Warning: this article contains spoilers for The Gilded Age season 3 finale, “My Mind Is Made Up.”
Bertha Russell has always been one ofThe Gilded Age’s most ambitious characters, and season 3’s ending proved that she was right in her plans, despite facing opposition from the other characters. Nothing cemented this more than theending ofThe Gilded Age’s season 3 finale, which saw Bertha experience a huge triumph and loss in quick succession.
Bertha and George Russell’s marriage in season 3and their increasing struggle to see eye to eye was one of the most compelling aspects of the season. ThoughBertha Russell’s plan for Gladys Veremade her unpopular both among other characters and some viewers, she was arguably just doing what she had to do.
Gladys & The Duke’s Happy Marriage In The Gilded Age Proves Bertha Was Right All Along
The Gilded Ageseason 3had a lot of ups and downs when it came to Bertha Russell’s relationship with her family. The character has always been very aggressive in pursuing the things she wants, and in season 3 that took the form of her setting up her daughter’s marriage to Hector, Duke of Buckingham.
At the beginning of the season, Gladys Russell was understandably upset about marrying a man she didn’t know, butThe Gilded Age’s season 3 finale proved that Bertha was right in putting the pair together. Just before the episode’s ending, Gladys Vere happily revealed that she was four months pregnant.
To some audiences, an arranged marriage with someone you don’t know well may seem extreme, but it was incredibly normal at the time. Arguably, Bertha was simply doing what many other society women did. She was just far more ruthless when it came to finding a suitable partner for her daughter than others might be.
Bertha Russell is one of the most interesting characters inThe Gilded Agebecause of how she exemplifies ambition and societal norms. As Carrie Coon herself has pointed out,Bertha understands what it is to be a woman in the Gilded Ageand everything it takes to thrive, and she successfully sets her daughter up to do the same.
Bertha’s Greatest The Gilded Age Victory Came At A Cost
Knowing what her daughter would face in a world where women had very limited freedom or power, Bertha’s actions make sense. In her mind, she is protecting Gladys and setting her up for a good future, and despite accomplishing that, she lost everything else in the process.
Perhaps because of her strong sense of self and ambition, Bertha Russell can be quite single-minded. She forced Gladys into a marriage, and despite Gladys coming to love Hector in the end, Bertha alienated George and Larry Russell in the process due to her cruel approach to the situation.
Bertha Russell is certainly not a perfect character. That’s part of what makes her so entertaining to watch.The Gilded Ageseason 3 highlighted that her lofty goals are not without their consequences. While Gladys and Hector constitute Bertha’s greatest win, they will also be a reminder of everything she has lost going into season 4.
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.
