Another season of The Gilded Age has started. The third season picks up with George’s plans to build a railway line from New York to Los Angeles, but naturally, there is resistance against the growing opportunities for travel. That’s just a small part of the story, and you’ll want to jump straight into new episodes.
The big question for many is whether this is a suitable show to watch with the children around. Sure, younger kids may not be interested in watching it, but you still want to make sure what you watch while they’re around is appropriate for them. Plus, you may have teenagers who are interested in period dramas thanks to the likes of The White Princess and The Spanish Princess, so this is the next show they’re considering.
The Gilded Age parents guide: Explaining the TV-MA rating
In the United States, the age rating for The Gilded Age is TV-MA. This means that it’s aimed at adults, but really, this is something for young adults and some older teens. After all, most other countries around the world have set a TV-14, 15+, and 16+ age rating for the series.
Sex & nudity: There is some mild sex and nudity in earlier seasons, and while the first episode of The Gilded Age season 3 didn’t include much, there’s a good chance that it will increase as the season progresses. There is one scene in an earlier season where a woman is lying in a bed naked, only using her hand to cover her private parts.
There is another scene early on when a woman is in bed topless. She’s talking to a man, and it’s clear what they have been doing in bed, but nothing graphic is shown.
Violence & gore: There are some small fight scenes, but nothing on the heavy side. When there is “gore,” it’s more in line with a few bloody marks and bruises after a fight that has happened off-screen. This period drama is focused on society and climbing the social ladder, so violence isn’t as heavy as in other period dramas.
Language: The word “b*****d” is used now and then, which was a term regularly used to denote someone born illegitimately. It is an insult, but not in the way it’s used today. The word “Hell” and similar words are also regularly used throughout. The F-bomb hasn’t been dropped, which does make the language in this series mild.
Alcohol & drugs: We’re set in a time when smoking wasn’t considered unhealthy and when some drug use was even considered normal. Drinking wine at parties was normal, and even sometimes, drinking alcohol was safer than drinking water! So yes, there is some mild use of alcohol at parties and a bit of smoking now and then, but there isn’t a graphic use of it.
Overall verdict: Who is The Gilded Age appropriate for?
I wouldn’t worry too much about having this show on while your children pass through the house. There’s going to be some moments that they may find embarrassing, but they’re very mild and few and far between. That said, it's probably not a show you'd want to watch when the kids are in the room.
Older teens could certainly appreciate this as a way into the period drama genre. The show is tame when it comes to the level of nudity and violence compared to many other period dramas. However, it is more focused on the society's views of the world, and it may be a little “boring” for teenagers who like the action of the past.
The Gilded Age season 3 airs Sundays at 9/8c on HBO.