Fans of a period drama created by Downton Abbey’s Julian Fellowes are celebrating after it was renewed for another season.
Following the success of his series following the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family on their country estate – which ran from 2010 until 2015 – Fellowes based his next series during the Gilded Age of the 1880s and the battles between new and old money in New York.
First hitting screens in 2022, The Gilded Age follows Marian Brook (Louisa Jacobson), a broke young woman forced to live with her estranged aunts.
However, she then finds herself battling through the city’s strict social scene, specifically the conflicts involving the new money Russell family and her old money van Rhijn-Brook family, who are also neighbours on the Upper East Side.
Like Downton Abbey before it, the series also explores themes of class and race, as well as women’s status, the temperance movement, and scandal of divorce at the time.
The Gilded Age – which has been nominated for 7 Emmys to date – also stars Carrie Coon (The White Lotus), Morgan Spector (Homeland), Cynthia Nixon (Sex and the City) and Christine Baranski (The Good Fight).
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It currently holds an 89% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which fans calling the series ‘compelling’, ‘delightful’ and even ‘the best show on TV’.
The third season returned to screens in June, with critic reviews continuing to be glowing.
‘It’s an upscale version of the classic primetime soap and one that’s perfect to get lost in when real life drama is too much,’ Decider wrote.
‘Features more scandal, more raw emotion, and even some death and mayhem. But Fellowes has not over-egged the series in the pursuit of intrigue; Gilded Age remains mostly a pleasant, satisfying diversion,’ Vanity Fair shared.
‘The Gilded Age has become not just grand, but silly too. Instead of joylessly pompous, this show is now joyfully pompous. I’m in,’ The Guardian.
Although there are still two episodes of the current season to air, this week it was announced the show had been renewed and there would be more episodes on the way.
‘We couldn’t be prouder of the undeniable viewership heights ‘The Gilded Age’ as achieved this season,’ HBO’s executive vice president of programming and head of drama series and films Francesca Orsi said in a statement.
‘Transporting us to 1880s New York City, Julian Fellowes and the enormously talented cast and crew have created a “can’t-miss it” entertainment experience from week to week, and we’re delighted to continue exploring these characters’ grand ambitions for what we promise will be a thrilling fourth season.’
Fans were equally as ecstatic, with one declaring on Reddit: ‘This is the best news I’ve heard so far this week, each season has gotten better!’
Since premiering three years ago, The Gilded Age has gone from strength to strength. In the US, premiere-night viewing for third season has grown for five consecutive weeks, as reported by Variety.
The third season is up 20% percent in viewership compared to last season.
The Gilded Age is streaming on Now.
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