The Gilded Age

I'm really enjoying this show. Don't know what took me so long to start watching it, but here it is December 2023 and I've started watching season one. I love period dramas and this one is no exception. Most of the period pieces are British which is great but a New York point of view is refreshing, The best part about this show is that it's not a slow burn. Something happens in every episode. I am so tired of Netflix slow burns where nothing happens and an 8 episode series could boil down to one or two episodes.. This one keeps me interested. I really enjoy the costumes. Wow the dresses are just gorgeous and the homes and furnishings are beautiful. I mean could you imagine having money and living in a time like that.

What's not to like? Fabulous sets, beautiful and authentic costumes, Broadway actors, and an intriguing story line. This isn't something to over-analyze; just enjoy it!!

Julian Fellowes' mighty pen is back (and even more cheekier) in this lavish production. This time dealing with aristocratic socialite snobbery of the ugly kind, ruthless business affairs, political sabotaging, hidden homosexual relationships, racial prejudices, and society control freaks. (But I'm sure there is more after only viewing three episodes.)

And we're talking about the year - 1882! A radical period in New York upper-society with the changing of the guard among the wealthy, and the young radical breed coming into play. All carried out in the delicious Fellowian style. With snappy and sassy dialogue, infused with a grand soap opera worthy of a Verdi music score.

It's so different from all of the rest of latest period dramas like Bridgerton, and even Sanditon. It's a good old period drama, where good always wins, but with enough "drama" to keep you involved and excited. The cast is nice and diverse, the wardrobe is beautiful. It's new world meets old world kinda intrigue.

And it's just nice, and doesn't make you stressed. Characters are mostly kind and good-natured, there's not a single character you truly hate. It's definitely not steamy, it very PG13 in that aspect, but it reminded me of old BBC period dramas.

Highly recommend and can't wait for the next season to arrive.

This show works as a fantastic fantasy where you imagine yourself as one of the rich and noble of Gilded Age New York.

It's beautifully written, full of colorful characters that each feel as motivated and purposeful as all the others. Their lives are fleshed out and their potential for stories is always taken to its limit.

Even though my own circumstances are about as far from the lives of these people as is possible, the show still managed to get me to feel for and understand the mentality and feelings of all the characters.

Not every sub plot is a knockout and not every interaction is engaging, but it's one of the more consistent writing jobs done in this genre.

Beyond the exceptional writing, it's a beautifully produced show. The costumes on particular are fantastic! Every episode brings a new set of special dresses to admire. And the sets.... Absolutely gorgeous. This is arguably the best show of it's kind in terms of production design.

All around, I wasn't expecting much when I initially turned it on but I was very pleasantly surprised. It's fantastic.