The Gilded Age Season 4 Premiere: Cast Talks Marian's 'Shame,' Gladys' Nightmare, And More (Grade It!)

The Gilded Age returned for its fourth season on Sunday, presenting a lavender wedding instead of a white one. In the premiere, Oscar and Enid wed, fulfilling the arrangement they made in the Season 3 finale. They celebrated their nuptials with a lively party in town, where Larry was surprised to see Marian, even though they hadn't spoken since he left for Chicago three months prior.

Marian and Larry's relationship remains strained, as both are still haunted by fear, attachment, and trepidation. They acknowledge that falling in love often means losing oneself, a realization that relatable to many. However, their attraction and connection persist, bound by the unfinished business between them. Marian and Larry share a carriage ride home, but a sudden storm forces them to take shelter at a hotel.

Marian receives a late-night knock at her door, leading to a passionate kiss, and they eventually end up in bed together.

Louisa Jacobson, who plays Marian, emphasized the historical context of the scene, explaining that women were supposed to remain pure and untouched before marriage in 1886. She acknowledged that Marian's guilt was more severe than Larry's, and it is rooted in societal expectations of the time. On the other side of the pond, Gladys faces a harrowing labor process during childbirth, which ultimately requires the removal of her uterus.

Bertha, Gladys's maid, must deliver this news to Gladys, highlighting the limitations and challenges faced by women in the 1880s.