Serena: Love her, love the shoes, love the way she dances.

Blake: Totally adorable and very strong. It's a very internal role and I think she'll do great with it.

Agreed! Blake Lively is great for this part-Im really looking forward to the show mainly for her. Now all of the "Sisterhood of the traveling pants" actresses have had starring roles in their own TV shows and I think Blake will do just as well as the other 3 have.

Blake has really surprised me however I feel the character of Serena is not what I expected from watching one episode of it. It's too much the "tragic, beautiful girl." Serena was always a really happy, carefree kind of flighty girl to me. Blake is doing an admirable job with what she's been given but I think people are going to grow to hate this character which I hope not.

Oh no, sounds like she's a Marissa Cooper in the making!!! Noooooooo!!!
Blake Lively seems like a good actress though, from the 10 mins I've seen & she's very pretty too.

I love Blake, think she's just the cutest thing on the planet and really great actress, and I loved Serena the most in the books, but I too am a little worried that they are making her too Marissa Cooper-esque. On her CW promo page it says something like "Trying to live without a past and looking for redemption", and it's like, come on, when Serena came back to Manhattan, she wasn't looking for redemption, she was looking for a martini and bar table to dance on. Honestly, that was a huge reason why I liked Serena. The girl gets everything she wants and has every guy lusting after her, it'd be so easy to hate her character, but she was just so damn...nice and care free that it was hard to dislike her. I mean, you like Blair because she is the most like you, and you like Serena because, well, you just can't bring yourself to hate her. She was never a "woe-is-me" type of character and thank heavens for that because those type of characters suck and I'm a little afraid that Josh doesn't realize that. I don't want to end up hating Serena. She was my favorite.

Josh always does this. He always picks one girl to be the "tragic girl." Now in the books I remember that in the beginning when Serena came back she was a little depressed but there is one chapter where she goes right down to that modeling shoot and picks herself up right away. Maybe Josh is setting us up for that but the fact that Erik was re-cast as a younger depressed sibling totally leads me to believe he's going for the screwed up angle. Serena is ANYTHING but Marissa Cooper in all the books. It's too much like her in the show.

There are too many shots of "heartbreaking" eyes of Serena in the pilot episode. The episode was clearly all about Serena and was so centric on her. Then again the first book is very Serena heavy too but you don't notice it as much in the book. Basically Dan is her Ryan Atwood and it's annoying because Dan in the book has Vanessa eventually. It's just a little too much Marissa for me to take.

Yes, in book Serena wasn't too sad except when Blair dissed her a few times. I think Blake is going to make a great Serena. Only thing is I don't see the perfect hair that everyone in the books says she has. But thats JMO.


God damn, why is it so hard to quote spoilers?!

My question is, why does the actress that plays Serena look and sound like she's 30?

I don't think Blake looks that old at all. But maybe it's the very adult clothing she wears in the series that ages her so much. I never thought she looked old in Sisterhood, when she was running around in clothes any average teenage girl would wear.

I do know that within the past two years, Blake played the role of a girl with an eating disorder and ended up losing and then gaining a fair amount of weight repeatedly. Maybe her system is still trying to recover from all that?

On a side note, I adore Blake Lively and cannot wait to see her in this role. I think she's a great actress, she's adorable, fresh, and fun.

I think she did look older than the 'average' high schooler. But not so much older than the anything-but-average party girls of exclusive New York private schools. It's amazing how sophisticated those New York young women are. I actually thought her 'look' helped make her character ring very true for me.

I don't think Blake looks old at all. She looks her age, IMO.

I liked that about her in the books too, but changes were made because otherwise, she would just not be a relatable (spelling?), likeable character. I agree about there being a lot of shots of "heartbreaking" eyes, but I still think she was much more carefree than Blair was. When Blair was being rude about the party and invitation, Serena just kinda had a "fuck you" look on her face, and afterwards, instead of crying about it by herself, she grabbed her brother and went shopping. I don't know, I think they might be able to keep her a carefree character.

I too thought that she looked a bit old for a high schooler. She looked like she was in her late 20's. Not knowing anything about the books, when I first saw her on the train in the first scene, I was sure it was going to be a look back at her high school days.

Like Mischa Barton/Marissa, Blake Lively/Serena looks a lot older than her actual age. She looks 25 years old.

I liked Serena tonight, but I hope they don't make her too sweet and self-reflective/redemptive. My favorite scene was the bitch staredown between she and Blair on the steps. I liked that showing of a bitch streak (there and when she was with Chuck) as well as a shallower streak when she fixed a bad day by taking her sick brother out of the hospital to shop. Showing those sides also helps me find her believeable as Blair's BFF and are the only times I find her believable at all as a former 'it' girl, not counting her looks and her sense of entitlement to it (BL nailed that for me on the steps). If they start the 100 different kinds of sweet, heartbroken and perfect that's when I'll start the Marissa comparisons (having her take care of herself with Chuck rather than need a knight and having the friendship problems be completely her fault helps me too).

I agree that Blake Lively looked twenties (she turned 20 in August) but I thought early 20s and it didn't bother me. If anything I thought it was the rest of the cast that should have matched her. My experience with NY society girls, particularly the ones on the top of the social ladder which is what I thought these were supposed to be, is that they look like and are made up to be like they're 21 at 15. That she looks older than girls I think of as high school didn't phase me.

Looking at the ages on imdb, All of the leads with the exception of Taylor Momsen (Jenny), and the adults, are 20- 21. BL doesn't look any older or any younger than the rest of the kids to me.

Having no knowledge of the Gossip Girl books, I thought what Blake did for the pilot was fine. The qualities that I hated about Marissa in the OC eps that I've seen (which are not many) is the tragic, self- piting, sulky, whiny characteristics, that I didn't get from Serena in the pilot, so yeah!

Road to redemption, yes. Heart of gold, yes. Former mean girl, not so much.

I think what to worry about with Serena is making her too perfect, because that's just as annoying as sulky.

Also, Marissa was a bad girl with a heart to gold on The OC? Never got that.

I think I can actually like Serena. That's the difference between her and Marissa to me.

Considering that I pretty much hated Serena in the books, I think she's going to be much more tolerable in the tv show, once I manage to seperate the two versions of her character to a point where I don't feel any twinges of annoyance when she's on screen. Though, I stopped around book #7, despite the whole Raves storyline, which was pretty awesome, Serena just reached her peak annoyance and I couldn't take any moreand was planning on deciding to pick them up again if I found out about any of my favorite pairings happening or something exciting. However, it seems like the writers of the tv show are going to do more to keep her from become a super special snowflake goddess that can do no wrong.

I really did find Serena endearing in a strange way that I never felt with Marissa. I think part of it is that I find Blake to be much prettier than Mischa, what with the lack of pointy, angular bones. She seems to claim some responsibility about what she's done and not just blame it on her parents and everyone else around her.

I normally hate these too-good-to-be-true characters, but I somehow find Serena endearing. What's up with her mom not even knowing why she went to boarding school? I just hope she doesn't get mopey like Marissa did.

Exactly i agree, i love Serena of the books. But the Serena of the pilot, not so much. I hope she doesn't become mopey - fingers crossed. What i liked about the Serena of the books is that, yes she comes back and her life is a mess and not what she thought it would be. However she soon picks herself up, finds new friends and has fun. Serena is the belle of the ball and i know the show can't always be like the books, but please make Serena have some fun and laughter.

I wouldn't go so far as to say that Josh "always" does this. He only did it once, with Marissa, although it was a bit extreme. Anyway, I too hope that Serena doesn't turn into the "tragic girl." I haven't read the books, but I'd prefer a Serena that has her stuff together.

Seriously. I don't know that there's an "always" when you're dealing with one character. On another show. That is not this show, which we're here to talk about.

I haven't read the books, so I can't compare her character to how she is in the books. So far I like her. I really hope they don't turn her into another Marissa Cooper. I could not stand Marissa. I think part of my Marissa hate had to do with residual dislike of Mischa when she was on Once and Again. Whereas I have residual like for Blake from Sisterhood of the Traveling pants. I'm usually very sensitive to people looking way older than the age they are playing. I didn't think she looked old at all. Serena looked about 18-21 to me.

As inevitable as these The OC-comparisons may be, I don't think it's fair to brand her too quickly as yet another Marissa Cooper. I've read the books and I loved her character in them but seeing as how they've changed various things in the show (e.g. the circumstances surrounding her departure for boarding school, the reason for her return etc.), that element of 'tragedy' in her character seems perfectly justified.

That being said, I'd still love to see more of that spontaneous, carefree Serena that I adored in the books. I think we saw glimpses of that in the pilot (especially in her scenes with Dan) but I'm really looking forward to seeing how they flesh out that aspect of her character more. Tragic characters may be more 'interesting' in some respect but the emotional baggage gets way too heavy sometimes.

Since we've only seen the pilot I'll try to hope that in the coming episodes Serena becomes less boring, brushes her hair, finds some fabulous clothes, and magically looks younger. It's still early, but right now she gets little love from me.

Maybe I've been smoking something, but I found myself feeling bad for Blair even though we were being set up to sympathize with Serena. On a separate note, I heard that Serena was supposed to be beyond gorgeous and, despite her pretty smile, Blake to me isn’t that, even with make-up. I'm not saying they should cast based on appearances (although I have yet to be impressed by Lively's acting skills), but I'm just wondering if I'm alone in thinking she's not supremely hot. Then again, I guess I'm glad they opted for a girl who doesn't look like Victoria Gotti's make-over project.
I apologize for the structure sentance poor very.

Oh, I totally care a lot more about Blair than Serena. But, so far it's not to the point where I just plain hate Serena and want her off my screen, so I take that as a positive. :)

Ah. From what I've seen and read, Serena seems like
(Marissa Cooper * Joey Potter) / Andie McPhee (for the possible crazy in the closet)

Eh, not really. I don't think I'd be able to watch the show if that was the case. I think Serena may be a little too "meh" to actually hate. I so far see no reason not to like the character, but I think I've officially realized I'm not a fan of Blake Lively.

This was my problem too. She looks so much older than the rest of the cast, and just not believable to me in a high school setting. I switched channels before the end of the hour, sad to say. I had hopes for this show but I'm not going to be able to get past the miscast (IMO) for the lead role.

Ironically she is only 20. But Serena may have the pity story but she is no Marissa in that I get why Serena was the Social It Girl, Marissa not so much

I actually felt a little sorry for Serena during last night's episode. What she did was crappy, don't get me wrong, but it must suck to have your former BFF hate you. And the worst is yet to come. I get the feeling Blair will do everything in her power to make Serena's life a living hell.

What I like about Serena is that even though she was supposed to be the 'it' girl her dirt is acknowledged and she is called out on and punished for it. Unlike she who shall not be named on another show on the same network.

quietone, I actually have no idea who you are referring to. And now, I'm kinda curious. Heh.

Anyways, I'm kinda conflicted. Because I feel bad for Serena too, but what did some shitty, shitty things. And Blair has every right to be angry with Serena, and to not want to be her friend any longer. Yes, the sex was a year ago, but Serena did also run away right afterwards and chose to not contact Blair for a year. So, if Blair's supposed to be her best friend, she should have contacted her while she was gone. AND, she should have told Blair she was leaving. So, I mean, I feel bad for Serena because everyone's being so damn mean to her and has experienced a lot of hardship, but she really, what she did was terrible. I just can't imagine forgiving someone who was supposed to be my best friend of 14 years or so, for sleeping with my boyfriend and abandoning me for a year without as much as a goodbye.

Heehee. Not knowing is a good thing. I was referring to Lana Lang on Smallville.

Hehe, I knew that's who you were talking about. I feel special. :)

So I just watched the second episode, and I'm still liking Serena. I'm thinking that's not going to change, and for that I am happy. It's never fun hating the main characters of shows you like.

Yep, now that I've seen the second episode, it's official that I do like Serena more. Blair is a straight up bitch to her and hopefully I won't have to witness too much more of Serena just taking it.

Totally loved the field hockey girl fight and Serena's 'I hope it's broken' line to Blair. I was glad to see her defend herself.Also loved Serena protecting her brother at the Ivy mixer.

I still think there was more to her leaving than just having sex with Nate and not knowing how to handle it.

I'm really surprised by how much I like Serena. In the books, I was always more of a Blair girl and, on the show, even though I'm still a Blair girl, I don't want to change the channel whenever Serena gets on the screen, either.

(Book Serena, you see, bored me after Book 3 or so because she had no complications or anything even mildly sympathetic going on with her. She wasn't a bad person by any means, but she was just... there. Until the book with the bathroom incident.)

While this Serena doesn't float through scene to scene, she does have a certain careless, funness to her that I loved in Book Serena. And this is probably all due to Blake. Kudos!

Being the dork that I am, though, I can't help but wonder what character growth would go through. There's obviously a ton (because there's always a ton), but I can't quite put my finger on one. Except that she needs to stop running and face things, but she seems to be on her way to that. And that she, of course, needs to think about others and take a step back to think before she acts, in general, but she seems to be on her way to that, too.

She looks beyond gorgeous in still photographs. On the actual show, she has moments of looking stunning, and in other moments she is merely pretty, albiet in an unusual and rather exotic way. The young lady who plays Blair is very pretty in a traditional way, but Serena's actress has something about her that draws the eye to her. I only read one of the books (one that was left behind at a place I was staying with no other reading material) but I could see how Serena would fascinate people and be a model. She has that look-at-me beauty that one doesn't see every day. There's also a depth behind those eyes, like she's lived a life full of secrets and lies she hides from the world.


And I agree she looks older than 16, but so MANY girls look older than their age at 16. I found it to be reflective of the character's environment and class.

Serena is already a million times less irritating than Marissa Cooper. They would have to try very hard to make her as bad as Marissa, because Blake is a far more talented actress than Mischa. Mischa had a ridiculously limited range as an actress, she obviously knew it didn't matter how badly she sucked, her looks would make up for it.

I don't dislike Serena, and I wouldn't compare her to Marissa (HATE!) Cooper at this point...but I do find her incredibly bland. I feel like she has no real personality. She's pretty and blonde and nice and supposedly fun...but I just don't get that sense that she's something special. Maybe I'm just blinded by Blair love, but so far I'm not too impressed with S.

I'm with you. I don't really hate her or anything and I think BL does a good job with her. She shows certain moments of spark and energy and I can kind of she why she's automatically "loved", but the only time I find her remotely interesting is when she's with Blair. I kind of love their whole dysfunctional relationship. It's kind of messed up and maybe they would be better off away from each other but they can't seem to let go. I feel she shows far more substance when with Blair. She's the sort of person to float through life, pretty much indifferent to other people, yet with Blair (and also Eric) she's different, she does the chasing.

I actually found her really interesting tonight while she was with Dan. I thought they were really cute together, and it was actually a couple that has a lot of fun together, which is kinda a change for this show (see Nate and Blair, who seem miserable whenever they are together).

I think Serena's a character that's easy to latch onto and hate. She's pretty, for all intents and purposes the girl lead and she's suppose to be "Ahh Omg the best thing sense sliced bread" but sense NO actress can really portray that while being a good-girl then it's bound to cause some resentment. I think that's why so many people relate to Blair's character. She gets to do the "entertaining" things and show different sides to her personality.

I personally like Serena a whole lot. I *do* thinks she's interesting and has layers they [tptb] just need to push that a little more.

Serena bores me. Without Blair I would have already checked out of this show.

I don't feel much if any sympathy for her, I don't think she's misunderstood, I just think she's a bit oblivious and a crappy friend.

And the romance between Serena/Dan, reformed rich girl looking for something new, poor nice guy trying to be something he's not, is cliche and predictable.

Can you tell that I'm already on the Blair/Dan ship?

I think Blair owns this show. Serena is just...there.

I like Serena. I would want to be her friend, which is the ultimate way to judge TV characters in my mind.

I like her humor, point-of-view, styling, and choice in men.


I see your point. It might be cliche but it is something I can identify with. I have been in that situation were my friends thought someone was beneath me but I decided to follow my heart.

I like that Serena is above the bullshit. She's naive in a lot of ways, but she is secure in herself. She doesn't need a bunch of ppl around her to prove her worth.

I wouldn't have agreed with this a few weeks ago, but I agree now. I would want to be her friend, too. I think that Serena is honestly a good friend and a good person. I just think she makes a lot of bad decisions sometimes. What she did to Blair was shitty, but Serena understands that and is trying to be a good friend to Blair again. Blair is my favorite character on the show, but Serena is cool too, because she has a lot of self confidence and she is secure. She's just a cool person.. I don't know. While I love Blair, I just think it would be EXHAUSTING to be her friend. I think that she's funny and very snarky, but it's like everything's a competition with her, and she is extremely demanding, and insecure.

I am really preferring this Serena over book!Serena.

She's less annoying now, and even though everyone still thinks she's gorgeous she doesn't have every single man on earth lusting after her and whistling to her, which happens in the book.
(yeah, I've reread the books a couple of times so I compare everything)

I don't know whether I'd want her to be my friend, but she seems to be a genuinely nice person in the show without being an airhead (but sekritly being omgsupersmart) and I can completely understand why she used to be THE it-girl.

Serena seems more laid-back and carefree...definitely someone I would be friends with.

Blair is uptight and bitchy, but OH SO FUN to watch on TV.

I think Serena and Dan should last for awhile...hopefully, there's real chemistry and I'd rather see a Blair/Dan friendship than romance. Like someone said earlier, not every guy-girl interaction has to be romantic.

But.. I see chemistry there as well. And wouldn't that be the best betrayal of the friendship to which Blair and Serena have returned? For storyline purposes, of course..