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Reviews
Gilded Newport Mysteries: Murder at the Breakers (2024)
Lost its potential to messaging
I had been greatly looking forward to this series from the moment I first heard of it. As someone who has studied the Gilded Age era, I've thoroughly enjoyed Julian Fellows' series and was hoping this one would fill the gap while waiting on season 3 of The Gilded Age. What a disappointment overall!
On the positive side, the lead actress is strong and I felt the hinted women's suffrage connect was positive. Her character would have had a link to Alva Vanderbilt Belmont, who had much to do with the Gilded Age society dynamics but later focused on the suffrage movement as her calling. There is potential in this.
The mystery itself was sufficient and allowed the main characters to develop our understanding of them as they worked to untangle what was afoot.
The settings, while short of the glamour Fellows creates, were nice and provided glimpses of the Newport world of the time. The costumes were also fine to bring us into the time period of the show.
So why only 2 stars? Because for some incomprehensible reason, the creators decided to repeatedly yank us out of 1895 Newport in an attempt to show an inclusiveness that absolutely did not exist at the time. That blacks would be received at the Breakers and that interracial couples would go about at parties and in town would be great in a show set today - but 130 years ago in ultra wealthy Newport it simply wouldn't exist. Had the creators built realistic and sympathetic characters into the story that showed the injustices of the era, we could have had depth and reality. Instead, we got jarring anachronisms.
I also found the closing scene both unrealistic and frankly a disappointing take on the lead. One minute she is toying with marriage or at least a relationship with the detective, then she's suddenly flirting openly with another man a room away? I'll let slide the extreme unlikeliness of the interracial aspect, but just that the lead would switch abruptly.... Just left me feeling less of her, though I'm sure some will enjoy the idea of this uncertainty in her.
I wanted to be drawn into the story, the characters, and the time period. Why the decision was made to portray the period as it never was kept me from being able to stay engaged. The Gilded Age series has found ways to enlighten and inspire us with the struggles and successes of black Americans in the era and richly integrated this into the story arcs. I feel Hallmark almost mocks the realities of black lives and struggles in this false portrayal.
The Gilded Age (2022)
Don't bail so fast - it's awesome!
I'm amazed at the low reviews given by people who either bailed out in episode one or who are disappointed it's not Downton Abbey.
To those who quit early and left a low rating on the way out, your presumption speaks poorly of you and dinged a marvelous series. Emphasis on series here - there is some necessary character development in the first couple of episodes as well as some world building for most of us who aren't so aware of the historic era known as the Gilded Age. This groundwork is critical, and as we pass episode 3 and look ahead, it's paying off wonderfully!
To those who complain "it's no Downton Abbey," well, of course not. How tedious that would be rather than this fresh look at another time and place where social norms and class roles are changing. In that it shares some similarities, but as a full-blooded DA fan, I find myself loving TGA all on its own merits.
The cast is really clicking now, with my top kudos to Carrie Coon and Morgan Spector as Bertha and George Russell - such terrific chemistry and performances! I certainly would not want to get on the wrong side of Bertha or George. By the time you finish episode 3 - and please do so! - you will know what I mean about these two great actors and their characters.
Christine Baranski is her usual top tier performer as Aunt Agnes, and a gritty contrast to a sweet Aunt Ada played to great effect by Cynthia Nixon. Their scenes are richly layered.
Thanks to the production team and Denee Benton for her wonderfully designed and developed character of Peggy Scott, through whom we see race concerns of their time and our own developed in a compelling way without the crass wokeness so overly done elsewhere. This role in particular has tremendous potential and Benton is nailing the opportunity so far.
I'm still working on liking Louisa Jacobson's take on Marian and the young niece as a character. Both the actress and her character are in the midst of so many strong players, it will be interesting to see how Louisa/Marian rises to her own standing amongst them.
Add to this so many excellent ancillary characters and it's a robust world of dynamic people and events we find ourselves in, never sure who to root for or what will become of the ones we do.
Yes, I love it, but only because there is so much in it to love! Don't give up on it; there's more here than a brief look in will show you.