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'Gossip Girl': He's Chuck Bass, and Nobody Cares
OMFG it's been so long I don't even know who these people are anymore! Just kidding. You know I watch all the Gossip Girl reruns. Tonight, Chuck loses his mind and attempts to swan-dive off the roof of the Palace, and Jenny loses her mind and attempts to reenroll at Constance Billard.
Dan wishes his (pink-petticoated) sister well on her first day back at Constance while looking at pictures of Serena tangoing, suspiciously solitarily, in Argentina. Eric walks Lil J to class as she tells him that she wants to be 15 again; he tells her that Uncle Jack (he better be hot!) is looking for the errant Chuck, who is literally smoking opium. Oh my god Chuck Bass is literally smoking opium. In a kimono. Kisses, show. Rufus searches for a sculptor and/or painter who may or may not be female, or maybe not. Blair attempts to make her way into the exclusive women's social society the Colony Club, practicing her speeches for Dorota, when she gets a text from Uncle Jack that he has found Chuck. Dorota races after Blair with coat in hand. The Headbands appear, all in matching winter white coats, to reprimand Nelly Yuki (NELLY YUKI!) for daring speak to Jenny. Eric points out that Nelly Yuki is "the new old Jenny Humphrey."
Serena greets Dan with the news that she dumped Aaron on the flight to Buenos Aires, and Dan's immediate reaction is to reprimand her for not telling him sooner. Oh, Dan. You're an ass. He kisses her, and all is briefly right with the world. Uncle Jack is, as expected, hot enough, and bears Chuck home from his
Bangkok den of iniquity. Rufus gets a call from child services and oh,
he's not looking for a sculptor, he's trying to find Lily's Love Child.
Blair and S shriek and play with each others' hair as Blair admits to Serena that she said the words to Chuck. (Serena's reaction? The same as Cyrus Rose's: "yay that's great!" People who love unquestioningly, on this show, are in very sparse company.) Lily arrives at Rufus' gallery and she tells him that she gave up the right to search for her son (son!) when she gave him up.
Pinkberry location shoot! How 2007! The Headbands are wearing red, white and blue under their eggshell coats, and Penelope demands that Nelly Yuki polish her yellow patent pump. Jenny steps up and steals Nelly Yuki right outta that Pinkberry. Blair confronts a dead-eyed Chuck in the quad, smoking a joint. Headmistress Queller pulls Chuck in for a suspension; although Blair tries to "represent" Chuck, Uncle Jack swoops in and pretty much proves that there is a genetic component to all the Chuckness. Blair gives a stirring speech in Chuck's defense that is pretty much rendered null when Chuck begins smoking hash at the conference table. Rufus is angry when he walks in on Serena and Dan kissing, and tells Serena that she has to go home. He tells Dan that he doesn't want the two of them dating anymore.
The next morning Jenny eats cereal which is remarkable for two reasons: 1. it's not waffles and 2. JENNY. Is EATING. Dan and Rufus are mean to each other, Jenny is confused, and Rufus tells his children to leave for school. Jenny and Penelope both present their cases in re Nelly Yuki to Blair, who rolls her eyes and tells the girls that now that she's hosting a party for the Colony Club selection committee tonight, she no longer has time for high school crap. Blair approaches Serena and asks her if Chuck ever came home last night; she's worried that Chuck lost himself when he disappeared, this time. That he never came back, really, from Bangkok. Pinkberry part deux, as Nelly Yuki, Jenny, and Eric snag the Headbands' table. Penelope calls her daddy and tells him that he needs to tell Headmistress Queller that a girl at school is bullying her. Oh, snap. At Constance, Nelly Yuki accidentally lets slip to Eric and Jenny that Penelope is sleeping with her dad's junior partner. Blair goes to Victrola to find Chuck watching rehearsal and tasting some of the talent. (He bought the club back last night.) He tells her that he's throwing a party at Victrola tonight and throws her striptease of last year back in her face; then concludes, "now is that it, or are you going to tell me you love me again?" Oh. God. That's terrible. Serena and Dan sneak into the loft to look for clues to Lily and Rufus' fight, but she runs off when Blair texts her. Dan goes through Rufus' hideous oilcloth bag and finds a number for the South Boston adoption agency.
Blair runs upstairs, minutes before her party starts, to quickly and controlledly sob in front of her mirror, the way good girls do, before greeting the guests. Then, in a cashmere cloche and a vintage dress with a rhinestone collar, she tells Serena that she's saving herself from Chuck, brings the ladies in from out of the foyer. Dan confronts Chuck at Victrola and Chuck, owing him from the quashing of the NY Magazine article about Bart, tells him about the baby. Chuck thinks that this will drive something of a wedge between Dan and Serena. Well. Yes, Chuck. The horrible women of the Colony Club insist that Blair renounce her friendship with Serena (who they have seen so much of on Page Six) and that Bart Bass' death was a "mercy killing", and that she swear she has nothing to do with Chuck Bass. Blair leaves after telling the women that Dorota will give them their coats at the door.
"Ricochet" by the Shiny Toy Guns is playing at Victrola, which can't be a good sign, as Chuck moves stonefacedly through the writhing bodies and forced come-ons, the feathers and the absinthe and the repurposed nostalgia towards the stage where once he saw something real. Eric quietly comes up behind him and asks him to come home; Chuck responds by grabbing a bottle of booze and heading for the roof. Outside Victrola, Jenny lays the Headbands' indiscretions at their feet, threatening gg.net exposure if they don't back off Nelly Yuki. The girls retreat, offering Jenny Queen status; when they learn that this was just a good deed, Penelope is nearly felled by a vicious attack of boredom. Hilariously, Nelly Yuki was preying on Jenny's sympathies to move up in the ranks, and runs after the Headbands into the party. 
Rufus appears Chez Van Der Bass to tell Lily that Dan either knows or will know soon, and will be telling Serena, certainly. Lily asks what she should do, if everyone in her life hates her. She tells Rufus that she was heartbroken over losing Rufus, and not ready to have a child. Rufus tells Lily that it's going to take him and the kids some time to process this. Dan tries to pull Serena out of Victrola, while Blair runs in the door, hears that Chuck is "upstairs", and pulls Jack upstairs with her. Chuck drunkenly staggers on the rooftop while Blair and Jack attempt to talk him away from the ledge. He screams that he's Chuck Bass, and then realizes that nobody cares. Blair, once again, forcefully reminds him that she cares, and reaches her little hand out to him. He climbs down from the ledge and buries his face in her shoulder. He tells her he's sorry, but he means that he loves her. Rufus interrupts Dan before he can tell Serena and tells him that he and Lily are going to go look for their child, and that Lily needs to tell Serena herself. Jack pours Chuck into a limo, and Blair warns Jack that she doesn't trust him; he reassures her that he won't tell Chuck about what happened on New Year's Eve. Whoops.
Next week: Chuck Bass IS Gordon Gekko.
Well, that was certainly a lot of episode for one episode. As tacked-on as the Constance Billard subplot felt, it's nice to get a little bit of humor back on a show that has been awfully dark lately, don't you think? Also, I challenge each of you to get through your commentary without mentioning Ed Westwick's hair. And...go!
remind me what happened on New Year's Eve.
what happened? | Jan 5, 2009 10:52:53 PM | #hmm...not totally sure what happened? i think it's a secrety thing. Hopefully it won't ruin them. I have a feeling now that chuck will finally trust people again his cocky uncle's is going to screw up then chuck will go on a rant again. I hope not! i like when he's sweet to blair...she definatly deserves it that's for sure.
kt | Jan 5, 2009 11:45:28 PM | #omg!!!! if uncle jack and blair hooked up...omg ugh!!!!
jenny and nate is ok coz there's like a 4 year age diff but blair and jack is like 20 years..yuck yuck yuck!!! + blair and chuck are made for each other!! god i love this show!!! it just keeps getting better and better.
p.s. i hope vanessa and nate break up so nate can realise his one true love is jenny, not vanessa!!!
(sorry if i ranted)!!!
what happened? on new years eve???
romi | Jan 6, 2009 5:30:15 AM | #We're not supposed to know what happened on New Year's. However, if you watched the previews ** SLIGHLTLY SPOILERY HERE*** Chuck confronts Uncle Jack and says soemthing like "Blair would never let you touch her"; next scene Blair is running after Chuck trying to explain something...
hello | Jan 6, 2009 6:03:52 AM | #blair and chuck belong together to keep show going strong. rufus and lily romance intriguing. this show can go on for many seasons as the characters can grow up and still be interesting.
lois wester | Jan 6, 2009 6:46:01 AM | #Does anyone recall that Chuck Bass tried to rape Jenny Humphrey on a roof in the beginning of the series? Despite my love for Blair and Chuck's saga, that still troubles me.
I mean the hookers and the drugs I can understand. Forcing yourself on little Jenny Humphrey is not acceptible.
What are everyone else's thoughts about this? Am I the only stickler?
SickButRight | Jan 6, 2009 11:07:33 AM | #Where was Nate? Not even a mention of him.
Regarding Blair and Uncle Jack ... I am firmly holding onto my belief that they played a game of "Tag, You're It" on New Year's Eve ... it TOTALLY explains Chuck saying something like "Blair would never let you touch her" .. (nodding emphatically) ..
Inger | Jan 6, 2009 11:57:15 AM | #was all that really on the one show???
I think I must fade out for a sec or so at times for I really do not process all that
delilah | Jan 6, 2009 12:00:44 PM | #Love Desmond Harrington's Jack Bass. He is just a grown-up version of Chuck! I loved Desmond on the late Sons & Daughters.
SickButRight, It's not just you. Chuck did something reprehensible on the series premiere. But the show is ignoring that, and I believe we are supposed to, as well. I like to act as it if was a bad dream, like most tv show pilots.
Jen | Jan 6, 2009 12:04:49 PM | #What kinda sweet deal does Chace Crawford have that lets him take time off EVERY OTHER EPISODE nowadays? I want his agent...
Must know who the Van Der Humphrey mystery child is. If TV has taught me anything, it's someone we already know.
Sean | Jan 6, 2009 1:19:38 PM | #Very true, Sean. TV is very educational! But, who could it be? It has to be someone older than the regulars and, of course, devastatingly handsome. Hmmm...
Cincy | Jan 6, 2009 1:42:42 PM | #so what are your thoughts that chuck bass is the ilegitimate son of rufus and lily? will he have a mommy & daddy again?
remember he never met his mom as she "died" when she was born....and he is about the right age. plus he kinda looks like rufus.
leslie | Jan 6, 2009 2:06:04 PM | #It does bother me that Chuck was planning to rape Jenny. Why would Blair even want to be associated with someone who would want to rape someone?
So proud of Blair for choosing Chuck over the Colony Club. She took standing by her man to another level by giving up one of her goals for her future. No one insults someone she loves.
Thought it was really strange that the immature, egotistical, and arrogant Uncle Jack would text message Blair about Chuck. Maybe the person who he would give updates would be Nate since they are friends, not some bossy girl. Jack probably ‘bribed’ Blair: sleep with Jack and he will tell her every detail about Chuck. Blair would do about anything to have access to Chuck.
My mother thought that Jack was trying to touch Blair who seemed disgusted.
What is Rufus thinking about trying to meet Lily & his child? What if their son’s adoptive parents have never told him that he was adopted? Rufus and now Lily are going to wreck their son’s life. If he does not know he was adopted- he will feel betrayed (by the people who he has been calling Mom and Dad his entire life) and rejected (he’s going to ignore Lily’s reasoning). Why does he want Dan & Serena to break-up: because it’s creepy that his son’s half-brother and half-sister are dating or because he thinks that his & Lily’s son will bring them back together (even though he does not want anything to do with Lily- for now)?
I think in the beginning the show didn't realize how popular Chuck would end of being, so they stuck to the book's version of him. He and Blair never hook up in the books, he's just a freak with a monkey. I'm sure if they would have it over to do they would've have made it less an assault.
Rigby | Jan 6, 2009 4:48:35 PM | #Inger, I think you are 100% correct.
x)
Chuck's whole pilot escapade bothered me too, but nowadays I just think of it as the "evolution of his character."
Jam | Jan 6, 2009 6:07:05 PM | #This is the first time I have ever sat down completely for an episode of Gossip Girl (I know what goes on since I have people who recap for me). I was impressed. I watched an episode online and then kind of zoned out and dismissed that show as another stupid teen soap opera with no connection to my real life. Well, there is no connection, but at least it's not stupid.
Anyway, am I supposed to love Eric that much? Totally loved his Jenny-following attitudes. Must say, Chuck Bass did not look as dapper as he has been in the pictures I've seen and the occasional clip.
Heather | Jan 6, 2009 11:10:38 PM | #@SickButRight: we've had that discussion on this board before. yeah, i think we're supposed to forget about that, that was the pilot chuck not the chuck of now (but yeah i know what you mean)....
I echo some other comments -- it is true that Chuck was awful in the pilot, but I am choosing to forget that because it was just a pilot/premiere.
Inger-- I will vote with you too!
And Jen, Glad somebody else out there watched (and liked!) Brothers and Sisters. I loved it and D. Harrington in particular.
Allie | Jan 7, 2009 1:59:14 PM | #I bet the colony club will respect her desision and accept her to the club....
will george | Jan 7, 2009 3:31:37 PM | #Allie, Nice to find another fan of Sons & Daughters. It was a great show! And then poor Fred Goss had to do that Carpoolers train wreck. So sad.
Jen | Jan 8, 2009 9:29:00 PM | #I loved this episode, pained me to see what's in the next weeks episode, I hope Blair didn't sleep with Jack. That would just be too much I feel for Chuck. And as far as Lily/Rufus' love child, I don't think it's going to go much further, I doubt they will bring him on the show. I wonder how much older he'd be, mid 20's maybe. I was really looking forward to Serena and Dan part 411526 but I guess I'll have to wait...
PS: I like Chuck and Blair's scenes together, they such amazing chemistry!
GeNae | Jan 9, 2009 10:08:55 AM | #I saw the trailer of "You've got Yale" and I felt awful, there is no Chuck and Blair scene, there is no answer this qUestions( Did Blair sleep with Jack? or what happened between them?) And also, Chuck said to Jack"Blair wouldn't touch you" but he didn't said anything like that on "Gone with the Will" This episode mentions a Sheakspeare teacher, what interesting! Ugghh...
Melissa | Jan 18, 2009 9:09:51 AM | #
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