4 Years Later, “Who Shot George Russell?” Answers 2 The Gilded Age Mysteries At The Same Time

Published Nov 9, 2026, 11:00 AM EST

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Warning: SPOILERS For The Gilded Age Season 4, Episode 2 - "You Won't Hear Me Beg"The Gilded Age pulled off a neat trick by answering two mysteries by revealing who shot George Russell (Morgan Spector). George was gunned down in his office by an unknown would-be assassin in The Gilded Age season 3, episode 9, "Ex-Communicated." However, after he was brought home to East 61st Street, George's life was saved by Dr. William Kirkland (Jordan Donica) before his own physician could arrive.

The Gilded Age waited until season 4 to reveal George's attacker, although it admirably made it the focus of the first two episodes. In the interim between The Gilded Age seasons 3 and 4, fans speculated which of Mr. Russell's enemies could have done the deed, with Richard Clay (Patrick Page), George's former secretary, as the obvious prime suspect.

The hit being financed by a fellow tycoon with a grudge against Mr. Russell was also a possibility. Would George's millionaire peers like Jay Gould (Peter Bradbury), or his newest rival in The Gilded Age season 4, John D. Rockefeller (Neal Huff), have tried to ice George Russell, claiming it was "just business"?

The answer to "Who Shot George Russell?" turns out to be simpler, and calls back to a tragedy in The Gilded Age's first three episodes.

George Russell’s Shooter Identity & The Gilded Age Season 1 Callback Explained

George Russell was shot by Will Morris (Will Pullen), the son of Anne Morris (Katie Finneran) and the late Patrick Morris (Michel Gill), two characters who haven't been seen since The Gilded Age season 1's beginning. Will tried to kill George as an act of vengeance; the younger Morris blames Mr. Russell for killing his father.

Patrick Morris committed suicide by gunshot in The Gilded Age season 1, episode 3, "Face the Music." Morris was a banker and an alderman who, along with a group that included Charles Fane (Ward Horton), betrayed George Russell and tried to ruin him when he tried to build a new Union train station. Instead, Russell bought out the bankers' shares. Morris was wiped out.

George refused to grant Patrick Morris mercy after he debased himself. In part, George relished destroying the Morris family because of how cold Anne was to Bertha. Ashamed and facing the poor house, Patrick killed himself. That act destroyed the lives of his wife and son as well. As The Gilded Age season 4 reveals, the penniless Anne and Will Morris were cast out of society and forced to live in a Lower East Side tenement.

Anne didn't know that Will shot Mr. Russell, but her son's identity as George's attacker was sniffed out by the Pinkerton detectives Russell hired as his bodyguards. Rather than go to the police, George captured Will to exact his own personal justice, while Anne begged Bertha Russell (Carrie Coon) to talk George into sparing Will's life, fearing she won't survive losing her husband and son.

What George Russell Sparing His Shooter’s Life Means

Image via HBO

Whether or not George Russell intended to kill Will Morris, he ultimately relented and spared the young man's life. Mr. Russell's vengeance was limited to casting Anne and Will Morris out of New York, ordering the Pinkertons to kill them if they try to return. George Russell may be ruthless in business, but he can't kill a man in cold blood. Not even someone who tried to kill him.

George determined his own retribution, and he chose to listen to his better angels, including Bertha's pleas.

If George wanted Will Morris dead, he could have easily notified the police. Will would have been arrested and hanged. Under 19th-century law, the word of a titan of industry like Mr. Russell would have ensured Will Morris' execution, especially since he had already confessed. Yet George determined his own retribution, and he chose to listen to his better angels, including Bertha's pleas.

While it's admirable that George Russell isn't a killer, something is wrong with him, and he knows it. George can't articulate why he doesn't eat, has wild mood swings and temper tantrums, and can't forgive Bertha, although the affection between them remains. Perhaps George suffers from PTSD over a century before he could be diagnosed as such.

Mr. Russell's worries are certainly compounded by his fears of losing his business and fortune, as John Rockefeller could potentially wipe him out. Perhaps seeing Anne and Will Morris in the poor house affected George, making him see a possible future for himself and his wife. At least now, George Russell and The Gilded Age can move forward with two mysteries surrounding who shot him solved.

New episodes of The Gilded Age season 4 premiere Sundays @ 9pm ET on HBO and HBO Max.