The Gilded Age Is Serving Ambition and Shame With a Season 4 Return Full of Surprises

A return with surprises

The season four premiere, titled “Ring the Bells,” opens with a fresh wave of emotional upheaval. Salli Richardson-Whitfield directed the episode and is also an executive producer. The story follows a third season that brought deaths and close calls, along with a marriage shaped by status and power. That relationship later involved a sacrifice of the heart, while the season also included a wedding proposal.

Gladys faces a dangerous birth

In England, Gladys gives birth to her first child. The delivery is life-threatening, and the Duke, whom she was compelled to marry but now loves, remains by her side.

The scene reflects the dangers of childbirth for women of the era, including those who were wealthy. It gives the returning series an immediate turn toward personal stakes.

Oscar’s unexpected wedding

Oscar van Rhijn marries Enid Winterton in the premiere, making her the new Mrs. Oscar van Rhijn. The wedding is one viewers may not have anticipated. Julian Fellowes, the series creator, executive producer and writer, said the team wanted to surprise the audience with a wedding they had not expected. He explained that viewers might assume they were about to see one of the weddings already anticipated.