8 Shocking Secrets And Spoilers For The Gilded Age Season 3 Finale: George Russell's Fate And Bertha's Last Stand

The Gilded Age Season 3 finale is shaping up to be the most explosive conclusion yet, promising to resolve the intense social wars of 1880s New York with dramatic, life-altering consequences for both the Russell and Van Rhijn households. As of today, December 18, 2025, production updates confirm that filming for the new season, penned by the master of period drama Julian Fellowes, is well underway, setting the stage for a spectacular summer of high society drama.

With the season premiere officially set for June 22, 2025, fans are already buzzing over leaked plot points and major cliffhangers surrounding the final episode, titled "My Mind Is Made Up." The newest season will delve deeper into the burgeoning power of the New Money class, the ongoing struggle for racial equality, and the personal heartbreaks faced by the series' most beloved characters, all culminating in a finale that could shatter the foundations of the Manhattan elite. This is everything you need to know about the highly-anticipated Season 3 conclusion.

The Gilded Age Season 3: Confirmed Cast, Production Timeline, and Finale Air Date

The third season of Julian Fellowes' lavish historical drama has been one of the most talked-about returns to television, with a production timeline that has kept fans eagerly awaiting official details. Filming began in July 2024, with the cast and crew spotted in various historical locations, including Troy, New York, in August 2024, continuing the show's commitment to authentic Gilded Age backdrops.

• The Facts Of Life Cast Where Are Eastlands Girls Now 2024 Updates 2tx8p

The core ensemble of the series is confirmed to return, ensuring the continuation of the central narratives of Old Money versus New Money, and the personal journeys of the characters:

• Carrie Coon as Bertha Russell
• Morgan Spector as George Russell
• Christine Baranski as Agnes van Rhijn
• Cynthia Nixon as Ada Forte (now Ada van Rhijn)
• Louisa Jacobson as Marian Brook
• Denée Benton as Peggy Scott
• Taissa Farmiga as Gladys Russell
• Harry Richardson as Larry Russell
• Blake Ritson as Oscar van Rhijn

A significant addition to the cast for Season 3 is the acclaimed actress Phylicia Rashad, whose role is expected to bring a new dynamic to the storyline involving Peggy Scott and her family.

The Season 3 Finale Release Date

The season will consist of eight episodes, following the structure of previous installments. The confirmed air date for The Gilded Age Season 3 finale (Episode 8) is scheduled for Sunday, August 10, 2025, airing on HBO and streaming on Max.

• Shania Twains Bold Statement Why The Star Chose Nude Photoshoots At 57 Qf9cg

The 4 Biggest Finale Shocks: George Russell's Fate and Marital Turmoil

Despite the season still being months away, major plot points and alleged spoilers for the finale, titled "My Mind Is Made Up," have circulated, suggesting a dramatic climax for the Russell family. The central drama revolves around a life-or-death situation for the railroad tycoon and a devastating rift in his marriage.

1. George Russell’s Shocking Ambush and Speedy Recovery

The most shocking development involves George Russell. The penultimate episode is rumored to conclude with a terrifying cliffhanger: George is shot in an ambush at his office.

The finale is then set to open with the immediate aftermath. Despite the severity of the attack, George is reportedly not taken to a hospital—a detail that highlights the rudimentary state of emergency medicine in the 1880s. Instead, he is rushed home to the Russell mansion, where he receives treatment. Remarkably, George is expected to survive the shooting, though the identity of the assailant—who may be connected to his ongoing railroad business dealings and labor disputes—remains a mystery, setting up a potential storyline for a future season.

• The Unseen Story Jessica Simpsons Battle For Privacy And Body Image In A Digital Age Mlvqa

2. The Ball That Breaks the Marriage

The traditional season-ending ball, a staple of Bertha Russell’s social campaign, will take place, but under immense personal strain. Bertha is confirmed to host a grand event, but her single-minded focus on securing her family’s social standing may finally cost her everything.

Rumors suggest Bertha's actions, possibly related to her attempts to secure a prestigious marriage for her daughter Gladys Russell or her controversial support for the new Metropolitan Opera, lead to a massive confrontation. This culminates in a dramatic fallout with both her husband, George Russell, and her son, Larry Russell, who are reportedly furious and refuse to forgive her by the episode's end. This war within the Russell household itself is a massive twist, threatening the power couple's seemingly impenetrable union.

3. The New York Divorce Scandal

The finale is also set to feature a significant scandal involving Aurora Fane and her husband, Charles Fane. Allegedly, Charles, the adulterer, will shock Aurora by announcing he wants a divorce. In a twist of Gilded Age social rules, Charles needs Aurora to initiate the divorce, placing her in a devastating social position. This storyline will likely test the loyalties of Bertha Russell and the rest of the New Money circle.

4. Marian Brook and Larry Russell's Uncertain Future

While the focus is often on the Russells, Marian Brook’s romantic entanglements are expected to reach a critical point. Fan predictions and spoilers suggest that while the Russells might reconcile following George’s near-death experience, the budding romance between Marian and Larry Russell could face a devastating setback, possibly ending in a break-up.

3 Key Storylines for Agnes, Ada, and Peggy

Beyond the Russell family drama, the Season 3 finale will bring major developments for the show's most beloved characters, ensuring that the social and personal stakes are high across all of New York society.

1. The Return of Agnes Van Rhijn's Power

The finale will see Agnes van Rhijn's role shift dramatically. With her sister Ada Forte now married to the wealthy Reverend Luke Forte (whose fate remains a major question mark), Agnes’s financial and social standing has been secured. The season is likely to explore Agnes's reaction to the increasing independence of Marian and the burgeoning social dominance of Bertha Russell. The finale will solidify Agnes’s place as the moral (and now financially sound) center of Old New York, positioning her to potentially reclaim some of her lost social authority.

2. Peggy Scott’s Professional and Personal Triumph

Peggy Scott's storyline, which focuses on her career as a writer and her fight for social justice, is expected to reach a high point. With the introduction of Phylicia Rashad’s new character, the finale will likely feature a major professional or personal triumph for Peggy, possibly involving a significant publication, an advance in her activism, or a resolution to a family conflict. Her narrative continues to provide a vital counterpoint to the high-society world of the Russells and the Van Rhijns, exploring the complex realities of Black New York in the 1880s.

3. The Academy vs. The Metropolitan Opera War

Bertha Russell’s long-running war to gain acceptance from the Old Money elite hinges on her success with the Metropolitan Opera. The finale is expected to feature a final, dramatic confrontation between Bertha’s forces and the entrenched Old Money supporters of the Academy of Music. The outcome of this social war is critical, as it determines whether Bertha has finally won her place in society, or if the Old New York guard, led by figures like Mrs. Astor, has managed to block her ultimate victory. The finale ball will serve as the backdrop for this final social skirmish.

With George Russell's life hanging in the balance, Bertha's marriage on the rocks, and a host of other plot twists promised by the cast, the Season 3 finale of The Gilded Age is set to be a must-watch television event that will leave fans desperate for news of a Season 4 renewal.