After 4 Years, The Gilded Age’s Longest Suffering Character Will Have Season 4's Best Comeback

Published Oct 25, 2026, 12:30 PM EDT John Orquiola is a TV Editor, Senior Writer, and Interviewer with a special focus on Star Trek. John has over 5,000 published articles at SR, and he has interviewed the biggest names in Star Trek on the red carpet and VIP events, among other beloved shows, movies, and franchises. East 61st Street's longest-suffering character is poised for a well-deserved comeback in The Gilded Age season 4. Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes' late 19th century-set historical drama that became a pop culture phenomenon returns to HBO for its fourth season on November 1st. It could be argued that the two unluckiest characters in The Gilded Age reside in the East 61st Street home of Agnes Van Rhijn (Christina Baranski) and Ada Forte (Cynthia Nixon). Since moving to New York City, Marian Brook (Louisa Jacobson) hasn't been the most fortunate woman in The Gilded Age after two failed engagements. However, Aunt Agnes' son, Oscar Van Rhijn (Blake Ritson), is finally on the rise after being plagued with misfortune. Oscar has a secret: he's gay, and must hide it from New York high society. Oscar's dream is to marry a wealthy heiress who will allow him prominence in society while he's free to pursue his true passions in private. As The Gilded Age season 4 approaches, which includes a time jump to 1886, Oscar Van Rhijn is on the verge of getting everything he wants, at last. Oscar Van Rhijn Will Have The Gilded Age Season 4's Best Comeback Oscar Van Rhijn's fortunes turned around in The Gilded Age season 3, but season 4 looks like his best yet. At the end of The Gilded Age season 3, Oscar and Enid Winterton (Kelley Curran) renewed their season 1 alliance with a new business deal: to become "a fighting pair" by marriage, merging Oscar's social connections with the wealth Enid inherited from her late husband. Presumably, Enid and Oscar become Mr. and Mrs. Van Rhijn in The Gilded Age season 4, giving Oscar everything he wants: money and a greater social standing. Plus, their arrangement allows Oscar to live his best life in secrecy, using the lake house gifted to him by his late friend and lover, John Adams (Claybourne Elder), to entertain new dalliances. Oscar's long-awaited turnaround is also well-deserved after all he has suffered throughout The Gilded Age. His mother, Agnes, doesn't think much of him, and suspects the truth about Oscar. Agnes will likely never forgive Oscar for losing her fortune after being swindled by Maud Beaton (Nicole Brydon Bloom), but finally marrying should boost her son's esteem in Agnes' eyes. Throughout The Gilded Age, Oscar has been beaten for being gay and had to hide the truth from his family. He was also humiliated when he tried to marry into the Russell family by courting Gladys (Taissa Farmiga), who is now the Duchess of Buckingham. But this is all in the past for Oscar; Mr. Van Rhijn is on the rise and New York high society is his oyster. Oscar & Enid Can Replace George & Bertha Russell Image via HBO The Gilded Age could be welcoming its newest power couple in season 4. If Oscar and Enid become Mr. and Mrs. Van Rhijn, they have a credible shot at taking down George (Morgan Spector) and Bertha Russell (Carrie Coon). The Russells were 'new money' ascendant, but Oscar and Enid ideally combine his venerable surname and legacy with her newfound wealth. Oscar and Enid have personal animosity towards the Russells. Oscar and Enid have personal animosity towards the Russells. Enid was once Turner, Bertha's ladies' maid, who made a play for George and was rebuffed. Yet George kept this from Bertha, and she felt betrayed when the truth surfaced. Meanwhile, George enjoyed shutting down Oscar's bid for Gladys, and Van Rhijn never forgot the sting of Mr. Russell's cruelty. George and Bertha's marriage is on shaky ground after the events of The Gilded Age season 3. Apparently, that chasm grows wider in season 4. Word of the Russells' separation has already spread throughout New York. In The Gilded Age season 4's trailer, Oscar and Enid prepare to pounce and take advantage of Bertha and George being on the outs. The Gilded Age season 4 looks like Oscar Van Rhijn will be winning more than he ever has before. This includes having a seat at the table when Agnes hosts President Grover Cleveland (Jim Gaffigan) for dinner. It's a long-awaited reversal of fortune for Oscar, and it will be delightful to watch him and Enid make the most of it. The Gilded Age season 4 premieres November 1st on HBO and HBO Max Release Date January 24, 2022 Network HBO Max Showrunner Julian Fellowes Cast Morgan Spector George Russell Directors Deborah Kampmeier, Salli Richardson-Whitfield Writers Julian Fellowes