John Adams’ Fate in ‘The Gilded Age’ Has Fans Raging Over TV’s Most Annoying Trope
The Gilded Age’s next episode is yet to reveal more about the fate of Claybourne Elder’s character, though the recent update from the show’s creators might be enough.
Things ended on a pretty tragic note in The Gilded Age’s latest episode, making it all the way more disheartening for Oscar van Rhijn now that he’s finally dealt with a long-standing misunderstanding.
Initially introduced as a bachelor who desperately seeks ways to find love and settle down with some heiress, Oscar gets into a pretty complicated situation when he realises he does have feelings for John Adams, another wealthy socialite with whom he has been keeping lowkey relationships while both were still trying to find suitable candidates to marry.
However, in The Gilded Age’s episode 6 John is hit by a horse carriage right in front of Oscar’s eyes, with the episode cutting right here for the next one to reveal whether John still has a chance.
Is John Adams Really Dead After ‘The Gilded Age’ Episode 6?
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Despite many fans hoping that the character would eventually survive the crash, it seems like there’s no way for John Adams to be brought back from the dead — and it’s all for Oscar’s sake.
While the remaining two episodes of the show’s season 3 are yet to follow Oscar through yet another big tragedy in his life, The Gilded Age’s creators have already bid farewell to John Adams whose presence in Oscar’s storyline was holding it back from some major changes in it.
According to The Gilded Age’s showrunners Julian Fellowes and Sonja Warfield, none of these changes would have been possible if John Adams had continued living.
Apart from that, both also noted that they had tried to make John’s death as neutral as possible, making it a mere street accident instead of some potential political conspiracy.
“He’s just killed in an accident, like anyone could be at any time”, Fellowes said in an interview with TVLine.
‘The Gilded Age’ Fans Are Divided Over the Meaning of John Adams’ Death
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Even though it’s not yet clear how exactly the character’s tragic fate will push Oscar to some big changes, whether they are for better or for worse, the show’s fans can’t help but see the shocking plot twist as yet another example of modern TV’s most disturbing trend.
“Like what was the point of that ending. talk about bury your gays”, Redditor pinesinthegrove commented in a thread, referring to an annoying media pattern of portraying LGBTQ+ members as people with the most tragic fate out there.
“Taken out by a runaway carriage and a flying FRUIT stand. Come on. Somehow that feels almost more like a hate crime than an actual hate crime”, DroughtofApathy chimed in.
Still, not everyone agreed that Oscar and John’s love story deserved to be going on for longer than it did.
“I don't think it is bury your gays, their relationship has been dead for what, nearly entire season 2 at least? Besides, maybe he lives since the horse just yeeted him lmfao that scene was so wonky. Plus Oscar can find another love”, More_Pianist3093 suggested.
When Will ‘The Gilded Age’ Next Episode Be Released?
The show’s season 3 episode 7 will arrive on HBO Max on August 3.
