That was a little dull and I officially loathe Vanessa.

Some more great Rufus/Lily scenes.

Good episode. Again. I'm liking conniving Little Jenny.

Only problem was stupid Dan's stupid lies.

Is Vanessa this show's Anna Stern?

Who is Bart Bass? I was totally lost on the connection there with Lily.

Not as much Blair, which I think means not as much awesome evil. Although Nate's dad pinning the coke on his kid, as well as the arranged marriage with the girl he doesn't love...whoa.

Little Jenny Humphrey continues to delight me.

Not as great as last week, but holy crap did all the girls look gorgeous in their masks. Vanessa officially bores and irritates me.

That was a beautiful prank, locking that pratt outside on the roof.

Wow, Nate really sucks. It's mean that I sort of snickered when his dad totally threw him under the bus when it came to the bag o' snow, isn't it?

Jenny's revenge was super sweet though. I was impressed Chuck took it so well in the end.

I don't hate Vanessa, but the actress seems pretty awkward. Yikes. I haven't read the books, but I guess the Vanessa of book fame was punk? I think that would have been way better. I liked the idea of polar opposites on either side of Dan. This Vanessa isn't all that interesting.

Chuck's dad, hotel owner, Lily's ex.

This season keeps getting better and better.
I liked Vanessa. She redeemed herself at the end. She does remind me a little of Anna.

But even better? Wasn't Vanessa and Dan's talk at the end a little Seth-Ryan timey? I couldn't stop smiling.

I hate Nate. It's so pathetic that he's all in agony over Serena when it seems that she couldn't give two shits about their supposed "forbidden love". Blair deserves better.

I didn't hate Vanessa like I thought I would. I abosulutely despised her pretencious, sanctimonious ass in the books, but she came off as less uptight and obnoxious on the show, so I don't know...I might not hate her.

Dan and Serena are still love and cuteness and everything that's right with the world. I heart them together.

Still hate Jenny, though.

Not as good as the delight that was last week's episode, but not bad. Still, let's do a quick comparison: Last week, awesome. This week, just okay. Last week: no Chuck or Nate. This week: lots of Chuck and Nate. Coincidence? Not really, I think. Chuck's still a big ol' sleazebag who's only fun to watch because of his outfits, and Nate's still boring as hell. And now he's coming across as weak-willed and wishy-washy. If you like Serena so much, then sack up and break up with Blair, you big wuss!

The only thing that'd make those two watchable for me is if they really made like they do in Jacob's recaps and started making out with each other. Hey, it worked for One Life To Live!


I think that scene was supposed to make Nate more interesting, but it just made me more intrigued by his cokehead father. Can't wait to see how that plays out...

Jenny should have waited until Chuck was totally derobed before bolting.

I decided I'm going to have to work a little bit harder at suspending my disbelief so I don't get mad about lame storylines that we can all see coming from a mile away, i.e. Vanessa bringing Jenny to the ball, Jenny and Serena switching outfits, etc. I'm just gonna go with it.

I was much less upset with the Lily/Rufus than last week. I thought they weren't overfocused on or forced.

Vanessa is SO Anna. I didn't realize she was going to be introduced so soon.

Also, sure Dan and Vanessa, a masquerade ball is totally "pretentious," but your opening line "Do you have my copy of The Crying of Lot 49?" is sooo not. Way to hit us over the head with her characterization on that one.

Whoa! I skipped this show a couple of weeks and it seems it got so much more polished than the pilot and second episode. I was pleasantly surprised tonight.

Like others, I enjoyed Jenny's revenge. However, it seems I'm the only one who doesn't hate Vanessa so far? I think every actor and actress in this show has so much charisma that I can't bring myself to truly hate anyone.

I thought it was great. The episodes really do just keep getting better and better. I loved little Jenny Humphrey running around, causing trouble. And Nate's dad blaming him for the coke - damnnn! Definitely didn't see that one coming. I was expecting Nate to walk into his house and confront his dad in front of his mother, until I saw the look on his mother's face.

However, I did think Blair was asking a little much out of Nate - it was a cute idea and all, to have "ladies in waiting" give him clues as to where she was, but she couldn't expect him to run around the party all night trying to find her. Even the most devoted boyfriends would want some time to wonder around the party and hang out with their friends. I mean, I can see what she's saying about him not making much of an effort, but still.

The Lily/Rufus scenes were totally cute. I really am rooting for them - however, it's going to be freaky if all 3 Van der Woodsens are paired up with all 3 Humphreys!

I'm not crazy about Vanessa, but maybe she'll grow on me..

ETA: I can't wait til Nov. 7th. It's going to feel like a ridiculously long time until a new episode comes on, but the preview looked amazing, so hopefully the wait will be worth it!

I've never understood why people can't tell who's behind the masks in a masquerade party. I could tell who everyone was a mile away, and I would think that these people would, too.

Garnel, I like Vanessa, too.

Poor, innocent bystander Vanessa will be hated by many fans. I really like her!

Nate, however, needs to fall down a set of stairs. Or run out into traffic. Or something.

Yeah, during the episode I thought Dan was being an avoiding avoider and wanted to tell him: "dude, you have no obligation to her, and she seems like she would understand and cheer on your growing relationship with Serena."

I'm glad she walked off that tension and got back to the root of their friendship. Like I said, it was very Seth-Ryan timey. But I guess it's more comparable to Seth-Anna.

I officially love Jenny and Blair. I agree Blair was asking a bit much of Nate, but since Nate sucks I don't care. Also liked Rufus and Lily tonight. That makes two weeks in a row.

Only things I didn't care about were boring Nate and Vanessa. I don't hate Vanessa, but I can't say I like her either.

I liked Vanessa for the most part. The actress playing her is beautiful! I worry that she won't be as endearing as Anna Stern, she'll end up being more like Karen from The Office. I hope they do make her and Dan's dynamic a little bit more Ryan/Seth.

I love love LOVED this episode. I hated Vanessa on principle, but nothing about the actress or character herself made me dislike her any more than I already planned on doing. I'm glad they tied it up neatly at the end, but I'm still paranoid that any little thing could destroy Dan and Serena. Jenny is awesome right now, but she's really starting to scare/bother me. Who knew she had it in her to do all the things she's done in the last two eps? And that preview for the 7th!!!

I'm actually am already pretty annoyed with Dan-Serena. Everything does bother them, they have absolutely no trust in one another, and I'm sorry-- but her jealousy for hearing another girl already is troublesome.

I think I'm going to like Dan and Vanessa's friendship more than this relationship.

I find myself more sympathetic and interested in Blair, and why she feels she has to settle for Nate and be a bitch to Jenny. Serena bores me.

My mom and I were talking about this. It's like, you can figure out who's who by body type, skin tone, and hair, so what's the point? And yeah, Serena and Jenny both have blonde hair and both had on yellow dresses, but Jenny is WAY shorter than Serena..

It didn't help that I was a bit distracted while watching (see queries at end of post). But I thought the writers fell down a bit on the plot. First, I don't get that Blair's mother is that desperate socially or that daft to start planning her daughter's marriage when she is sixteen, seventeen years old. A successful savvy independent business woman? I mean I guess it is possible that she would rather see her daughter make a marriage decision shortly after getting her driver's license and before she find sout what college she is attending. But hardly probable. As poorly done the whole Nate for your fashion kingdom storyline is before tonight, now? It decends into silliness. Is this where old Harlequin romance writers go? To the Gossip Girl script meetings?

Also I'm not buying Dan's duplicity. It was very not in character particularly after the concurrent theme in the first three episodes. And though it apparently may follow the books, I'm finding that Dan's awkwardness with women in general a little suspect with Vanessa coming back to stake her claim. I get that both were younger etc. but even being "kids" there was a familiarity and almost intimacy in the way the actress playing Vanessa went about it that just struck me as off. She played it like old lovers more than puppy dog eyes and hand held at the movies.

Overall, I think the introduction of another player is way too soon no matter what happened in the books. And I'm not a huge Dan-Serena fan by any means. So it's not fears of a third wheel so much as the fact that love triangle is rapidly turning into a hexagon what with Nate smooching Jenny.

I actually liked the Rufus-Lily scenes tonight even fi they were a bit predictable.

Which brings me to my questions due to missing some crucial thirty second bits.

1.Did Blair realize that it was Jenny that Nate was kissing? Knowing that Nate was mistaking Jenny for Serena? So that Blair finally holds Nate somewhat responsible this time and won't be back on her boring get Serena warpath?

2.Is Chuck a Chia Pet? Or the actor that plays him? Cause his hair looks like it grew yet again from the show before last. How long did they take to film in between? Or were the episodes shot out of order? Because he had a real Octavian 'do going the week prior and tonight it was very mussed Joaquin Phoenix in Gladiator -- in fact it looked longer than it did the very first show.

3.Did Blair's mother give Rufus the cougar growl? I missed the exchange except the line about Lily not expected to come with a date and I didn't even catch all that. Was it a reference to Rufus being an outsider i.e. not Lily's type? Lily as lonely ice maiden? Or was Nora giving the elder Humphrey stud the once over? Surely bringing on the incredible Ms Colin won't be put to waste? Though if we are going for OC parallels, I can see Blair's mother playing the Julie role in debauching her daughter's ex. Now that would make Nate interesting. For once.

4.Why wasn't Blair "letting" Jenny go to the ball?

Cause she's a freshman.
*eyerolls*

It seems like they try so hard to make Blair endearing, and then she acts like a total bitch for no apparent reason. I guess that's her character, and that's typical for a Queen Bee, but it's really irritating. I can't tell when she's being sincere or when she's acting half the time.

Yeah, me too. They've had some cute moments, but I couldn't care less if they end up together when the show has run it's course. But I also like Vanessa, so I'm in the minority here. *shields self from stones*

Now really. He screwed her best friend, he has A Lot to make up for. And Blair was so easily recognizable. Like everyone, really. I don't think Blair was asking much at all for him to just come and get her. But she's right, he didn't even try. And it wasn't like he was being pulled away from having fun with his friends by looking for her. He mostly just stood there in a daze until the name Serena snapped him out of his stupor. Oy.

Sam Robards is doing a great job of playing a man on the edge. Watching him, I feel like The Captain could SNAP at any second. It's fun.

I don't think Blair saw Nate kissing anyone. She was just mad at him for not finding her by midnight, like she'd hoped. I think if she'd seen him kissing someone else, she'd have been devastated, not just sadly disappointed like she was at the end of this episode.

I completely agree with you, Maka. If I were Blair, I'd be asking A LOT more of Nate than just finding me at a party after the crap he's pulled.

Me three. But Serena has a Glittery Hoo-Ha, and men who fall in can't be blamed. The glitter is just so blinding!!

I don't hate Vanessa either.



TV Dan is so superior to book Dan. Unless he became less of a loser as the books went on. I don't know, I'm like seven behind.

I liked this episode. I love Dan, Serena, and Dan and Serena together.

Meh and blah and whatever on Jenny Humphrey. I don't care, really.

Vanessa: Hated the actress and character, but at least her looks aren't awful (although I didn't see her great beauty), so maybe she'll improve. The performance was just awkward, but as far as the writing of the character--I loathed her circa-1998 hipster New York references. Okay, okay, they love the Angelika and eat at Veselka and know important people at BAM and order transexual "escorts" from the back of the Village Voice and score crack in Tompkins Square Park. I get it. I feel like the writers read Let's Go: New York and left it at that. And Vanessa was just sooo smug and obnoxious as a person. Taking off after her supposed bff told her he loved her, not calling for a year, and then suddenly reappearing and being all precious and entitled? The Thomas Pynchon phone call, and just showing up at Dan's place unannounced, and then showing up again at four in the morning after storming out of a party because he has a girlfriend? God, that's arrogant. I was so wishing that Dan had come home with Serena and sent Vanessa, her cheerful new strategy, and her pierogis packing, all shamefaced.

(Note: I hated, hated, hated Anna.)

In the books, it's easy to root for Dan and Vanessa. I'm hoping that the show will end with Dan and Serena together.

I'm enjoying the Nate-Blair drama, and the fact that Nate is completely not over Serena. And I hope Lily dumps whatsisname and chases after Rufus. How could she not?

Am I the only one that sees Vanessa to be more like a Theresa than Anna?

Who are Theresa and Anna?

Characters on The O.C.. Anna was awesome, Theresa was not so much.

I didn't mind Vanessa, but I didn't love her, either. I was annoyed that the writers decided to throw her in now to obviously put a wrench in Dan and Serena's relationship. I don't want this will-they-or-won't-they crap!

I was kind of jolted by the fact that Jenny seemed to go from the next Queen Bee to "handmaiden" so quickly. I don't know what I was expecting, but I definitely didn't expect her to be running Blair's errands after her display at the sleepover.

Vanessa is supposed to have a shaved head. This Vanessa is unacceptable.

This is probably one of those episodes where it might have helped me to have watched more than the three or four episodes of the O.C. that I actually did catch, just so that I could join the debate on the forums. With that said, oh well.

Add me to the group that thought Vanessa was introduced too early, and way too randomly. But then, I never read the books, either, so I'm kind of out of my element with this group. I didn't love her or hate her. She just kind of rang "meh" for me. Lovely actress. I hope it'll be interesting to see her antics of upcoming weeks.

I found Nate pathetic and Serena, in contrast, quite hilarious. When Serena emerges after he's made his big, dramatic (overly so) overtures to Jenny and she's fled, I laughed at Serena's "Get moving, you're an IDIOT if you don't get to Blair" tone. Though I kind of wish he'd managed to say all that to her so that she could stuff him down the nearest drainpipe or trash chute available cos: Pathetic, Nate, real pathetic.

And this is the first week where I actually thought Chuck was cute. ... Wait, that was probably because he was wearing a mask. That may have something to do with it.

And, wish I could see what's so awesome about Blair. Tonight she just bugged.

Am I crazy or was the date of the guy Lily was trying to make jealous Caridee from ANTM Cycle 7??

Not the best episode. Too many "coincidences" like somebody already pointed out. Vanessa taking Jenny to the party, Dan lying twice, everyone mistaking Jenny for Serena, Dan stumbling into the drunk dude to be able to get in, etc, etc.

Vanessa... How can anybody be so self centered to show up in somebody's life after a year and think she's still the queen of said person's heart? She didn't even bother finding out what was going on presently in Dan's life. How is she any better or less pretentious than Serena or even Blair? To me, she's worse.

The apology was lame because she already had jeopardized Dan's relationship with Serena. I hope the character improves.

My favorite part of the episode was, for crying out loud, Lily and Rufus.



I'm so happy so that I'm not the only one. I have a history of hating that type of character, but she just brings it to another level of pathetic. I'd love for her to pursue what she wants without losing so much dignity in the process and if that's not possible, which it isn't with Blair, then I don't want to see it. She annoys me with her constant need to be Blair, you're not! Move on.

And the worst offender of the night? The ball. I'm already getting very tired of the show needing some sort of party to get their drama together. Six shows, six parties. How original.

It's Josh Schwartz. What did you expect?

I just don't really care about the Serena/Dan relationship. Maybe I will in the future but right now it just kind of bugs me. Mostly because I think Serena is way too good for Dan. I was so happy when she decided to go with that other guy to the ball, but of course he has to turn out to be a jackass so we can all see how great Dan is. Except Dan isn't great, he's a bitch who thinks he's better than everyone and everything.

And I don't like Vanessa at all. She's just a girl version of Dan. So, I guess she is Anna. But in this case I want Anna/Vanessa to get the guy, because they deserve each other. They can act like they're better than everyone together.

Oh and Dan and Vanessa's last scenes weren't like Seth Ryan time at all, because Seth Ryan time is awesome, Dan Vanessa time is not. Lol.

And another person who is too good for her bf is Blair. God, she needs to just move on already, because seriously she could do way better as well. Nate is just so pathetic and if he wasn't so pretty I'd probably be way more annoyed with him. I too laughed when his dad blamed the coke on him. Ha.

Pretty good episode, though, and I love this show.

I didn't know what to expect since I never watched The OC, but wow, I'm getting fed up rather quickly. I still like the show, but man, boring.

I watched Season 1 and 2 of the OC then got bored, but I remember Anna now.

I don't think Vanessa is anything like Anna, Anna was likeable and she didn't try too hard like Vanessa seems to be doing.

Yes, that was Caridee English who played Bart Bass' date. Couldn't believe it. She did an AWFUL job though! Her reactions weren't appropriate for the situation, I didn't think. Oh well. I did root for Caridee to win so I like her -- but was so surprised to see her tonight. Bart reminds me of Caleb on the OC.

And yes, Vanessa totally is a Theresa, IMO! The actress' looks did NOTHING for me and her personality was so smug and pretentious in her reverse snobbery. UGH. Cannot stand her and will be glad when her time on the show is ovah.

Dan looked cute tonight. Even liked his little cardigan. Rufus and Lilly were GREAT together. Kelly has never looked better and the guy who plays Rufus just keeps growing on me, especially when he doesn't wear his little leather necklace!

Poor Nate. I felt sorry for him tonight. I really did. His dad is a M-E-S-S.

Love this show. With Dirty Sexy Money and then Gossip Girl on back-to-back on Wednesdays, I am in escapism heaven!

For me, Vanessa is Theresa. An old GF/plot device for the main couple who is from the same background as the guy and shares all his childhood history and knows his family, and who was separated from him and is now coming back into his life fully expecting to be right back where they were with him as devoted to her as ever. Go away Vanessa/Theresa.

I adored the first scene of B and S on B's bed. Leighton's facial expressions were hilarious during the phone call. It looked like S slept over? So cute. And then B was sending her minions to get S the hottest date ever because that was what she deserved. Blair may have an incredible bitch side, but her absolute love and dedication to those she loves- her mother, Serena, Nate- is remarkable. It makes Serena's betrayal, her mother's lack of maternal skills, and Nate's not loving her back all the sadder to me. Especially since it seems she doesn't let many get that close. Though who could blame her considering the actions of those she does?

I liked Serena/Dan tonight. I loved that her response to his having another girl over was to just get another date. Yeah, she was jealous, but they didn't make her desperate or have lots of tears and clingy drama. They're growing on me. I also loved S with Jenny and when she was freaking out at Nate to go find Blair right after he told 'Serena' he wasn't over her. Hee.

Nate bores me but I almost felt for him at the end. Too bad that scene wasn't at the beginning before he bored me all night. Jenny I'm meh on. Sometimes she's fine, sometimes I just couldn't care less though I did pity her for doing Blair's bidding when I didn't figure she would get what she wanted.

I loved Rufus/Lily. His speech to her at the end about losing her was really sweet. I'm glad they didn't turn it too sappy though with her kissing him again or returning the feelings. Does Lily need a new rich husband? Or does she have her own money and just want one? They've called her a social climber and mentioned multiple divorces. I just don't get the whole Bart Bass thing.

The thing about Nate being less-than-exciting tonight? I guess I thought it was realistic and that's why I thought Chace Crawford did a good job of acting what Nate was just beginning to discover about his family life. If I were going through that concern that the bedrock of my family -- my dad -- was losing it in business, our family's financial security, and a very serious personal problem in the way of cocaine that I found hidden -- wow, I would walk around in a comatose state for a day or two with the world just kind of going on around me, exactly like Nate. I felt for him.

I like everyone's thoughts and the OC comparisons have me laughing because I was a avid OC watcher until about the 3rd season of the show.

This show is fun to watch and I know that it can be formulaic in plot and character. But it shows enough originality for me to keep wanting to watch, and it doesn't hurt the cast is all very pretty.

That being said, this episode was pretty good. The masquarade party was pretty cool concept but it kinda felt flat only because it was more of a symbol of these characters, and the whole mistaken identity was more like, been there done that.

I have really liked Serena and Dan. It is a little formulaic (ok, not a little, a lot) but I guess the two of them are pretty and I can sense that through the uncertiney they really do care about each other and like each other. Heck they are only suppossed to be teenagers and since they are, they are allowed to be a little jealous and a little over the top with their actions. The whole back and forth with their relationship can get grading but writers know tension is more important than stability in the long run. They may be happy and content now but you know it can't stay that way....which brings me to Venessa.

Like the actress but for the character? Not sure. I never read the books but from what I gather both her and Dan are similar people and in the show, don't really see it. Yeah sure both outsiders but what is Venessa's background? I mean no offense but how would she flock to Dan? Yeah I know they were friends forever but since there was no backstory and she just showed up totally randomly, can't really buy the long time friendship. (I saw the writers doing a more, oh we have to make a hurdle for Dan and his maybe relationship with Serena so lets bring in this Venessa girl and have her want Dan more as a friend.) Ooook that's fine but I guess I would like it more if they had seen and talked to each other at least on a daily basis so we could see the struggle of Venessa and find it more believable for her to be heartbroken to find Dan being with Serena.

Blair's grown on me. Love the bitchiness and the lonliness. Totally believable. She is the way she is because she just wants love and attention. She wants to give Nate a chance because he's the one from the beginning. She doesn't want to loose that part of herself. I think that's totally in character for her to want to keep trying. Of course Nate is a loser and he has no idea who he is. Though seeing the mom with the white stuff and his father denying it as his, is totally bad. Of course gotta have the parents who are losing everything and no one can know. But I do like the father having a drug issue, that is a little orginal.

I do like Jenny. I know some people don't but I think for a young girl shes strong and got it going on. She knows what she's doing. I like the way she played Chuck, classic. She is sneaky and fun. She is like Blair but I don't think she would go to extremes Blair would. Serena pointed out to Dan that she's a good person, she just wants friends. Plus she is only a freshman and who at that age doesn't want to be accepted and even more so, the cool, popular girls?

I adored Lily and Rufus. Even though they are adults, they can still do a little sizzling of their own. I would like to know their story and I know we are getting it in bits and pieces. I really hope it wasn't like a 'I have to walk away because of the different world' thing. That would be too obvious. I don't know how to make a breakup like that orginal but I really hope it's something unexpected. I do think it's weird if they were to ever hook up only because it's Dan's dad and Serena's mom. Sometimes I wish these families were independent of each other so these lines wouldn't be blurred between parent and children relationships but it makes sense of character development and moving storylines. (Oh and I do think Rufus (Matthew Settle) is pretty hot, I had a hard time seeing him at Dan and Jenny's dad since he's one of the reasons I watched "Into the West" mini series a couple of summers ago.) And he was totally awesome at the end of the episode, walking away. Lily is going to show up at his doorstep very soon!

Well, I think that's my thoughts about this episode and show! I hope to chime in more!

I think Vanessa is more Anna because like Anna and Seth, Vanessa and Dan like all the same things and have the same tastes in movies and music and books, and they hate/mock/think they're better than the people they live with/go to school with. Theresa wasn't really like that at all. I think the only way Vanessa is like Theresa is that she is an old friend, but Theresa didn't expect to be back with Ryan and didn't expect him to ditch his current girlfriend. So, I don't see them as anything alike really aside from the old friend thing. JMO, though.

I've been a rapid Gossip Girl fan since the first book came out while I was in high school, and was kind of afraid what they would do to the show. Once I become obsessed with something, I tend to get very protective. I was terrified the show would suck, and it would get canceled.

Seriously, though, they've done a great job. I haven't commented on any episodes so far, but after this one, I had to give my kudos.

1.) Blair is perfect. Perfectperfectperfect. They couldn't have gotten her any better. She's the epitome of the "poor, rich girl" stereotype, and instead of being played out or cliched, it really, really works. Marissa (from the OC) annoyed me to no end, and she bore the same title. The reason Summer (and now Blair) rock at life is because they don't try to pout and whine about who they are, they embrace it. The condescencion dripping off Blair's every word makes me want to cackle with delight, because we know how insecure the poor thing is. Serena and her "glitter crotch" (love it, JessicaLoveJoy) gets everything Blair wants in life. She's inexplicably magnetic and confident, something Blair lacks. And, the way Blair overcompensates is perfect. We can't hate her, even if she is the Queen Bitch, because she's way too amazing.

2.) TV Serena, though, while perfectly cast, just isn't fabulous enough. Where's the girl who could wander by a film shoot and just so happen to catch the director's eye and boot Angelina Jolie out of a starring role? Where's the girl who could smile at manager at Nobu and get the entire table complimentary? Yes, S is fab, but not enough. I suppose the glittery crotch of Serena Van Der Woodsen was just too...glittery for TV.

3.) Their relationship, though, Blair's and Serena's, is very well done. In the books, when they fought, they fought, but they could never stay away from the other for too long. They belong together--each balances the other out. I loved the scene where they were lying in bed togther because it was so...real. The scenes when Blair and Serena are just chilling together are some of my favorite.

4.) Guys, can you really complain that much about Nate? The poor kid is a Waspoid stoner to the max. I guess, though, that does make him complainable. (Is that even a word? Able to be complained about? Hm.) He can't deal with his problems, so he smokes up or runs away. (It's a shame they can't show that more in the show, because it would explain a lot of how he just stands around and stares at nothing.) I don't like though, how he's obsessed with Serena the whole time. Part of what made the books so dynamic was that he kept switching back and forth about who he loved better. One day, he was sure he belonged with Blair, but the next, the glitter crotch's siren song beckoned him. It's pretty typical of a teenage guy though--does any seventeen year old Adonis with weed tendencies know who he wants to spend the rest of his life with? I think not.

5.) Chuck is brilliant. I know a lot of people hate him, but I love him. His devil mask tonight was so perfect, so freakin' hot (pun!) that I just smiled to myself. Book Chuck made me want to throw things at him, but this Chuck is ten times better. I love how he's such a sleazeball, and I'm rooting for someone to tame him and make him into a "better" version of who he already is. (I echo the Blair/Chuck shippers. As wrong as it would be, what with Chuck turning out to be gay in the books, it would still be SO diabolically evil and amazing, I think it would usher in the Armageddon.) As messed up as it could be, I think he was intrigued by the way Jenny handled him. Most girls don't say no to him, partly because he can kind of be a rapist, but that's a part of his charm!

6.) Dan, while nowhere near as annoying as the books with "pale, shaking hands" and emo-tastic sayings, is still kind of...annoying. He's cute, but nowhere near Seth potential. I don't know. He annoys me. Maybe Serena can give him some social skills and sprinkle him with magical glitter. Honestly, my favorite scene he was in was the ones with Blair. Maybe Blair's "Kitten with a Whip" act just makes every person she comes in contact with that much more interesting. Hm. I almost hope he turns out to be gay, again, like in the books.

7.) I didn't mind Vanessa, or how they depicted her. I thought the actress was gorgeous, but the whole "long lost friend who the protagonist used to love" seems kind of played out. It's not the character most people hate, I think, but the situation. If they can think of a new situation, then it'd be interesting. I would love to see her become friends with Blair, like in the books.

8.) Jenny Humphrey is not as annoying as I thought she would be. I think the actress is super cute, and the whole Hey! I'm Cute and Innocent, so I'm Totally Not About to Axe Murder You! bit is super cute, too. Although, I didn't like her being subservient to Blair this episode. I liked when she grew the balls at the end of the last episode, and was hoping for more confident Jenny and not Kiss Ass Jenny. We'll see. If Blair/Chuck don't work out how I want, I wonder how he'd be with Jenny.

9.) Uhm, can anyone else holla at how amazing all the girls looked tonight? That's part of the reason I love this show, I think. I don't get tired of looking at these actors/actresses. Their styles and looks change every week, and it keeps things interesting. Blair looked amazing and Old-HOllywood-esque, just like we'd expect of her, and Serena was funky and magical in yellow. I LOVED CHUCK in the amazing red tux, but I probably don't need to keep repeating that. Haha. He actually reminds of David from "Sabrina" (Yup. Somebody had to throw out the Audrey Hepburn reference since the show is waay lacking. I'm also still waiting for the movies in Blair's head to come out in the show. That's where her little plans originate--like tonight's masquerade scavanger hunt. The poor thing's plans always play out beautifully on the silver screen in her mind, but in real life, they just don't fly when the leading man is high as a kite and thinking about glitter.) Whoever is the stylist for this show is brilliant.

10.) Two weeks is way too long to wait for the next episode.

So, this marks the second time (at least!) that Josh Schwartz has used Pynchon in one of his shows. The first time was in The O.C., when Seth meets Paris Hilton (in the first season, I believe), and she starts talking to him about Pynchon. It's obvious that a) Schwartz is a Pynchon fan and b) that Pynchon in Schwartz shows is shorthand for intelligence. Which isn't surprising - for most people, Thomas Pynchon is undecipherable (his prose /is/ pretty dense) and only really read in Academia.

But I think there's something else interesting about Schwartz's use of Pynchon. In the Paris Hilton episode, Pynchon evokes this unexpected encounter for Seth. Ie: Seth thought Paris Hilton was a duntz, and she surprised him by having read a Pynchon book (I can't recall which one at the moment). There's a similar affect occurring with Schwartz's use of Pynchon in his scripts. You're watching The O.C., or Gossip Girl, what is supposedly low-brow pop culture, and suddenly you discover that Gossip Girl knows who Thomas Pynchon is! It's an unexpected transgression of the high brow into the low brow... which is what has always struck me about Schwartz's writing. (Not that he gratuitously interjects high brow references but...) that he is taking an essentially low-brow medium (teen soap opera) and doing incredible things with it. This episode for example, which is laden with social encounters - identity questions (the entire masquerade, obviously) - questions of class (Vanessa V. Serena and who is the obvious villain/hero?) - and just brutally funny dialogue. It's the interjection of "art" into what appears to be consumable low brow trash.

Which is ideal for Pynchon - who is very concerned with the low brow and pop culture. I didn't read his latest book, but Gravity's Rainbow and V deal with nose jobs, conspiracies, urban legends, foul mouthed sailors, etc. And Pynchon /is/ dense reading, because you have to unpack everything he discusses. I think Schwartz is hitting a similar note, and as such, him mentioning Pynchon is less of a reference than an homage. The O.C. and Gossip Girl are Schwartz literally doing Pynchon.

And if I'm reading too much into it, that isn't an issue either. Because obviously Schwartz realizes that by merely name-dropping Pynchon, he's raising the bar on what can be cited on a teen soap opera. So even if he isn't intentionally evoking Pynchon, he's still unintentionally doing so. AND Gossip Girl is brilliant on its own accord as well (and this last episode, I think, deserves its own dissertation).

Anyhow: Loved Blair, loved Dan, loved Chuck, loved Jenny. Thought Serena was so-so. Disliked Vanessa (too preachy, too much like Dan in his bad moments), and disliked Nate (sad sack of the year award. Whoever compared him to Marissa was dead-on). Actually, I didn't get the whole Vanessa thing at all. Dan confessed his love to her, and in a Serena-esque move (the parallels were too obvious to miss) she moved away. Now she came back and is surprised that people have moved on without her? Dan must have been an enormous loser for her to imagine that he'd still be moping over her. (Also - I thought the Blair-Jenny dynamic was kinda weird. Didn't they have that whole thing last week? So why was Jenny back to silent brooding when Blair said she couldn't go? I would've expected her to at least argue about it. It seems like not all the characterization is completely consistent.)

Agreed! Too girly, too flimsy, too....trying too hard.

Loved Little Jenny Humphrey though. And I totally buy the handmaiden crap...you've got to remember, it's Blair we're dealing with, here. Did you really think she'd let a freshman vie with her for the Queen Bee status? Nu-huh. She acknowledge that Jenny won the last battle.....but in the end, Blair is going to win the war. So she sucked Jenny in with promises of lunch on the steps, and implied promises of going to the ball - which Jenny with her big ol' Bambi eyes (seriously, did you see how big her eyes were behind that mask? She looked like a Bratz doll!) totally bought - and then bam! Shut down, and Blair reigns supreme. Or so she thinks.

Also loved Jenny getting back at Chuck - and that Chuck almost seemed to respect her when he found out who she was. Almost.

I was thinking she's what Dan would be if he wasn't full of shit. When Vanessa went into the party and Jessica Szohr (whom I mostly liked in the role; she was over-smiley but I *think* that's Vanessa trying too hard and not Jessica doing a bad job—I guess we'll see) gave this little eye-roll with her body, you could totally see her thinking "God, what sort of idiots go to these things?" Whereas Dan would totally be thinking "God, what sort of idiots go to these things? And how come Serena hasn't invited me yet?"

I think I like Vanessa. Yes, she's a reverse-snob, but she owns it. When Dan "joked" about having the limo back at his place (oh yeah, Dan, you'd never have anything to do with a limo! You totally didn't spend all your money on one to try and impress Serena last episode!) and Vanessa jumped on that with "let's egg it!", you could see him cringe just a little. The boy is just not cut out for *real* class warfare.

That's not to say I necessarily disagree with this:

But considering that it pretty much describes Dan's current girlfriend, too, I won't condemn Vanessa just for that.

And for those who need an Anna Stern visual, the actress (Samaire Armstrong) is currently playing Juliet Darling on Dirty Sexy Money.

If I were in Nate's situation and found out my psycho dad was a coke addict, I wouldn't really be into a scavenger hunt either. I would have liked to see him and Blair talk about it...and the whole still not ever Serena thing might not be so pathetic if they actually had some chemistry together! I'd like to see Nate blow up or show some emotion beyond blinking once in awhile.

Overall, average episode vs awesomeness of last week's.

Vanessa seems too much like a plot device right now, so I could see myself getting annoyed with her. Hopefully the show won't center on the love triangles or squares or whatever, I could see meaningful friendships and long term relationships being developed.

Blair wasn't as Blair-ish tonight, but loved her insistence on finding Serena a date. Awesome.