54 replies to this topic

[Bunny LaJoya]

From the Gossip Girl Wiki:

Serena (Blake Lively) and Dan (Penn Badgley) realize that they need to make amends with the people they have wronged. Blair (Leighton Meester) has one last chance to prove to her mother her worth as a fashion designer and with Serena's help, comes up with a plan to make her line the "it" look for Sage (Sophia Black-D’Elia) and her friends. Chuck (Ed Westwick) is close to getting the evidence he needs against his father, until one of his closest allies reveals his plan to Bart.

[EBStarr]

Wow. When I saw the dark, dramatic "We can't be together" preview I thought, maybe Chuck and Blair have just found out they're siblings via the infamous microfilm. Maybe Chuck just found out he has six weeks to live. Maybe Chuck raped Blair's mom. Maybe they've come up with something interesting to hold off the great (ahem) Chair reunion besides.... the same old same old.

Whatever. At least Ivy put the most sublime sarcasm in her voice when she talked about his Oedipal complex. That plus the fact that she's clearly about to be screwed over by whatever Baldwin makes me ... almost ... like her? Or at least not despise her?

I like the idea of Dan being flat-out evil. At least that's an actual twist. Although it will probably be totally negated by minute five of the next episode.

Blair said something to Chuck like, "My faith in you is what inspires me to fix this mess." I can't remember the exact words--presumably someone else will. Whatever it was, it was gross. It's like she's lost all sense of her individuality and agency in her quest to, I don't know, make Chuck want her more than he wants his daddy's approval, or something. But I loved that Serena told Blair the truth she's been needing to hear**, that she needs to stop counting on schemes and have the confidence to stand behind her talent and her talent alone. Score one for BFFs! And Serena's outfit was rather fantastic in that scene.

**Or at least it would be the truth if Blair had a shred of talent. On the other hand, in a universe where someone who penned the line "Blair has faces. She has different faces" is supposed to be a brilliant writer, I don't really think the statement "You have talent" made towards anyone has any truth-value, positive or negative.

Edited for link error

Edited by EBStarr, Nov 27, 2012 @ 12:29 AM.

[gingercharm21]

If I have to hear the word minions one more time....get the hell over yourself Blair.

[kjgriffy]

I honestly think this is one of the stupidest shows on TV right now.

The early seasons were fun because the high school environment was a self-contained world upon its own with its own set of rules. But when they graduated, it started downhill and just keeps getting worse and worse. Apparently the business and literary world is nothing more then a playground for a bunch of twenty-something university drop-outs.

The series finale can not come fast enough!

[azazel]

Did Chuck seriously say he was going to "vanquish" his father? Vanquish? Seriously?

Edited by azazel, Nov 27, 2012 @ 12:45 AM.

[RachelKM]

Did Chuck seriously say he was going to "vanquish" his father? Vanquish? Seriously?

Ha Ha Ha!!! Right? So ludicrous.

Also, what the fuck was that? We made a pact and I didn't fulfil my side? At least when Blair made a pact with God, it was WITH GOD. Chuck, it was a stupid pact with yourselves with self imposed rules you can mutually agree to withdraw from at any time you idiot. When Blair was looking at that ring, I really thought for a moment she was done. I realize now that the only bigger fool than Blair in that moment was me.

I did feel a little sorry for Chuck about Lily seeing how that's his only relationship on the show I've ever really enjoyed.

Ivy was actually entertaining when she had the Bass men sitting on the couch like boys outside the principal's office. WvdW is so going to screw her over. I would care, if I... cared.

Finally, after 6 seasons, Nate has a story and it's related to a A plot .... and his role is Bart's Bitch.

S&B moments were good, I guess even if it is insane that suddenly Blair is a designer like it's that easy.

Can't make myself care about Dan & Serena Part V: Epic Love in Time Lapse.

Edited by RachelKM, Nov 27, 2012 @ 1:38 AM.

[Somebody]

Ugh Chuck again with his whole dad thing? Just get over it. Move on. I laughed when Chuck said he'd double whatever Bart would pay Ivy. So you'll double your dads money offer with...more of his money? Stupid. Why doesn't Bart cut him off?

Blair is gross. Please get a life Blair. What a great relationship she has(or wants to have), she feels like shit at a moment she should be super happy. As a former Chuck and Blair fan I can now safely say I hate both characters and wish at least one of them would die? Lol.

Horrible episode. Horrible show. This show is probably the worst show I'm watching right now and I'm still watching craptastic Glee. If there wasn't 4 episodes left I would delete this from series recordings.

[Petunia13]

Poetic justice Dan's totally using Serena. And she fell for it. But what can she expect looking for a "life boat" in a man habitually. For goodness sake she jumped right from Steven to him in moments.

What will he get out of it? Revenge? It certainly won't impress Blair.

Blair's makeup and wardrobe (in particular the head bands and eyeshadow) aren't doing her favors lately. I'm over Chuck and her romance. Why the hell would his beef with Bart negate him being with her? His ego. Ugh.

Ivy is really stupid. She's getting played and her "love" doesn't give a damn he encouraged her to boff Rufus.

Lily was dumb to burn the microfiche. Her blind loyalty to a cad and crook makes zero sense.

I see the future and it gets uglier. I predict Dan and Serena have a wedding. Then he humiliates her at the alter and runs off with Blair when she realizes Chuck will never prioritize her.

[pjamma]

Apparently the business and literary world is nothing more then a playground for a bunch of twenty-something university drop-outs.

I would agree except I just read an article about the kids from Laguna Beach and they have clothing lines, book deals and executive titles at media companies. Even Casey is the queen of cupcakes. All of them got where they are because of money and connections like our GG teens. The only difference is the LB bunch got famous for being on a reality show , however, in the GG universe being on Gossip Girl is the equivalent of being on a reality show.

[RachelKM]

I would agree except I just read an article about the kids from Laguna Beach and they have clothing lines, book deals and executive titles at media companies. Even Casey is the queen of cupcakes. All of them got where they are because of money and connections like our GG teens. The only difference is the LB bunch got famous for being on a reality show , however, in the GG universe being on Gossip Girl is the equivalent of being on a reality show.

Holy shit that is depressing.

[Alkja]

Did Chuck seriously say he was going to "vanquish" his father? Vanquish? Seriously?

Now I'm imagining poor Chuckles poring over a Book Of Shadows and busting out a ridiculous, not-rhyming incantation only for Bart to sneer that for that to work he needs the Power Of Three. Good luck finding those long-lost siblings of yours, mwah ah ah ah!

I laughed when Chuck said he'd double whatever Bart would pay Ivy. So you'll double your dads money offer with...more of his money? Stupid. Why doesn't Bart cut him off?

Sheer entertainement value, I'd guess. After some years spent hiding in an international traveling brothel, you have to have weird standards for amusements. Bart probably wakes every day grinning and wondering "Whatever dumb shit will my offspring do today? Could this be the day he realizes it's always my money going around?"

I see the future and it gets uglier. I predict Dan and Serena have a wedding. Then he humiliates her at the alter and runs off with Blair when she realizes Chuck will never prioritize her.

Sorry, I don't agree. The sheer soap opera-esque trashiness of that scenario would instantly elevate this entire miserable season for me. When the end is coming, it's time for the crazy clichés to come out and party: only thing even better than that would be an evil twin popping up. Or maybe forgotten Pilot Inspektor coming back as a psychopathic serial killer.

Edited by Alkja, Nov 27, 2012 @ 4:16 AM.

[Ginandtonic]

The Don schoolgirls, Serena wants to be friends with Blair again, Ivy’s partner is William, Chuck breaks up with Blair. Again, Rufus is an idiot, Serena wears another WTF dress, & Dan is evil. This show sucks.

[StarForeman]

I know I won't get what I want but I want ivy to succeed. Dan and Georgina to be happy. Nate to marry a guest star maybe ms. Bell? And everyone else to all be in the same elevator at the empire when the brakes release and they are killed in the resulting accident.

[Petunia13]

The Don schoolgirls, Serena wants to be friends with Blair again, Ivy’s partner is William, Chuck breaks up with Blair. Again, Rufus is an idiot, Serena wears another WTF dress, & Dan is evil. This show sucks.

I so agree.
Serena really is trying hard with Blair. I suspect B only forgave her because she needed her AND she's so hung up on Chuck she didn't care too much S did Dan the same place as Nate and filmed it out of spite.
Rufus is a drip.
Chuck's being a dick.
Serena was wearing a very over the top dress for the event. It looked like something a popster would wear to the Grammys. Other episodes she wears outlandish stuff too. I recall a morning scene with Sage where she was covered in sequins and large jewelry for their stroll to her school or something. Um? Ok.

Dan is evil. And still in live with Blair. They'll prolly spin this someway to get her back to him.

[Light of Night]

Poetic justice Dan's totally using Serena.

Is he? I don't think he himself knows what he's going to do. However, my belief that Serena is making a bad mistake (as Nate warned her) is confirmed.

On the other hand, I have no doubt that William is about to screw Ivy over. I'm almost sorry for her.

Wow. When I saw the dark, dramatic "We can't be together" preview I thought, maybe Chuck and Blair have just found out they're siblings via the infamous microfilm. Maybe Chuck just found out he has six weeks to live. Maybe Chuck raped Blair's mom. Maybe they've come up with something interesting to hold off the great (ahem) Chair reunion besides.... the same old same old.

True, and LOL.

[StarForeman]

Why is Dan evil in this ep? Nothing he wrote was untrue and these people are horrible people that he is writing about.

Even after all the bs he tried to help Nate and chuck get the evidence.

[EBStarr]

Why is Dan evil in this ep?

I interpreted the last scene to mean that he was reuniting with Serena only to get fodder for one last extra-bitchy expose. True he could've been telling Georgina that to get her off his back, but the ominous music that was playing at the end and Gossip Girl's even more ominous little quip about the light being so bright that it's all you can see said to me that something was rotten in Danmark.

[Aftershock]

Poor Blair, such a lost cause. Go out a meet a good looking man that wants to be with you, why are you crying over that loser. I suggest going back to college and getting a good shrink also. Burn those headbands too, they do nothing for you.

Nice to see Chuck is still petulant and delusional this week. Why can’t they show him being there for Blair? So selfish and self cantered. Their trojan efforts to destroy Dair would be more convincing if instead of telling us Chuck is better than Dan, they’d show us. Chair is essentially all tell and no show though, so it comes as no surprise. This ploy only hammers home the fact CB have no substance whatsoever, another ‘we can’t be together’ scene, SHOW why they should be together. Nifty way of masking CB chemistry issues, I’ll give them that.

Dan is the anti Christ. Nice act all these years Dan, but the cat is out of the bag now. Good god who are they fooling. Dan is pretty awful this season but he still head and shoulders above the rest.

Cackling at Dan playing Serena, at Blair being so flippant about Dan, I love it all. Makes it so easy to write off this ooc mess of a season. This should be a lesson to other shows to stay off Twitter.

[manbearpig]

The further we get into this season the more worried I get about the series finale. Don't really see how this mess can be fixed in three episodes.

Chuck and Blair broke up again. Well, as much as you can break up with someone you aren't technically going out with. Eh...

I was really enjoying the scenes between Dan and Serena, and so I did not appreciate the twist that he's only using her to get more material for his articles. Only started liking Dan again because of his screentime with Serena in the past few episodes, and now they've already undone that.

Eh. At this point I'm only watching for Serena and Georgina, and the hope that Serena and Blair will reunite and have actual friendship-y scenes together. Their reunion this episode was a little odd though, I don't really understand why they made up at this point, maybe something more serious should have happened to bring them back together. It felt a little hollow or something. At this point I'm just glad they'll (presumably) have some happy scenes together in the next few episodes.

Edited by manbearpig, Nov 27, 2012 @ 8:22 AM.

[ElectricBoogalo]

I have decided that the best way to watch the rest of the season is to pretend that it's a wacky sitcom without a laugh track. Chuck busts in on half naked Ivy and Bart? Wah wah waaaaaaah!

At least this way the show will be entertaining instead a fucking mess. I can't believe that after the complete lack of plot for more of the season, they decided to have everyone trying to doublecross everyone else every 30 seconds in this episode. It's like the writers thought first we'll lull the five viewers we have left into a false sense of security by boring them to sleep for six episodes, then BAM! We will try to confuse the shit out of them by having every character try to cross, double cross, and triple cross at least five characters in one episode! Then we'll go back to no plotlines until the series finale.

So Dan went through this whole charade just to get more material for his book/series? I mean, I guess at least he's finally realized that he's a crappy writer and people only want to read his stuff because it's behind the scenes stuff about rich people so he needs more access in order to keep getting paid. Or maybe he's in it for the long con so that he can be a kept man like Rufus was with Lily.

I love how most of the things that happened in this episode were a result of each person reacting to someone else being a dick to them. Rufus stole the film because he found out Ivy was cheating on him. Lily burned the film because she thought Chuck was lying to her. Nate told Bart about Chuck's plan because Bart threatened to expose his Archibald gene for making up numbers. Sage wanted to sabotage Blair's pop up shop because she knew she got played.

Chuck's woe is me/we can't be together pity party was so lame. He's already loaded, so why can't he just be happy knowing that he has the means to live comfortably for the rest of his life and forget about his dick of a dad? How does he have any money anyway? Did he inherit Bart's estate when Bart was pretend dead? If so, wouldn't that revert back to Bart once he reappeared? Or was there a trust fund that was set up (independent of Bart's will) so that he'd be independently wealthy once he turned 18?

The one person I felt bad for this week was Chuck and only because when he was telling the truth, Lily thought he was lying and turned her back on him. She really was the only family he ever had. I guess we can sort of give him Nate, but since he betrayed Chuck this week too, that doesn't help. You'd think that he would turn to Blair now that he's lost Lily and knows what Nate did, but instead he says now they definitely can't be together?

I do wonder what happened after Nate confessed to him. Did he say, "Ehhhh, I know Bart can be a dick so don't worry about it," or did he say, "Nathaniel, you of all people should know that my problems dwarf all other problems and you chose to save yourself instead of helping me continue my pointless quest to vanquish my father which I cannot forgive you for"?

ETA: Why didn't someone in the prop department put Blair's engagement ring on a longer necklace? She was going cross eyed and giving herself a really unattractive double chin trying to look at it.

Edited by ElectricBoogalo, Nov 27, 2012 @ 8:35 AM.

[LizaJane]

I thought that was great. Silly and awful and hilarious and fun and sad, and I really enjoyed it. Enjoyed it more than any of the earlier episodes. Chuck wasn't just spiralling downward over not besting Bart, but over twin betrayals by the two people who had never let him down: Lily and Nate. That was painful. I have gone back and forth on Bart; mostly he is cartoon villain with Chuck, but then he seems reasonable away from him, as if the generative gravity of Chuck's sheer Chuckness is somehow warps Bart's persona like those fisheye lenses. But this episode, once again, ugh, Bart, total ass. You are the fifty year old. Chuck is the weird obsessive product of your shitty parenting. Be an adult.

And man. Poor Nate. At least his Dad had drugs as an excuse for his ponzi scheme. Nate had: I'm foolish, never took accounting, and wanted to keep my Internet Thingy going. That is so sad. All this for an Internet Thingy.

Loved the bits between Serena and Blair, and the ultimate resolution that Blair does not need schemes to succeed, but instead merely schemes to supplement her success. I mean, accepting the idea that Blair is a Wunderkind of fashion, okay, within the context of the universe of this shoe. Serena was great in those scenes, breezy and reassuring and pouty and fun. And holy heck, her clavicles in that dress.

Finally, while I would love to be done with the Sudanese Oil Scheme, I think that it is a stand in for something bigger, and I suspect that maaaaybe Lily saved a few of those microfilms for her own self. I mean, she cannot expect that a dude who spent three years pretending to be dead in a traveling sex carnival has clean hands and surely there is a certain degree of Waspish self-interest that would make her hang onto a few sheets of microfilm.

Also microfilm! WTF. IT IS 2012. Could we at least make it a thumb drive?!?! I mean, creating microfilm requires pretty specialized equipment, as does copying it and even viewing it. Hahahahaha. MICROFILM. For BxWaldorf, I want the next set of dresses to all be made of microfilm, with like one dress and Nate's tie containing the INCRIMINATING MICROFILM and a wild scramble to disrobe Nathanial Archibald where he thinks it is just the zombie return of all his many lost loves. Then Chuck wins, and can VANQUISH his daddy, and maybe Serena gets that making Moon Eyes at Dan Humphrey is not a good thing, or is perhaps the best thing, and Dan Humphrey learns to write a coherent and compassionate sentence, the end.

Edited by LizaJane, Nov 27, 2012 @ 10:18 AM.

[Petunia13]

I wondered if she was going to place the ring on the bar. Or better yet, throw it in his face.

They don't have much time to wrap this train wreck up.

[TiffanyNichelle]

So many conflicted emotions. I enjoy Ivy wanting to take down Lily but she really shouldn't get on her high horse since she was a con artist and Lily didn't take away any home, family, or friends that were actually Ivy's. Also Ivy didn't take Rufus, Lily threw him away.

Lily has screwed over Chuck in favor of the husband who happily faked his death and let his family mourn him. But look on the bright side Chuck, at least Lily is treating you the same way she treats her other kids. They mean so much to her until the next shiny man comes along.

Dan and Serena give me whiplash with how quickly they're back together. I hate that Serena expected Blair to forgive her instantly after she made Blair practically grovel for her attention when she was with Steven (who?). I had a feeling it was suspect that Dan was on his apology tour before there was a Serena chapter. Of course knowing this show it'll be the biggest, sweetest, mushiest love letter to Serena. No way is he telling the truth about her.

Blair thrives on high school crap as always. Maybe if she didn't scheme and plot and plan instead of letting her work stand on its own she could get through something without having a freakout over her plans unraveling. She's lucky high school girls are fickle.

I knew Ivy was working with Billy Baldwin because I saw a picture of that embrace outside the car when they were filming. Poor sad Rufus. How dare she insult the waffles!

Edited by TiffanyNichelle, Nov 27, 2012 @ 11:27 AM.

[Sailing]

I hate to say it, but I kind of enjoyed this episode. Lots of double crossing (though not all of it sensical), the main cast interacting, and finally a plot that actually moves forward! If I didn't know this show and the writers better, it would almost feel like we were headed somewhere, like maybe a series finale?

Blair's meteoric rise as a fashion guru for teenagers is nothing short of ridiculous, but par for the course for this show where dumb 20somethings run media and hotel empires. If given more time, I'll admit that I can actually buy Blair as a successful teenage fashion designer because she's perpetually stuck in that high school world of minions and headbands. Disappointed to see the return of obnoxious Sage, but I'll have to admit I had a chuckle at the convening of the "five families" (complete with cheesy Italian music) and these Blair knockoffs calling each other Don Schoolname. Ha!
I'm happy she and Serena are friends again, but like another poster commented, the reunion felt rushed and hollow to me. They didn't really resolve their issues, Serena just helped Blair with a scheme and that was enough for forgiveness for both of them. Regardless, they're the heart of the show, so I'm willing to overlook the shoddy resolution it took to get them to that point.

I felt for Nate being blackmailed by Bart, but couldn't help snickering at Chace's attempt to drunkenly slur his words at the end. Oh, Chace, such a bad actor but so much with the pretty. At least your limited screentime means you're not hated with the fire of a thousand suns like most of the characters on this show.

I'm annoyed that Chuck and Blair are unnecessarily split up AGAIN and GG not so subtly hinted at Dan being evil, but only because I don't know how these inept writers are going to clean this whole mess up in 3 episodes.

[JewelsandGold]

Oh cool, Chuck dumping Blair's ass again. Please show, give me something original thanks.

[azazel]

The further we get into this season the more worried I get about the series finale. Don't really see how this mess can be fixed in three episodes.

I have no doubt the series finale will be a bunch of tacked-on endings that will be completely unsatisfying given the character development thus far.

Chuck: I've decided we can be together, Blair.
Blair: Yay, finally. I forgive all the crap you've done to me. I'm sure you're done with your constant mommydaddy issues and now you're ready for a relationship.

Dan: Serena, I want to be with you.
Serena: Yay, finally. This totally makes me feel secure after six years of an on-again, off-again relationship.

The end.

[kfried]

Blair's meteoric rise as a fashion guru for teenagers is nothing short of ridiculous, but par for the course for this show where dumb 20somethings run media and hotel empires.

Yes! This.

I hated that Serena was pointing out to Blair how she was about to "get everything [she] ever wanted." Since when (besides this season) has Blair cared about fashion design? She's never once mentioned it, and yet this is supposed to be the fulfillment of a life-long dream? Not buying it. The fashion editorship thing at W a couple of seasons back actually made total sense to me since B is definitely a style dictator and critic, but not a creative.

I hope they give Serena some direction before the series ends. She has no purpose whatsoever. At least pretty, pretty Nate has an internet thingie to screw up.

[DeLux]

Dan

LOVE: the idea that Dan is seducing Serena in order to write an expose on her. He's apparently master of the long-con.

I liked seeing Dan and Serena together this episode -- they were cute. But that'll just make it more fun when he rips away the curtain. IF he does. He might still be able to weasel his way into writing some crazy romantic chapter about Serena and ruin everything.

Bart

Is the best. I love how he's just SO OVER Chuck. There were only two things that rang false to me: 1. when he asked Chuck if he was leaving because Blair needed him to squish a spider. I don't ever understand when Bart makes fun of Chuck for being too into Blair, because wouldn't Bart be someone who would make Chuck suspect that Blair isn't that into *him*? Isn't he someone who likes making people feel like they should be more suspicious? 2. when Chuck said he'd double Ivy's payment. Come on Bart, at least say you'll stop payment on the check. That's just silly.

I'm so so so happy they brought Bart back though. He's my favorite character.

Nate

Forget the Archibald gene for cooking books, Nate has some sort of congenital need to be a ho. Hilarious.

Ivy

Thank you for hating Rufus. And explaining what the Lily takedown is about. And for being scared of Bart.

I didn't understand flouncing around with William out in the open -- why? just get room service! Especially since in the same episode Serena and Dan were able to keep their own relationship on the DL. But otherwise, Ivy's actions in the episode made sense, so I'm happy.

She's also getting set up to be screwed over, considering that William is horrible, so it's hard not to feel for her a bit.

Lily

I get why she burned the microfiche. I actually don't understand why it existed in the first place -- why keep records of your crimes?

I also don't understand why Chuck was so shocked that her ultimate loyalty was to his father. She's only Chuck "mother" because she decided to be with Bart, Bart was her #1 priority from the beginning of that relationship. And Lily always chooses her bfs/husbands over her kids -- isn't that the entire bone of contention between Lily and Serena/Eric?

I loved her lame little friendship pact with Rufus, though. And spiking chamomile. If you want something hard, why would you drink it with *chamomile*? Hilarious, and makes me think she's turning into Cici.

Blair

Her story couldn't take place in the real world, but I thought it was a lot of fun. I hate her makeup, too (it's like she's copying a 78-year-old dowager), but I actually liked the outfits and headbands -- Blair looks great wearing schoolgirl type clothes.

My only real problems were: the clothes just didn't look that good. From what we saw, they were actual school uniforms. Also, how were there so many outfits so fast? She spent so little time designing that line that even she said Serena had helped create it because she'd been at Constance, too. It didn't bother me a whole lot, but it seemed like the need to create a whole line in like one day would have been a stressor, too -- they could have at least mentioned it.

Also, when Chuck decided to be melodramatic at the end, I legitimately got angry at how passive Blair was. Blair, could you please call him out at least a tiny bit! Even just say, if I held up my side of the pact, why should I be punished! Or call into question whether Bart needs to be "vanquished." Now that Eleanor is back, Blair's actually doing *better* -- you'd think she could at least bring that up. It just pissed me off that it was such a one-way conversation, especially since what Chuck was saying doesn't make any sense.

And also because Bart pushes Chuck around with just about zero blowback from Chuck -- wouldn't someone like Blair see that weakness and exploit it? Wouldn't she see it as an opportunity to manipulate Chuck, too? I don't know, the whole thing is just infuriating.

Though all in all, I actually really liked the episode.

[Bunny LaJoya]

The way that the actor who plays Sage speaks is so aggravating. Does she have some kind of impediment or something? It's hypnotizing; I can't not look at it.

[ParadoxLost]

Before this episode I was beginning to expect a "they all become their parents and spawn the next generation of celebutaunts" ending flash forward in the finale. Inspired by Nate committing fraud, Serena sleeping with her Mom's one night stand, and Chuck being not that into Blair. The only way I can explain Chuck's celibacy, given everything up to this season, is that they've decided that fifteen years later, Chuck will leave Blair for another man ala Eleanor and Blair's dad.

Now I just want a Hamlet endning. Everybody dies. I hate this show.

I can't say I'm too mad that Dan is evil. At least it means his apologies to Chuck, Rufus, and Nate were fake.