The Gilded Age Season 3 premiere draws a record-breaking 2.7M viewers as Bertha’s bold moves and Aurora’s divorce stir major fan reactions.
HBO’s lavish period drama The Gilded Age is riding high into its third season, with the June 22 premiere pulling in a career-best 2.7 million U.S. viewers across all platforms in its first three days—up an impressive 27% from last year’s Season 2 kickoff (2.1 million) and 30% from the series debut (2 million).
When Julian Fellowes (creator of Downton Abbey) first introduced us to the world of Manhattan’s robber barons and social climbers in January 2022, the show launched in a relatively low-profile Monday slot.
But thanks to enthusiastic word of mouth—and a vocal fanbase affectionately known as “the gays,” as star Carrie Coon quipped—The Gilded Age found its footing and secured a move to HBO’s prime Sunday 9 PM window for Season 2.
That shift paid off in spades: the sophomore run ultimately averaged 7.1 million viewers, cementing the series as both a ratings booster and awards heavyweight.
Season 3 picks up the familiar power struggles, secret alliances, and sweeping gowns that have come to define the show.
Early reactions online have homed in on Bertha Russell’s (Coon) ruthless new strategy to secure her daughter’s future in New York’s upper crust—complete with whispered dinners, hush-hush negotiations, and no shortage of side-eye from old-money elites.
Meanwhile, Aurora’s bombshell divorce announcement has sent social feeds into overdrive, as fans speculate how this scandal will shake up the carefully choreographed ballroom dances and dinner-party alliances that lie at the heart of the series.
Critics and viewers alike are anticipating that Season 3 will continue the steady upward climb. Industry insiders note that the show’s combination of intricate period detail, sharp dialogue, and relatable themes—class tension, family loyalty, and the cost of ambition—has given it broad appeal beyond just history buffs.
And with awards season on the horizon, buzz is already building around potential Emmy nods for acting, writing, and design.
If you haven’t yet plunged into the gilded world of carriage thefts, card parties, and whispered scandals, now is the perfect moment to catch up.
With strong viewership gains and no signs of slowing down, The Gilded Age is proving that sometimes, the past is more thrilling than the present.
