Gossip Girl: Woman on the Verge

Gossip Girl – Woman on the Verge
An embarrassed Serena resurrects some troubling old habits as she continues to hide the truth from Dan, and her feuding friends rally to help her. Meanwhile, Rufus’s band scores a high-profile gig, where an unexpected guest shows up to lend him support.

Serena didn’t murder anyone. Not that any of us thought that she did. There was a sex tape; actually more of a make-out tape. After Nate and Serena had sex a year ago at some random wedding, Serena then traveled to a hotel room to hang out with Georgina and some drugged out fellow. Georgina secretly set up a video camera and the dude practically attempted to rape Serena. In an effort to curtail his advances, Serena encouraged the dude to have some more coke before they progressed any further. Dude had more coke, starting seizing, and then died of an overdose. Serena somehow convinced herself that she was to blame and has been shouldering the guilt ever since.

Overcome with remorse, Serena turns to Blair, who contacts Chuck and Nate so they can all pull together to save Serena from herself. Let me just say that Chuck was looking really good this episode, with a new hairdo I believe. Blair encourages Serena to tell Chuck and Nate her dark secret in order to lift some of the guilt. They all share a moment. This seemed really overdone since it was evident that Serena didn’t kill the guy. But then again, maybe when you are 17 things like that get a little foggy. Not knowing from personal experience, it is difficult to say.

A great deal of this show is centered on Rufus’s band playing a reunion concert with Lisa Loeb. What??? Gossip Girl is getting way too 90210 lately, especially with the random insertion of a ’90s musical act. Vanessa is working as the roadie for Rufus’s band. This girl seems to be the master of all things alternative. She and Nate plan a date to catch the show, but Nate arrives late due to Serena’s meltdown. Meanwhile, Georgina’s alter ego Sarah befriends both Dan and Vanessa. When Dan confronts Serena (mid-meltdown) about how she has been avoiding him lately, for some silly reason Serena lies and says she slept with someone else. Naturally Dan is devastated and turns to his new friend Sarah (really Georgina) for comfort. Confused yet?

Lily shows up at Rufus’s show. Remember that Lily used to be a photographer and used to snap photos of Rufus and the band back in the day. Sparks fly during their set and Lily and Rufus have a moment of intense eye contact. Lily runs out after the set is over and Rufus runs after her. Lily tries to avoid talking to him but they end up smooching. I’ve been waiting for this moment throughout the season but when it happened it seemed anticlimactic. Their chemistry was pretty nonexistent.

The episode leaves us with “Sarah” and Dan walking hand-in-hand after Dan had his heart broken by Serena. Georgina is totally creepy and luckily Nate warned Vanessa to keep away from her, but for some reason Vanessa was unable to properly warn Dan.

Recently Vanity Fair posed the same question we have for our readers: Has Gossip Girl jumped the shark??

Gossip Girl - All About My Brother

Gossip Girl – All About My Brother
Georgina threatens to disclose damaging details about Serena’s past, while Blair and Jenny spread rumors about each other through Gossip Girl. Meanwhile, Dan has information about Asher that Jenny ignores, and Rufus turns to Lily for parenting advice.

This week's titular reference to Pedro Almodovar's All About My Mother leads me to believe that I have missed possibly the best Gossip Girl episode to date. What did I miss? I am relying on you, dear readers, to fill me on the juicy deets!

Gossip Girl: Desperately Seeking Serena

Gossip Girl – Desperately Seeking Serena
As panic sets in for the juniors preparing to take their SATs, Serena has the added stress of dealing with the return of Georgina Sparks, someone from her bad-girl past. Meanwhile, Jenny decides to get a boyfriend, thinking this will elevate her social status.

The biggest news from this SAT-themed episode is the budding romance between Nate and Vanessa. I was never a fan of the Dan/Vanessa romance. They were both too nerdy and it just seemed too easy. I am loving the Nate/Vanessa love connection! One of the best moments was when Nate took Vanessa on a surprise morning date to the SAT test site. Budding filmmaker Vanessa felt that she didn't need college and therefore decided to not take the test. Nate encouraged her to consider her options and take the test anyway. He even gave her some fresh pencils for the test. Awwwww…

This mysterious Georgina character is back in Serena's life. She is apparently a manipulative drunk who is total bad news. She has some huge dirt on Serena and her reappearance in Serena's life causes a rift in her relationship with Dan. Instead of confiding in him she turns to her creepy new brother Chuck. Trouble is definitely brewing in Dan/Serena land.



Jenny decides to get a boyfriend to help her standing with the richies. So of course she needs to find a rich boyfriend. When scouting the streets for her new beau she bumps into a cute dude walking dogs. This guy doesn't meet her standards since she is looking for a “king, not a court jester.” He gives her his number anyway and when Jenny sees him later getting out of a fancy car she decides that it could work out.

She is grounded due to last week’s dress theft scandal, therefore Rufus won’t let her make a date with dog boy (a.k.a. Asher). Never being one to follow the rules, Jenny makes a lunch date anyway and when Rufus finds out he gets hella pissed and makes her cancel. Asher ends up bringing hot dogs over to the Brooklyn loft to surprise her.

The episode leaves us with Georgina running into Dan in Central Park (meeting him for the first time). She gives him a fake name. That girl is up to no good! We also learn that next week, we are going to find out the secret Georgina is holding over Serena, and someone will be dropping the “gay bomb.” I'm not sure who is going to come out of the closet. I would like to think it is Chuck since he was wearing the most fabulous red trench coat all episode, but my bet is on Serena's brother Eric.

The Blair Bitch Project

Gossip Girl – The Blair Bitch Project
A dethroned Blair musters up the strength to head back to school, and Jenny tries to keep up with the financial demands of the in crowd. Meanwhile, Serena, Eric, and Chuck adjust to their blended families living under one roof.

Poor Jenny has really fallen in with the bad crowd. Not even her new BFF Nate or her super-hot dad Rufus can save her from herself at this point. Jenny moved into Blair's territory while Blair was recovering from her Chuck/Nate scandal. Now the only way Jenny can stay afloat amongst the richies at school is to pawn all of her belongings at a vintage clothing shop. I think I tried that in high school but it only got me $15, surely not enough to pay for a $120 brunch in Manhattan. But I digress...

Nate and Jenny have formed some sort of bond. I'm not really sure when that happened. Maybe it was when Nate accidentally smooched Jenny at the masquerade ball or maybe it was when Jenny told Nate that Blair did it with Chuck. All I know for sure is that when Jenny gets the genius idea to steal a custom-made red Valentino dress to pawn in order to buy a cheap Dolce & Gabbana frock, it is Nate that she calls to bail her out, asking to borrow $8000 in order to buy back the Valentino and remove suspicion from her initial criminal act. I'm sorry, $8000?! Isn't Nate's dad in prison? Does he really have that sort of petty cash lying about? Didn't his dad already use it to buy coke?

Speaking of coke, Serena received a little packet of white powder in the mail and a giant parcel of champagne bottles was delivered to her at school. Assuming Chuck is the culprit, Serena gets Chuck kicked out of their new family home (remember that Lily and Chuck's dad are about to marry, therefore both families are shaking up Brady Bunch-style). Turns out that the gifts were actually from "G," who turns out to be some girl named Georgina (played by Michelle Trachtenburg).

Some people know Trachtenburg from Buffy but I know her as Harriet the Spy or Nona from The Adventures of Pete and Pete. I cannot believe that Harriet the Spy is the one person who is able to turn Serena's world upside down, but apparently "G" is going to do just that.

Guest Blogger: Alligator

Yes, we're behind. Yes, we're sorry.



Gossip Girl - Hi, Society
Serena’s grandmother has much to say about the upcoming debutante ball, insisting that her reluctant granddaughter attend – and find a more suitable escort than Dan. Meanwhile, Nate accompanies Blair to the ball as her friend, and Jenny hopes to go to the event, though her parents would rather she didn’t. Photo © The CW.

Can't trust those blue bloods! Serena's "sick" grandmother, Ce Ce, pays the fam a visit and her dying wish is for Serena to come out at cotillion. She's tricked into getting all fancied up in a gold frock and Ce Ce even lines up a smarmy escort for her. No, not that kind of escort. Apparently back in the day Ce Ce tried to split up the burgeoning romance between Lily and Rufus by paying him off. Rufus couldn't be bought but unfortunately Lily could. Fast-forward twenty years and we have the same scenario again. Ce Ce tries to buy all of the work in Rufus's rinky dink gallery (ironically all Alison's artwork). Rufus tells her to shove it and tells Dan that Ce Ce is a creep and not to be trusted. Sweet Dan runs off to Serena to break the news about her lame-ass granny but she doesn't take it too well. Serena goes to Cotillion with Carter Baizen, who you may remember from the Nate gambling scandal earlier in the season. He is the mayor of creep city and Ce Ce loves him.

Blair kicks Chuck to the curb and takes Nate back. I liked the Chuck/Blair romance and the possibility of the Jenny/Nate romance so this plot line was a disappointment. But, Chuck is a slime ball and Nate is super hot so I suppose I can't blame Blair.

Jenny decides to blow of her mom's important art opening at pop's gallery to be a Cotillion volunteer. She even refuses to wear the uber-cute vintage shoes her mom finds for her. That was really sad. Alison is much more appealing when she stands up to Jenny and tells her to get her ass into gear. Of course, Alison's new appeal came at the wrong time because Rufus essentially confesses his feelings for Lily. FINALLY!! He saw his son stand up to Ce Ce and he wishes he had done the same. Is it too late?

Guest Blogger: Alligator

Gossip Girl – Blair Waldorf Must Pie!
Dan invites Serena’s family to share Thanksgiving dinner with his family, unaware of the awkward situation this creates for Rufus and Lily. Elsewhere, Nate and his parents also share an uncomfortable holiday meal, and Blair gets upset when she finds out her father won’t be coming home for Thanksgiving. Photo © The CW.

Chuck was noticeably absent in Wednesday's episode. His storyline is increasingly becoming more interesting while Dan and Serena are becoming Boresville.

So instead let's talk about Blair. We now know she's a recovering bulimic and she misses her gay dad. Apparently he made really good pie. Speaking of pie, there was a weird Blair bulimia/pie eating montage. After yet another fight with Serena over the Blair/Chuck affair, Blair un-invites the van der Woodsen clan to the Waldorf thanksgiving fete. In a predicable twist of fate, Dan invites Serena to his house and her fam ends up at the Humphreys for some home-cooked grub. When Lily walks into the Humphrey home to see Allison back with Rufus, things go sour fast. Allison makes Rufus choose between the two ladies, and foolishly Rufus chose orange Allison. He looked super sad about it too.

No need to worry, Nate got his GG face time this ep too (although, mostly in goofy flashback sequences). His dad nearly overdoses and Nate saves his ass. Ahh Nate…what a guy!

In the next episode there needs to be more Chuck, more Jenny/Nate developments, and of course, Rufus needs to man up and choose Lily.

Guest Blogger: Alligator

Gossip Girl – Seventeen Candles
At her 17^th birthday party, Blair attempts to mask her strained relationship with Nate, and Dan invites Vanessa to the party so that she and Serena can bond. Meanwhile, Jenny brings her mom home for a visit, much to Rufus’ surprise, and Nate’s parents pressure him to make a sacrifice for the good of their family. Photo © The CW.

Last week's episode had lots of sex. Dan and Serena. Chuck and Blair. Rufus and Lily???

Let us discuss Chuck and Blair for a moment. Suddenly Chuck discovers "butterflies" in his stomach for Blair. He has finally met his match and found someone to love. Awww … how sweet. But, he is still a slimeball and Blair can't shake her love for Nate. Although, she gives it a darn good try when Chuck gives her a diamond necklace. I guess a little bling helps wash away the slime.

Dan is having trouble sorting out what it means to be friends with a girl and simultaneously have a girlfriend. After doing it with Serena he takes her out to a breakfast, and of course their waitress is Vanessa. Awkward! In order to help Serena and Vanessa bond, Dan chooses to bring her to Blair's birthday party that night, where the two ladies battle it out on Guitar Hero. There were also some gratuitous sushi making scenes at the party. Apparently rich people just eat a lot of sushi.

Jenny surprises her family by schlepping her mom Allison back from her new Hudson home. The most shocking thing about this scenario was this lady's crazy orange tan! Apparently there's tons of sun up on the Hudson. Rufus gets over his problems with Allison, and soon they are making out on the floor of their Williamsburg loft. This bummed me out because I'm totally rooting for Rufus and Lily love.

Nate finally stands up to his parents and doesn't give Blair the family jewels. Good for him! The total surprise of the episode, though, was the crazy chemistry between Nate and Jenny. Who would have thunk it? Although for now, the two are claiming to be just friends.

Guest Blogger: Alligator

Gossip Girl - Victor/Victrola
The kids face a variety of parental issues – Nate worries his father has a drug problem and confronts him; Jenny uncovers a secret her parents have been keeping from her; and Chuck tries to impress his demanding dad by investing in a club. Elsewhere, Blair is disappointed in Nate once again, and Dan and Serena acknowledge their true feelings for one another. Photo © The CW.

Nate's dad is out of control! Nate confronts him about his coke problem and like any typical coke fiend he ends up in a huge downward spiral and punches his son in the face. There is some crazy shit going on with the Archibald crew. After punching Nate he gets arrested (cops happened to be just around the corner), and the cops find the coke in his pocket and also a pre-existing warrant for his arrest on embezzlement charges. I have now realized that Nate is also super hot. I guess he just needed a little family coke-and-embezzlement scandal to catch my eye.

Of course Blair finds out that Nate is still in love with Serena and that he confessed this somewhat obvious fact to Serena look-a-like Jenny at the masquerade ball. So what does Blair do about it? She makes out with Chuck in the back of a town car after doing a lackluster strip tease at a burlesque bar. Apparently, as she told Chuck, she's "got moves."

Chucks' dad and Lily are still hot and heavy and decide to start going steady. There is some drama when Chuck spots his dad with a lady "friend" and then confesses this to Lily. Lily gets pissed and decides to go hang out with Rufus at his gallery while he hangs a video installation. This works well for Rufus because he just found out that his wife is cheating on him. Rufus and Lily cuddle together underneath the video installation. How romantic!

Oh yeah, Serena and Dan probably had sex during this episode. Big whoop(ie).

This episode was pretty goofy. Chuck and Blair's illicit makeout session had the look of a bad Stone Temple Pilots video with all the crazy editing and splotchy film treatment. Plus, to add to the cheese factor, there were several strange fantasy scenes involving Dan and Serena. These were actually kind of funny, but in conjunction with the bizzaro town car scene the show was pushed over the top in a bad way. GG needs to figure out what kind of show it wants to be and it needs to do it fast. Hopefully while the writers are taking some time off they will figure out how to steer the show back in the right direction.

Related:
* Chace Crawford (Nate) & Carrie Underwood are smooching.

Guest Blogger: Alligator

As I mentioned in my first post, I do not have cable or TiVo, so I can only watch a handful of shows. This is fun, because it forces me to choose carefully -- it reminds me of picking classes in college. There are always shows I want to watch that I can't (this season it's Supernatural, which conflicts with The Office), but the advent of online television has helped me immensely.

Hence, the introduction of a guest blogger, who does have cable and who watches all sorts of shows that I, for various reasons, do not. She has been trying to convince me to watch Gossip Girl, but so far I have resisted.

Name: Alligator
Location: Seattle
Occupation: Artist
Current TV: Gossip Girl, Flight of the Conchords, The Hills
All-Time TV: The Adventures of Pete & Pete, Sex and the City, Antiques Roadshow, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Murder She Wrote
Movies: Annie Hall, Gone with the Wind, North By Northwest, To Kill a Mockingbird
Music: Joanna Newsom, Melanie, Fleetwood Mac, Rolling Stones
Books: On Beauty, Air Guitar, The Americans
Websites: Fred Flare, The Sartorialist, NY Times, The Stranger

Which TV character would you like to have...
a friendship with: Larry David (does that count?)
a relationship with: Aidan (Sex in the City), Brett (Flight of the Conchords)
in your bed: Michael Vaughn (Alias)


(C) The CW
Gossip Girl - The Handmaiden's Tale
Dan's childhood friend Vanessa returns home and declares her feelings for him right as he and Serena are deciding where their relationship is going. Blair sends Nate on a scavenger hunt, but Nate is distracted by his feelings for Serena. Meanwhile, Lily asks Rufus to accompany her to a gathering in order to make Bart jealous.

I totally love Dan and Serena. Their relationship is very John Hughes circa 1986. This episode introduced a new character, Vanessa. She is Dan's childhood friend who was also the love of his life (pre-Serena). She's also apparently BFF with Dan's dad (Rufus) and sister (Jenny). Honestly I thought her character seemed a bit too snippy and quick with the comebacks. Since it seems like she'll be around for a while let's hope they give her character a bit more dimension.

This episode revolves around a masquerade ball (are these kids always throwing lavish parties?) and in spite of Jenny's new role as Blair's crony she still was not invited to the party, so she was super bummed -- but somehow GG newbie Vanessa was able to sneak her in. I guess this is not too much of a stretch considering in last week's episode we saw Blair, Jenny, and the girls out at a bar -- and Jenny is only 14. At the masquerade ball Jenny manages to trick smarmy Chuck into meeting her outside for a potential hook-up, only to lock him outside in his underwear. Jenny's character is reminiscent of Winona Ryder in Heathers. Love it!!

The best moment of the show was the surprising but not so random kiss between Dan's dad Rufus and Serena's mom Lily. Rufus was just trying to help Lily make her rich boyfriend jealous with the kiss, but I'm sure that we'll definitely see more Rufus and Lily love in the future. Oh, and Lily's boyfriend is Chuck's dad. Apparently there are only about ten people living in Manhattan.

We also found out that Nate's dad is a crazy coke fiend and is quickly losing all of his money on his dirty habit. Nate is as dry as burnt toast so this will surely perk up his storyline. He is also still in love with Serena but that is old news. It seems like we will get more of that info in the next episode. -- Alligator

Related:

* Gossip Girl goes off-book