The Gilded Age returns for its fourth season with an enlarged cast. The series, known for its lavish period authenticity and sharp social conflicts, launched on November 1 across HBO and HBO Max, spanning eight episodes through December 20. This installment builds on earlier upheavals while introducing new layers to its narrative.
The season centers on the fallout from Bertha Russell’s (Carrie Coon) disruption of high society, forcing her family to confront the repercussions. Agnes van Rhijn (Christine Baranski) works to restore her influence, while Marian (Louisa Jacobson) pushes for greater autonomy. Peggy (Denée Benton) faces decisions about her marriage to the Winthrops, and the tagline, “you must be careful what you wish for”, signals shifting loyalties and concealed ambitions.
Notable additions include Jim Gaffigan as President Grover Cleveland, marking the first portrayal of the 22nd U.S. president in the series. Cleveland, a Democrat who served in the 1880s and 1890s, arrives in New York to engage with the city’s elite. Dallas Roberts stars as Daniel Manning, Cleveland’s former Treasury Secretary, adding political depth. Other new cast members include Elizabeth Marvel as a nurse at a Lower East Side settlement house and Andrew Burnap as Porter, a wealthy investor.
Recurring characters expand the season’s reach. Neal Huff plays John D. Rockefeller, setting up a rivalry with George van Rhijn (Blake Ritson). Adrienne Warren joins as Ava, Peggy’s cousin and a singer, while Dennis Haysbert appears as a mentor to William Kirkland (Richardson). The cast also introduces an artist apprentice (James Scully), a Rockefeller cousin (Maggie Kuntz), and the editor of The Ladies’ Home Journal (Bonnie Milligan).
Existing storylines receive deeper attention. Kelley Curran, a series regular since Season 1, now plays Enid Winterton, a key figure in the Russell-Winthrop rivalry. Peggy’s relationship with the Winthrops remains central, with Ava’s introduction adding complexity to the family’s social ambitions.
With the finale on December 20, the season promises a mix of familiar drama and unexpected turns, including the aftermath of Bertha’s reforms and Agnes’s push for dominance. The series has maintained its reputation for spectacle and intrigue, and Season 4 continues that pattern.
