The Gilded Age has finally revealed the identity of the person who shot George Russell, and the answer connects the Season 4 mystery to a tragedy from the show’s first season.

George Russell, played by Morgan Spector, was shot inside his office during Season 3, Episode 9, “Ex-Communicated.” An unknown attacker opened fire, leaving George seriously wounded. After he was taken home to East 61st Street, Dr. William Kirkland, played by Jordan Donica, saved his life before George’s regular doctor could arrive.

The show waited until Season 4 to reveal who was behind the attack. During the break between seasons, fans came up with several theories about George’s possible enemies. Richard Clay, George’s former secretary played by Patrick Page, was considered one of the most likely suspects.

Another theory suggested that one of George’s wealthy business rivals had paid someone to eliminate him. Jay Gould, played by Peter Bradbury, was one possibility, while John D. Rockefeller, played by Neal Huff, had also become a powerful new rival for George in Season 4.

Instead, the truth goes back to a family George thought he had left in the past.

Will Morris Was The One Who Shot George

George was shot by Will Morris, played by Will Pullen. Will is the son of Anne Morris, played by Katie Finneran, and the late Patrick Morris, played by Michel Gill.

Will attacked George because he blamed him for his father’s death.

Patrick Morris was introduced early in Season 1 as a banker and alderman. He was part of a group that tried to ruin George when the businessman was working to build a new Union train station. George fought back by buying out the bankers’ shares, leaving Patrick financially destroyed.

George refused to help Patrick after he lost everything. The situation became even more personal because of Anne’s treatment of Bertha Russell, played by Carrie Coon. With his reputation and fortune gone and the family facing poverty, Patrick eventually died by suicide.

His death changed everything for Anne and Will. By Season 4, the two had lost their place in New York society and were living in a Lower East Side tenement.

Will never forgot what happened to his father. His anger eventually led him back to George, and he tried to kill the man he believed was responsible for destroying his family.

Anne did not know that her son was George’s attacker. However, the Pinkerton detectives George hired for protection eventually discovered Will’s identity.

Instead of immediately turning Will over to the police, George chose to deal with him himself. Anne then went to Bertha and begged her to convince George not to kill her son. She feared she would lose both her husband and her child.

Why George Chose To Spare Will

George ultimately decided not to kill Will.

His revenge was still severe. He forced Anne and Will to leave New York and ordered the Pinkertons to kill them if they ever returned.

But George stopped short of taking Will’s life. Despite his ruthless reputation in business, he could not bring himself to kill a man in cold blood, even after that man had tried to murder him.

George could have simply handed Will over to the authorities. Since Will had confessed, George’s influence and position could have put the young man in serious danger under the laws of the time.

Instead, George chose his own punishment and listened to Bertha’s pleas.

The decision also says something important about George’s state of mind. Since surviving the shooting, he has struggled with his emotions and behavior. He has trouble eating, experiences sudden mood swings and angry outbursts, and still cannot fully forgive Bertha despite the feelings they have for each other.

His behavior could suggest that George is dealing with severe trauma after the attack, even though modern diagnoses like PTSD did not exist at the time.

George also has another major problem to worry about. His business and fortune are under pressure, especially with John D. Rockefeller becoming a serious rival. Seeing Anne and Will living in poverty may even have forced George to consider how quickly his own life could change.

Now that Will Morris has been revealed as the shooter, The Gilded Age has closed the mystery surrounding George’s attack while bringing Patrick Morris’ Season 1 storyline back into the spotlight.

The reveal shows that the consequences of George’s past actions are still following him years later, and his decision to spare Will could have an impact on what comes next.

New episodes of The Gilded Age Season 4 premiere Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.