Photos
Video
Dancing and Death on 'Gossip Girl': Bye Bye Bart?
Two weeks ago, we all gave thanks for a very emotional episode of Gossip Girl, with the possible exception of Vanessa, who you know is vegan and doesn't celebrate Thanksgiving because of the oppression of zzzzzzzz I'm sorry, what? Oh, right. Thanksgiving has come and gone and now we have even more to be thankful for: some sort of Christmas cotillion! I hope everyone wears masks again.
New York is a winter wonderland, and the girls are planning a high school charity ball, because of course. Blair has a file of potential dates, Chuck vetoes them all, and Serena has on her Liza-With-A-Z makeup, which can't be a good sign. Although Serena has gotten Aaron a first-edition Rilke for Hanukkah, he will not be attending the Snowflake Ball. Serena and Dan decide to not go together, but to each go alone, together, to the ball. Meanwhile, in the world where people are not enrolled in school, Jenny bitches to Vanessa about how bored she is with no schooling and no fashion career. She admits to Vanessa that she doesn't know what went wrong with Nate, and somehow Vanessa neglects to mention that she stole that letter last week, as Nate buzzes through on V's cell. Penelope arrives to commission a Snowflake dress from Jenny, who tells her she's very expensive. Rufus and Lily chair the decorating committee of the Snowflake, and Lily asks him to save her a dance; however, Bart arrives and tells his wife that they need to talk. Lily essentially tells him that she can't stop him from talking, and he tells her that he has fired his PI, and that he's sorry. I believe him not an iota. He says he'll be back from his Miami trip in time for the ball, and says that he would love to escort her.
Lexi, Aaron's ex, bitches about his pictures of Serena just as S and Dan walk through the door of Aaron's studio. Serena tries to be a good sport, eventually blackmailing Aaron into taking her to the Snowflake, while Lexi hones in on the chiseled cheekbones and blank stare of Dan Humphrey. Eeewww ew ew ew ew ew Nate and Vanessa kiss in close-up and please stop that. Gross. Ew. She is such a bitch! Nate asks V to be his date to the Snowflake, but she begs off because of Jenny; he persuades her with lots more gross kissing, while some wee shutterbug snaps a pic. Back in Brooklyn, Penelope asks Jenny what happened with her and Nate, just as GG publishes the photo of Nate and Vanessa kissing. Again: ew. Vanessa arrives at the loft to find Little J with a seam-ripper. Jenny shrieks, and Vanessa tells her that she will be attending the Snowflake as Nate's date. Burn!
Chuck, in camelhair, plays the Waldorf piano (not a euphemism) until Blair walks in dressed in a beautiful Mondrian-inspired dress; the two decide to pick each other's dates. If Chuck likes the date Blair chooses for him, she gets his limo for a month; if Blair likes her date, Chuck gets...DOROTA! Say it ain't so! Oh, that's spectacular. Aaron, Serena, Dan and Lexi awkwardly walk around Brooklyn, while awkwardness awkwardly ensues, ending in Lexi angling for an invitation to the ball. Aaron reveals that Lexi enjoys, ah, getting close on a first date. Serena makes the ew face that I, too, am currently making. Jenny delivers Penelope's dress to a jealous Penelope and Hazel, who warm to her when they learn that she and V are no longer friends. Iz prances out in a dress that turns, to her chagrin, entirely sheer under the lights: Jenny and the Headbands conspire to loan Vanessa the see-through dress for the ball. Jenny tells V she couldn't sleep and gives her the dress that she "stayed up all night" making. V tries to confess to J about the letter-thievery of Thanksgiving; Jenny scampers off before she can, and Vanessa tells Nate over the phone that she has a confession for him as well.
Serena boredly lacquers her nails while Blair natters on about her (absolutely killer) Louboutin peeptoes and her chosen date for Chuck. Serena worries about Dan and Lexi sleeping together before Aaron and Serena; she's "not rushing into anything", which...thank God, he's disgusting. Dan calls Serena to make sure she's ok with him taking Lexi to the ball, which she pretends to be. Of course, she propositions Aaron as soon as she gets off the phone. Dorota is culling possible Bass dates from her Facebook groups. Mom, Dad, if you read this, could I PLEASE have Dorota for Christmas? Thanks. Blair tries to describe Chuck's perfect woman to Dorota, and ends up inevitably describing herself. Lily calls her husband's secretary and learns that Bart is in a meeting with his PI. She tells the secretary that Bart should not come meet her at the ball.
Snowflake Ball! Teenagers wear rented tuxes and drink well drinks, and Little J's custom dress for Penelope looks like a bad Jessica McClintock, which is saying something. Chuck (in a rhinestone-encrusted velvet tuxedo jacket) and Blair introduce their dates to each other to discover that they have brought manques of themselves; the Chuck wannabe is even wearing a scarf. Lexi tells Dan that Serena and Aaron are going to share a sleeping bag tonight, and Dan chokes a lot. A beautiful Lily approaches Rufus and tells him that she's leaving Bart, and asks him for a dance. They hold each other, and more than Chuck and Blair, this is the love story that this show is most invested in, and by extension the love story that we most root for. Serena, beautiful in a sequinned nude dress with layers of tulle, moves into Dan's arms, and they try to negotiate their friendship, their exes, their currents, and their sex lives while holding each other close. Serena blanches when she learns that Dan will most likely be sleeping with Lexi later, because she assumed that Dan placed more value on sex than that. (Um, he's a 17-year-old boy, Serena.) Vanessa tells Jenny that she's breaking up with Nate in order to preserve her friendship with J. She then reveals to Nate that she took his letter to Jenny, then walks away. The Headbands turn a spotlight on Vanessa, and she stands there in her underwear while everyone laughs. Jenny chases after her with a wrap, but Vanessa leaves the ball.
Nate tells Jenny that Vanessa didn't deserve her public humiliation, and gives J the letter he sent. He tells her that those feelings he once had are no longer valid after her treatment of Vanessa. Chuck and Blair come across their respective doubles, kissing, having decided that they were meant for each other. Lily and Rufus sit outside in the snow and twinkle at each other. She asks Rufus to "tell her something he shouldn't." He hems and haws and come ON, Rufus! He tells her he let her marry Bart because he was afraid he couldn't give her what she needed; Chuck sees the two holding hands. He calls and tells his father, who is being accompanied from the airport by his PI, whom he did indeed fire: the PI tells him that he wants to tell him what he found out about Lily. At the ball, Chuck confronts Lily and tells her that his father is on his way, and that she owes Bart an explanation. Nate catches Vanessa at a cab (ha! she's a subway taker) and tells her that despite everything, he wants to be with her. They kiss as she cries, outside in the cold. Jenny watches them drive away.
Jenny is approached by the Headbands, whom she tells that Vanessa is twice the person that each of them are. Blair mournfully watches the dancers as Chuck asks her to dance; she asks him what the point is, what they even are to each other anymore. He tells her that they have tonight, and leads her out to the floor. Lily's phone rings with a restricted number and her face freezes. Dan tries to avoid being left along with Lexi: Serena asks if she can speak with him briefly. She apologizes for being so jealous, and the two of them really don't want to go home with their respective dates. He stops her and tells her that their first time together was the greatest night of his life; Lily rushes up frantic, looking for Chuck, and tells Serena that Bart has been in an accident.
Next week: blackmail, and Bart's funeral? OMFG.
Well, that was...hmmm. I can't help but feel like they're working awfully hard to keep throwing Dan and Serena together, and like they're working awfully hard to keep Chuck and Blair apart. And does anyone want to see Vanessa with Nate? Because ew, right? Discuss.
This was actually the first time that I didn't want Vanessa to choke on one of her freakin' soy lattes...interesting considering that she was pretty duplicitous throughout most of the episode. Really, the only thing that matters is that NatexJenny is over, a coupling 100000x more ew than NatexVanessa could ever be. Also, glad to see Little J is still vying for that coveted 'Worst Person in the World' title. Oh, and Serena? DUMP THAT DISGUSTING, SCRUFFY HUMAN SNOREFEST!
Ashleigh | Dec 1, 2008 10:38:19 PM | #like that there's still tension between serena and dan.
don't want to see nate with l'il J or vanessa. yeah vanessa is ewwwww YUCK....
I want to see Nate alone and miserable. He might be hot, but he is disgusting. He's already slept with every woman old and young in NYC.
tab | Dec 2, 2008 6:03:05 AM | #I wish they would keep Dan and Serena far apart and bring Chuck and Blair together.
T | Dec 2, 2008 6:12:13 AM | #I can not stand Vanessa! She just gives off a dirty feel. I liked Nate and Jenny together but I seem to be in the minority. I also like Dan and Serena and Chuck and Blaire. There are just not more characters for these people to hook up with!
Bo | Dec 2, 2008 6:17:27 AM | #Bo, you're not alone - I liked Nate and Jenny, at least better than Nate and V. I just thought the writers needed to show more of the relationship or attraction developing between Nate and J -- it just seemed to pop up too fast. Vanessa looked great last night (esp. in the dress) but I still do NOT like this character at all. And while J's prank was cruel, Nate sure did let V off the hook when she acted manipulative and mean by taking his letter.
Wish we could have seen a little more love with Chuck and Blair.
I so wish Bart wouldn't die. I kinda like him, and as much as I like Lily and Rufus, I kinda wanted to see her torn, in love with Rufus, but also really caring about Bart. Also, liked the scenes and relationship (or lack thereof!) with Chuck and Bart. Now he'll be gone but somethign else will keep Lily and Rufus apart.
Allie | Dec 2, 2008 7:19:57 AM | #I would like to see Nate and Vanessa hook up and see where it goes in the meantime I wish that Dan and Serena would stop dancing around and get back together already it's so clear that they both want to be together again! And I'm dying to find out what the big secret is that Chuck is holding out on!!
Brklyngirl1391 | Dec 2, 2008 7:26:03 AM | #I just watched all of season 1 and the first 11 episodes of season 2 this weekend.. And I have to say the Nate and vanessa progression feels very natural , way more so than Nate and little j. I don't know why everyone hates vanessa, although it could be that she's much different in the books.
Allthewine | Dec 2, 2008 10:24:59 AM | #I personally like V and nate...i think she is cute...Jenny on the other hand looks horrible with her new look...i really hate it and she look stupid with nate...i think the new guy with S is dirty looking...where do they find these ppl..i love love love chuck and B...so when will it come out that Rufus and lilly have a kid out there somewhere???
Linda | Dec 2, 2008 10:33:20 AM | #I really like V and nate together...i think she is very pretty...jenny looks horrible with that new hair and makeup...the new guy with S is dirty looking...and i love love love chuck and B
Linda | Dec 2, 2008 10:36:23 AM | #really like V and nate together...i think she is very pretty...jenny looks horrible with that new hair and makeup...the new guy with S is dirty looking...where do they find these ppl...i love love love chuck and B...when will they find out Rufus and lilly have a kid out there somewhere???
Linda | Dec 2, 2008 10:38:34 AM | #Sorry about all the post they didnt show up right away :(
Linda | Dec 2, 2008 10:41:34 AM | #First off- I want to thank Zap2It for putting the schedule in the e-mail. I would have missed last night's episode of "Gossip Girl", because The CW kept showing commercials for the return of all new episodes of "Gossip Girl" on January 5th.
Vanessa is too good for Nate.
Nate has no right to judge Jenny. So he chose Vanessa because Jenny basically disappointed him.
The dates that Blair & Chuck chose for each other was so funny and the fact their replicas wound up having a love at first sight relationship.
Looked like Nastia Luiken(sp?) had a great time in her only scene.
Is the P.I. dead, too?
Carly | Dec 2, 2008 12:49:44 PM | #I like Nate & Vanessa together and I am sick to death of Little J. She is a spoiled rotten brat with bad Carol Brady Circa 1972 hair and too much eye makeup.
And is it wrong that I want BOTH Lily & Rufus AND Dan & Serena back together?? Who cares if they're all related??
Shannon | Dec 2, 2008 1:22:04 PM | #Carly,
What scene was Nastia Liukin in? I looked for her, but I never saw her.
Shannon | Dec 2, 2008 1:22:59 PM | #Oh and one more thing ... can I just say how much I cannot stand Aaron. I really, really wish his character would just go away and never come back. *Shutters* The guy that plays him is just nasty looking.
Shannon | Dec 2, 2008 1:24:09 PM | #I could get behind a Nate and Jenny coupling if Jenny would bring back her old hairdo. I just find her hair and makeup so distracting. Vanessa holds no interest for me.
lil e | Dec 2, 2008 1:44:28 PM | #Now that Jessica Szohr and Ed Westwick are going out in real life, how long until Vanessa and Chuck start to date on the show?
I finally got a chance to watch this last night, and Chuck's doppelganger was gross. Blair's doppelganger was pretty, if a little dumb seeming.
And oddly, it was Serena who was overly judgmental, not Dan.
Oddly, Lily is my favorite character right now. Typically, the adult storylines are boring on these types of shows, but Lily is a layered, warm, compassionate character who continually makes choices based on the wrong criteria or on impulse.
Jen | Dec 3, 2008 9:09:55 AM | #The doppelganger dates were just meant to be funny, and it was funny how they fell in love at first sight. I know i may be the only one, but i like Dan's character, and i like Lily alot too!
Shannon,
Nastia Liukin was talking to Chuck at The Snowflake Ball and Blair shoved her and told her that Chuck was with her.
Carly | Dec 3, 2008 1:17:00 PM | #i will be really disappointed if bart is really dead. he's a great character and brings a ton to the show.
furthermore it made another fascinating layer in the lily story line and other than blair she is really the only character on the show that gets my attention...
sassinak | Dec 4, 2008 10:55:08 AM | #Little J and Nate together are cute. Dan is too wimpy and Serena seems kinda slutty. Really not a feasible couple. Vanessa would be pretty if her hair wasn't so gross. I would love to see Blair and Chuck together. Would be so ironic if the scheme-y ones had the best relationship for a while. Not the slightest bit interested in the old folk relations of Bart ->Lily-> Rufus. I consider those extra commercial breaks.
juandingo | Dec 4, 2008 5:20:28 PM | #I think this would be good couples for now...
Blair>Dan-it'd be surprising...
Chuck>Vanessa-makes sense...(even if him and Blair are clearly in love)
Serena>wanting Dan...
Lily>widowed and with Rufus...
Little J>Nate...it would be way surprising if they got eloped if she could convince Rufus to immancipate(think thats the wrong word) her...
...OH...
And if Blairs mom ended up dating Blairs dad again...or trying to convince him to go straight at least...
Zap2it Twitter Talk
