What I’m Watching: The Gilded Age

The Gilded Age: Season 1, Episode 6 “Heads Have Rolled For Less” (B+)

It was an unexpected treat to see Agnes out of the house for once in this episode, giving in to her typically repressed impulsive nature to confront Bannister about his betrayal. I’m sure $100 was quite a lot of money in this time, but he should have known that it would have been impossible to get away with this for long, even if Marian recognized him there and said that she wouldn’t say anything to her aunt. It seems obvious that Church was the one who wrote the letter to Agnes since he was humiliated by Bannister taking over and forcing him to stand in line with the other servants. These people need to get better at keeping secrets, like Oscar’s park walk with Turner that ended within sight of those who are perfectly ready to gossip. It was interesting to see Agnes shut down Armstrong’s objections about Peggy, since she seems to want to judge people only on their actions and not their race. Gladys becoming friends with Carrie Astor will give her happiness and may also help her mother continue to climb the social ladder, which she is doing quite well currently with her approval to the board and her successful hosting on Ward McAllister, Agnes’ interruption notwithstanding. George, on the other hand, isn’t doing great, ready to bounce back from the train disaster but now apparently in the crosshairs as someone claims to have written proof of his wrongdoing and direct complicity in using subpar and dangerous materials.