Dazzling drama in 1880s NYC

'THE GILDED AGE': MOSAIC OF LIVES ENTANGLED BY LOVE, DUTY, GREED AND TRADITION

- Thami Kwazi

The Gilded Age glitters on Showmax with rich storytelling and dazzling performances. I'm a real sucker for period pieces be it Emma, Pride and Prejudice, Brighton or even Downton Abbey. Put some old-time fashion on, lace it with old English grammar, and you've got me.

Few shows manage to capture an era with the richness and polish that The Gilded Age brings to the screen.

The series is a gorgeously shot period drama that unfolds with opulent detail and a cast that breathes life into every gilded frame.

At its heart is Marian Brook, played with warmth and determination by Louisa Jacobson. A young woman from rural Pennsylvania, Marian's life takes a dramatic turn after her father's death when she relocates to New York city. She finds herself stepping into the glittering yet cut-throat world of high society, one ruled by money, lineage and the all-consuming hunger for power.