In The Gilded Age season 4 premiere, the HBO hit drama jumped right back into the thick of things. While George and Bertha remain estranged, Bertha was right by Gladys' side as she gave birth to her son. Gladys and the baby both survived, though there were still tragic setbacks. George gained new information on his shooter, and Marian and Larry's relationship goes to the next level.
The Gilded Age season 4 episode 2 begins with George and his men barging into a home and apprehending Will, the man who shot him. Will's mother, Anne Morris, is shocked to learn that her son tried to kill George. Will claims what he did was out of revenge for George's role in his own father's passing. The men take Will with them as his mother wails for him in their apartment.
Bertha returns home from her European adventure of becoming a grandmother. She reunites with Larry, but George is tucked away preparing for a meeting with Mr. Rockefeller. Larry rushes across the street to talk with Marian, who's still feeling shame about what happened between them. He insists that they can get married, but she doesn't want to get married for this reason.
Agnes agrees to take part in interviews, though she's blindsided by Ada fitting their home for new curtains. She's still navigating her place among society. Marian shows Ada around the settlement house where she works, and she's taken aback by the culture shock and worries that Marian isn't spending enough time on her own life.
Ada hires a new footman and Agnes makes big society moves
George and Larry's meeting with Mr. Rockefeller gets tense as George and Rockefeller disagree and butt heads. Larry interferes when as the two men struggle to see eye to eye, but he doesn't help them come to an agreement. George and Larry continue to disagree after they walk out on the meeting as Larry stands up for himself and George barks at him about appearing weak.
Agnes confronts Ada about where she's spending money and hiring new staff, but she's refusing to help fund the president's dinner. Agnes also turns down Ada when she expresses interest in joining her to the metropolitan opera for her interview. Peggy fields questions from Elizabeth's friends about her book, and she's something of a novelty among them as a woman who writes.
Ada meets with candidates for her new footman, including Oliver, a chaotic one who Bannister doesn't appear to like but Ada has a fondness for. Bannister isn't pleased to hear that Ada wants to hire Oliver. Peggy isn't thrilled when Elizabeth announces to her group while introducing her that she's a widow. William's turned away from the hospital while dropping off a patient.
Peggy and her mother speak with Elizabeth about how she introduced Peggy to the group in Newport. She wanted to give Peggy a "smoother" entrance, but agrees to be more thoughtful in the future. George and Bertha reunite, and she shows him a picture of their grandson. She begs him to come home and he kisses her, but the status of their relationship is still unknown.
The night at the opera begins as the who's who of society takes their seats, but Marian remains at the settlement house to care for incoming people in need. Bertha reunites with her friends and enemies, instantly butting heads with Enid, who's all too eager to announce that Agnes is hosting a dinner for the president. Larry's approached with a business proposal and leaves the theatre.
George faces his shooter one last time and makes a choice
Bertha learns from Caroline Astor that there's suspicion and gossip about George, especially since he hasn't joined her at the opera. Agnes feels watched and uncomfortable with the reporter joining her in the box. Larry's new business proposal is Gilbert and Sullivan stage productions, but he's still wary of taking the plunge. Anne Morris approaches Bertha when she returns home.
She brings Anne inside when she begins scream about George taking her son after accusing him of trying to kill George. Anne wants Bertha to convince George to let her son go. She's putting Bertha in difficult position and leaving her with a big decision to make about whose side to take. Agnes is aghast when Marian returns home late from the settlement house.
Ada introduces Marian to Oliver, who's quite the chatterbox and still in training. The next day, Bertha meets George about Anne Morris and holding Will captive. She tells him to turn Will in rather than holding him captive, clearly deciding to take Anne's side on the matter. Agnes sits for her interview with the reporter, Mrs. Curtis, which ends with an awkward tea mix up from Oliver
Peggy and William reunite, and she can tell something's bothering him. He reveals that his patient passed away, and he blames himself for not being able to stay with him at the hospital. He feels hopeless. Later that night, George heads to where he's holding Will captive. Anne pleads for his life as George and his men act menacingly. George holds Will at gunpoint, but he doesn't shoot Will.
He sends them out of New York with the threat of taking Will's life if they ever return to the city. After embarking on his journey of revenge, he returns to his home that night and wakes up Bertha to tell her that he let Will go. She asks him to stay and holds him as he admits that he feels lost. She pleads for their marriage, and he simply holds her hand. Are they officially back together?
The Gilded Age airs new episodes Sundays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HBO, also streaming on HBO Max.
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