The characters in Julian Fellowes’s The Gilded Age appear to be far more obsessed with money than those in Downton Abbey - but why is this? Although series like Downton Abbey and The Crown draw on historically opulent English locations, The Gilded Age is set to take a different approach. Set in 1880s America, The Gilded Age promises to tackle issues of class and wealth among New York City’s high society. The changing fortunes of this group will make up the bulk of the drama for the series, in contrast to the plots of inherited titles which made up much of Downton Abbey - although the divide between "old money" and "new money" will no doubt play a vital role.
While the characters of Downton Abbey had generations of tradition to look back on, those in The Gilded Age are residents of a far younger nation. With fewer traditions to draw on and less power drawn from family names alone, money will be the deciding factor in these characters’ place in New York City society. By centering the series on these volatile financial situations, it will have a different source of drama than Downton Abbey while still delivering gorgeous period settings.
The key difference between the settings of The Gilded Age and Downton Abbey is the lack of titles and estates in American society. Without landed gentry like the Crawley family to focus on, the fortunes of the characters in The Gilded Age have the potential to be much more volatile, which likely explains why the show is so much more directly focused on money. Although both series are period pieces centering on high society, this American setting and its financial implications promise to make The Gilded Age an exciting and unique show.
While the setting of The Gilded Age offers all of its characters the opportunity for economic advancement, the other side of the coin from wealth gain will be wealth loss. This also has the opportunity to introduce morally ambiguous characters who may have joined the upper crust of New York society by criminal means. While the old families of Downton Abbey had known reputations, the robber barons of late nineteenth century New York will be unscrupulous and unpredictable.
With episodes of The Gilded Age to be released on HBO where there are fewer restrictions on the kind of content that can be shown, The Gilded Age has the potential to explore the darker elements of its era more fully. Although it was originally announced to enter production at NBC, HBO will give the series greater freedom to explore sordid subject matters. This American television home further emphasizes its different national identity from Downton Abbey, and promises to make it an interesting counterpart to its English ancestor.
The Gilded Age premieres on January 24, 2022 on HBO Max.