Russells, Van Rhijns and dukes, oh my! Who's who in 'The Gilded Age' Season 3

It's not easy to remember exactly which rich and pretty young lady is which on "The Gilded Age."
HBO's costume drama, set in the height of American excess and splendor in the late 1800s, returns for its third season June 22 (9 ET/PT). And while there's still plenty of societal machinations, bustled gowns and upstairs/downstairs melodrama in the series, created by Julian Fellowes ("Downton Abbey"), it can all be a bit difficult to keep straight.
Even the characters, led by Christine Baranski, Carrie Coon and Cynthia Nixon among the large ensemble cast, need the gossip rags to help them keep track of who is courting whom, who is up (or down) on the social hierarchy and which opera house reigns supreme.
Ahead of the Season 3 debut, we've prepared a primer on the members of New York society, so tasteful that even the highfalutin Mrs. Astor (Donna Murphy) would approve. And if you're a fan of Broadway, you'll be delighted with the staggering number of theater actors that make an appearance.
The Van Rhijn Household
Upstairs: Mrs. Agnes Van Rhijn (Christine Baranski), Mrs. Ada Forte (Cynthia Nixon), Miss Marian Brook (Louisa Jacobson) and Oscar Van Rhijn (Blake Ritson)
Downstairs: Miss Armstrong (Debra Monk), Mr. Bannister (Simon Jones), Jack (Ben Ahlers), Mrs. Bauer (Kristine Nielsen) and Bridget (Taylor Richardson)
Relations: Cousins Aurora Fane (Kelli O'Hara) and Charles Fane (Ward Horton)
While for many years the austere and exacting widow Agnes ran her East 61st Street home with an iron fist of propriety and high necklines, everything changed at the end of Season 2. Agnes' son Oscar lost the family fortune to an investment scam while her sister Ada inherited her own windfall from husband Luke (Robert Sean Leonard), whom the former spinster married just before his untimely death from cancer. Now Ada is in charge of the purse strings and Agnes fears her own obscurity and irrelevance. But keep an eye on their amiable cousin Aurora, because her fate this season might be far worse than Agnes'.
Young and bland Miss Marian is still balancing her desire to do real work with her aunts' desire that she marry someone of good breeding, while stealing secret kisses with young and incredibly wealthy Larry Russell (Harry Richardson) from across the street.
Downstairs, young footman and part-time inventor Jack is trying to sell a new style of alarm clock with Larry's help and leave the world of service and rigid class striations behind him.
The Russell Household
Upstairs: Bertha Russell (Carrie Coon), George Russell (Morgan Spector), Larry Russell (Harry Richardson) and Gladys Russell (Taissa Farmiga)
Downstairs: Mr. Church (Jack Gilpin), Mrs. Bruce (Celia Keenan-Bolger), Monsieur Baudin (Douglas Sills) and Adelheid (Erin Wilhelmi)
Interested parties: The Duke of Buckingham (Ben Lamb), Richard Clay (Patrick Page)
Pretty much the queen of society since her Metropolitan Opera House won out in the battle with the Academy of Music in Season 2, Bertha has her sights set on cementing her new status by marrying her daughter Gladys to the British Duke of Buckingham. The impoverished duke needs Gladys' dowry to prop up his family's estate, and Bertha may have promised him a bit too much without informing George or taking Gladys' wishes into account.
Meanwhile, George is trying to go bigger and better with his businesses, mounting a scheme to build a railroad from New York to Chicago to Los Angeles. It might lose him everything, his most trusted lieutenant Richard warns.
The Scott Household
Miss Peggy Scott (Denée Benton), Mrs. Dorothy Scott (Audra McDonald) and Mr. Arthur Scott (John Douglas Thompson)
Back from her reporting trip in Season 2, Peggy is once again spending less time as Agnes' secretary at the 61 Street house and more time finding her own path in life. Love might be in the air this season, thanks to a handsome new doctor who comes into her life (more on him below). But her parents are wary of his snobbish family.
New 'Gilded Age' characters in Season 3
Dr. William Kirkland (Jordan Donica): A Black doctor who treats Peggy for an illness after the Van Rhijn's family physician refuses to treat her because she's colored, William takes a particular shine to his patient. He comes from a very old Black family in Newport.
Mrs. Elizabeth Kirkland (Phylicia Rashad): The all-powerful matriarch of the Kirkland family is proud, patronizing and immediately judgmental of the Scotts, because Arthur is a former slave. The Scotts also notice Elizabeth discriminates against them (and her own grandchildren) because they are dark-skinned.
JP Morgan (Bill Camp): The banker and American aristocrat whom George calls upon for help in his latest railroad venture.
Monica O'Brien (Merritt Wever): An unwelcome guest for the Russells: Bertha's sister.
Madame Dashkova (Andrea Martin): Adding a touch of mysticism and superstition to the series, Andrea Martin ("Only Murders in the Building," "My Big Fat Greek Wedding") plays a fortune teller who says she can speak with the dead.

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'The Gilded Age' Season 3 Kicks Off with Some Serious Power Moves

Spoilers below. Bertha Russell (Carrie Coon) was the clear victor of the Opera Wars that dominated the second season of The Gilded Age. The Metropolitan Opera House's grand opening was a triumph, adding another jewel to the nouveau riche Bertha's society crown. Now, Bertha has an even shinier target: a British duke. But her daughter Gladys (Taissa Farmiga) has different ideas about who she might wed. Bertha faces stiff competition as the Russell patriarch, robber baron George (Morgan Spector), has promised Gladys that she can marry for love. 'Who Is in Charge Here?' is the premiere title, which applies to more than just the Russells. The lavish HBO period drama kicks off with myriad attempts to grab power or assert control in a society with a fondness for rules that rarely favor women. One such incident underscores how divorce in 1880s New York City could be life-ruining even if you aren't the one who committed adultery. It is an eye-opening moment in a season premiere as decadent as the dazzling costumes from Emmy-nominated Kasia Walicka-Maimone. Read on to find out who is at loggerheads, get an update on the clock plot, and learn who is being painted by legendary portrait artist John Singer Sargent. Agnes Van Rhijn (Christine Baranski) almost lost everything after her son Oscar (Blake Ritson) fell for a con that drained the family finances. Or rather, Agnes lost everything, but a surprise inheritance from Ada's (Cynthia Nixon) husband, Luke Forte (Robert Sean Leonard), saved them from downsizing. Luke's tragic death left Ada with a hole in her heart and the financial means to save her sister. Ada is now the mistress of the house, but that doesn't mean Agnes is falling in line behind her younger sister, especially with the new cause Ada is championing. One early point of contention stems from Ada hosting a temperance meeting. 'Let the sober circus begin,' Agnes quips as people arrive at East 61st Street in the snow. Ada won't let her sister bully her, though, explaining that she has chosen this cause because she wants to honor Luke's memory. 'He cared about people and I will too,' Ada reasons. Of course, Agnes points out the flaws as Luke drank wine with dinner and served Holy Communion. No one does withering delivery quite like Baranski as she takes pleasure in every barb and eye roll. A highlight of this new dynamic is that Ada no longer allows herself to be a doormat. Ada pushes back, instantly making this dynamic even more compelling. Agnes takes her pettiness to new heights and won't let her sister use the good silver for the meeting, prompting confusion regarding the conflicting orders. They want Bannister (Simon Jones ), the butler, to resolve this issue, as they can't have two mistresses. However, it is not as simple as that because Agnes always speaks her mind. On Bridgerton and The Buccaneers, marrying a duke is mainly seen as desirable. However, on The Gilded Age, Gladys only has eyes for sweet Billy Carlton (Matt Walker). Knowing their mother will object, Larry (Harry Richardson) helps his sister meet up with Billy in secret so the couple can discuss their plans to wed. Billy wants to talk to George about proposing, who is currently on business in Arizona. Later at the opera, Billy is concerned about the gossip items he has read in the newspapers that indicate Hector, the Duke of Buckingham (Ben Lamb), is returning to New York to be with Gladys. However, Gladys thinks her father will ensure she can marry for love, not a title. By now, Gladys should realize that Bertha rules the domestic roost. So much so that when Billy's mother thinks she will find common ground with Bertha about the happy union, Bertha immediately shuts down this talk of celebration. Mamie Fish (Ashlie Atkinson) helped with the whole opera meet-up. 'I'll suffer for that,' she says. However, Mamie also lives for the drama, making this spat worth it. When Bertha confronts Larry about the ruse, she mentions that Mrs. Fish loves gossip more than anything, and he was stupid to involve her. Larry won't be bullied by his mother, insisting Gladys should have a choice. Bertha thinks her children are young and foolish, and even though Larry puts up a fight, there is no winning. Unknown to Bertha, Larry is also in love and, like his sister, he is unofficially betrothed. Marian (Louisa Jacobson) doesn't want to go public yet, as it has only been a few months since she broke off her second engagement. She still has to pass the Bertha Russell test. At the end of season 2, Bertha promised Gladys's hand in marriage (and sizable dowry) to Hector. It would be uncouth to admit that she is planting stories about this forthcoming union in the newspapers, but Bertha is doing everything she can to make this happen. Part of this scheme to ensure her daughter becomes the face of society is commissioning a painting by John Singer Sargent. The Gilded Age has long sprinkled real-life figures amid the fictitious, from regular characters like Caroline Astor (Donna Murphy) and Mrs. Fish to Oscar Wilde and Booker T. Washington. Having Gladys sit for Sargent is another example of how the series marries historical authenticity with the outlandish antics playing out. Bertha is enamored with Sargent and finds the whole Madame X scandal alluring. That particular painting (a personal favorite of many, including myself) now hangs in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and recently was on loan at Tate Britain in London (I have seen it in both locations). Bertha references the Mrs. Burckhardt painting ('Lady with the Rose') as capturing a young woman becoming a woman, which is what she wants for Gladys's portrait. While Gladys doesn't understand the fuss, Bertha recognizes the value. 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The Gilded Age Characters Who Are Based on Real People

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Mrs. Astor Played by: Donna Murphy Known for: Social gatekeeping Caroline Schermerhorn Astor was at the top of the Gilded Age social scene, representing a family that amassed its wealth through the fur trade and real estate. She was known for hosting lavish parties, attended by New York's elite, and as The Gilded Age shows, she represented an 'old money' set and looked down upon socialites like the Vanderbilts who represented 'new money,' especially from the booming railroad business. Mrs. Astor split her time between a townhouse in Manhattan—where the Empire State Building currently stands—and a mansion in Newport called Beechwood. Ward McAllister Played by: Nathan Lane Known for: Hobnobbing The social climber became famous for coining the term 'the 400,' referring to the 400 most influential people in New York. He was one of the first of his Manhattan crowd to summer in Newport, Rhode Island, helping to make it a destination for some of the country's richest families. As The Gilded Age shows, he fell out with many of the socialites when he started leaking stories about them to the press and published the 1890 tell-all Society as I Have Found It. Mamie Fish Played by: Ashlie Atkinson Known for: Themed parties The socialite was known for hosting outrageous themed parties at her Upper East Side townhouse, country estate in the Hudson River Valley, and her mansion in Newport. At one party, guests could only talk in 'baby talk,' at each other while dressed up as dolls. At another, they fed peanuts to elephants that roamed her property. Charlotte Drayton Played by: Hannah Shealy Known for: Scandal As The Gilded Age shows, the daughter of Mrs. Astor became the talk of the town when it was revealed that she cheated on her husband James Coleman Drayton with their neighbor Hallett Alsop Borrowe. James challenged Hallett to a duel, but died of a heart attack before the duel could take place. In The Gilded Age, Charlotte's socialite mother is afraid she won't be able to appear at a ball with her daughter given all of the gossip. JP Morgan Played by: Bill Camp Known for: Being a titan of industry He built his reputation in railroad investments, the largest industry after the Civil War, focusing on mergers, reorganizing failing lines, and restructuring debt. According to the JPMorganChase website, when he sold William H. Vanderbilt's shares of NY Central Railroad stock in 1879, that represented 'the largest block of stock ever publicly offered at the time.' When he funds the completion of the Northern Pacific Railroad through the sale of $40 million in bonds, it represents "the largest transaction in railroad bonds ever made in the United States.' Russell Risley Sage Played by: Peter McRobbie Known for: Being a railroad magnate After representing the Whig party in Congress (1853-1857), he became one of the richest men in America from investing in the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway and other railroads, often with fellow financier Jay Gould. He was also invested in Manhattan's system of elevated railroads and what became the Western Union Telegraphic Company. In the last years of his life, he focused on moneylanding. In season 3 of the Gilded Age, he stands in the way of George Russell's railroad scheme. John Singer Sargent Played by: Bobby Steggert Known for: Portraits and impressionist paintings. One of the most influential artists in the Gilded Age, he was greatly influenced by Claude Monet. The American's most famous painting Madame X (circa 1884) caused a scandal at the time for depicting socialite Virginie Amélie Avegno Gautreau with a dress strap hanging down off her shoulder. He was forced to repaint the strap. In The Gilded Age, the Sargent character paints Gladys' portrait. Frances Ellen Watkins Harper Played by: LisaGay Hamilton Known for: Writing Harper wrote for anti-slavery newspapers and was the first African American to publish a short story. She helped enslaved people escape through the Underground Railroad and was a member of the American Women's Suffrage Association. In The Gilded Age, Peggy Scott invites Harper to address the elite women in the show about the importance of advocating for women's suffrage. Mary H. Dickerson Played by: Christina Clark Known for: A dressmaking shop in Newport, R.I. Dickerson was the first Black woman to own a shop on the bustling commercial strip of Bellevue Avenue. She owned a number of properties in Newport that are still standing and donated the proceeds to organizations that supported Black life in Newport. Through a Newport women's league, she even helped establish a daycare center. Frederick Kirkland Played by: Brian Stokes Mitchell Known for: Being one of the most influential leaders in Newport, R.I. The character is based partially on Reverend Mahlon Van Horne, pastor of Newport's Union Colored Congregational Church and the first Black member of Rhode Island's General Assembly. In his 1887 sermon 'The Negro in Rhode Island: His Past, Present and Future,' he spoke of the racial wealth gap and how important it is for Black people to own their homes and businesses so that they could pass on their wealth to the next generation. T. Thomas Fortune Played by: Sullivan Jones Known for: Journalism As the editor of the New York Age, aimed at Black readers, he was one of the most prominent Black journalists in the United States. Fortune helped edit the autobiography of leading Black intellectual Booker T. Washington, and his civil rights organization, National Afro-American League, is considered an important predecessor to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). In The Gilded Age, Peggy Scott works for him and sparks fly, leading to an awkward encounter in Season 3.

USA Today

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Thunder superfan Kristin Chenoweth nailed the national anthem before Game 7

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