The Gilded Age Season 3 Episode 2 recap: Gladys gets heartbroken, the Duke of Buckingham arrives and Ada takes charge

HBO's historical drama The Gilded Age Season 3 Episode 2, titled "What the Papers Say," was released on June 29, 2025. Directed by Michael Engler and produced by Gareth Neame and Salli Richardson-Whitfield, starring Christine Baranski and Cynthia Nixon, the synopsis of the episode reads,

"Agnes and Ada welcome the Scotts."

Here's what happened in The Gilded Age Season 3 Episode 2

The Gilded Age Season 3 Episode 2 recap: Billy leaves Gladys heartbroken

When the servants of the Russell household find Gladys' room empty, they suspect something's wrong. They inform Larry about it, who then breaks the news to his mother, Bertha. Bertha grows furious when she receives a letter from Mrs. Carlton stating that Gladys is in their house. Bertha makes it clear that Billy and Gladys’ marriage will not happen. She further tells Billy's mother, Mrs Carlton, that Gladys is promised to the Duke. Bertha threatens to destroy Billy’s career and vows to disinherit Gladys if she dares to defy her. Later, when Billy ultimately pulls away, unwilling to risk everything for love, it leaves Gladys devastated. Bertha may have won the battle, but at the cost of her daughter's happiness.

When Gladys returns to the house, she finds her father there. Gladys, who's heartbroken, accuses her father, George, of not keeping his promise. She shows him the papers that state that she's engaged to the Duke, which is not true. She reveals that she knows nothing about the Duke. George tries to convince Bertha that her tactics are not right; however, Bertha seems to be unbothered as she says,

"I am building her future, a golden life. Isn't that worth more than a hasty promise?"

At the end of the episode, Billy breaks up with Gladys as he utters,

"Our love is no longer practical. Sorry to make you cry, please try not to hate me."

Gladys is quite heartbroken as she hugs her brother and breaks down. The episode ends with the Russells welcoming the Duke of Buckingham, Hector, who is accompanied by a lawyer. This leaves George in utter confusion. What's next for Gladys?

The Gilded Age Season 3 Episode 2 recap: Power struggles in The Van Rhijn household- Ada vs Agnes

Back in the increasingly unpredictable van Rhijn household, the simmering power struggle between sisters Ada and Agnes reaches a melting point. Ada, recently widowed and now wealthy from her late husband’s estate, attempts to assert moral authority over the household by introducing a pledge for the staff to stop consuming alcohol. However, Agnes isn't much delighted with her sister's tactics and finds it quite unnecessary and intrusive.

When Bannister finally brings the pledge to the staff, it sparks utter confusion. While Miss Armstrong agrees to it, others seem quite hesitant. For instance, Marian politely refuses to join the cause. What follows is an argument between the two sisters, and it stops only when the Bannister intervenes. While both sisters want to take charge, Aurora Fane confirms Ada's authority.

Elsewhere, Larry meets Marian in a carriage and confesses his love for her as they seal it with a kiss. Meanwhile, we also see Oscar and his lover John Adams reunite after a long time. John even helps Oscar financially to help rebuild his career.

The Gilded Age Season 3 Episode 2 recap: Peggy's recovery and a glimpse of new possibilities

While the upper crust grapples with scandal and social control, Peggy Scott finds herself recovering from illness in a storyline that offers both heartbreak and hope. After being denied treatment by Agnes' regular physician in the previous episode, who turned out to be racist, Peggy finally receives care from Dr. Kirkland, a Black doctor. His swift diagnosis and attentive follow-up mark a critical moment in Peggy's arc. Finally, she is surrounded by people who value her well-being. The scenes between Peggy and Kirkland are a rare breath of tenderness in an otherwise volatile episode. Also, it's hard not to notice their conversation has subtle sparks of chemistry.

This episode of the Gilded Age Season 3 ends on a happy note for Peggy as she gets an invitation from her cousin Athena's group in Newport, signaling her return to her activism and purpose.

Catch the next episode of The Gilded Age Season 3 on July 6, 2025, on HBO and Max.

Also read: The Gilded Age Season 3 Episode 3: Release date news, time, streaming details, and more

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