One (Possible) Wedding, One (Possible) Funeral on This Week's Episode of The Gilded Age

Don't be such a hobbledehoy.

First of all: Several folks in the commentariat called one of the big developments in this week’s episode and I am impressed. When you noted that you thought Reverend RSL was not long for this world, I privately thought, “No way will they kill him off, Ada JUST married him.” WELL, YES WAY, NOW HE HAS CANCER. It’s peak Julian Fellowes to kill someone off at his moment of greatest joy — RIP Cousin Matthew!!! — but this still feels premature! We’ve spent a season and a half dealing with Banker-Turned-Valet Watson lurking behind trees and foiling soup schemes whilst wrestling with the question of whether or not to leave his daughter forever (and THIS IS STILL NOT RESOLVED) but Ada Van Rhijn falls in love, gets married, and may find herself widowed in like four episodes. This pacing feels nuts; maybe Robert Sean Leonard got cast in a revival of Guys and Dolls and had to jam to go practice his fake dice-throwing immediately or something. Or perhaps he will have a miraculous recovery! (Also …