HBO's fictional epic period drama "The Gilded Age" was developed and written by Julian Fellowes, the creator of "Downton Abbey". The series is set during a period of great economic change in the United States. The story begins in 1882 and tells the story of a young orphan, Marian Brook (Louisa Jacobson), the daughter of a Confederate general, who lives in the New York home of her conservative aunts Agnes van Rhijn (Christine Baranski) and Ada Brook (Cynthia Nixon). Peggy Scott (Denée Benton), a mysterious but talented African-American woman, disguised as Marian's maid. With Peggy's company, Marian is inadvertently involved in a social status war: on one side is the famous family represented by her aunt, who relies on the family business passed down from generation to generation; on the other side is her wealthy tycoon neighbor. Neighboring, ruthless railroad tycoon George Russell (Morgan Spector) and his ambitious wife Bertha Russell (Carrie Coon) want to be accepted into the social circles of the Astor and Vanderbilt families. In this exciting new world that is about to transform into a modern society, will Marian follow the established rules of this society, or will she forge her own path?