the Dalaverse

"Gossip Girl" bulletpoints behind the cut. But first, non-spoilery - Ed Westwick is fucking amazing.



--OMG I KNEW IT WAS A SEKRIT BABY I KNEW IT I KNEW IT I KNEW IT. ...Okay, so I don't exactly deserve Mensa status for that, on account of how I've ever watched television before. Still, I count on Kelly Rutherford to own the cliche. And I kind of got choked up when Rufus asked her if it was a boy or a girl. He's still the worst dad in the world, but that was sad. It really wasn't clear whether she had an abortion or gave the baby up, and of course the previews were mum.

--Blair and Nate hauling incapacitated Chuck around is...one of my favorite things ever on this show. I also loved the three of them rallying around Serena with her I-killed-a-guy drama even though they were mortal frenemies at the time. One thing this show does exceptionally well is its portrayal of the families we make versus the families we're born into. The emotional ties between the primary characters are so real.

--That being said, Aaron Rose? Needs to take a fucking hike. I don't think I've ever heard the words "I'm falling in love with you" uttered with less conviction, affect and simple ABILITY. I really hate that kid, y'all. The actor is terrible, and Aaron is twice as controlling and judgmental as Dan ("You can answer that if you want to" - YOU CAN STAND STILL WHILE I PUNCH YOU IN YOUR GREASY NOSE, YOU PRETENTIOUS DICKWAD). Also he needs to borrow Chuck's shaving maid, because damn.

--Dorota looked so pretty at the wedding! Blair's dress was gorgeous, Serena's was too short. All is right with the world.

--That big Nate/Vanessa thing last week and she was nowhere to be found? Come on, you know she'd be sticking herself all up in the Humphrey drama.

--Chuck disowning Eric broke my heart. And then when Serena was on her way to Buenos Aires and Lily prepared to take off with Rufus all I could think was "BUT WHAT ABOUT POOR ERIC?!"

--Oh my god, the Blair/Chuck. The bedroom scene...I cried like a baby. And then again.

--I'm so tired of the Serena/Dan dance, but I did feel for Dan pretty much the whole ep. That never happens. He also gets reference points for "I carried the garment bag."

--Other favorite line (from Blair, naturally): "I am not maternal, I'm spending too much time with Cyrus and turning Jewish!" Cyrus Rose might be my second favorite Wallace Shawn character now.

--Rufus looked crazy fug in that turtleneck. CeCe, however, looked crazy gorgeous in every shot. I realize they're a fake TV family and all, but those folks have good genes.

--It seemed like there was very little Gossip Girl tonight. There was a lot of heavy shit, true, but since I've decided to give up "Heroes" this is my only Kristen Bell fix.

All in all, a pretty outstanding hour of television. I'm so glad I took a chance on this show. If you can swallow the artifice of it (Mom can't seem to stop going "Why are they serving these kids alcohol?"), there is some quality entertainment here. Is it January yet?

Uh, I have to go buy the fake Lincolnhawk song off iTunes now.

ETA: Crap, the song is album-only. However. The album also contains the Constance Billard A Capella Choir's rendition of "Glamorous." For that reason alone, I have added it to my shopping cart.