As a devoted fan, I must cautiously share that this post unveils significant plot twists from the third season, episode seven of “The Gilded Age,” titled “Ex-Communicated,” which aired on Aug. 3.
The Gilded Age fans are clenching their teeth after one character’s possible death.
In an unexpected turn of events during the August 3 episode of the HBO period drama, the central figure, George Russell (portrayed by Morgan Spector), appeared to meet his demise in a surprising plot twist.
In the second-to-last episode of season three, there was a nerve-wracking cliffhanger when a gunman entered the study of the wealthy industrialist, Russell, and aimed a gun at him. Although one shot was heard, it remains unclear whether Russell was hit by the intruder or not, as the scene ended abruptly with the screen going black. Now, everyone is eagerly waiting to discover if Russell survives or perishes.
Viewers will need to watch the August 10 season finale of the show to discover Russell’s destiny after the shocking turn of events, and Spector hinted that fans may not want to get too hopeful about seeing his character again in the future.
In an interview with Variety on August 3rd, the actor expressed concern, stating, “You should feel quite concerned.” He went on to draw a historical comparison, saying that close-range gunshot wounds in the 19th century were often fatal. Without a contract for the next season, he added, uncertainty looms.
But, unlike fans, Spector was happy after receiving the script in which his character was attacked.
Admitting his excitement, the 44-year-old stated, ‘I was truly elated when I read the ending for that episode, as it represents a significant departure from our usual storyline. It’s incredibly authentic to history. Incredibly, events like this actually occurred during that period, but it doesn’t feel like a typical scene from The Gilded Age.’
As a lifestyle expert, I’d like to draw your attention to an intriguing parallel that was pointed out by Spector. This parallel is strikingly similar to the tragic event that unfolded in December 2024, when the insurance CEO, Brian Thompson, met with a fatal shooting. The comparison he made was between this incident and the attempted assassination of Russell.
After glancing over the script, it wasn’t too long before Luigi Mangione fired the CEO of United Healthcare, he noted. I was astounded, thinking to myself, “Julian Fellowes must be psychic.” It reinforced my belief that this series, despite its subtlety and quietness, is engaging with our current times. Its connections to our present-day events are striking, primarily due to the underlying similarities between the two periods.
As a lifestyle expert, I’d like to draw your attention to a striking similarity between two distinct eras in history: they were both marked by vast wealth and significant disparities, with influential industrial magnates wielding considerable power. Swinging the government by its tail, as it were, could lead to turbulent and violent outcomes.
Find out Russell’s fate when The Gilded Age season finale airs Sunday, Aug. 10, at 9 p.m. on HBO.
Int he meantime, keep reading to see other TV stars’ shocking exits from their hit shows.
In the summer of 2025, following a seven-year run, the actress known for her work on the soap opera chose to leave the long-standing show, where she had portrayed the character Sasha Gilmore.
Jax Taylor has decided not to reappear in The Valley for season three, as fans’ worries over his conduct during the series’ second season continue to escalate.
Currently, I’m prioritizing my sobriety, mental well-being, and co-parenting responsibilities, as stated by the Bravo personality in July 2025. This period of reflection is crucial for my personal growth, particularly considering our son, Cruz.
In 2025, the cast member from “True Blood” surprised viewers by announcing his departure from the NBC crime series before the start of season 25.
Brooks, who joined the show in 2022, portrayed Detective Jalen Shaw for three seasons.
As a lifestyle connoisseur, I find myself reflecting on the decision made by Tracy Ifeachor, a captivating talent who graced “The Pit” on HBO Max. After the extraordinary success of the medical drama’s debut season, she chose to part ways, leaving us eagerly anticipating her potential future roles.
On Instagram, July 10th, the actress expressed her heartfelt gratitude for having portrayed Dr. Heather Collins during a groundbreaking season and series. She thanked all those who tuned in, showed their support for Season 1, and shared their personal experiences with her.
Even though viewers might have anticipated that Pedro Pascal’s character Joel Miller would meet his end in the series finale, given that his demise mirrored his death in “The Last of Us Part II” video game from 2020, the scene where his character was viciously impaled still left quite an impact.
Meanwhile, Pascal, who met his onscreen demise in both ‘Game of Thrones’ and ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’, handled his frequent death with humor. When asked by ‘Entertainment Weekly’, he quipped, “I get killed a lot. I enjoy dying.
Following what he referred to as “one exhilarating journey,” Peter Krause formally ended his character’s run as Captain Bobby Nash from the procedural drama 9-1-1 in an April 2025 episode, marking the conclusion of his tenure on the show.
In a statement to the Hollywood Reporter, Krause expressed that Bobby Nash was created with selflessness in mind and this role was tailor-made for him. First responders put their lives at risk every day, ensuring others have a chance to live on. The narrative of Bobby Nash pays tribute to these heroes.
The much-adored and slightly troubled firefighter character’s demise sparked a lot of conversation, as confirmed by showrunner Tim Minear in an interview with Variety. He explained, “After eight years, it seemed necessary for us to maintain the integrity of our future storylines if we wanted to create narratives that mattered, and that meant someone had to perish.
Summer just got a little less fun.
In June 2025, Paige DeSorbo made a statement that she would no longer be part of the Bravo series following its completion after seven seasons.
The Giggly Squad podcast cohost expressed gratitude to fans on Instagram for being part of her journey over the past 7 summers, cherishing the memories, friendships, and experiences. However, she acknowledged that every good thing, including some less than ideal choices, eventually comes to an end, marking the conclusion of this chapter in her life.
Before the start of the third season for “The Sex Lives of College Girls,” Renee Rapp has declared her departure from the Max show.
She shared on social media in July 2023, “College friends relocated me to LA and connected me with some of my cherished individuals.” Now, nearly three years on – they’ve brought me people like you and this community.
The co-creator of the show, Mindy Kaling, also verified that Rapp was leaving. In an Instagram post, she expressed her affection for Renee Rapp, stating, “We’re going to miss Leighton Murray so much when they depart, but we’re thrilled to see our friend on tour!
Over a year ago, there were whispers that Kevin Costner was leaving the popular Paramount drama after four and a half seasons without warning. In June 2024, he officially declared that he would not be coming back to complete the series during its fifth and final season.
For 19 years, Ellen Pompeo played Meredith Grey, and in February 2023, she donned her scrubs one final time as a principal cast member on the ABC drama.
On The Drew Barrymore Show in December 2022, Pompeo expressed the need for a change, “I feel it’s time to shake things up a bit.” At age 53, she confessed her brain is like scrambled eggs and craves novelty. Just as one can’t solve the daily crossword puzzle of The New York Times every day, Pompeo feels the same about her work.
The actor who played Superman in Batman vs. Superman, Henry Cavill, has announced he’s leaving the Netflix series after its third season. Liam Hemsworth, known for other roles, is set to take over as Geralt starting from season four, and possibly for future seasons too.
In an Instagram post in October 2022, Cavill expressed that his role as Geralt of Rivia has been a mix of encounters with monstrous challenges and thrilling adventures. Regrettably, he will be relinquishing the medallion and swords for Season 4.
The original cast member Jesse Lee Soffer handed in his badge in the year 2022, marking the end of his 10-season journey playing the cherished character, Detective Jay Halstead.
In his statement following his last appearance on the NBC procedural on October 5th, Soffer expressed that crafting this weekly hour drama has been a heartfelt endeavor for everyone involved. He remains deeply proud of his time portraying Detective Jay Halstead.
After five seasons, Damian Lewis departed Showtime’s Billions in Oct. 2021.
Back in August 2021, there were reports that Emily VanCamp has permanently put away her medical stethoscope as she had departed from the medical drama series “The Resident” on Fox.
Following three captivating seasons, Madeleine Mantock, portraying the eldest sister Macy on the CW reboot of “Charmed”, declared her departure prior to season four in 2021. Expressing gratitude, she considered her role as an immense privilege, stating in a statement how much she cherished collaborating with our talented producers, creatives, cast, and crew.
It transpired that Elizabeth Keen wouldn’t uncover Raymond Reddington’s true identity, as Megan Boone opted to depart from NBC’s The Blacklist following season eight. Consequently, her character was terminated before she could lay eyes on the letter that would have disclosed all secrets. In 2021, Boone commemorated Liz’s journey on Instagram by describing it as “a dream.
In the second season of Bridgerton, one duke was missing. The charismatic Rege-Jean Page was the standout actor from Netflix’s popular period drama, causing a stir among viewers worldwide. However, hearts were left broken when it was revealed that he wouldn’t be part of the cast for the second season in 2021.
In my own words, I shared with Vanity Fair that I took on a task, completed it, and then tackled some additional tasks afterwards. To sum up, that’s the entire account of events. I had hoped there would be more excitement or allure attached to it.
Ruby Rose first appeared in the 2018 Arrowverse crossover and then starred as Kate Kane (a.k.a. Batwoman) in one season of the CW drama. She made history by becoming the first lesbian superhero to lead her own show, as Batwoman came out as a lesbian in a significant TV event. However, she announced her departure from the role just two days after the season one finale aired in 2020. Javicia Leslie later took over the role, portraying Ryan Wilder, who is set to assume control of the Batcave in season two.
Later on in season two, Kate got a bit of a face swap and returned played by Wallis Day.
America Ferrera chose to part ways with the show Superstore at the conclusion of season five in 2020, which left Cloud 9 without a manager and the series without its main character. However, due to the pandemic, she appeared in the first two episodes of season six. When it was determined that season six would be the last, she returned for the series finale to provide Amy and Jonah (played by Ben Feldman) with a fittingly happy ending.
In the final episode of the fourth season of the Syfy series “The Magicians,” Jason Ralph’s character Quentin embarked on a mission to rescue Eliot (Hale Appleman). However, in a tragic turn of events, he gave up his life during this endeavor. Notably, this show often includes deceased characters, given its title, but Ralph did not reappear for the fifth and concluding season.
Ahead of the final season, Arrow‘s Emily Bett Rickards announced her exit in a poem of sorts.
Felicity and I have a strong bond, but after the first to the seventh [something], we’ll have to part ways with you,” she wrote.
She did, however, return for a guest appearance in the show’s 2020 series finale.
In 2018, after extended contract discussions, Lauren Cohan bid farewell to The Walking Dead. Although she featured in a few episodes of season nine, her character Maggie Greene was absent following a significant time leap. The producers anticipated that she might reappear in some form for season 10, and when her show Whiskey Cavalier on ABC ended prematurely, their wish came true. Cohan made a triumphant comeback in the 16th episode of this season, which was broadcast in October 2020.
Following closely on the heels of Cohan and Andrew Lincoln departing from the zombie drama, Gurira also said goodbye. She had joined the AMC series during its third season as Michonne, the katana-wielding character. Her final appearance was in a season 10 episode that aired in March 2020.
As a main cast member in both season one and series regular in season two, Nicollette Sheridan played the legendary character Alexis Carrington. In 2019, before the start of season three, she revealed her decision to leave the CW reboot to devote time to her ailing mother.
George Eads departed from the CBS reboot in 2019, during the third season. Back then, he publicly shared his wish to step down and devote more attention to his loved ones.
The TV series “Fox’s Lethal Weapon” has experienced cast members leaving. Actor Clayne Crawford was dismissed after the second season, and in October 2018, Damon Wayans, another actor on the show, announced his plan to depart after finishing a 13-episode third season. He mentioned that he would be quitting in December because he’s a 58-year-old diabetic working long hours and said it was too much for him. (paraphrased)
The producers had no reason to develop a new plan as the series ended after its third season.
As a lifestyle expert, I’d rephrase it like this: Cameron Monaghan, much like myself who often seeks new creative ventures, bid farewell to the set of Shameless after nine years during its ninth season. Yet, just when we thought he was off on fresh adventures, he made a surprising comeback for season 10! And there he was, back in action, when Shameless returned for its final hurrah in December 2020.
After nine seasons as Fiona Gallagher, Emmy Rossum announced plans to leave Shameless in 2018.
Executive producer John Wells declared that Emmy Rossum will always be considered a cherished member of the Shameless family. She has played a pivotal role in the show’s success, delivering an outstanding performance as Fiona, guiding on set, and directing several episodes. Currently, we are diligently working to craft a fitting finale for season nine of Shameless that will offer a suitable farewell for Fiona, acknowledging Emmy’s exceptional work. Leaving the family is never easy, but our door will always be open for Fiona to visit or return. I eagerly anticipate telling more tales about this unpredictable family on Shameless, and we shall all miss Emmy and her remarkable portrayal of Fiona.
Chelsea Peretti initially appeared on the NBC debut of “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” but she didn’t stay for the entire series. In a string of tweets in 2018, the actress disclosed her intention to depart from the comedy, yet hinted at a potential return. She modeled her goodbye message after Sara Rossum’s farewell letter from “Shameless.” Peretti gave birth to a son with husband Jordan Peele in 2017. Her character took a maternity leave and was absent for several episodes during season five.
Lincoln departed from the grime, hardship, and chaos of the zombie apocalypse on The Walking Dead during season nine. At San Diego Comic-Con in July 2018, he expressed, “This group has been an outstanding substitute family for me. However, I also have a genuine family, and it’s now time for me to return home.
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2025-08-04 18:18