10 reasons why The Gilded Age sets one of the best examples of a period drama

The Gilded Age is the new staple for period drama fans. The drama, created by Julian Fellowes, known for his work in another popular period drama, Downton Abbey, premiered in 2022 and brought about the aristocracy and class wars between the new money and old money people of New York.

With character-driven stories, The Gilded Age has maintained its colorful and historical aura. Starring Carrie Coon and Louisa Jacobson, among others, the period drama brings to the screen societal issues regarding money, the rich culture, and, of course, the fashion of late 19th-century America.

From accumulating real historical figures to using accurate historical settings, The Gilded Age is regarded as one of the best period dramas of today.

Here’s a list of 10 reasons The Gilded Age is regarded as such.

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10 reasons why The Gilded Age sets one of the best examples of a period drama

10) The main trope of The Gilded Age

The main reason the HBO drama is the best period drama is the central plot. It is set in 1882, when Jacobson’s Marian travels to New York to live with her aunts and encounters the clash between the van Rhijn-Brook family (old money) and the Russell family (new money).

Due to economic changes in America at the time, many new millionaires were joining the rich society. However, they were not accepted in the society that easily, and the HBO drama focuses on this aspect of the conflicts between the new money and the old money families of the city.

While the narrative is fictional, it directs us to an actual time in the history of America, making the story more intriguing.

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9) The depiction of conflict and drama

As of the 21st century, we are used to watching TV shows with violent clashes and over-the-top drama for even the most minute issues. However, The Gilded Age literally took us to a time where politeness was the way of showing class. In a drama that focuses on class wars, it depicted it subtly and tactfully, without making a big scene out of it.

Whether through backhanded comments during social events or dealing with it in the quieter settings, away from prying eyes, The Gilded Age maintained the vibe of the polite society of 19th-century America.

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8) Showing the class difference through apparel

While watching a period drama, you might find yourself staring at the elaborate fashion of the historical times. The Gilded Age is no different. Costume designer Kasia Walicka-Maimone paid much attention to the details and gave us the spectacular gowns and corsets that would make you want to travel to the historical timeline of this show.

In addition, another reason the HBO drama is the best is how Kasia differentiated between the fashion of the old money families, who favored their traditional roots, and the new money families, who preferred bright and loud colors, depicting their inclination toward more modern Parisian designs of their time.

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7) Using the architecture of the 19th century as the backdrop

Other than fashion quotient, architecture is another important aspect of a perfect period drama, and The Gilded Age did not disappoint. The HBO drama used numerous filming locations to accommodate the vast narratives of so many characters.

To do that, they traveled to many places built around the time of history, showcasing their honest efforts to give an authentic depiction of the historical time. For instance, they used mansions such as The Breakers and The Elms in Rhode Island, which were built in the late 19th century, the years the show is set in, showcasing the brilliance of designs in that era.

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6) The elaborate gala events

You cannot have a perfect period drama without gala and dinner events. Therefore, The Gilded Age has displayed several of these events as these get-togethers were part of the culture of the rich of that era.

Further, while they looked extravagant, showcasing their wealth and reminding us of the Met Gala of today, these events were not just a part of the spectacle of the show but were used as crucial backdrops, as we have already seen in Season 2 of the series, where the Russells defeated everyone to rise to the top.

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5) The depiction of social issues, often overlooked

The changing social structure in the real Gilded Age of America was a huge shift in America’s history. While the HBO drama showcased the conflicts between the people with money, it did not overlook another crucial issue of American history: the racial struggle.

Period dramas often try to hide or minimise the effect of racism in society, until and unless the show’s central plot is about racism. However, The Gilded Age did it differently and included the real historical struggles of the working class and the POC community as well.

With the story of Peggy Scott (Denée Benton), a young Black woman and a talented writer, the drama addresses her struggles of belonging to a different race and class in a compelling storyline.

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4) Using real-life historical figures

What could make a period drama more authentic than including real-life historical figures?

The Gilded Age used and included some of the most compatible historical figures that would fit into the storyline seamlessly. For instance, the character of T. Thomas Fortune is based on a real editor and activist from the same era.

Other than him, the characters Caroline Astor and Mamie Fish were also included in the fictional story for their unique popularity during the era, as one came from one of the richest American families and the other did not adhere to the rules of prestige of polite society. These characters made the story of the HBO series more captivating and authentic.

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3) A creator who excels in period dramas

The best reason for The Gilded Age’s success is surely the narrative and performances. However, we cannot forget to mention that it is another creation of Julian Fellowes. By creating Downton Abbey, which depicted the narrative of British upper-class families, Fellowes changed how we look at fictional period dramas.

He brought the same clever and quippy storytelling across the Atlantic Ocean and gave us this new and bingeable period drama. Just like how Downton Abbey had a character-driven narrative, with a focus on numerous characters from different social backgrounds of a particular era of British history, The Gilded Age also has that same ambience.

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2) The Gilded Age’s relevance in today’s world

While the HBO series is based on a world that has long passed, it still captures our attention with its glamour and allure of a fascinating era of history. However, the period drama is not just perfect because it uses the real historical era authentically to depict its fictional story, but also due to its relevance in the modern world.

The dresses, galas might be out of reach for us, but the emotions, ambitions, and snobbery of the upper class can still be seen among people today. The modern world might not prefer to wear top hats, but the world is still the same, ego-driven and class-driven, making the show relevant even to this day and age.

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1) The stellar cast

The last thing that makes the show one of the best period dramas is the talented, excellent cast. From Carrie Coon’s subtle yet strong-willed performance as Bertha Russell to Christine Baranski’s Agnes van Rhijn, who you will want to hate but will fail miserably, the actors depict the unique depth of their characters.

The show also stars Taissa Farmiga, Morgan Spector, Louisa Jacobson, Cynthia Nixon, among numerous others who have brought the show to the top ranks with their performances and are among the most important reasons for The Gilded Age to be the best period drama.

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