“He Failed”: The Gilded Age Actor Explains Gladys’ Heartbreaking Fiancé Twist In Season 3 Episode 2
TV Insider caught up with Taissa Farmiga, who broke down what Gladys Russell hoped for with Billy Russell, and how Billy failed at having “a bit of a backbone” when he ran away instead of facing Gladys’ father, George. Farmiga also explained how Gladys’ banking on Billy “cost her everything,” and maneuvered her into the possible engagement to the Duke of Buckingham that Gladys was desperate to avoid. Read Taissa’s quotes below:
She tried to go after what she thought is the love of her life, and when it was time for him to stand up and speak to her father and have a bit of a backbone, Billy fails at that. I think that proves that he isn’t the love for her.
She tried to put all her eggs in that basket and say this is what I want, and it did, in the end, cost her everything, not in the way that like she gave up everything for him, but she would have. And he failed that. It’s just heartbreaking.
Gladys just wants freedom, as any young woman in that time period who can’t really have access to much freedom. She wants to be able to make her own decisions, and for her, she thinks that means, ‘Right now, I’m saying what I want to do and that’s that.’ It’s a bit naive, it’s a bit childlike.
Why Billy Carlton’s Failure Cost Gladys Russell “Everything” In The Gilded Age
Billy Was Gladys’ Last Hope To Avoid Marrying The Duke
As Taissa Farmiga explained, Gladys Russell naively pinned her hopes on Billy Carlton’s promise that he would speak to her father and present his arguments about why he loves and wants to marry Gladys. After all, George Russell promised his only daughter that he would let her marry for love, and Gladys believed George would overrule Bertha’s plans. What was paramount was that Billy spoke to George, but Carlton turned tail and ran out of fear.
Even if Billy loved Gladys as he said, he was afraid of what both George and Bertha could do to his future business prospects if he were rejected by Gladys’ parents. Billy decided Gladys wasn’t worth the risk, and he broke up with her. Gladys only had moments to reel from Billy dumping her before the Duke of Buckingham arrived. With Billy’s exit, Gladys is right back in line as Hector’s future bride, as Bertha intended.
Our Take On Gladys’ Russell’s Heartbreak With Billy Russell In The Gilded Age
Who Can Stop Gladys From Marrying The Duke?
Even if Billy Carton grew a backbone and returned in The Gilded Age season 3, episode 3, to ask for Gladys’ hand in marriage, he couldn’t stop the business transaction in the works between George, Bertha, and the Duke of Buckingham. After all, Hector even brought his lawyer with him in a move that surprised George and Bertha. This signals that the agreed-upon bargain is in place for the Duke to receive a dowry from George as payment for marrying Gladys and making her Duchess of Buckingham.
Unfortunately for poor Gladys, it doesn’t seem like anyone in The Gilded Age‘s cast has the power to stop Bertha’s plans for her and the Duke. George argued that Billy Carlton’s intentions should still be heard, but that was before Billy dumped Gladys and took himself out of the running. Gladys’ brother, Larry (Harry Richardson), is sympathetic to her sister but doesn’t have the sway to stop Bertha. Billy Carlton’s failure to act and decision to break it off with Gladys delivers her right into the arms of the Duke of Buckingham in The Gilded Age season 3.
