The Gilded Age Just Introduced Bertha Russell’s Worst Nightmare

Warning: Spoilers ahead for The Gilded Age season 3, episode 4, “Marriage Is a Gamble.”

Bertha Russell is no stranger to having to fight for her power in The Gilded Age, but season 3, episode 4, has just introduced a very different type of problem for the wealthy character. Following Bertha winning the opera war at the end of The Gilded Age season 2, she has become one of the most powerful figures in season 3.

This culminated in The Gilded Age season 3, episode 3, with Bertha successfully negotiating Gladys Russell’s marriage to Hector, Duke of Buckingham. Now, The Gilded Age season 3, episode 4, sees the wedding and its preparations taking place, but along with everything else going on, Bertha is forced to contend with a huge unforeseen problem during that process.

The Gilded Age Introduces Bertha’s Worst Nightmare – Her Sister Monica

Monica Tells Bertha Everything She Does Not Want To Hear

While Gladys’ wedding is certainly the highlight of The Gilded Age season 3, episode 4, the episode also includes the great introduction of Bertha’s sister Monica O’Brien (Merritt Wever). Early in the episode, Larry Russell questions his mother about whether she has invited her sister to the wedding, though Bertha scoffs at the idea.

Though Bertha makes it known that she does not want her sister there, the rest of the Russell family happily welcomes Monica when she arrives, and from an audience perspective, it is easy to see why. Monica O’Brien may be Bertha Russell’s worst nightmare, but she actually works perfectly as the voice of the audience.

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A lot of The Gilded Age‘s fun comes from its escapist drama, but Monica O’Brien is far more grounded than the majority of the show’s wealthy characters, creating a great contrast. Precisely because she does not know or care about the rules of high society, she presents a huge challenge for Bertha and one that can’t easily be solved.

Monica questions some of the more ridiculous Gilded Age rules and wonders why the way she lives her life is so backwards in Bertha’s new worldview. Like many of The Gilded Age‘s other characters (and many audience members), Monica also worries about Gladys and what Bertha’s insistence on controlling her future will mean for the entire Russell family, upsetting Bertha.

Why Bertha Is So Against Her Sister In The Gilded Age Season 3

Bertha Is Not Used To People Being So Forward With Her

Bertha Russell likes to win and wants things her way, but this is not a possibility when it comes to her sister. Many siblings can toe the line between friends and enemies, so this isn’t unusual. It is funny to watch, though, as Bertha fails to counter Monica’s sheer disinterest in playing the perfect sister in Bertha’s perfect life.

This gives The Gilded Age a rare chance to show Bertha Russell not getting what she wants, but more than that, Monica forces those around her to look inward at how their lives seem to outsiders. The dinner scene with the Duke and his sister, Lady Sarah, highlights this perfectly, as Monica notes that Gladys may find Sarah’s presence strange.

From asking Bertha’s guests difficult questions to not wanting to change her dress for the wedding, Monica O’Brien certainly makes Bertha uncomfortable. She reminds Bertha of where they came from and how tenuous her position atop society is. Monica’s honesty also puts Bertha’s manicured perfection into stark contrast, allowing The Gilded Age to hint at the Russells’ fallibility.

The Gilded Age

7/10

Release Date

January 24, 2022

Network

HBO Max

Showrunner

Julian Fellowes

Directors

Deborah Kampmeier, Salli Richardson-Whitfield

Writers

Julian Fellowes

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  Carrie Coon

  Bertha Russell

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  Morgan Spector

  George Russell