The Gilded Age Season 4 Episode 2 Ending Explained: George Russell Makes A Pivotal Life-Or-Death Decision

George Russell (Morgan Spector) learns that his shooter’s identity ties to his past, and the ruthless tycoon passes the final judgment in The Gilded Age season 4, episode 2. Amidst multiple developments happening to creator Julian Fellowes’ sprawling cast of characters, George remains at center stage as the answers to questions that go back to The Gilded Age season 1 are revealed.

Bertha Russell (Carrie Coon) returns from England with happy news for George about their baby grandson, Hector George Bellingham Vere, the Marquess of Sidmouth. While George is heartened by the news, he remains hardened toward his wife. Meanwhile, Mr. Russell’s business with his rival, John D. Rockefeller (Neal Huff), continues to unravel.

The Gilded Age season 4, episode 2 deftly lays the groundwork for the rest of the season, introducing a few new characters and establishing the new issues of the day for characters like Marian Brook (Louisa Jacobson), Peggy Scott (Denee Benton), and Larry Russell (Harry Richardson). For George Russell and the man who shot him, however, the stakes are life-or-death.

George Russell Spares His Killer’s Life & The Gilded Age Season 1 Callback Explained

George Russell’s Pinkerton detective bodyguards found the man who shot him in The Gilded Age season 3. George confronts his attempted murderer: Will Morris (Will Pullen), the son of Anne Morris (Katie Finneran) and the late Patrick Morris (Michel Gill). However, when it came time to pull the trigger and exact his revenge, Mr. Russell relented and allowed Will and Anne to leave New York.

Will Morris tried to kill George as revenge for his father, Patrick, who blew his brains out after Mr. Russell bankrupted him in The Gilded Age season 1. Patrick Morris was a banker and one of the aldermen who tried to swindle George after they promised to pass a law to allow him to build a new train station. Russell outwitted Morris and refused leniency when Patrick debased himself to George.

Anne Morris didn’t know that Will shot George. Following Patrick’s suicide, Anne and Will were destitute and moved into a tenement. After already losing her husband, Anne turned to Bertha and begged for her son’s life. Bertha, in turn, argued for sparing Will Morris. Ultimately, George listened to his better angels rather than serve as Will’s judge, jury, and executioner.

Will George & Bertha Finally Reconcile?

The Gilded Age season 4, episode 2 ends with George coming to Bertha, confessing that he spared Will Morris’ life and that he isn’t sure what’s happening to him. For the first time, George privately admits that he is not well, and he doesn’t know what will happen to their marriage. Although he has physically recovered, George told Will that he still feels the gunshot wound and has nightmares about it.

George needs therapy, but seeing a psychiatrist is not an option that is looked upon kindly in Gilded Age society.

When Bertha returned from England, she was heartbroken again that George hadn’t forgiven her and moved back to his men’s club. When Bertha tried to bridge the distance between them, George rebuffed her, accusing her of exploiting his “weakness.”

​​​​​​​Bertha had to go to George’s office at Russell Industries to argue for sparing Will Morris. Bertha senses George is hiding his malady from her, but it seems George can’t put into words what’s wrong with him.

Bertha May Steal President Cleveland Dinner From Agnes Van Rhijn

Bertha’s return from New York sees her trying to reassert her role at the top of New York society with Mrs. Astor (Donna Murphy). When Mrs. Russell learned that Agnes Van Rhijn (Christine Baranski) is hosting a dinner for President Grover Cleveland (Jim Gaffigan), a plot started to form. It was evident in Bertha’s eyes and reaction; Mrs. Russell may steal this honor from Aunt Agnes, and the wheels are already turning.

Mrs. Astor told Bertha to come up with a better reason for why George is continually absent, as society has noticed and is gossiping that the Russells’ marriage is on thin ice

Meanwhile, Agnes’ fitness as the host of the President’s dinner is quietly called into question. Despite being their Vice President and Agnes’ pedigree as a Livingston, the Heritage Society felt an interview with Ladies’ Home Journal would boost Mrs. Van Rhijn’s stature, as would Agnes doing what was previously unthinkable and attending an opera at The Met. Agnes quickly becomes uneasy about what, exactly, the reporter, Mrs. Curtis (Bonnie Milligan), is writing.

Agnes also feels unsupported in her own home. Disapproving of President Cleveland’s politics, Ada Forte (Cynthia Nixon) rescinded her financial support of her older sister’s Presidential dinner. Instead, Ada is redecorating their house and hiring an awkward new footman, Oliver (Taylor Trensch). Agnes does have her new daughter-in-law, Enid Van Rhijn (Kelley Curran), stepping in with her fortune, but Agnes feels abandoned by Ada.

Peggy & William Kirkland Face Problems Before Marriage

Peggy Scott and Dr. William Kirkland (Jordan Donica) face individual problems en route to their wedding. As she promised, William’s mother, Elizabeth Kirkland (Phylicia Rashad), brought Peggy and her mother, Dorothy (Audra McDonald), into her Newport ladies’ club, the Daughters of Friendship. However, Elizabeth’s snooty club made a feigned, polite mockery of Peggy being a writer.

​​​​​​​Elizabeth seems intent on inflicting a thousand tiny cuts on Peggy that will sabotage her wedding to William.

Worse, Elizabeth outright told her ladies’ club that Peggy was a widow who lost her child. Mrs. Kirkland claims she was doing Peggy a favor, since the truth about Peggy’s past will come out anyway. Elizabeth seems intent on inflicting a thousand tiny cuts on Peggy that will sabotage her wedding to William, but Peggy sees through her future mother-in-law.

Meanwhile, racism led to Dr. Kirkland losing one of his patients. When William checked in his patient suffering from tuberculosis to Bellevue Hospital, he was told that black doctors aren’t allowed entrance. Kirkland’s patient then died under the Bellevue doctor’s care.

Peggy and William have opposite problems; she is thriving in her career but is having issues with his family, while he is oblivious to the chaos his mother is causing and is distressed about the direction of his medical career.

The Gilded Age Builds Season 4 Storylines

Larry Russell saw Marian Brook for the first time since their hotel liaison in The Gilded Age season 4’s premiere, and he learns that Marian considers herself ruined in society, yet she won’t accept marrying him because he feels guilty. Marian also finds little solace in her work at a Lower East Side settlement house, as she learns about the plight of a poor mother who lets her young child work and get injured because she must stay home with her infant.

Meanwhile, Larry brushes off his Marian problems as his former Harvard classmate, Porter (Andrew Burnap), presents him with an opportunity to invest in bringing Gilbert and Sullivan plays to New York. Larry’s exciting opportunities are a solace for working alongside his father. An explosive George Russell stormed out of a meeting with John D. Rockefeller, whom he feels wants to put Russell Industries out of business. George berated Larry for interfering, widening the gulf between father and son.

What Larry doesn’t know is that Mrs. Astor wants her daughter, Carrie (Amy Forsyth), to marry him. Mrs. Astor has certainly turned a corner regarding the Russells. There was a time when she would never have considered her daughter marrying into a ‘new money’ family, but the power and wealth Larry is heir to would be a boost to the struggling Astor name.

Unfazed by everything happening in The Gilded Age season 4, episode 2, are the new Mrs. and Mrs. Van Rhijn. Oscar (Blake Ritson) and Enid are still in their honeymoon phase, and their scheme to host salons and become the most influential young couple in New York society is full speed ahead. It’s amusing to see Oscar and Enid riding high, and they’re among the only people having fun at the moment.

New episodes of The Gilded Age season 4 premiere Sundays @ 9pm ET on HBO and HBO Max.

The Gilded Age