Spoilers for The Gilded Age Season 3 finale. The shooting cliffhanger is resolved: George Russell survives. What remains uncertain at the end of Season 3 is whether George and Bertha’s marriage can survive his decision to leave her.
Did George Russell survive the shooting?
Yes. In Episode 7, a gunman fires at George and the episode cuts to black, making his fate appear uncertain. The Season 3 finale, Episode 8, “My Mind Is Made Up,” confirms that he survives.
What fate does the finale leave unresolved?
George’s future with Bertha is the real open question. After his near-death experience, he reassesses his life and tells Bertha he is leaving. She watches him go, but the finale does not confirm a divorce or explain whether they will reconcile.
The departure follows the season’s conflict over Bertha arranging their daughter Gladys’s marriage. Series creator Julian Fellowes connected that dispute to George’s reaction: “We felt that George would look at his life after this attempt on it and not be pleased by everything he saw … [with Season 4] now there’s room to explore where that takes him, in comparison to his wife, who is still very firmly committed to her ambition.” Fellowes made the comment in TheWrap’s August 10, 2025 finale interview.
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How does the finale contrast Bertha’s public triumph with her private loss?
Bertha’s gala initially looks like a victory: with Mrs. Astor’s approval, she helps bring divorced women into society, and the Russells appear united in public. But the morning after, George’s departure turns that triumph into a personal blow.
Co-writer Sonja Warfield described the reversal this way: “Isn’t that what life is like? Something can be going perfectly with your life and then something else comes in and undercuts it a little bit.” In the closing sequence, Gladys tells Bertha she is pregnant, but Bertha is too hurt by George leaving to share the news with him.
Rank #2
- Runtime: 466 minutes
What happens to the other couples?
| Storyline | Where the finale leaves it |
|---|---|
| Gladys and Hector | Gladys returns and tells Bertha she is pregnant. The finale presents Gladys and Hector as having grown to love one another. |
| Peggy and William | William proposes to Peggy at the ball, and they end the season engaged. |
| Larry and Marian | They reconnect at Bertha’s ball and agree to continue cautiously. The finale does not make clear whether their earlier engagement is fully restored. |
| George and Bertha | George leaves, but the marriage is not confirmed to be over. |
Will there be a Season 4?
Yes. Warner Bros. Discovery announced a fourth-season renewal. The announcement’s indexed listing said the Season 3 finale would air August 10, 2025; the pressroom page itself was not accessible when that information was checked, so no further renewal details are established here.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where can you watch Season 3?
As of August 10, 2025, TheWrap reported that Seasons 1–3 were streaming on HBO Max. That dated report does not establish current availability or availability in every territory, so check the service in your region.
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Rank #4
- The Gilded Age: The Complete Seasons 1, 2 and 3 DVD Collection - 9 Disc DVD Set
