Historical period dramas are not only highly entertaining but also can serve as bigger metaphors for modern audiences. Wrapped up in the elaborate costumes and stylized language, there are lessons to be learned.

So it is with Julian Fellowes’s HBO series The Gilded Age, which has much to say about the complexities of innovation and capitalism. The series has been scoring record ratings ahead of its much-anticipated Season 3 finale, which airs August 10.

Let’s take a look at what all the fuss is about. If you’re not up to date on the series, beware: There are spoilers ahead!

First, some background

Before we get into the dollars and cents of it all, here’s a quick refresher. The Gilded Age premiered in January 2022 on HBO despite being slated to air on NBC originally.

The plot follows M

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