy introduces a new variable absent from Consuelo’s early marriage. These differences allow The Gilded Age to explore universal themes—ambition, sacrifice, and independence—while grounding them in a specific historical context.

The show’s portrayal of divorce also reflects a modern lens, emphasizing female empowerment in a way that resonates with contemporary audiences. While Alva Vanderbilt’s divorce and advocacy were progressive, they were driven by personal ambition as much as altruism. Bertha’s similar motivations, as noted by Coon, suggest a nuanced character who is both admirable and flawed. This complexity will likely shape Gladys’s arc, as she grapples with her mother’s legacy and her own desires.