"Wants to stay married": The Gilded Age's Carrie Coon teases Bertha and George's future after the intense Season 3 finale

The Gilded Age fans are absolutely still reeling from that Season 3 ending because it was a finale that shattered and broke apart the once completely unshakable Russell marriage.

George Russell walked away, leaving Bertha stunned after years of having a seemingly 'perfect' relationship. Yet Carrie Coon, who plays Bertha, says the character is already planning her next move for the 4th season. She says,

"Bertha wants everyone to keep moving forward. She wants to stay married to George."

While giving an interview to The Hollywood Reporter, Carrie Coon revealed Bertha's wheels are still turning, even during times of heartbreak, and she's determined to fight for her marriage rather than let it crumble and fall apart.

A power couple brought to the brink

When The Gilded Age first introduced the Russells, they quickly became a canvas of mutual and shared ambition. George dominated and ruled over the business world extremely well, while Bertha conquered New York society and this made their relationship and teamwork unstoppable. Season 3 of The Gilded Age completely flipped that image of the couple upside down.

In the finale of Season 3, George is the one who survived an assassination attempt only to bring out his long resentment toward Bertha. Her decision to push their daughter, Gladys, into marrying Hector, the Duke of Buckingham, had been the turning point for his resentment. Fans surely had sensed George's frustration all this while and season, but for Bertha, the fallout felt like it came from nowhere.

Coon explained to THR that Bertha had been "very myopic" and missed the signs that her husband's patience was wearing thin. She told THR,

"Even though she's right, she's feeling righteous. It has come at a tremendous cost..."

The heartbreak was obvious for Coon and her co-star Morgan Spector, who have portrayed the Russells' equal bond since the beginning.

Bertha had just dethroned Mrs. Astor in Newport's high society, yet her victory was overshadowed by George's exit and this was a reminder that influence means little without the people you fought alongside.

Bertha’s fight to reclaim what matters with The Gilded Age Season 4

Despite the devastation, Carrie Coon insists Bertha's resolve hasn't dimmed. She said,

"She wants her children to be settled and to start to take their rightful place in society as influencers, so to speak. And she’s ready to kind of conquer whatever the next challenge is."

The character's focus is on protecting her family's standing and ensuring her children are secure in their roles within society. But this time, Bertha underestimated the emotional cost.

In that haunting final scene, George's carriage pulled away, leaving Bertha unable to tell him he's going to be a grandfather. For a woman used to reading every social current, the personal blind spot was jarring. Coon says,

"Oh, it's heartbreaking, of course. But, at the same time, her wheels are already turning about how she's going to fix it..."

Bertha's defining trait of being "indefatigable" will no doubt shape her next steps.

Season 4 of The Gilded Age has been confirmed, though writing hasn't begun, and Coon is confident her character won't give up without a fight. This is the same woman who rewrote the rules of New York's elite circles; repairing a marriage might be her toughest game yet, but she's never been one to retreat.

The Gilded Age season 3 finale stripped away the Russells' polished facade, but Bertha's determination to win George back could be the most compelling arc yet. Carrie Coon's insight paints a picture of a woman who refuses to let go, no matter the cost.

If history has shown us anything about Bertha Russell, it's that she thrives when the odds are against her, so season 4 may be her most personal battle so far.

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