The recent season premiere of Julian Fellowes's historical drama, 'The Gilded Age,' has drawn attention not for its plot, but for unexpected cameos by Matt Damon and David Letterman, appearing as background extras. TV critic Christopher Stevens of the Daily Mail questioned the creative decision, suggesting it distracted from the show's narrative.
Damon and Letterman were spotted as two men in dark suits having an unheard conversation while crossing 61st Street in New York City. This brief appearance, lasting only about six seconds, occurred early in the episode, around the eight-minute mark. Stevens noted that the moment occurred amidst the unfolding drama of a spectacular wedding and the childbirth of a character across the Atlantic, yet the focus inadvertently shifted to the celebrity extras.
The presence of Damon, star of 'The Odyssey,' and Letterman, host of the Netflix series 'My Next Guest Needs No Introduction,' has sparked debate about their inclusion. Stevens speculated that the creators might have permitted the cameos to allow the celebrities to film segments for Letterman's show, but questioned the appropriateness of such an action in a high-budget costume drama.
"Why Lord Fellowes, the mastermind behind Downton Abbey, decided to permit his show to be used as a toy for a couple of Hollywood celebs is anyone's guess," Stevens wrote. He argued that 'The Gilded Age,' originally intended to satirize America's elite, risks undermining its premise with such a blatant display of privilege.
Stevens also pointed out instances of what he described as overly explicit dialogue in the series. He cited a scene where Bertha Russell (Carrie Coon) and Lady Sarah (Hattie Morahan) greet a doctor, exclaiming, "Thank goodness you're here! I fear we should have sent for you sooner." Another example involved young lovers Marian and Larry (Louisa Jacobson and Harry Richardson) in a carriage during a storm, with Larry stating, "The horses must have been spooked from the storm."
Despite these critiques, the article also highlighted a humorous moment from a different program, 'Jack Dee's Help Me Tiny Big Brain,' where a 12-year-old contestant named Alayna joked about plotting the demise of others, drawing a comparison to the popular reality show 'The Traitors'.