Seasons 1 and 2 ofThe Gilded Ageprovided many of its characters with compelling stories, but Marian Brook often felt like the odd character out. Now,The Gilded Ageseason 3seems set to finally fix its biggest Marian problem and take the character in a different direction. The series truly began with Marian, introducing her in the aftermath of her father’s death and setting up her arrival in New York. Through this lens,The Gilded Ageexplored the divide between the old and new money people, like theRussel and van Rhijn-Brook families.
Theera ofThe Gilded Ageis a fascinating period full of power struggles and drama, and the series has perfectly captured that, making it one of the best period dramas in recent years. Characters like Bertha Russell and Mrs. Astor and their petty power struggles are incredibly entertaining to watch, and their working-class counterparts are equally insightful in different ways. Compared to the other characters, Marian’s season 1 and 2 plots have felt less impactful, but season 3 seems set to change this in a big way.
Marian Has Two Failed Marriage Stories In The Gilded Age
Her Love Interests In Seasons 1 & 2 Were Not Great
Many ofThe Gilded Age’s stories revolve around the desire for power and authority in New York high society, with Bertha Russell always leading the very entertaining charge on that front, but Marian Brook’s story throughout seasons 1 and 2 has felt very different. Though being a part of New York’s old money group automatically makes Marian part of the power structure to some extent, her focus never really seems to be aimed at that aspect of Gilded Age life; instead,her scenes feel disproportionately focused on romance.
The Gilded Ageseason 1 saw Marian arrive in New York for the first time, and she gradually grew accustomed to the rules of society. However, a major part of this journey for her specifically was her connection with Tom Raikes. On the one hand, Tom’s involvement in so many aspects of Marian’s life (from helping Peggy to getting involved in charity with Marian) does reflect the position of women at the time. On the other hand, though,many ofThe Gilded Age’s other women characters can assert themselves in society without men at all.
In essence, Tom’s constant appearance in Marian’s life, despite the fact that she was just getting settled in a new place, always felt a bit odd. Though Marian herself did seem to enjoy his company, they never felt passionate, and even she was surprised at his proposal. Especially because Tom ultimately ended up leaving Marian broken-hearted, their romance felt unsatisfying. The same is true of her season 2 relationship with Dashiell Montgomery.The pair never had great chemistry, and their scenes, particularly the proposal, were a bit difficult to watch.
Marian’s failed marriage to Dashiell showed the character that she does need to assert herself and make her own way in the world, finding a partner who can respect that along the way.
In a way,it almost feels likeThe Gilded Ageused Dashiell to get a point across to Marian, fully knowing that audiences would not support the two. The characters were so different, it did feel essential that Marian finally recognized what she was agreeing to in marrying Dashiell. Marian’s failed marriage to Dashiell showed the character that she does need to assert herself and make her own way in the world, finding a partner who can respect that along the way. While it took two seasons to recognize this, season 3 seems far more promising.
The Gilded Age’s Season 3 Sets Up A Better Marian Romance With Larry Russell
Though other characters have also been unlucky in love, Marian’s failed relationships feel more intense. Even Agnes commented on Marian’s unlucky romantic encounters at the end of season 2 and how people might begin to see her differently. Though Agnes can, at times, be very traditional, her point about Marian’s relationships is important because it highlights that she has not chosen very well in the past. From season 3’s teaser trailer, though,that does not seem to have stopped Larry Russell from taking an interest in Marian.
Marian and Larry have always had great chemistry togethersince their season 1 meeting. Despite Marian constantly being courted by other men, her and Larry’s scenes together were very fun and a bit flirty. Their potential relationship was only made explicit in the final moments of season 2 when the pair kissed after attending the opera together. With season 2’s ending officially setting up their mutual interest, it is exciting to see that season 3 is going to expand on that a lot.
Both Marian and Larry are quite modern and forward-thinking, so they make a much better pair than Marian did with her previous suitors. What’s more, where Marian’s relationships with Tom and Dashiell felt a bit forced,I’m looking forward to seeing Marian and Larry be a bit more passionate about each other. While there is bound to be some push-back from Agnes about Marian’s choice, it will be very fun to see how Marian defies those standards if she is truly serious about being with Larry.
The Gilded Age Should Give Marian Better Stories Beyond Who She Will Marry
She Still Feels Less Developed Than Some Other Main Characters
Romances and relationships are often a large part of period dramas, so it is not surprising that a young single woman would have some relationships in this type of show. However, compared toThe Gilded Age’s other main characters,Marian’s storylines do often feel lackluster because they are so focused on romancebeyond anything else. In contrast, other single characters, like Peggy, have a career and other interests that feel more important to their personalities than the romance.
While Marian does have other interests, such as getting involved in charity or teaching,those still feel secondary to her interactions with potential romantic interests. Likewise, her scenes often feel less interesting than other characters in the series because of how sweet and naive she is. Compared to very assertive and competitive characters like Bertha Russell, Mrs. Astor, or her aunt Agnes, Marian does not seem to have the same drive, either to maintain the status quo or to create change, leaving her somewhere in the middle.
The Gilded Ageseason 3 will premiere on HBO Max on July 07, 2025.
Admittedly, her romances do give her a bit of excitement, but I still wish that they weren’t her only source of excitement. If she does become a bit more passionate in her romance with Larry in season 3, I would love to see that extend beyond her partnership too. LikeThe Gilded Age’s other characters, season 3 should allow Marian to become a little more assertive and fun, and maybe see her get more involved in some of the historic changes to the city during that time period, like those around her.
The Gilded Age
Cast
The Gilded Age, set in 1882 during a time of economic prosperity, follows Marian Brook, an orphaned Southern general’s daughter, as she moves to New York City. She navigates society’s complexities with her aunts and Peggy Scott, an African-American masquerading as her maid, amidst the city’s opulent elite.
