The Gilded Age Season 3 Finale Ends in Blood and Betrayal
Tensions reach a breaking point as George Russell’s fate, Oscar’s grief, and Peggy’s secrets converge in a season closer packed with drama and scandal.
A storm of secrets and status battles erupts in The Gilded Age Season 3 finale, “My Mind Is Made Up,” which aired on Sunday, August 10, 2025, at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and Max. Directed by Salli Richardson-Whitfield and penned by Julian Fellowes and Sonja Warfield, the episode thrusts viewers into a web of emotional reckonings and shifting allegiances across New York’s high society.
The central mystery concerns George Russell (Morgan Spector), who was gunned down by a deliveryman in Episode 7. As the finale opens, the ruthless railroad magnate’s survival remains uncertain, placing his wife Bertha (Carrie Coon) at the center of a maelstrom, personally and socially. Once laser-focused on climbing the ranks of New York’s elite, Bertha now faces a future that could unravel everything she’s built.
Meanwhile, Oscar van Rhijn (Blake Ritson) spirals after the death of his secret lover, John Adams. His grief, amplified by social constraints and family pressure, reaches a boiling point. Agnes (Christine Baranski), his mother, is forced to confront truths she’s long avoided. Their storyline adds emotional gravity to an episode already heavy with tension.
Marian Brook (Louisa Jacobson) and Larry Russell (Harry Richardson) continue their delicate dance between old and new money. Their relationship, already strained by family loyalties and ambition, is tested further as the future of the Russell empire hangs in the balance. The finale teases a possible realignment of romantic and social priorities for both.
Peggy Scott (Denée Benton) is confronted with her own past when her relationship with Dr. William Kirkland (Jordan Donica) hits a crossroads. His mother’s disapproval, fueled by Peggy’s personal history, highlights the racial and class dynamics that The Gilded Age never shies away from. As Peggy’s professional success grows, her personal life faces new complications.
Adding another layer, Ward McAllister (Nathan Lane), once a gatekeeper of high society, finds himself disgraced after a tell-all publication. His fall from grace mirrors the shifting tides in New York’s elite circles, reinforcing the show’s theme of instability beneath the glittering surface.
The episode doesn’t shy away from spectacle, a departure from the show’s more restrained earlier seasons. The shooting, emotional showdowns, and crumbling facades give The Gilded Age a more sensational tone, one that suggests Season 4 could be more daring. The preview titled The Gilded Age Season 3 Episode 8 Promo hints that this tonal shift is no accident.
Already renewed for a fourth season, the series is clearly preparing to pivot. Whether that means more scandal, power plays, or deeper dives into historical parallels, The Gilded Age seems poised to evolve with its characters.
