Fans now have one more reason to worry about S3.
A period drama doesn’t have to be historically accurate to be entertaining, but when it is, it’s just a bonus for a large portion of the audience.
The dedication to creating a fictional world that is as close as possible to the one that actually existed decades ago is not only admirable from a history buff’s point of view, but also shows the amount of research that went into preparing the show.
While there are many things that fans of The Gilded Age need to fix about the show, the way it takes real events and public figures who were active at the time as inspiration is not one of them. It is smart, it motivates the audience to educate themselves, but it may also help crack some future storylines.
Will George and Bertha Russel Divorce?
Although the characters themselves are questionable, there is a reason why the Russels are affectionately called “the power couple” by the fandom. Both strong-willed and very interesting individuals, their marriage seems almost unbreakable. At least for now, before they face a new wave of struggles in season 3.
If HBO decides to greenlight the third season of Julian Fellowes’ period drama, the show’s creators may continue with a conflict between George and Bertha that they have already set up. With Bertha promising Gladys to the Duke and George going against that decision, their dynamic could take a significant turn.
While it’s known that George’s character is not entirely based on William Vanderbilt, the relationship between him and Bertha follows the same pattern as Vanderbilt’s relationship with his wife Alva. The Vanderbilt’s divorce in 1895 was one of the biggest shocks to society, so some fans believe this may be the plan for the Gilded Age characters as well.
Although the real-life characters certainly had their own admirers back then, their fans didn’t have access to the Internet and the ability to influence their fame in the way that fans of The Gilded Age did. That’s why another idea circulating among fans now is that Fellowes and the writing team won’t go for something as radical as a divorce.
The couple will certainly be forced to work out their differences. Perhaps their story will even include some sort of public scandal. But the hope is that they will be able to reconcile and find their way back together.
Of course, all of this will only be possible if HBO renews The Gilded Age for season 3. So stay tuned for more news and behind-the-scenes updates on the show!
