In This Section
TV Guide Spotlight
Also on TVGuide.com
|
« Gossip Girl
Episode Recap: "School Lies"
"This Skull and Bones stuff is a bit much, don’t you think?" Um, no Dan, I don’t. Clearly "Humphrey-Dumpty" (love that) is not a fan of films set at prep-schools or Ivy-league colleges in which rich kids do bad things and then cover them up with ancient codes of secrecy. But I am, so I relished this episode.
It was so nice seeing the gang (minus freshman Jenny, who was MIA this week) all bonding in this episode. After all, they all got into trouble for attending the illegal pool party on school grounds, so they were all in the same boat. Only, not really.
Just like in the Ivy League reps episode, class lines came into play. Dan was right about a double standard existing, and being a partial-scholarship student, he was in a much more precarious position than the rest of the party attendees (and he never really even got to enjoy the party – he was there for less than 30 seconds before the fun abruptly ended). And Dan’s do-the-right-thing approach is usually one of his more appealing qualities. But nobody likes a rat, Dan. Especially one who doesn’t know all the facts. He was ready to tell on Chuck based on circumstantial evidence. Don’t get me wrong – I don’t think Dan was ever going to feed Serena to the wolves (or in this case, stern new headmistress Miss Queller). Once he learned the truth, he did lie for her and say he knew nothing about who broke in. But under a couple more minutes of grilling he probably would have started stammering and made it so obvious he was lying. I know his dad advised him to look out for himself, but his openness to tattling when he didn’t know the whole story was not one of his finest moments.
The same can’t be said for Nate, whom I’m liking more and more. He was the first one to jump into the water when classmate Andrew Collins hit his head and nearly drowned. And then he stepped up to take the fall when he mistakenly thought his beloved Blair was the guilty party. Unfortunately, he proved to be a bad liar, but his heart was in the right place. And how ironic that his punishment for lying was way more severe than Serena’s was for breaking and entering and not confessing right away (which technically equals lying). It seems that Nate, too, was a victim of the double standard, as the disgraced Archibalds are still recovering from their recent scandal. Meanwhile, Serena, the girl with "a file that reads more like a rap sheet," (please, more flashbacks in the future of the old Serena!) unknowingly had the all-powerful Bart Bass going to bat for her behind the scenes, thanks to Chuck. I guess you could look at that as Chuck ratting her out to his dad, but he didn’t do it to save himself, so much as to make sure Serena got a reduced sentence thanks to a backroom deal.
How 'bout that Bass-van der Woodsen union? Couldn’t you just feel the love in the room at that engagement dinner? I was pleasantly surprised when Lily briefly had a Rose-from-Titanic moment and was ready to throw caution to the wind, listen to her heart and run away with the "poor" guy for a weekend. But it now seems like the timing’s never going to be right for these star-crossed lovers. I loved how they intercut the scenes of Lily telling Rufus good-bye with the scenes from the engagement party. Last time, Lily let Rufus go because she was young and scared and she listened to her mother; this time, she let him go out of love for her daughter. It was a big sacrifice that Serena asked her to make, yet it was understandable. The thought of potential step-incest between her and Dan was too much for Serena to bear. To the point where she admitted, "I’d rather be Chuck’s stepsister than Dan’s." So now it looks like you’ll be getting your wish, Serena.
Chuck’s certainly enjoying his new Brady Bunch scenario. (And much like the Bradys, Chuck’s quite the fashion risk-taker with his choice of bold prints. His athletic wardrobe is the best: The yellow basketball outfit was great, but tonight’s swimwear ensemble of a bright red-striped top paired with a busy print bottom – it was so loud and retro! His clothes never fail to entertain me, and I appreciate that.) Anyway, Serena’s soon-to-be stepbrother is so looking forward to his new blended family that he’s actually making step-incest propositions every chance he gets. So has Chuck moved on from Blair to Serena? I hardly think so. This is just Chuck tapping into his offensive jerk mode. At least he got some comeuppance when Vanessa played him: Losing $10,000 for a blank tape means nothing to him, but that money being used to set up a medical grant for teen herpes in his name? Priceless.
Vanessa: I’m a little confused by her suddenly pressing rent problems. Isn’t she a minor, who goes to school and lives with her older sister? They never mentioned that she was an emancipated minor. Why aren’t her parents in Vermont paying her share of the rent? Instead, Vanessa’s forced to be extremely annoying, videotaping parties and private conversations for her documentary. I was shocked Blair didn’t throw her out of her "study party" as soon as she got there. Instead, Vanessa got juicy info about Blair on tape, then eventually gave it back to her free of charge. And thanks to an, um "appreciative" Blair, Vanessa can now continue living in her "Ikea-furnished closet" for another year without worry. And Blair did like what Vanessa did with Chuck’s money. You know, I think Blair and Vanessa could have hit it off as friends – if they met under very different circumstances of course.
But in the present circumstances, Blair’s now back with Nate. Despite Chuck’s attempt at blackmail, she finally admitted to Nate that she loves him, and she was so touched by his self-sacrifice ("the most romantic thing that anyone has ever done for me"). The two of them were rather sweet together in this episode...yet still, I see no chemistry between them. Nevertheless, there may be trouble in paradise next week, based on the preview. All I’ll say is that next week’s episode looks to be can’t miss.
Until then, check out clips from Gossip Girl in our Online Video Guide.
|
TVGuide Links:
|
|
|
|
Jan 2, 2008 11:43 PM
|
IT WAS FANTASTIC
OH MY GOD
I CAN NOT BELIEVE THAT LILLY AND RUFUS ARE NOT TOGETHER
PLIZZZZZZZ
AND I LOVE BLAIR SHE IS SO AWESOME,I KINDA LIKE VANESSA MORE NOW THAT SHE STOLE FROM CHUCK JAJAJA
POOR SERENA SHE TRIES SO HARD TO BE BETTER......
FANTASTIC SHOW,IT KEEPS GETTING BETTER AND BETTER
AND I DONT TRUST CHUCK´S DAD
LOVE GOSSIP GIRL
|
|
Jan 3, 2008 12:01 AM
|
Still enjoyed this episode, but as a HUGE C/B fan...this episode was depressing.
1) Didn't really understand how Blair suddenly over Chuck. She can easily forgive Nate for all he's done to her but Chuck does one thing, and Blair can't get seem to get over it. All the characters seem to back to square one again. Chuck an ass again (although I loved him acting like that  , and Blair love with Nate again (even after he left her to go to Monaco without telling her...ugh).
2) LOVED LOVED LOVED all the Chuck/Serena scenes. HOw funny was the scence with Serena sitting in the middle of the two Bass men? HILARIOUS..cant wait for them to become stepsiblings
3) Unlike the majority, I dont mind Vanessa but in this episode she pissed me off. Especially when she said that Nate was good for Blair. WTF?? She's seen Nate for like 5 seconds. Does she know how Nate treated Blair previously???
4) Dan and Serena were soo cute. I loved the scene been Serena and her mother. Personally side with Serena on this one.
5) Chuck stole the show AGAIN. He has teh best lines, and best drama surrounds him. Loved when he called Dan "humphrey dumpty" HILARIOUS
Excited for next week...hopefully the show will end on a positive B/C note, because they are the reason I LOVE Gossip Girl.
|
|
Jan 3, 2008 12:41 AM
|
|
Last night's episode was amazing. Although I do have to disagree with one thing: I think Nate and Blair definitely have chemistry. It may not be as in-your-face and firey as Blair and Chuck's, but I don't think it's meant to be. Chemistry doesn't have to be firey and over-the-top passion - chemistry can be much more subtle, and that's what N/B's chemistry is supposed to be like. It's supposed to be the "we've-been-together-for-a-long-time-and-are-like-an-old-married-couple" type of chemistry. Blair and Chuck's is more "I-want-to-get-into-your-pants-right-now-and-rip-your-shirt-off". That doesn't mean either couple has less chemistry than the other, it's just different.
|
|
Jan 3, 2008 9:20 AM
|
I do understand that this is a soapy teen-drama and there has to be conflict...
However, I still don't understand why Serena's mom had to choose either man. She was willing to dump Mr. Bass and be with Rufus. OK, so Serena was against that (which I understand) but why does that mean she then HAS to be with Chuck's dad? If she was willing to dump him (before Serena's complaint) why would she decide to marry him in the end?
There was always the other choice of NOT marrying him. Argh. Normally I'm OK with set-up drama but I hate when they make it seem as though there is no other option except be with one guy/girl or another. They always ignore the option of being SINGLE. Bah!
|
|
Jan 3, 2008 10:25 AM
|
They always ignore the option of being SINGLE
You have to look at the past history of Lily van der Woodsen to understand why she didn't want to be single. To her, Bart Bass is the safe spouse, one her mother would approve of. Lily is living on her inheritance only so Bart Bass is very appealing!
Loved this episode but I did feel bad for poor Rufus. I guess he will now be able to write some real depressing music to help him get over this jilted feeling.
I can understand Serena's problems with her mother dating Dan's father but I myself have known step sister/brother who ended up getting married and having kids and it sure didn't bother them!
|
|
Jan 3, 2008 11:49 AM
|
|
I felt absolutely horrible for Lily ... what with having to end things with Rufus and then agreeing to marry Bart Bass all for the sake of her daughter, but that said, I completely side with Serena on this. Who on earth would want their mother married to their boyfriend's father????
|
|
Jan 3, 2008 12:55 PM
|
|
I don't think anyone ever said anything about Lily marrying Rufus. Rufus wasn't the one who asked her, after all. They just wanted to give their romance another go. And is that really such a crime? I understand Serena may not like it, but I didn't think it was right for Serena to basically tell Lily that she couldn't see Rufus at all. Serena was being totally selfish. Lily shouldn't have to choose between what her daughter wants when it comes to her relationships, although it did show how much she values Serena.
|
|
Jan 3, 2008 2:28 PM
|
|
I think that the reason Lily did what she did for Serena is because Serena is so much better now that she is going out with Dan, then she was before. Remember what Lily told Dan - I like what my daughter has become while she has dated you! This all goes back to Serena's troubled past!
|
|
Jan 3, 2008 2:51 PM
|
Although I was totally crushed for Rufus (and Lily too I suppose) I don't blame Serena. From her perspective, her mother has had a string of marriages. She's found a guy that she's in love with, and the though of her mother getting together with his dad is wierd.
It's nice to really see how much Serena likes Dan versus always seeing things from his perspective.
As far as Chuck versus Nate...Chuck is still a manipulative guy who tries to manhandle women (Serena and Vanessa in this epsidoe) while Nate is basically a good guy. In this episode he dove after the pool victim, tried to cover for Blair, and also tried to put in his due time groveling. I think Blair has a valid reason for feeling the way she does. And I do think they have a chemistry too.
|
|
Jan 3, 2008 3:08 PM
|
|
Man I love this show. I was ecstatic when Lily called Rufus and was like ok I'll do it...then later Serena made me all sad for them again. Obviously, Serena & Eric don't mesh well with the Bass men and I don't see it ever happening. That scene when Serena was sitting between both of them was funny!! I can't bear to face the fact that I will be robbed of Gossip Girl soon due to the strike!!!...I wonder what extras will be on the DVD. I do feel sorry for Nate...his family is going through a lot and Blair is/was the only good thing in his life. Nate isn't like Chuck...he doesn't get off on hooking up with random chicks whenever he can and then after seeing the preview for next week's episode...I'm so psyched!!!!
|
|
Jan 3, 2008 4:44 PM
|
I finally got to watch this last night. I am so hoping maybe for an affair between Lily and Rufus. I still think Lily has real feeling for him.
I felt for Nate last night for the first time. He really is in love with Blair and their kiss in the pool was hot. I finally see some chemistry between those two, but I prefer Chuck with her.
I really can not stand Vanessa. Can she leave already.
Also where did Jenny go? I hope with her mom she annoys me to no end.
|
|
Jan 4, 2008 10:56 AM
|
|
Was it just me or did Chuck hitting on Serena totally remind u of Ryan Phillipe hitting on Sarah Michelle Gellar in Cruel Intentions
|
|
Jan 4, 2008 3:51 PM
|
|
Does it not bother anyone else that these 20+ year olds are playing juniors in High School and their parents are only 38 and 39? I mean how much history could Rufus and Lily have had? Even in make believe world, they had to have had their kids in their early 20's, plus the marriage and 9 months of pregnancy, so when was all this history..when they were 19? Give me a break...and since when is it okay that they just get rid of Rufus' wife after years of marriage and raising kids...I know she left him, but to end it and then he immediately calls Lily and says he has "always" loved her... I think is disrespectful to his family and children. But I watch the show with my daughters and constantly remind them that teenagers really don't bring martini glasses and cocktail shakers to pool parties...Where do they get that sophisticated palate for martini's...come on! I know, don't jump all over me..IT IS JUST A TV SHOW..I just don't think alot of things add up...IMO
|
|
Jan 5, 2008 3:53 AM
|
@zoot: Bother me? No, after BH 90210 and The OC, I've pretty much gotten used to the way they do teen soaps. It's pretty people who aren't minors so you don't have to deal with the annoying and stringent rules applied to them. I wouldn't be surprised if Taylor Momsen, who plays Jenny, wasn't in this episode due to schooling or labor reasons. The actress is only 14! Playing a 15 year-old?! Gasp! In reality though, is there that much difference physically between 17 year olds and 22 year olds? Not these days, especially not if they can afford the high-end stuff and stay away from the Forever 21 polyester blend chic. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
I agree with others, I think Blair and Nate have chemistry, it's just a different type of chemistry. More Buffy/Angel as opposed to Buffy/Spike (Blair/Chuck). Their chemistry is sweeter and more "I'm in love with you" as opposed to Chuck/Blair who are more "you know how to push my buttons". I think also Chuck has always envied Nate and Blair is a part of that. The reason this love triangle works so well is that all the characters have chemistry (even Chuck and Nate who are great as best buddies) and this episode made me want Nate and Blair together, at least for some time.
|
|
Jan 7, 2008 4:13 PM
|
|
|
