Watson

Watson
Biographical Information
Occupation	Banker (formerly) Valet
Marital Status	Divorced
Physical description
Gender	Male
Appearances
Portrayed by	Michael Cerveris
Appears in	The Gilded Age
Debut	1.01 "Never The New"

Watson (born Collyer) is valet to George Russell. He is as steadfast as he is stoic. In private moments, a mysterious past and fall from grace is suggested. However, this does not dampen his optimism about the Russell family and their success in New York City.

Biography

Early life

Mr. Collyer was once a successful banker in New York. He married a wealthy woman, and had a child with her, named Flora. However, his father-in-law did not want him to end up with his daughter's fortune, and had him divorce his wife.

Collyer lost everything in the Panic of 1857, and was declared bankrupt. He nearly ended up on the streets, but had an idea of what being a valet would consist of, as he once had his own. He took up the profession, changing his name to Watson. Watson continued to keep tabs on his daughter, checking up on her at times, and learned of her marriage to banker Robert McNeil.

Eventually, he was hired by the elite Russell family.

Season 1

Watson joins the staff of the opulent new mansion on 61st Street that has been built by the Russells. He is considered somewhat mysterious by his colleagues, as he likes to take walks during the day. When Mrs. Bruce asks about this, he says that he is simply going to the park. Mrs. Bruce notices that he might be holding affections for Miss Turner, although the ambitious lady's maid instantly dismisses the notion of being with a mere valet.

Season 2

Watson is at dinner when Mrs. Russell is hosting a dinner for opera enthusiasts. During the dinner, Watson encounters his daughter, Flora, who is now married to a wealthy banker. Flora is shocked to see her father on 61st Street.

Watson's son-in-law, Robert McNeil, comes to visit the Russells, looking for a Mr. Collyer. Church brings Robert to meet with Mr. Russell. Mr. McNeil denies wanting to poach Watson from the Russells, and is evasive about the personal details. He also tries to pass on a message to Watson.

Robert, on meeting with Watson, tells him that he needs to leave the city to protect Flora. Watson assures compliance on the condition that Flora be the one to ask him of it.

Flora then comes to visit him at the Russell household when he asks her if she wants him to leave to California which she states to have been falsely communicated and says that her husband, Robert suggested that in a misguided attempt to protect her. She proposes to him a life where he could be her father and provided with an apartment and an opportunity to enjoy a familial life with her kids. Watson confirms that he would have to leave his current employment in order for that to happen and she agrees. She leaves with a promise of a letter the next day and kisses him goodbye.