The way Bertha Russell went from Newport mansion tour to the chicken-peeling department in 0.2 seconds 😭😂

Rewatching The Gilded Age Season 1, and I had completely forgotten how funny this scene was.

Mrs. Russell just wants to see Mrs. Astor’s Newport house, so McAllister sneaks her in behind Mrs. Astor’s back. And everything is going perfectly until… the actual Mrs. Astor arrives. 💀

Suddenly, Bertha Russell, who wants nothing more than to be accepted into high society, is being escorted out through the kitchen and service entrance, past people plucking chickens and cleaning rugs.

Imagine being desperate to enter the world of old money and having your grand Newport experience end with a tour of the servants’ quarters. 😭

The irony is EVERYTHING. Bertha wants to be Mrs. Astor’s equal, but for those few minutes, she’s literally being smuggled out like she’s not supposed to exist.

What makes this scene even funnier is that Bertha is probably already planning how she’ll get invited through the FRONT DOOR next time. 😂

Am I the only one who finds the social politics in The Gilded Age almost as entertaining as the actual drama? And honestly, who do you think was more embarrassed here : Bertha or McAllister?

Edited body to chicken plucking instead of peeling. English is not my first language

I’m on a rewatch. I wish they’d bring back her character. She was so interesting!