The Gilded Age Season 2 – TV Series

Episodes 01

“You Don’t Even Like Opera”

In 1883, juxtaposed Easter Sunday services are held: the Scotts at a Black congregation in Philadelphia, and the other for affluent residents (including the Astors, the Russells, and the van Rhijns) on Upper East Side Manhattan. Reverend Luke Forte is the new pastor. Widower Dashiell Montgomery, Agnes’s nephew by marriage, is moving to New York with young daughter, Frances. Marian learns that Tom Raikes will be married. Snubbed by Mrs. Astor’s opera community, Bertha supports the new Metropolitan Opera over the senior Academy of Music. She wants the nouveau riche to buy opera boxes and later attract the old-money crowd. George and other robber barons face labor issues. Oscar arrives at Agnes’s house bloodied after a homosexual encounter. Oscar, wanting a rich wife and to propagate the van Rhijn line, proposes to Gladys, promising independence (while secretly maintaining his gay life). At her dinner for key opera patrons, Bertha surprises guests with a famous opera singer, which prominently displays Bertha’s growing influence. Peggy meets the Philadelphia family that adopted her son.

Episodes 02

“Some Sort of Trick”

Gladys refuses to go to the Hamptons until Oscar’s marriage proposal is settled. George, knowing Oscar’s true intent, convinces Gladys to marry for love rather than to escape her domineering mother. Marian refuses to quit teaching watercolor classes after Agnes disapproves. Agnes warns Armstrong to treat Peggy respectfully when she resumes her secretarial job. In Newport, wealthy widow Susan Blane hires Larry to renovate her home. Their relationship becomes romantic, to Bertha’s disapproval. Aurora Fane attempts to match Marian with Edward Morgan, a drunken, dandified bore. When Chicago iron and steel workers strike for better pay and working conditions, George intends to avoid similar problems at his Pittsburgh mills by bribing the union representative. The Russells are shocked that the wealthy Mr. Winterton’s new wife, Enid, is Bertha’s former maid, Turner. Ada is smitten with the unmarried Rev. Forte.

Episodes 03

“Head to Head”

The Opera War between Bertha and Mrs. Astor intensifies. Bertha eagerly anticipates the Duke of Buckingham’s impending New York visit. Dashiell courts Marian. Bertha maneuvers to force New York’s elite to choose between supporting the Academy of Music or The Met. Mrs. Astor recruits Agnes to help generate support for the Academy of Music. Pittsburgh union leader Mr. Henderson, rejects George’s attempt to bribe him and bust the union. Bertha angrily confronts George after Mrs. Winterton (Turner) mentions their previous encounter. Bertha believes George that nothing happened but is furious he withheld this. Peggy is to cover the dormitory opening at a Black school in Tuskegee, Alabama, but the Scotts worry she is naive about racism. Playwright Oscar Wilde, in New York for his play, is attracted to John Adams, Oscar van Rhijn’s former lover. Watson’s wealthy son-in-law, Mr. McNeil, offers him financial support if he permanently moves away. Watson insists that his daughter, Flora make the request. Ada discreetly spends time with Reverend Forte.

Episodes 04

“His Grace the Duke”

Aurora Fane, Mrs. Winterton, and others tour the unfinished Metropolitan Opera House with Bertha. She hopes they and others will purchase boxes. Mr. Gilbert informs Bertha that financial issues have halted construction, though the matter is resolved soon after. At Bertha’s insistence, Mrs. Blane ends her relationship with Larry. Meanwhile, Ada accepts Forte’s marriage proposal, and Oscar sets his matrimonial sights on the wealthy Maude Beaton, rumored to be Jay Gould’s illegitimate daughter. After Mrs. Astor asks Mr. Winterton to surrender his Academy of Music opera box because his wife (Turner) is considered unsuitable, he vows to support The Met. At a dinner party, Bertha swaps dining table name cards and places herself next to the Duke of Buckingham, bumping Mrs. Winterton. The Duke accepts Bertha’s invitation to stay at their Hampton house, infuriating Mrs. Winterton who had invited him. In Tuskegee, Peggy and Fortune stay with Booker T. Washington and his wife. George and other business owners conspire to subvert impending labor strikes.

Episodes 05

“Close Enough to Touch”

Two devious servants nearly sabotage the Russells’ lavish dinner party for the Duke of Buckingham, but Watson’s and Church’s quick actions avert a disaster. The dinner’s success vexes Mrs. Winterton, who orchestrated the scheme. Marian and Oscar are happy when Ada becomes engaged to Rev. Forte, but Agnes opposes it. When Agnes admits she fears being alone, Forte assures her that he and Ada will never leave New York. Oscar meets businessman, Mr. Crowther, whose group is buying out the Chicago-Atlantic Railroad, which Miss Beaton is invested in. Oscar decides to invest. At a Tuskegee restaurant, two White men threaten Black diners. After Fortune pushes back, he and Peggy flee. While hiding, they share a romantic kiss. George sends Larry to a trustees’ meeting regarding the Brooklyn Bridge’s unveiling. Larry discovers that Washington Roebling’s wife, Emily has been heading the project for her ill husband. Agnes relents and attends the wedding.

Episodes 06

“Warning Shots”

Mrs. Winterton demands Bertha’s center opera box in exchange for supporting The Met. Bannister writes the Russells after observing an inebriated Church. After learning Church was despondent on the 30th anniversary of his wife’s death, Bannister retrieves the unopened letter and ends their feud. Mr. Bannister and other staff, as well as Marion and Mrs. van Rhijn give Jack money to apply for a patent for his improved alarm clock. However, the patent is initially declined because he does not belong to a clockmaker society. After receiving a quick profit, Oscar invests more money into Mr. Crowther’s railroad company. Peggy asks Fortune to investigate the New York Education Board closing the Black schools. George, who secretly financed the Met’s completion, forces Mr. Gilbert to give Bertha the center box, usurping Mrs. Winterton. Bertha hopes to score a social coup by hosting the Duke in her box at the Met opening. Dashiell stuns Marian into accepting his surprise public marriage proposal. Shortly after his and Ada’s honeymoon, Forte is diagnosed with cancer. George is prepared to use violence against striking steelworkers to install scabs. He relents after seeing workers’ miserable conditions.

Episodes 07

“Wonders Never Cease”

After giving labor concessions, George intends to break the steelworkers’ union. Mrs. Astor offers Bertha a Music Academy opera box. George, suspecting Astor wants to undermine Bertha’s growing influence, encourages his wife to stay with the Met. To keep the Black schools open, the administrators consider partnering with Irish teachers to attract poor white students. At the reception for the Brooklyn Bridge opening, Larry praises Mrs. Roebling’s leadership. Agnes plans Marian’s wedding just as Luke’s health worsens. Oscar intends to propose to Miss Beaton, only to discover that she, Mr. Crowther, and his investment have disappeared. Watson’s daughter, Flora, says she never wanted him to leave New York. He will receive a pension and be part of her family. Bannister helps Jack obtain entry into a watchmakers’ guild, allowing his patent application to be accepted. Agnes thanks Luke for making Ada happy. He dies soon after. Oscar tells Agnes he has lost nearly all the van Rhijn money.

Episodes 08

“In Terms of Winning and Losing”

As the two opera houses’ simultaneous opening nights approach, patrons must choose which to support. When Mrs. Astor poaches the Duke as her guest at the Music Academy, Bertha schemes to win him back. Following Oscar’s financial disaster, Ada, Agnes, and Marian prepare to sell their house. Marian ends her and Dashiell’s engagement, citing their wide differences. The New York Educational Board secretly attempts to close all Black schools, but the administrators thwart them, saving two of three. When Jack’s clock patent is approved, Larry suggests they form a partnership. Marian attends the Met as the Russells’ guest, annoying Agnes. Watson is leaving the Russell household and Peggy quits her job at The Globe. Mrs. Winterton learns she has lost the center opera box. The Duke arrives at the Met as Bertha’s guest. Most patrons choose the Met, leaving the Academy sparsely attended and cementing Bertha’s triumph. Mrs. Bruce and chef Borden also attend the Met, thanks to Bertha’s generosity. Ada discovers Forte was secretly wealthy and has left her his considerable fortune, allowing the family to keep the house, and changing Ada and Agnes’ relationship. Larry and Marian share a romantic kiss.