The Gilded Age

Julian Fellowes's lavish 19th-century New York drama has garnered generally favorable reviews, though it routinely divides critics over its debt to his previous hit, Downton Abbey. Many reviewers celebrate the show as a gorgeous, richly detailed diversion, pointing to exceptional production values, intricate costumes, and sprawling sets. The ensemble cast—particularly Carrie Coon's layered portrayal of ruthless social climber Bertha Russell—earns widespread praise for lifting the drama and bringing energy to the period setting.

However, the reception is not uniformly glowing. Harsher assessments regard the series as a pale, clichéd imitation of Fellowes's past work, arguing that predictable beats, aphoristic dialogue, and an overabundance of upstairs-downstairs tropes stifle dramatic tension. Even so, later reviews note that the drama finds surer footing over time, satisfying fans who embrace its unabashed pageantry and straightforward narrative pleasures.