I suppose it would be tres-gauche and nouveau-telev-ishe for me to impolitely label my newest binge, HBO's The Gilded Age -- "Downton Abbey American Style." But being an impudent gutter snipe has never been beyond me.
Created by the same person behind the noteworthy super-popular British television shows Upstairs Downstairs and, of course, the above mentioned Downton Abbey, one Julian Fellows, it's hard not to make the comparison.
In fact, on the glossy surface, it really is just exactly that, made to depict a generation or two earlier in historical time setting in the age of the robber barons of late 19th century New York City and Newport Society. You know, the same peeps who built my fav little shack up in my home state, The Breakers. I've fanboyed enough over it over many posts in this blog like here and here for example.
This show is a total guilty pleasure. It's not too trying on the brain for sure. Never you mind about thinking too deeply about anything, the plot is pretty well step by step melodrama at its most melodramatic. The plot twists are entirely easily seen a mile down the road but when they play out you pat yourself on the back for knowing it well ahead of time even though a caveman could have figured it out. But with this kind of show is all about total escapism.
Night time soap opera schlocky with tongue in cheek almost hilariously overboard diametrically opposed characters out to "do one in" to each other for spite or glory or both, huzzah! Old money versus the new, all amidst a backdrop that, granted, is different from the British fare in that there's always a little glimmer of possibility of an American Dream egalitarianism where even the lowest of the low may be able to pull themselves up by their bootstraps and attain the highest ranks of society. Well, at least in this fictional depiction anyway, lol!
And baby, it has freaking Nathan Lane playing an absolutely over the top bombastic know-it-all snob with a delicious faux southern gentleman's accent to make me reach for my decorative hand fan for I suddenly have the vapors, oh my! Oh, and as the title of this post suggests, plenty of blow hard businessmen being Masters and Commanders of the world, donning their top hats and peering menacingly at their foes through their monocles (well not really, but imaginarily) whilst screaming at each other "Good day to you, sir!" as if that were the ultimate dis.
Luckily I picked up this series being able to binge both of its first two seasons in one fell swoop just in time for the debut of its third season in about a month from now. I for one wait with my well-pressed white tie and tails, ready and primed with my man's servant valet, as I gander eagerly at my old grandfather clock ticking down until then with eager anticipation.