Photos
Video
'Gossip Girl': The Annual Van der Woodsen Family Diner Dinner
Last week on Gossip Girl, Blair gained a potential stepfather, Nate lost a surrogate family, Little J lost a home and a career, and Serena lost whatever self-respect she had left by traipsing around Central Park in her slip, like your grandma. I...wow. You know how I said Vanessa was the Oliver? Can Aaron Rose be the Oliver? Wait, wait, can they both be the Oliver?
Thanksgiving! Remember when Blair vomited her dinner up last year? So much fun! But then, family holidays always are, are they not? Blair bemoans the presence of Cyrus and his relatives and that her dad won't be coming to America this year. Serena is excited to introduce Aaron to her family, which ooks Blair out, as it does us. Dan approaches to ask if anyone's seen Jenny, since she isn't returning his or Rufus' calls; Serena reveals that Jenny has been spending a lot of time with darling Eric lately. Hey, speaking of! Jenny and Eric meet with a mediator to try to negotiate her emancipation, and Jenny is upset to learn that in the event of a divorce from one's parents, one's parents must be notified. Um. Thank God she's pretty. The Abrams clan is staging a protest at an Indian reservation, so Dan invites Vanessa to Thanksgiving dinner on the condition that she doesn't have to see Nate or Jenny, meaning that both will be assuredly present. Lily and Bass arrive home from a vacation to a phone call from Rufus looking for Jenny and/or Eric; Lily, seeing Jenny's bag by the door, quickly hangs up the phone. Anne and Nate Archibald walk into a friend's apartment to stay for Thanksgiving only to find the Captain is there waiting. Even Gossip Girl knows this is the time to sign off and find cover.
Nate glares at his father while the Captain asks him and Anne to move to Dominica to live with him. Is...is Anne expecting? Or perhaps the actress who plays Anne? She looks...different. And they're shooting her oddly. Regardless, Lily apologizes to Rufus as they walk along the water, saying that she truly didn't know she was harboring a fugitive fashionista. Rufus tells Lily to send her home, that she needs to be with family on Thanksgiving; Lily quickly and loudly states that Jenny has a family this Thanksgiving, and that it's her family. She really is really a mama bear whenever anyone gets in the way of someone she loves, isn't she. Serena worries about Aaron's fidelity via phone to Blair-bear, until he cooks S dinner and tells her he's now a one-woman man. Oh, also, he's a recovering alcoholic. And Serena says she doesn't drink anymore either. Oy. Eric awkwardly tries to prevent a run-in between Jenny and his parents, until Bart reveals that he has caught Eric's boyfriend cheating? Maybe? Eric runs to Chuck, who reminds him that Bart has a PI on staff to protect his family and holdings. As Eric flies out the door, Lily asks him to please invite Jenny to Thanksgiving.
Blair glowers at Cyrus as he devours her traditional pumpkin pie, and even has the chutzpah to criticize her spicing. She tears up to Eleanor that Cyrus wants them to eat Thanksgiving dinner at a restaurant, and Eleanor tells her that Cyrus has booked a table at Gramercy Tavern, and that the chef is making all of Blair's favorite dishes. Awwww. (Also, he is good, isn't he?) Blair runs to Dorota, who reveals that Cyrus proposed to Eleanor with a bajillionty-carat sapphire ring. Blair's face turns to absolute fury. Chez Van Der Bass, Lily attempts to cajole J into staying until she works things out with Rufus. Jenny politely excuses herself but leaves her bag, containing her emancipation papers, behind. Dan and Rufus peruse the aisles of Dean and Deluca for Thanksgiving groceries, where they run into Aaron buying a hostess gift for Lily. Dan stammers about how difficult it is to date Serena, and mentions Georgina and Serena's past addiction issues. Smooth, Humphrey. Real smooth. In the meantime, Blair throws a hissy fit and demands that Dorota leave the house with her, and Nate runs into Vanessa at Rufus' gallery, dropping off a Pixie's box set. He apologizes to V for alienating her, and everyone else in his life. Serena asks Chuck to not reveal her "recent history" to Aaron, while wearing honestly the shortest, tightest, most ill-flattering satin skirt in the history of terrible costuming. Aaron, of course, marches in being generally weird and mentions Georgina and oh my god! He's as judgmental as Dan! Crap. Serena, date grown-ups.
Lily calls Rufus, and Dan makes a weird face when he sees her name on the caller i.d. She tells Rufus that he needs to come over right away; he, in turn, tells Dan to tell Vanessa not to come over. Vanessa misses Dan's call because she is being interrogated by the FBI about Nate. Meanwhile, Chuck is ill-advisedly showing his brother the contents of their fathers' safe; while Eric is excited about the gold bars and the satellite phone, you and I both know he is about to find out something about his mother that nobody knows (except it's totally something about her and Rufus having a secret baby, right?) Chuck excuses himself to take a call from Vanessa, asking for his help with Nate, and he leaves to meet her at the gallery. The two of them ambush Nate, and introduce him to the FBI agent, who tells him that the Captain is planning to "kidnap" Nate in order to extort ransom from his Vanderbilt in-laws. Chuck and Vanessa tell Nate that he needs to sell his father out for his own freedom and happiness. Nate goes home to confront his father, who admits to the plan. He tells the Captain that if he turns himself in, he will still be his son. Otherwise...not so much.
Blair and Dorota march down the street, ignoring Britney's "Slave 4 U" hailing from Dorota's Blackberry, heading to feed the ducks at the duck pond. Rufus and Dan arrive Chez Van Der Bass, much to Bart's and Aaron's displeasure. Lily shows Rufus the emancipation papers as Aaron and Dan confront Serena; Dan takes the fall to protect Serena, and Aaron leaves to join his father at Eleanor's. Eric chooses that moment to enter with all of the Van der Woodsen files, which he found in the safe. Rufus tells Jenny that he won't contest her emancipation, and that he loves her. Jenny, in true Humphrey fashion, walks away. Annnnnnnnd here Lily and her beautiful children come, trooping down the stairs with their dossiers: Lily tells Bart that she could handle her privacy being violated, but not that of her children. (The kids haven't read the files, by the way.) Lily takes her kids and goes to "spend the day with her family." At the diner like last time! Aw. Serena has taken off on an "errand", and Eric tells his mother that he did read her file. She was institutionalized at the age of 19. Eric feels betrayed that she wasn't able to tell him before, but is sure that she'll talk when she's ready. Lily tearfully asks him how he got so wise, and he straightforwardly responds, "the nanny." Oh, Eric. Lily grabs her son for a "real" Thanksgiving dinner.
Serena arrives at the Waldorfs' looking for Aaron, and discovers that Blair is missing. She gives Aaron her Bart Bass dossier (ooh, strong move, kiddo) and tells Eleanor where Blair is before leaving. Blair and Dorota run into a sobbing Little J on the street, and Blair tells Jenny how lucky she is to have a family who fights for her. Just then, Eleanor pulls up in a cab and wraps her stole around a shivering Jenny. She talks Blair into coming home, and Blair agrees, on the condition that Jenny go home too. The Captain answers the door to surrender to the FBI to save his family while Anne sobs. Downstairs, Vanessa and Chuck wait for Nate outside the Archibald manse, where the electricity is being turned on. Vanessa tells Nate that she still...well, there's this whole thing with Jenny, and...Nate finally asks her out again, and she twinkles at him before leaving him with his boyfriend Chuck, who takes Nate out to get drunk. Aaron brings back the dossier unread, telling Serena that she will tell him whatever she feels she wants to tell him in due time. Eleanor marches Blair into the house to reveal Harold, who was Cyrus' surprise: she wasn't going to tell Harold about the engagement until he approved of Cyrus. Harold has brought a pie from France, and I will be damned if I'm not crying like a little girl right now. Rufus and Dan arrive at home to find Little J, sans horrible eye makeup, ripping up her emancipation papers. And Lily shows up at the door with Eric, telling Rufus that she can't think of anyplace that feels more like home that his house. Oh my god, I can't see the computer screen, you guys. Vanessa and Jenny are making up now because their friendship is more important than Nate, and they squeal. But wait...Vanessa sees the letter that Nate sent Jenny in a stack of mail, and opens it, totally trying to kill our Thanksgiving buzz. And Bart leaves his PI a message asking why Lily was institutionalized, while looking up at Rufus' window.
In two weeks: it looks like some sort of winter formal plus musical beds, plus SOMEONE TOTALLY DIES. OMFG and XOXO.
Well, it has been quite a while (read: never) since this show made me cry, but the last-minute one-two punch of Harold Waldorf plus Lily telling Rufus that he's her home just absolutely killed me. And in the spirit of Thanksgiving, I have only good things to say about this episode. Heck, GG herself took a night off from the snark. That doesn't mean that you need to, however...
No, no ... Aaron Rose is definetely the Oliver. I cannot stand that guy. And we cannot lump Vanessa in with him. Vanessa is likeable (although taking Nate's letter to Jenny wasn't very likeable). Can they just have him leave the show already and put Serena back with Dan?? And how is it that I love his dad (in a dad sort of way), but I can't stand him??
Also, can they please have Jenny's hair back to the way it used to be?? I hate that 1972 Carol Brady hair on her.
Shannon | Nov 18, 2008 8:43:06 AM | #I teared up, too! TG I'm not the only one. I felt a little pathetic.
Have you seen that commercial where people are asking directions, including two guys looking for the comic book convention? One has hair that is visibly longer on one side. He's wearing a cape, I think. That is what I think of every time Aaron comes on screen. Ugh!
Jen | Nov 18, 2008 1:06:10 PM | #i didn't get to see the epi, but at least i get to see this recap. thanks Jordan for your faithful recapping!
sounded like a good ep, although this show is going a little too crazy lately. i like all the main characters except vanessa. love the rufus/lily thing. and i agree about lil J's 1972 Carol Brady hair, yes please change it....
I swear, when we got the close-up of the racoon eyes and mullet hair, I almost vomited. Fugliest. Thing. Ever.
bitterboo | Nov 18, 2008 4:54:14 PM | #I noooo! how bad is Jenny's hair????? it look like they splattered a blond raccoon on her face!!!!!!
it was ok when...it was straightened but with a different cut
wtf is w/ the somebody's gonna die?!?! how do u no that?
i think dan is rlly annoying, the dress serena was wearing is DISGUSTING and that lily and rufus should ttly get 2gether!
u no u luv me
xoxo
AHHH. okay GG is pretty amazing i agree with what everyone said, Jenny hair and make-up not looking so good. Aaron don't like him at all and Vanessa starting to be the jelous stalking ex-girlfriend type, which is also not working. Chuck and Blair? I'm hoping they get back into that same with Dan and Serena i loved them together!:) Lily and Bart nope not working I think her and Rufus should hook up... AGAIN. Nate although he's great eye candy he's been making the episodes slow since things ended with the cougar.
p.s my name is actually Serena!:P
serena | Nov 24, 2008 10:43:40 AM | #The new look for J is reminiscent of Betsey Johnson.
Even J's fashion designs are similar. Betsey has been wearing her hair like that for over a decade. CHeck it out....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HC9XC8AJdys&NR=1
Betsey also ends each fashion show with a cartwheel .. Not bad for an old girl in her 60's.
Zap2it Twitter Talk
