We are just days away from Season 2 of HBO’s “The Gilded Age,” and the excitement — at least on IndieWire’s TV team — is palpable. Julian Fellowes’ period drama about New York socialites in the late-19th century returns on October 29, sure to promise more scenery chewing and backstabbing from Christine Baranski, Carrie Coon, Cynthia Nixon, and the rest of the cast.

“The Gilded Age” Season 1 premiered in January 2022, so it’s been some time since viewers caught up with the old-school Upper East Side crew. Who hates whom, who stole someone else’s servant, who accidentally-almost slept with a maid, and who’s hiding their sexuality while pursuing a marriage? Some of it matters, some of it doesn’t — but all of it will be a treat to watch as both high and low drama unfold in Season 2.

Before that, here’s everything to remember about “The Gilded Age...