RIP, John Adams.
“The Gilded Age” killed off Claybourne Elder’s beloved character on Sunday evening’s episode.
John, who was a descendant of President John Adams, was fatally struck by a rushing horse carriage on the streets of New York Metropolis, moments after sharing a romantic alternate together with his former lover Oscar van Rhijn (Blake Ritson).
Oscar had simply recovered financially with John’s assist after Maud Beaton (Nicole Brydon Bloom) stole all his cash.
“You’ve defied the odds,” John informed Oscar proper earlier than his dying.
“You are my savior. I thank you with all my heart,” Oscar replied, because the pair parted methods with a handshake.
Seconds later, Oscar watched in horror as John was killed.
After the episode, showrunners Julian Fellowes and Sonja Warfield defended the choice to kill John in an interview with TVLine.
“We were quite careful to kill him with a straight accident, not with anything with political overtones,” mentioned Fellowes, 75. “He’s just killed in an accident, like anyone could be at any time.”
“Those shocking things are true in life,” added Warfield. “I’ve certainly experienced those traumas. They change you, and we wanted to bring about that change in Oscar.”
Fellowes additionally mentioned of the scene: “I jumped out of my skin when I watched it for the first time.”
John and Oscar have been lifelong buddies who started a secret romance whereas pretending to be straight in public. They ultimately broke up and John revealed to Oscar that he was courting one other man.
Throughout Season 3, John affords Oscar an funding alternative to assist him after Maud misplaced all the cash she beforehand swindled out of him.
In an April interview with Out journal, Elder, 43, spoke in regards to the significance of enjoying a homosexual character on the HBO sequence.
“‘The Gilded Age’ has been such a meaningful experience for me,” Elder shared. “As a queer actor, getting to portray a queer character in this particular historical setting feels both exciting and important.”
“The late 19th century wasn’t exactly a time when queer people could live openly, and yet we know they existed, loved, and found ways to carve out spaces for themselves,” the actor continued. “What I love about John is that he’s complex — he’s navigating a world that doesn’t necessarily make room for him, but he has this desire to do what’s right.”
Elder additionally mentioned that he’s gotten a “touching” response from followers “who are excited to see a queer character represented in this time period, especially in a way that feels layered and authentic.”
“I’ve gotten messages from viewers who say they see themselves in John Adams’s story,” Elder added, “which means the world to me.”
“The Gilded Age” Season 3 airs Sundays on HBO and HBO Max at 9 p.m. ET.
