The Gilded Age Season 1 Episode 02 Recap & Ending
Explained
It’s a testament to the ability of Julian Fellowes (Downton Abbey) as a writer that
he can make you root for the wealthy and privileged class while they do wealthy and privileged
things. In ‘The Gilded Age’ episode 2, Marian (Louisa Jacobson) and Peggy (Denée
Benton) try to save the job of Mrs. Bauer, the cook at the van Rhijn household. Tom Raikes
(Thomas Cocquerel) reveals that he has decided to move to New York permanently. Mrs. Morris
and Mrs. Fane hold a charity bazaar and inevitably insult Bertha (Carrie Coon). Here is everything
you need to know about the ending of ‘The Gilded Age’ episode 2. SPOILERS AHEAD.
Episode 2 begins with Mrs. Bauer, a cook in Agnes van Rhijn’s kitchen, receiving a a
shakedown from a gilded-era thug (meaning he’s a criminal, but in a bespoke suit)
demanding money. In tears, she returns to the kitchen but she doesn’t explain herself
to the rest of the house staff.
Marion prepares for the arrival of the lawyer who handled her deceased father’s affairs
in Pennsylvania, Mr. Raikes, though she tells Peggy that she’s not sure if he’s coming
for matters of business or pleasure. Peggy asks Marion if he might be able to help her
with a legal matter of her own. Peggy harbors a secret and needs his services and his discretion,
and so, later on, it’s only appropriate that she’s the one who happens upon Mrs.
Bauer’s secret and must keep it concealed. Mrs. Bauer stole two silver candlesticks from
the van Rhijn cupboard and Peggy caught her trying to pay her debt with them. Mrs. Bauer
tells Peggy, “Now you know what I am, a common thief,” and we learn that Mrs. Bauer
is engaged in petty street gambling and owes some men $50 that she doesn’t have, and
Peggy tells Marion so they can help her out of debt.
If you remember back in episode one, Bertha Russell attended a charity gathering led by
Mrs. Fine and Mrs. Morris. Mrs. Russell, desperate to make friends with the pair, fell out with
Mrs. Fine, played by Kelli O’Hara, after Mrs. Fine admitted that she was only socializing
in order to ensure a charity donation from the Russells. But this week, George Russell,
a railroad tycoon with plans to expand his empire, needs his wife’s help getting in
the good graces of the Morrises. George needs approval from Mr. Morris, an alderman, to
build a new train station, and asks Bertha to invite him and Mrs. Morris (Katie Finneran)
to dinner. Both wives oppose the set-up, but Mr. Morris, who does not seem opposed to being
potentially bribed by large sums of money, is curious as to what business George has
with him.
Mr. Raikes, attending a tea at the van Rhijn’s, tells Marion he’s considering a job offer
in the city. Giirl, he wants to relocate for you! That’s either the sweetest, or a major
red flag. As if holding a tea for a podunk lawyer wasn’t distasteful enough for Aunt
Agnes, the situation is made even worse when her son Oscar arrives at home with Larry Russell,
of the Across-The-Street Russells that everyone hates so much. “Judging my your aunt’s
face, it will be a while before you see me here again,” Larry correctly tells Marion.
It’s hard to tell who Agnes dislikes more, Mr. Raikes, who seems like a decent fellow
and certainly shows his affection for Marion, or Larry. But she explains herself to Ada
later, telling her sister not to encourage a relationship between Marion and Mr. Raikes,
because Marion will need to marry up to find more financial security. “Without a decent
marriage, she will be lost,” Agnes says. “It’s obvious he sees her as a ticket
out of Doylestown.”
Mr. and Mrs. Morris arrive at the Russells’ for dinner, and as they enter the grand foyer
and see Mrs. Russell descending the stairs, Mrs. Morris deadpans “Do you think we should
kneel?” Mrs. Russell has begrudgingly allowed these people into her home knowing they disdain
her, and the two women trade barbs throughout the meal. As Mrs. Russell gives a grand tour
of the home’s ballroom, she offers it to Mrs. Morris should she need it to host any
grand charity functions. The men excuse themselves to discuss business, and Mr. Russell explains
that he needs the votes of the aldermen to allow a new train station to be built in the
city to accommodate his ever-growing railway. To sweeten the deal for the aldermen, Mr.
Russell explains that there would be an opportunity to invest in the railway ahead of the vote,
ensuring that the aldermen will make a hearty profit if they vote in Mr. Russell’s favor.
It’s not outright bribery, but it’s an offer Mr. Morris seemingly can’t refuse.
He confirms to Mr. Russell later that it’s a done deal, all of the aldermen have invested
in the railway and have agreed to the plan.
Marion can’t help but want to try and solve everyone’s problems. After she introduces
Peggy to Mr. Raikes, he agrees to take on Peggy’s cause, which is still a secret.
And as for Mrs. Bauer, Marion asks her cousin Oscar to front the $50 she needs to pay off
her gambling debt, which he says he’ll do in exchange for Marion throwing a lunch so
he can get to know Gladys Russell. Aunt Ada, overhearing, comes to Marion later to tell
her she plans to pay Mrs. Bauer’s debt instead, preferring not to involve Oscar. Or rather,
preferring not to allow Oscar an opportunity to get to know Gladys, further destroying
Agnes’s soul.
When the morning paper arrives at the Russell home, Bertha, taking her coffee and paper
in bed, reads that Mrs. Morris’s grand charity bazaar relocated from the Park Avenue Armory
to the Fifth Avenue Hotel, without so much as a request for it to be held at the Russells’.
All Bertha wants is to be loved, is that so wrong? In a rage, she throws her breakfast
to the floor.
At the bazaar, the opening of which was officiated by the queen bee of all the society ladies,
Mrs. Astor (Donna Murphy), Marion spies Mrs. Chamberlain (Jeanne Tripplehorn), herself
a pariah in the community, but we won’t find out why just yet. Marion greets her warmly,
and is scolded for it when Aunt Agnes sees it. But that’s hardly the most scandalous
thing that happens at the charity bazaar! Oh, ho ho. When the Russells arrive there,
Mr. Russell stands before all the women, calling out Mrs. Morris for rebuffing his wife’s
offer to use their grand ballroom as a venue. He then offers each vendor at the bazaar $100
to sell him everything they have and shut down the entire sale. This is what passes
for a scandal in 1882, and everyone’s pearls are CLUTCHED.
“It won’t help you, you know,” Mrs. Morris tells Mrs. Russell. “This sort of
stunt won’t impress the kind of people you’re trying to win over.”
But this sort of stunt does leave the Russell name in everyone’s mouth, including the
mouth of Mrs. Astor, who tells her daughter, “Yesterday I would have said that [George
Russell] was a nobody. But today? I’m obliged to concede that he is someone to be reckoned
with… We will hear of him again.” Yeah, you will, it’s early yet. If The Gilded
Age was a reality show, let me just say that we still have the equivalent of a messy international
girls’ trip AND a three-part reunion special awaiting us.
Liz Kocan is a pop culture writer living in Massachusetts. Her biggest claim to fame is
the time she won on the game show Chain Reaction.