Despite decades separating The Gilded Age and Downton Abbey, Julian Fellowes’ two hit period dramas can and possibly will still connect. Downton Abbey became a global phenomenon on ITV in the UK and Masterpiece PBS in the United States. After 6 seasons, Downton Abbey jumped to feature films, with the third and reportedly final movie, Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, premiering on September 12.

The massive success of Downton Abbey led to HBO approaching Julian Fellowes to create an American version. After Downton Abbey ended its TV run, Fellowes created The Gilded Age, which premiered on HBO in 2022. Set in New York City’s high society in the 1880s, The Gilded Age‘s corsets, top hats, and family-driven soap opera about the haves and have-nots resemble Downton Abbey, and the two shows are spiritual cousins. However, The Gilded Age happens a considerable amount of time before Downton Abbey‘s first episode.

The Gilded Age Starts 30 Years Before Downton Abbey Begins

Downton Abbey Is The 20th Century, While The Gilded Age Is The 19th Century

The Gilded Age takes place 30 years before the start of Downton Abbey. The Gilded Age begins in 1882, with the completion of the palace on East 61st Street and 5th Avenue owned by George (Morgan Spector) and Bertha Russell (Carrie Coon), which is directly across the street from the home of Agnes Van Rhijn (Christine Baranski). Downton Abbey starts in April 1912 after the sinking of the RMS Titanic that killed Downton’s presumptive heir, Patrick Crawley.

The Gilded Age and Downton Abbey share themes about societal progress and social change. The Russells, representing “new money,” are a threat to the established “old money” guard of high society, known as The 400, led by Mrs. Astor (Donna Murphy). Yet Bertha Russell charges ahead to claim a piece of New York as her own, and overturn the old order. Downton Abbey sees the Crawley family weather sweeping changes in England, from World War I to the gradual end of their Victorian and Edwardian traditions and way of life.

The Gilded Age’s Timeline Moves Slower Than Downton Abbey

Downton Abbey Has Several Time Jumps In 6 Seasons & 3 Movies

The Gilded Age is notably different from Downton Abbey in the way the HBO series’ timeline has progressed thus far. The Gilded Age season 1 took place in 1882, while The Gilded Age season 2 began on Easter Sunday, 1883, and continued into October, which was the start of opera season. The Gilded Age season 3 jumps ahead to 1884, starting in late winter. However, this amounts to roughly one year per season of The Gilded Age.

Downton Abbey includes multiple time jumps. Downton Abbey season 1 spans two years, from 1912-1914. Downton Abbey season 2 picks up two years later and spans three years, from 1916-1919, including the end of World War I.

Downton Abbey season 3 takes place from 1920-1921, season 4 happens from 1922-1923, season 5 takes place in 1924, and season 6 in 1925. The first Downton Abbey movie is set in 1927 and Downton Abbey: A New Era is in 1928. Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale is expected to take the Crawleys into 1930.

How The Gilded Age Connects To Downton Abbey Despite Being A Prequel

The Gilded Age Season 3 May Reveal A Downton Abbey Crossover

When creating The Gilded Age, Julian Fellowes mused that it could be set in the same universe as Downton Abbey. However, Fellowes did not draw any direct connections between Downton and The Gilded Age in its first two seasons, so that HBO’s series could establish itself and stand on its own. Excitingly, The Gilded Age season 3 will reportedly contain a Downton Abbey crossover or reference, although possibly not the one fans expect: A young Cora Levinson (Elizabeth McGovern) being introduced before she meets Robert Crawley (Hugh Bonneville).

The Gilded Age‘s 30-year head start on Downton Abbey means many Downton favorites haven’t been born yet. However, several notable names from Downton are alive in the 1880s, including a young Violet Crawley (Maggie Smith), who would be in her 40s, and teenage Robert Crawley and Cora Levinson. Even Carson (Jim Carter) is alive, although he is years away from becoming Downton Abbey’s butler. Downton Abbey characters who have never been seen but are alive during The Gilded Age include Violet’s husband, Patrick Crawley, 6th Earl of Grantham.