Unfortunately for the Russell family doubters, matriarch Bertha Russell (Carrie Coon) was absolutely right in her choice of a husband for daughter Gladys (Taissa Farmiga). The pair became an unexpected (to everyone but Bertha) love match in The Gilded Age Season 3, culminating in Gladys’ pregnancy, but she almost died in childbirth in The Gilded Age Season 4 premiere when the baby was breech. The doctor asked who to save between Gladys and the baby, if it came to that, and Hector Vere (Ben Lamb) chose his wife. Farmiga explained Gladys’ reaction to this news to TV Insider, saying that it proves that “Bertha was right.”
The Gilded Age Season 4 premiered on Sunday, November 1, on HBO. The Duke and Duchess of Buckingham were at their home in England when Gladys gave birth, and Bertha and Sarah Vere (Hattie Morahan) were there as well. Sarah has never cared much for Gladys and said that the baby should be saved over her if that awful choice had to be made. If it was a boy, she said, the Vere line of succession would continue, and she didn’t want to risk that loss. Obviously, Bertha wanted her daughter to live; they could always try for another baby if there was a tragic outcome.
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It was Hector’s call in the end. He told the doctor to do everything he could to save them both, but if he could only save one, then save Gladys. Bertha was awash with relief, and the doctor was able to save both of them. However, after the birth was over, Gladys started to bleed out.
To stop the hemorrhage and save Gladys’ life, the doctor had to perform a hysterectomy, ending Gladys’ chances of conceiving another child. Bertha asked Hector to keep this sad news away from Gladys for the time being so that she could revel in the joy of her baby boy. Bertha did tell Gladys that her husband chose to save her life, though, and Gladys was overjoyed to hear that her husband defended her life.
“I think it’s just validation that Bertha was right [laughs], that she picked her a wonderful partner,” Farmiga told TV Insider. In Season 3, Gladys was horrified over her mother’s plans for her arranged marriage, as were brother Larry (Harry Richardson) and husband George (Morgan Spector). The whole ordeal led George to leave Bertha at the end of Season 3, and they’re still separated as of the Season 4 premiere.
Now, Gladys sees her mother’s actions in a whole new light and has forgiven her. She’s even grateful for the results of her mother’s actions.
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“Gladys, she has wanted freedom, but she has also wanted to fall in love. We see that with her wanting to pursue Billy Carlton because she thought that was going to fulfill her,” Farmiga explained. “With the Duke, she found a loving partnership with a human that she can rely on, and he’s just showing that through his actions and his words. When your person validates their [care] for you, it feels absolutely wonderful.”
Gladys “absolutely” felt very cared for by both Hector and her mother when learning of her husband’s choice, Farmiga said. “And also I’m pretty sure Bertha, when she was saying it, there was a tiny little, ‘Ah, look! Hector’s good for you.’”
Good indeed, but how will Gladys react if/when she finds out about the concealed hysterectomy?
We’re breaking down each episode of Season 4 in video interviews with the cast in our Gilded Age Aftershow, the first episode of which you can watch here, in the video above, or on TV Insider’s YouTube channel. New interviews come out each Sunday this season after the episodes air on HBO.
The Gilded Age, Sundays, 9/8c, HBO, Streaming on HBO Max