This week on Gossip Girl, we have another one of Josh Schwartz's favorite events - the cotillion/debutante ball. On "The O.C.", this evening ended with someone getting punched in the face (I'm looking at you, Jimmy Cooper), and I have high hopes for this evening to end the same way. At this time, I'd like to nominate Nate. Besides that tantalizing possibility, this episode is also full of various manipulative/nefarious plots, so let's dive in and figure out who are the puppets and who are holding the strings.
My kind of woman (and myself in 40 years)
We open with Blair and Serena heading over to dance practice for the ball. Blair reveals she's going with some douche named Prince Theodore. She makes what I think is a very disturbing Princess Diana reference, when she says she's excited that the night may end with a high speed chase to the Pierre Hotel. Yes, death is ... awesome? And on top of that, the New York Times has selected her for its "A Night Out With..." feature, and she plans to give them the most exciting night of the year. Somehow I expect it's going to end up with her on her back, and not the kind of article she was counting on. We find out that Serena's not going to the ball, but she's meeting Dan at the practice anyway so she can introduce him to her grandmother who will be there.
Meanwhile, Nate and Upchuck are also on their way to dance practice and talking about the debutante ball. Nate asks Chuck if he knows whom Blair is going with, and Chuck asks if Nate is having sex fantasies about Blair. No Chuck, that's just you. Nate mentions that Blair's seemed happier and less bitchy lately, and Chuck barely hides his pride at what a few bangings can bring about. He also appears to check out a random guy walking past them (?). Conveniently forgetting his undying love for Serena, Nate admits that he might miss Blair, and Chuck tries to distract him with a shiny object. It works.
At the dance studio, the teens begin practicing the formal dances the event requires. We see Blair with the Prince, and he's as much of a douche as predicted, with long, wavy hair like he's going to shoot a romance novel cover after this. Chuck and Nate meanwhile are with some randoms -surprisingly not the minions - and both boys eye Blair and Prince Douche as they whirl around.
Evidently the minions got lost on their way to the Flashdance auditions
Serena spots Dan and Jenny arriving, and scurries over excitedly. Lily joins them after a few moments, bitching about how she's on the committee with Serena's grandmother, even though her own daughter isn't participating. As Lily complains, Jenny stares longingly at the dancers until Lily finally climbs out of her self-absorption to suggest that Jenny volunteer to help run the ball. Jenny tries to decline at first because of her fight with Blair, but when Lily insists Jenny says she'll check with her parents and get back to her.
Grandmama CeCe arrives - who's had extensive work to make it look like she popped out Lily at age 8 - and immediately proves her relation to Serena by asking where the booze is. Lily practically spits in her mother's face before excusing herself. Now that is a loving mother-daughter relationship. CeCe gives Dan and Serena a little shit about not going to the ball, but doesn't make too big of a deal out of it despite her own great involvement. Afterwards, she sidles up to Lily to ask if Dan is related to Rufus, which Lily confirms before escaping again.
We jump from the dance practice to Chuck and Blair rolling around on her bed, making out. Yay, I'm glad to see that their ball dates are just a cover. Chuck mildly teases her about Prince Douche, but she reminds him that she can't date Chuck openly because they don't want Nate to find out. At that exact moment, Blair's maid calls that Nate has arrived to talk to her. Blair looks stunned and then intrigued, while Chuck flops back in defeat. Dude, just glue a mirror on the bottom of a pool and be done with it.
Since you seem to have a thing for princes, how do you feel about a Prince Albert?
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Comments (10)
LoLo, great recap (so far, because I'm not finished reading). You probably don't want your recaps to become overly long or want to post them quickly, but some crucial contextual details are being left out...
For example, "CeCe refers to Dan as Serena's "friend" and announces that Carter will be taking Serena at the ball, since he'd make a much more proper escort anyway."
No mention of how Serena immediately corrects old crone, I mean, grandma by reintroducing Dan as her BOYfriend??
1 of 10 | Posted by blahblah | Posted on December 9, 2007 6:43 AM
Annnnd...done! Yep, I can confirm my earlier comment and say great recap with certainty. :)
To answer your end questions:
Yes, it surprised me that CeCe is actually sick. I figured she was lying about being sick , so that twist got me. Although, I thought she admitted to the lie too quickly...Then again, the exposition kept reminding us that CeCe respects honesty. Oh, you clever GG writers. You deserve every one of those 4 cents.
I don't know if this is a common thing, but after a woman loses her virginity, it seems much easier for #2 guy to get some action. Hopefully, Blair will keep her numbers at two for awhile, instead of turning into Serena. Isn't it kinda amazing how Serena has the golden-girl, angelic look going but is the actual slut on the show? I love the contrast between her sweet&innocent look with her promiscuous past. Anyone else notice how Serena never seems to go back for 2nds?
Right now, Nate has Blair's heart, but we'll soon find out whether he has her nether regions as well. (Can Nate possibly be good in bed?) I find it more than a bit icky that now Serena/Blair and Chuck/Nate have shared sexual partners. All we need to make this crazy swapping-tree complete is for Serena and Chuck to have a go at it (if they haven't already, that is).
I'd really be OK with Nate staying shirtless with his mouth closed for the rest of this series' run.
2 of 10 | Posted by blahblah | Posted on December 9, 2007 7:09 AM
Nate was the first and only person Serena actually slept with...at least that's how the books went.
Oh and I'm happy you picked up on the Josh Schwartz thing. Another debutante where another gets punched? Another bankruptcy filing? Sigh. Next up Serena's going to have a lesbian affair, start doing coke..etc etc.
I AM SO SICK OF THE PARENTS.
3 of 10 | Posted by Scorpio23 | Posted on December 9, 2007 9:05 AM
I dont think Chuck did the framing carter thing to throw off nates scent....i think he did it because he obviously likes blair and was jealous she agreed to go to the ball with nate...by nate starting the fight he would be making a scene and ruining blairs ball which would leave her with chuck to comfort her
at least thats how i saw it!
4 of 10 | Posted by lbonnerz | Posted on December 9, 2007 6:56 PM
first off, your screencaps kill me. i forgot to mention last week, king dan of the gays or something like that which made me almost do a spit take. as usual... great job this week too!
so, i went back and watched the beginning of the show after i read your mention of chuck sort of checking some guy out. & he sort of does. & its sort of creepy. in the books his sexuality is questioned but i hope the show doesn't go that way because i like chuck & blair together too much.
i really do not like nate. he really, really bores me. actually most of the characters do. they really have to work on making serena more exciting. she is a MAIN CHARACTER and she is just so blahhh.
& enough of the parents already. like, we GET it. and besides, i think the show is geared towards a younger audience so why so much time is spent on a group 40+ i do not understand.
i am very afraid next weeks episode is going to be sans chuck. & from the previews i have seen, looks like there will be a lot of vanessa! oh, joy!
5 of 10 | Posted by t00haute | Posted on December 9, 2007 8:58 PM
great recap and good catch on that high speed chase to The Pierre..
However...how high speed does Blair think she's going when the car ride is literally 10 blocks...? haha
6 of 10 | Posted by t-im | Posted on December 9, 2007 11:49 PM
I guess I'm the only one who actually likes the parent storylines- the Lilly/ Rufus one at least.
Also- Serena is the most boring character on television and Dan's pseudo witty/ sarcastic comments are driving me insane. Good move by Cece to call him out for it.
There needs to be at least one slut on this show to keep viewers interested and I totally don't mind if it's Leighton Meester I'm seeing more of.
7 of 10 | Posted by Fomhoire | Posted on December 10, 2007 10:58 PM
serena really is sooooooo boring!!! blake lively's portrayl of her is so blahh. she has zero personality. same thing for nate-he only gets away with it cause he's hott
8 of 10 | Posted by sassybella11 | Posted on December 11, 2007 4:23 PM
Gr8 episode, gr8 recap! How sucky is it that we have to wait 2 weeks (well, a week now) for the next episode?? I mean, I know the writers' stirke is really taking effect, but this is just mean. Just give us whatever they've got and we'll make do until they come back.
Ahh, Chuck has upped and left manhattan, I thought I was gonna cry at the scene. Gossip Girl just isn't the same without him *sniff*. Blair better watch out though, chuck doesn't look like the type to take "betrayal" (if you can call it that lol) well.
9 of 10 | Posted by catycath08 | Posted on December 12, 2007 8:42 AM
I am so glad to hear another female on this planet shares my hatred of Rachael Ray. I have friends that asked for her books for Christmas and it made me die a little inside.
Great job with the re-cap...you never disappoint!
10 of 10 | Posted by kellyhp12 | Posted on December 12, 2007 6:55 PM