'The Gilded Age' Season 3 Episode 3 "Love is Never Easy" Review - Phylicia Rashad Makes Her Debut

I could tell from the promo art and glimpse of her character in the trailer that Phylicia Rashad was not playing a lovable Clair Huxtable. I waited in anticipation for her character to show up and boy did she ever in this week’s episode of the Gilded Age, Love is Never Easy. Rashad plays Mrs. Elizabeth Kirkland who comes from a prominent black family.

I love seeing black characters thrive in period pieces where you are not hit in the face with racism in every scene. I do not associate this show with black trauma, in fact quite the opposite. Give me period piece drama and flare and I believe Mrs. Kirkland will do just that. So how does she fit in with our Scott family? She is mother to Dr. Kirkland who treated Peggy Scott last episode. Dr. Kirkland clearly likes Peggy and invites her and her parents to meet his family (too soon; y’all went on ONE walk). Peggy agrees much to her mother and aunt’s happiness. 

When we meet Dr. Kirkland’s parents, his father seems nice enough but Mrs. Kirkland cannot stop going on and on about her family history and how her family would never know anyone from Baltimore (where Peggy’s mother is from). She learns that Mr. Scott is a freed man and started his pharmacy on his own and she cannot hide her disgust. Her family was always free apparently. Then to top it off, she yells at the nanny for having her grandchildren out in the sun without an umbrella because “they do not need more sun” hinting at the fact she does not want her grandchildren to be dark skinned. Awkward much? Kudos to the writers for touching on colorism in the black community with this storyline. 

I so wanted to love Phylicia Rashad’s character but I have a feeling I will love to hate her and I cannot wait to see where this storyline goes because I am rooting for Peggy and Dr. Kirkland with my whole chest. I am locked in. 

Also, poor Jack, not one investor jumped on his clock idea but it seems I may have been wrong in thinking that Larry was going to use him. He seemed genuinely happy when Jack took the lead at the meeting. Will Larry take the lead when his mother inevitably tries to scold him about his relationship with Marion after her maid caught them kissing? I hope so. However, they still lack chemistry to me and are just thrown together because there is no one else to pair them with. 

Mr. Russell is playing a dangerous game gambling all his money into this railroad and I don’t think it will last. What will the Duke do if he doesn’t get his money? He and Gladys are officially engaged now and I just wish Gladys would put her foot down or do something more dramatic than break her pearls. I fear the Russell's will lose everything by the end of the season. 

Morgan Spector, Carrie Coon Photograph by Karolina Wojtasik/HBO

Ada was being super dramatic about the servants not wanting to give up alcohol. It was too much to ask as an employer to be honest but now it seems that the cook is about to take her to a fortune teller so she can speak to her dead husband? Are we entering into the supernatural because NO. 

Overall, another solid episode from the Gilded Age that has me begging for more. What did you think? Drop a comment and remember to vote in our poll below.

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