Dear reader, I am actually watching something that is current and not just catching up, like all these years when I sailed around the world and later had to find out what happened in the meantime. "The Gilded Age" could be described as American branch of hugely successful "Downton Abbey" with the same creator and same lavish production, except that this time story covers 19th century New York. This idea could basically be adapted to any country and any social atmosphere - pile up the costumes, extravagant interiors and lots of charismatic actors and voilà you got award winning TV show. It really doesn't matter is it New York, Iceland or Hungary, it would work everywhere.
I have to be honest and admit that I had actually lost enthusiasm for "Downton Abbey" fairly quickly. It started magnificently and I loved for a while, just to find myself thinking how it all became kitchen sink drama about blind cooks and completely unimportant characters - when the whole episode became focused on annual flower exhibition (which had absolutely nothing to do with the rest of the story) I kinda started asking myself why is this dragging so long and stopped watching around second season. I might continue, if inclined. But I am wary of soap operas that bubble just so to keep us watching more.
So far, "The Gilded Age" had only one season and 9 episodes. That is not too scary or too intimidating. I have actually really enjoyed first 3 episodes and noted how it all started same way like "Downton Abbey", with post arriving at the wealthy home address (obvious nod). Instead of British aristocrats, now we have upper class New Yorkers who look down at their noses at nouveau riche neighbours, whom they find vulgar and pretentious. It doesn't matter that these new arrivals have far more money - what matters is that they were not here with the Mayflower, therefore they don't count. We were explained this trough the eyes of poor cousin Marian (Louisa Jacobson, daughter of Meryl Streep) who must find her way in this complicated world of manipulations and intrigues. Her aunts are icy cold Christine Baranski (obviously inspired with, but nowhere as funny as Maggie Smith) and dizzy Cynthia Nixon, who are disdainfully watching the arrival of new neighbours, banker Morgan Spector and his power hungry, ambitious wife Carrie Coon. There are lots of beautiful costumes, flowers, corsets, hats and ladies with fans - in fact, this is such woman's show that men are here purely as decoration.
If there is anything to complain, its the script itself that tries too hard to be witty and charming like in Downton Abbey" - this time, coming out of the mouth of jaded New York socialites, it just comes out as nasty, bossy and plain rude. For example, there is character of supposedly funny, real life Mamie Fish but to me she just appears vulgar. And our first introduction to banker's wife presents her not as elegant or classy, but as fisherman's wife who behaves as she thinks ladies behave. Not sure is this intentional, but it looks like American counterparts shown here are just smug and loud. And don't even let me start about politically correct inclusion of obligatory black character Denée Benton who is clearly inserted just so that nobody could complain about total whiteness of the cast. I think that political correctness is killing the entertainment and all the fun, because no matter what we did, there will always be someone who will be offended.
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