Gilded Age Season 2 Achieves HBO's 6th 90%+ Rotten Tomatoes Score in 2023

Article Overview

The Gilded Age, a show about class conflict in 1800s New York City, has received a Certified Fresh 94% score on Rotten Tomatoes for its second season.

In 2023, excluding Max exclusives, this marks the sixth HBO scripted show to exceed the 90% threshold. The remaining accomplished shows consist of The Last of Us, Barry, Succession, Somebody Somewhere, and The Righteous Gemstones.

HBO's The Gilded Age, created by Julian Fellowes of Downton Abbey fame, has received further acclaim. Set in late 1800s New York City, the show explores the clashes between different social classes. Season 2, which premiered on October 29, features an impressive ensemble cast including Carrie Coon, Morgan Spector, Louisa Jacobson, Denée Benton, Taissa Farmiga, Simon Jones, Cynthia Nixon, and Christine Baranski.

The second season of The Gilded Age has achieved a Certified Fresh rating of 94% on Rotten Tomatoes. This solidifies its position as the sixth HBO scripted show in 2023 to surpass the 90% mark, disregarding Max exclusives. Other shows that have accomplished this feat include The Last of Us season 1 (96%), Barry season 4 (96%), Succession season 4 (97%), Somebody Somewhere season 2 (100%), and The Righteous Gemstones season 3 (100%).

Could The Gilded Age Have the Longevity of Downton Abbey?

The Gilded Age has the potential to run as long as Downton Abbey, which had six seasons and two movies. Both shows have similarities, such as Christine Baranski's character being similar to Maggie Smith's Dowager Countess. However, The Gilded Age faces a challenge due to consistently low audience scores. Despite both seasons of The Gilded Age being Certified Fresh, season 1 has a 53% audience score while season 2 has 55%. It should be noted that only the first episode of season 2 has aired at the time of writing, so the score could change. In comparison, Downton Abbey had much higher audience scores, rarely falling below 90%, in addition to positive critic scores. For the critic and audience scores of each Downton Abbey entry, refer to the following:

The Gilded Age needs to put in a lot of effort to generate the same level of audience engagement. With its highest audience score still 34% lower than the lowest score of Downton Abbey, the show's viewership may decline before it can even reach halfway through its run. However, we have yet to determine how the rest of season 2 will be received, as there are still seven more weekly episodes to come.

Source: Rotten Tomatoes

The Gilded Age airs on HBO Sundays at 9PM.

Editor's P/S

As an enthusiastic fan of The Gilded Age, I am thrilled to see that the show has achieved such an impressive Rotten Tomatoes score for its second season. With a 94% score, it joins an elite group of HBO scripted shows that have surpassed the 90% threshold in 2023. This is a testament to the show's high-quality writing, engaging storytelling, and talented cast.

While the show's audience scores have been consistently lower than its critic scores, I believe that The Gilded Age has the potential to grow its audience and achieve the same level of success as Downton Abbey. The show's rich historical setting, relatable characters, and compelling storylines have the potential to captivate a wider audience.

I am excited to see how the rest of season 2 unfolds and am hopeful that the show will continue to receive critical acclaim and find a larger audience. Overall, I believe that The Gilded Age is a well-crafted and entertaining show that deserves its place among HBO's top-rated scripted shows.