The Gilded Age Returns for Season 4 on HBO

The hit HBO costume drama "The Gilded Age" returned for its fourth season, bringing viewers back to the dramatic lives of New York City's elite in the 1880s. Created by Julian Fellowes, the series premiered its latest season with an episode titled "Ring the Bells" on HBO and HBO Max.

Season 4 picks up in the aftermath of a dramatic Season 3 finale. George Russell, played by Morgan Spector, and his wife Bertha Russell, played by Carrie Coon, find their marriage on the rocks. The separation follows an assassination attempt against George and Bertha's role in forcing their daughter, Gladys, into a marriage with the Duke of Buckingham.

The official logline for the new season states that Bertha Russell changed society at a cost, forcing her family to reckon with the consequences. Meanwhile, other characters navigate major life changes, as Agnes van Rhijn seizes an opportunity to regain her position, Marian forges a new path, and Peggy works to secure acceptance from her future in-laws.

The sweeping historical drama features a robust ensemble cast alongside Spector and Coon. Returning actors include Louisa Jacobson as Marian Brook, Taissa Farmiga as Gladys Vere, Harry Richardson as Larry Russell, Christine Baranski as Agnes van Rhijn, Cynthia Nixon as Ada Forte, and Denée Benton as Peggy Scott.

Reviewers have offered praise for the latest installment. Meghan O'Keefe of Decider described the series as "the closest thing on today's TV buffet to high end caviar: decadent, indulgent, and downright delightful," characterizing the fourth season as the HBO hit at its most confident.

The fourth season consists of eight episodes that will air weekly on Sundays at 9 p.m. ET. Subsequent episodes will roll out through December, continuing the elaborate period drama's exploration of ambition, class struggles, and romance in late nineteenth-century America.