This is an episode in which so much is happening, and it seems to be so rushed. Some very important issues need attention. How does Jack move forward as a rich man? How does the family break it to Ada that she is being duped? Will Larry & Marian’s future hopes play out the way they intend? Is she even certain of what she wants? Is Peggy’s place with the Kirklands? What of the plans for the Russel railroad line? Is Gladys even trying to acclimate to British life and her new husband? The world keeps spinning, and we try to keep up with it all. And we, the HBO viewers, try to keep up with the story we are deeply invested in.
As we suspected all along, Gladys struggles with fitting into her new family and the English way of things. Just as she grew up as a child seen and not heard, she has no say in her role as Duchess either. Lady Sarah rules the house, even over Hector, it seems. If Gladys is not being ignored, she is being put in her place by Sarah. She is also to give up her virginity and her maid, Adelheid, on command. First chance she gets, she sends off a telegram home regarding her new life, all thanks to Mother! It is a different world for Gladys now.
The world is changing for most of the players in this little drama. Peggy Scott is pitted between the interests of two men; George Russel’s interests in an expanded rail line elude him; just when Oscar Van Rhijn’s business prospects are looking up, a side distraction arises. There is good news for Jack Trotter, of course, but he doesn’t know how to move forward with it. Plus, Larry Russell and Marian Brook move forward in a big way, and Ada is venturing into a ‘different world’ as well.
The plot course is well plotted for the most part, pushing many of these characters forward. Let’s break it down a bit more, starting with Peggy Scott. As mentioned before, it was wise to include that even amongst Blacks, there were prejudices. Mrs Kirkland looks down on the Scott family despite the fact that her son William adores Peggy. He adores her so much that he supports and defends her, as proven in this episode. Mr Fortune, her publisher & boss, who also has taken a shine to the lady, offers her a writing assignment in Philadelphia to interview suffragist Frances Watkins Harper. Dr. Kirkland is proud and excited for her and even sees that she gets to the train station. Her boss, however, has altered plans for her. He arrives at the station intending to accompany her and perhaps stir the suppressed flames that were once there. When Peggy objects to not being trusted to take the assignment alone in a city she is familiar with, Dr. Kirkland intervenes on her behalf. More on that, I’m sure.
George Russell is a hothead at the moment. He is worried about his daughter and worried about the country-wide railroad he is putting all his efforts into. To boot, there are snide remarks and secrets about the family making it into print. All of this puts George to the boiling point. As a shock to this viewer, George fires Mr. Clay for failing to acquire the railroad land, while Clay warns that George’s finances are shaky at best. It should have been expected, perhaps, because earlier in the season Mr Clay did mention that “the rest of us are disposable.” Mr. R. refuses to see it and looks for support & finances. J. P. Morgan has declined, so George unsuccessfully attempts to buy the Merrick family’s majority shares in the Illinois Central Line. Bertha tasks Church to uncover who is leaking the secrets to the press, but George is off the rails now.
He is desperate enough to send his son Larry to Arizona to procure some of the needed land for George. It is at this point in the story that I thought the plot mechanics were a bit befuddled. This is not the greatest of timing for which to propose marriage, but Larry does so to Marian, who accepts. To be sure, Agnes and Bertha are not in favor of that arrangement. I would think that George would be included in that camp, but he is not. I guess he is too defiant over the loveless life befalling Gladys that his son should marry whom he wants. But he has got to know that a Russell-Van Rhijn combination would be explosive. Plus, Marian Brook is not of the same station.
As the van Rhijn household learn about Jack’s fortune, Larry takes him to the Haymarket, a risque private club. Larry sees Maud Beaton working as a prostitute there. Larry tells Oscar about seeing her because, if you need a reminder, Maud is the lady who led Oscar on and flitted off with a bit of his money, which clearly she wasted if she is now a whore. Will Oscar seek revenge? Now, set with good money, will Jack fall in favor of the lifestyle? Since my reviews are well behind, you know the outcome of all this, I guess. But I’m still pushing on regardless.
Oh, and lest I forget, Ada secretly visits Madame Dashkova. The clairvoyant was dismissed by Agnes from the house, but Ada hasn’t given up on reaching her husband’s spirit. Ah, poor Ada. And, grave error, I think I’ve missed talking enough about Mr. Borden and Mrs. Bruce from the Russell staff. They have had a warm interest in each other, but Chef Borden could never pursue the Head Housemaid because he was married. His estranged wife has since died, and so he got the nerve to propose to Mrs. Bruce, who declined his offer as she is still married, though Mr. Bruce is an asylum patient. How awkward, since they are still on staff together. In Newport, Mrs. Fish chastises Mrs. Astor for unfairly snubbing Aurora Fane, citing Astor’s scandalous daughter and her actions. We leave the Russell house in turmoil. This is something we’ve sensed building up as well, and since George is in a fit of rage already, the telegram is just the icing on the cake. And now, it seems Bertha and her marriage are in crisis as well.
