The Gilded Ageseason 3 premiere’s viewership has already eclipsed the ratings of its highest-rated season. Creator Julian Fellowes' 19th century historical drama returned to HBO and Max on Sunday night, June 22, with all-new romances, intrigue, and even taking audiences to theWild West at the onset ofThe Gilded Ageseason 3. The two-year wait for the third season hasn’t diminished viewers' appetite forThe Gilded Agein the slightest.
Varietyreports thatThe Gilded Ageseason 3, episode 1 is the highest-rated season premiereof Julian Fellowes' HBO series, with a 27% increase over the season 2 premiere, and a 30% jump above season 1’s first episode. These numbers account for audiences watching on HBO and streaming on Max in the first three days. ReadVariety’s rundown below:
In its first three days of availability, the Season 3 premiere reached 2.7 million viewers, according to Warner Bros. Discovery. That marks a 27% increase from the 2.1 million viewers who watched the Season 2 premiere in the same amount of time, and a 30% increase from Season 1’s 2 million viewers. These statistics account for a combination of viewers on HBO’s linear channel as well as streams on Max. It should be noted that the totals are incomparable to that of other titles on HBO, as the network typically reports viewership achieved in a single night rather over the course of three days.
The Gilded Age Season 3’s High Viewership Is Even More Impressive
The Gilded Age’s Audience Continues To Grow
The Gilded Ageis a bona fide hit for HBO,and its audience is expected to grow throughout season 3.The Gilded Ageseasons 1 and 2 saw viewership grow week-by-week, and both season finale episodes enjoyed 50% jumps compared to season premieres. The Gilded Agefinds a core audience who joins the show when a new season starts, and more viewers progressively join, maxing out at the end of each season.The Gilded Ageseason 2averaged 7.1 viewers per week in the United States, not accounting for international audiences.
Anticipation forThe Gilded Ageseason 3also saw a massive boost in catch-up viewing. The week beforeThe Gilded Ageseason 3’s June 22 premiere saw a400% increase in streams of seasons 1 and 2.Not only did the two-year wait for season 3 not dim audiences' interest, but viewers made sure they were caught up on seasons 1 and 2 before the premiere ofThe Gilded Ageseason 3.
Our Take On The Gilded Age Season 3’s Impressive Premiere Viewership
HBO Has To Greenlight The Gilded Age Season 4
The Gilded Agesuccessfully translated Julian Fellowes’Downton Abbeyformula for American audiences, and viewers have responded by embracing the glamorous intrigue of 19th-century New York high society.The Gilded Ageis an ideal escape into a period of American history of extravagance and low-stakes drama, and season 3 has refined its characters and storylines, introducingdivorce for one couplewhile centering on the engagement of Gladys Russell (Taissa Farmiga) and the Duke of Buckingham (Ben Lamb), arranged by Gladys' mother, Bertha (Carrie Coon).
The interest inThe Gilded Agemay seem surprising to the uninitiated, but Julian Fellowes is a master of turning historical dramas into global sensations. After all,Downton Abbeyran for six seasons, and its third feature film,Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, premieres September 12.The Gilded Ageseason 3 looks to equal, if not surpass, its previous seasons' ratings growth, which will hopefully lead to HBO greenlightingThe Gilded Ageseason 4.
