Congratulations, Gossip Girl — you’ve been picked up by the CW for a whole season! More frothy frocks from Eleanor Waldorf? More snarling from Chuck Bass? Upper East Side location shots and witty banter? I’m stoked.
Along with Nielsen viewers, "advertisers, affiliates, and press have also embraced the show," said CW president of entertainment Dawn Ostroff in a statement. (Notice the shoutout from last week’s eponymous "Ostroff Center.") Advertisers, really? Because I hadn’t noticed the plethora of Verizon cell phones all over the show, thumb-flicking Sidekicks and all. And it’s not like I didn’t visit the website and see that I can not only download all of the songs played in an episode, but I can also peruse the GG ‘Store’ and purchase the Ralph Lauren sweaters and, for the poorer folks, American Apparel T’s worn on the series. Also, it completely went over my head that department store Henri Bendel is mentioned, like, every other line. Still unsatiated, I spent some time on the cyberworld of GG last night, where I actually became one of the Gossip Girls. Man, Blair was getting on my nerves! But then I right-clicked her avatar away, and all was right in my world again.
Marketing tricks aside, last night’s GG showed real heart, which rendered it the best episode yet for me. We left off last week with a tearful B. and S. reunion in Central Park, and I was delighted to see the girls run around Fifth avenue and Central Park, laughing fetchingly during photo shoots, smiles adorning their pretty faces. "Moon River" played wistfully in the background, cementing the Breakfast at Tiffany’s allusion. All of this display of youth and happiness made me, in turn, happy. GG’s assertion that "As much as a BFF can make you go WTF, no one can admit that her life isn’t as rich without them," is totally true when applied to the show — together, Blair and Serena are stronger, fuller, and just more fun to watch.
An interesting character shift regarding our beloved frenemies,Chuck and Blair, also emerged last night. I’ve made fun of Chuck in the past for being so deliciously bad,but he actually won some newfound respect from me. Because what isworse than pure immorality? Indecision. Morally, we might recognizethat impossibly-chiseled Nate is a better person, but at least Chuckdefends what he stands for, protecting all that he owns with fiercedetermination. After Nate’s bout of soul-searching leads him to seedyQueens and $10,000 poorer, he is saved by Chuck, who had seen throughtheir phony friend’s hippie façade the entire time. Nate’s questionsand doubts led him astray, and he is stupider for it. Likewise, Blair’ssimple desire to be loved by those around her drives her to conniving,theatrical antics to preserve it, but her loyalty to these goals isunwavering. To me, Chuck and Blair’s faithful, precise actions are morenoble than the blind ones of their flaxen-haired counterparts, whosethoughtlessness and passivity actually hurt more people in the end.Also, the former take full responsibility, while the latter eschewaccountability by placing all blame on circumstance.
So PopWatchers, I’m curious to see where your judgments fall. Afterwitnessing what plagues and drives B. (insecurity complex,diva-mother), what do you think could explain Chuck’s utter disregardfor life? And why is Nate always waking up in Chuck’s room at thePalace? Finally, if you’ve thought the similarities between GG and the OC were astounding, I’ll leave you with this.
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Thank you for a great recap – I vote for a full fledged TV Watch for this show. This past episode was masterful. Even though there are a lot of similarities between GG and the OC, I think they are ultimately very different shows.
I love Chuck he is my favorite character ever. He totally won me over from my old favorite charter ever Seth Cohen. I think he should run for president; he would fix our economy and I could start buying at Henri Bendel’s again!
I definitely noticed how Nate is always waking up in Chuck’s room, but I think it’s because he’s secretly gay and wants to be homeless.
Great recap!
http://www.spymac.com/details/?2274084
Marcelo
This show is so great. I love it. This was the funneist most emotional episode yet.
excuse me, but chuck is a rapist! how can his actions be “more noble” than anybody else’s? it’s bad enough that the show’s writers have decided to conveniently forget that he tried to force himself on not one, but two girls in the pilot — do reviewers have to forget too?
I thought it was good to see why these girls were really friends in the first place. It was a great episode. I also vote for a full fledged TV Watch on this. I know I’ll read it!
Why are all the guys in this show so metro. Realy its sort of obscene! Those haircuts, those collar’s ahhhhgh.
uh sidekicks are T-mobile not Verizon, duh
This show deserves its own TV Watch! Especially if it’s the first new show picked up this season…
Chuck’s utter disregard for life can be explained by his acting like a douchebag. Who wears a bow tie and a vest. C’mon now. I am wholly unaware of how teens on the UES really behave, but his character is sooooo unbelievable that it almost ruins the show for me. I cringe when he comes on screen. Not to mention the terrible over-acting by Penn Badgley. Blah. Other than that I heart the show.
Gretchen’s right – once you make a character a rapist, there’s not much chance for redemption. Can’t stand Chuck. He’s a caricature. Also getting tired of these cycles: Serena’s constant apologizing to people and defending herself, and Dan’s you’re-right-I’m-nothing acquiescences to the UESers. They practically spit on him and his taking the high road is coming off as though he deserves it. Dan’s still the hottest guy on the show, though.
I think I might have liked it better when S&B were throwing down on the field hockey uh field. So I’m hoping that all this kindness towards others is going to end ASAP. However, I would like to see more of Dan and thought Blair’s approval of him at the end was kinda cute. Nate is as boring as a dish rag and I don’t really care that his family might actually be broke.
i loved watching the friendship between blair and serena coming alive again although i did enjoy them fighting. I vote for a full fledged TV Watch for this show as well
Are the Minority Minions every going to speak?
Oooh I was looking for a TV Watch for this! I love Gossip Girl. I loved seeing Chuck do something redeeming this week, he’s a loyal friend. Anyone else see the tension between Chuck and Blair? They would be a hot couple, very Cruel Intentions. Nate is beautiful, but has the most boring storylines ever. Dan is still the coolest guy, he’s adorable. I like both girls, but I’m definitely team Blair. I’m seeing a lot more heart in her.
Another one of my Wednesday guilty pleasures. I am determined to get all my girlfriends hooked on it!
Think about it – if everyone on that show was good, the show would be boring! We need Chuck to be a jerk and a hero at the same time, or else the show would completely suck!
if madonna isn’t want make baby don’t crazy me her every clan happens kate middleton bush clinton daughter of her crazy thought doen her films of myself mixed her myself with baby name don’t want make baby herself crazy me either
I think that GG is more bitching than the OC between friends, anyway I love the show, at least we have a full season to enjoy it.
The bad news: Cw have this issue of cut off the good shows, I mean Everwood for 7 Heaven?? WTF!!!
How sad that the sole GG on The CW is no longer associated with Gilmore Girls.
Even more pressing than investigating Chuck’s disregard for life (my take is that he’s secretly educated and just forgot to set the timer on his iPod while listening to Leonard Cohen one night in bed) is finding out what kind of selfrespecting UES kid decides to call himself Chuck? Doesn’t a name like this ruin every last bit of Sagaponack street cred? Do they even let someone with that name enter Bergdorf Goodman, let alone Henri Bendel? If I had a name like that, I would probably disregard life as well.
I can’t take the wretchedly racist sidekicks anymore!!!!!! Women of colour are not cardboard !!!
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