The Gilded Age (TV Series) Money Isn't Everything (2022) User Reviews

Delightfully Frothy Fun

[Hzs_7 · 9/10 · 1 February 2022]

This is an entirely different show from Downton Abbey, and it's a great show in its own right. I personally am hooked.

The petty social politics of 19th century New York make for very entertaining plotlines. The characters gel more with each episode with intriguing dynamics between both house staff and elite classes. I am especially curious to see how the plotline with Marian and her lawyer will play out.

I think if one continuously compares this to Downton because both shows were created by Julian Fellowes they're bound to be disappointed. There are distinctly different things to like about each show and it's not meant to be Downton 2.0.

Side note: I had to google because I was curious: $50 today would have been worth about $1300 in the timeframe the show is set.

Some petty folks

[Seatpleasant25 · 8/10 · 1 February 2022]

Dude went in and bought the store...Gotta love that! That's about the best part of this episode IMO. Enough to make me want to see more pettiness.

Keep coming with the wealth on wealth crime. But who knew that $50 was so hard to come by for some folks.

Money Is Everything

[jpismyname · 8/10 · 11 October 2023]

In this episode, the snobbish old money women decide to do some charity. Bertha suggests they hold it in the Russells' mansion. The ladies instead decided to rent a hotel for the charity event, making Bertha feel left out again. Marian meets Raikes, much to the annoyance of Agnes and delight of Ada. Meanwhile, the cook Mrs. Bauer is threatened by a thug.

I'm really loving the drama here, my favorite scene being George humiliating the hostesses of the event by buying everything lol. Rooting for the Russells as well, like yeah you go get them lol. Also Bertha's outfits are my favorites, like they're so eye candy. Marian's storyline is...okay, I guess.

A force to be reckoned with

[Hillius · 10/10 · 10 February 2022]

Another wonderful episode of a show that is quickly becoming a new favorite.

The Russels, having recovered from their disaster dinner party are once again on the move. George takes an interest in meeting a certain alderman and has his wife arrange a dinner. It goes fairly well, with some hilarious insults being tossed back and forth, but George convinces the alderman to help him in exchange for stock.

Meanwhile the town high society women are arranging a charity event to raise money for the poor. Marian Brook gets recruited to help out, and Mrs. Russel offer the use of her ballroom should the venue get canceled, but when it does the change in plans does not suit her wishes.

Adding to the melodrama we find Mrs. Bauer being threatened by some unnamed thug that is demanding money, we come to learn she's got some habits than need to end. Marian tries to help her, but ultimately it's. Aunt Ada that saves the day.

Marian also sees Mr. Raikes again to the displeasure of her aunt Agnes, but agrees to meet him later on to help Peggy with a legal matter. Oscar wants to get more acquainted with the young Ms. Astor, but his attempts are pretty transparent and unsuccessful.

The charity event begins at a new venue with Mrs. Astor herself presiding. Merian has a brief meeting with the mysterious Mrs. Chamberlain, while Agnes grumbles and complains about the riff raff. Things get even more tense when the Russels arrive and George has had enough. He buys out the entire charity lot and confronts the women who snubbed his wife eve impressing the great Mrs. Astor as well.

A very nice second episode that had heart and featured Aunt Ada as a real friend to Marian who is very much alone in the world otherwise. It is also refreshing to see a period drama without the need for gratuitous sex and violence. So far this is one show that is pretty family friendly. I hope it continues to be good.

George Russell is a G!!!

[chantellious · 8/10 · 9 April 2022]

That last sequence was so exciting. I love how much George loves his wife and wants her to win. He stops at nothing. I like his persistence, it's something.

The Gilded Cage, more like

[sparklefish · 7/10 · 8 February 2022]

I enjoyed this episode as much as the premier. It's still sleepy with a bunch of boring parts. The backstory of some of the servants is revealed and that interested me.

Marian is basically under house arrest by Aunt Agnes and it's very frustrating to watch. Aunt Agnes delivers some great zingers that had me burst out laughing, but overall the show is slow and serious.

The wooden acting by almost everyone makes the show feel flat. Carrie Coon is a bright spot and I am drawn to her passionate outbursts.

We didn't get much Oscar in this episode and I wanted to see more of him. There was no appearance by the dog Pumpkin and I missed him too.

Mostly I am watching this show for the pristine interiors and over the top costumes, hats, food styling, and colors. It's all very beautiful and lights up my living room!

Too Black and White So Far

[Hitchcoc · 7/10 · 9 February 2022]

With a couple slight variations, the rich characters are so absolutely polarized that they become caricatures. Right now, I can't find anyone I like. The young black woman is admirable but doesn't really impact the war of the two houses. I guess she is a nice contrast. As for the young star, she seems willing to run her own show while continuing to benefit from her rich relatives.

It's OK

[jp-206 · 4/10 · 2 February 2022]

This episode felt like a road show version of something that was trying to resemble Downton Abbey. Some of the lines felt forced and the production feels very low budget. There's no regal or classiness to the production. There was some really weird cinematography or bad CGI going on with the Central Park fountain to the point that it was very distracting.

The one thing I noticed that bothered me with both the pilot and this episode is the crispness of the video. It lacks of the warmth of film, whether it's actually produced on film or film is emulated. The crisp video makes everything feel way too modern for the time period of the setting.

One other observation, it just felt rather flat or hollow, almost like we're skimming potential storylines instead digging into strong dialog and the like. Weirdly I was reminded of Little House on the Prairie with some of the way the story was handled in this episode instead of something like Downton Abbey.

I was hoping for better.

Bye Bye

[douglasmcbroom · 1/10 · 1 February 2022]

Dreadful. Two episodes in and I'm gone. As opposed to Downtown Abbey, the producers tried to do this series on-the-cheap. It shows in the third-rate writing, the second-rate acting and the overall look and feel of the series.

And, of course, the forced wokeness is very annoying.

Over and out!

Unpleasant Spiteful

[wrigco · 2/10 · 5 February 2022]

What a nasty bunch. No-one to root for here, I'm afraid. There should be at least be some redeeming light heartedness, alas they're all just terrible.