Warning: this article contains SPOILERS for The Gilded Age season 3, episode 5 - “A Different World.”
Throughout its run,The Gilded Agehas set up a lot of different love interests for its characters, but Peggy Scott’s season 2 flirtation was easily the most problematic. Out ofThe Gilded Age’s characters, Peggy is typically one of the more levelheaded, but even she briefly showed rash judgment when it came to romance.
Luckily, Peggy’s new love interest inThe Gilded Ageseason 3, Dr. William Kirkland, is a somewhat better match, even if his mother may cause trouble in future episodes. However, just as the pair are starting to get closer,The Gilded Ageseason 3, episode 5, just reintroduced a potential roadblock who enticed Peggy with a new assignment.
The Gilded Age Season 3 Reintroduces T. Thomas Fortune
Peggy’s Former Boss Is Back With A New Offer
T. Thomas Fortune, the real historical journalist, was introduced in season 1 ofThe Gilded Age,and throughout the first two seasons, he played a big role in Peggy Scott’s story. After sending her work to various publications,Mr. Fortune’s newspaper,The Globe, was the first to give Peggy a job and allow her to publish under her own name.
This was a massive deal for the aspiring writer, as women and especially Black women were often not taken seriously as writers during that time.Peggy more than proved herselfthough, and was given increasingly important assignments as the series continued, leading to her big assignment in Tuskegee, Alabama, with Mr. Fortune.
Peggy traveling to another state and staying overnight with her boss would have been a big issue during the Gilded Age, but Mr. Fortune did not seem bothered by it, and it quickly became clear why. The pair face a racist attack while in Alabama, but while hiding overnight, they share a kiss.
To remove both of them from a situation that could cause trouble, Peggy ultimately quit her job atThe Globein season 2. Now,The Gilded Ageseason 3, episode 5 reunited the two characters at a baseball game, allowing Mr. Fortune to convince Peggy to take on a big new assignment.
Despite the fantastic offer to interview Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, Peggy seems skeptical to work for Mr. Fortune again.
Even from his brief appearance at the game,Mr. Fortune is clearly much happier to see Peggy than she is to see him. Despite the fantastic offer to interview Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, Peggy seems skeptical about working for Mr. Fortune again. This is also true of their meeting later in the episode, which ends with a surprising fight.
Why Fortune Tries To Go To Philadelphia With Peggy
Mr. Fortune Still Seems Interested In Peggy
T. Thomas Fortune seemed nice enough to Peggy in season 2, likely because of his feelings for her, butseason 3 has already proved that he is not so nice after all. He sets up the interview for Peggy with Frances Ellen Watkins Harper in Philadelphia, making it seem like she would be conducting the interview by herself.
When Peggy and Dr. Kirkland arrive at the train station for her to leave for the interview, they are shocked to find that Mr. Fortune is there as well and is planning to join Peggy on the trip. Given thatit was already strange for them to have gone to Alabama alone last season, it is even worse now.
Peggy makes her boundaries very clear, and William backs her upwhen Mr. Fortune tries to pressure her into allowing him to go, leading the two of them almost into a fight. Luckily, Mr. Fortune eventually gets the message and leaves, but the altercation is strange nonetheless and highlights why Mr. Fortune is really back.
Despite Peggy quitting her job to maintain their separation, Mr. Fortune still has some feelings for her that he thinks he needs to unpack.
By attempting to accompany Peggy to Philadelphia,Mr. Fortune seemingly wants to relive the kiss that the pair sharedin Tuskegee last season. Despite Peggy quitting her job to maintain their separation, Mr. Fortune still has some feelings for her that he thinks he needs to unpack.
Episode 8, “My Mind Is Made Up”
June 05, 2025
All of their interactions throughout the episode show that Peggy is uncomfortable around Mr. Fortune. He is married, and his behavior is not acceptable. It could also damage her reputation.Fortunately, it seemsThe Gilded Ageis not trying to give Peggy a love triangle, as she remains strong in her morals in episode 5.
The Gilded Age Sets Up The Introduction Of Abolitionist Frances Ellen Watkins Harper
The Real Suffragist And Abolitionist Will Make A Great Mentor To Peggy
The Gilded Ageseason 3 brought up women’s suffrageearly in the season, but it now seems the show is going to delve into the topic more deeply thanks to the introduction of Frances Ellen Watkins Harper. Peggy Scott, along with several other characters already voiced their support for the cause, but the series can expand that even more now.
During the Gilded Age, Frances Ellen Watkins Harper was an abolitionist, suffragist, and author, making her the perfect figure to introduce as a mentor to Peggy Scott. In fact,her first poems were published in 1845,and another volume,Poems on Miscellaneous Subjects, was published nine years later and became very popular (viaMargaret Hope Bacon/JSTOR).
This makes her one of the earliest Black women to become a published author. Harper was also notable for her work as an abolitionist before the Civil War and for working to expand education in the South after the Civil War. During the 1880s, Harper also became involved in the temperance movement.
Given how important a figure Frances Ellen Watkins Harper was within the suffrage movement in the United States, it is very exciting thatThe Gilded Ageis going to incorporate her story.
Likewise,Harper became very involved in the women’s rights movement starting in the 1860s, well beforeThe Gilded Agetakes place. She was active in writing about the suffrage movement and in attending conferences and associations to that end, despite being excluded from some conversations surrounding Black men and white women.
Overall, the series is spending more time this season discussing the real issues that Black Americans faced in the Gilded Age, so Harper is an impactful addition. Given how important a figure Frances Ellen Watkins Harper was within the suffrage movement in the United States, it is very exciting thatThe Gilded Ageis going to incorporate her story.
The Gilded Age
Cast
The Gilded Age, set in 1882 during a time of economic prosperity, follows Marian Brook, an orphaned Southern general’s daughter, as she moves to New York City. She navigates society’s complexities with her aunts and Peggy Scott, an African-American masquerading as her maid, amidst the city’s opulent elite.
