10 harsh realities of remembering Gossip Girl, 17 years after its debut

It’s been 17 years since the CW’s iconic teen drama gossip Girl premiered, and several harsh realities about the show have become unavoidable ever since. gossip Girl is a cultural staple of 2000s teen dramas and remains an icon for several reasons. The drama is juicy, the characters are fun, and even when the writing is subpar, it’s impossible to avoid the plot twists. gossip Girlthe narrator is another reason the show is great; The narrator’s timing makes the show much more engaging.

All six seasons of gossip Girl are now available to stream on Netflix, a reminder that it remains a perfect guilty pleasure TV show. Although gossip Girl has many positive qualities, some harsh realities about the series and its characters are hard to avoid in the 17 years since it first aired. Some of them involve how a relationship or character would be different today or how a narrative decision changed the series forever. There are even reminders that some characters and relationships are highly underrated. Without considering, These harsh realities fundamentally alter the way gossip Girl is perceived.

10

The show was much better in previous seasons

Gossip Girl’s drama in later seasons wasn’t as good

Although gossip Girl It’s dramatic and fun, the show is much better in the first half. The show’s premise fits much better when the characters are in high school, and the Gossip Girl blogger is less likely to care about adults in their twenties. The essence of the show is high school cliques and rich Upper East Siders – some of that magic fades as the characters get older. Furthermore, the drama gossip Girl the characters encounter as adults isn’t believable or as compelling as the high school drama.

Stories like Bart Bass’ unexpected return pale in comparison to the shenanigans the Upper East Siders found themselves in during high school. This could also explain why the reveal of Gossip Girl’s identity and the show’s time jump were underwhelming. Of course, They can’t stay in high school forever, but that doesn’t change the fact that the show was at its peak during the first few seasons.

9

All the main characters were terrible people

None of the characters would be likable in real life

Looking back, it is not surprising that the main characters of gossip Girl they are genuinely terrible people. Most of them are incredibly rich, self-centered and snobbish. That’s one of the reasons the show is so fascinating – it’s impossible not to watch extremely horrible characters setting their lives on fire over and over again. However, It’s a bit strange that it can be difficult to root for the main charactersincluding sweet Jenny, whose character starts out as a genuinely kind person, but she quickly turns sour as she becomes someone who eliminates people who get in her way.

Until gossip GirlThe supporting characters largely consist of horrible people, often hell-bent on destroying the protagonists’ lives. Middle class characters aren’t good people either – both Vanessa and Dan repeatedly sabotaged innocent people to get what they wanted in the end. Evidently, wealth is not related to the ability to gossip Girlthe characters are good or bad. Without considering, gossip Girl It wouldn’t be as interesting if the characters were good people. Their messy, chaotic lives make the show stronger, even if it’s hard to root for them.

8

Dan and Blair made a lot of sense as a couple

Dan and Blair complemented each other well

While gossip Girl aired, Dan Humphrey and Blair Waldorf’s relationship was highly criticized due to the couple’s unlikeability. Plus, Chuck and Blair were supposed to be the central romance of the series. Many viewers saw Dan and Blair’s romance as a low point gossip Girlbut looking back, their relationship actually makes more sense. Blair and Dan have shared a connection since gossip Girl season 1, episode 4, “Bad News Blair”, when Dan reveals that his mother left his family without any warning.

It’s strange that Dan would comfort Blair when they supposedly hate each other, but it proves that they’re not that different. Their differences are superficial because when the layers are peeled back, Dan and Blair are actually soulmates. In the first three seasons, they tolerated each other because of the love they shared for Serena, but in gossip Girl In Season 4, Dan and Blair discover they have a lot in common and develop a genuine friendship. Their friendship turns into romantic feelings, but they prioritize their friends before their own happiness..

Dan and Blair may seem unexpected, but it seemed gossip Girl I was building for them. Their separation also makes no sense. Blair’s feelings for Chuck may be stronger at times, but those feelings stem from a complex history rooted in abuse. Serena pushing the narrative that Dan loved his version of Blair and not the “real” Blair is ridiculous and seems to be the first excuse the writers could think of to separate Dan and Blair. Dan and Blair deserved a real chance at a long-term relationship, especially considering everything that contributed to their romance.

7

Lily and Rufus were better than Dan and Serena

Lily and Rufus had better chemistry and a better love story

It’s evident from the start gossip Girl that Dan and Serena couldn’t end up together if Lily and Rufus did – Lily is Serena’s mother, while Rufus is Dan’s father. Although gossip Girl reveals that Lily and Rufus had a child, it’s still strange that both relationships could work out in the end. One of these romances was doomed to end for good, but it should have been Dan and Serenanot Lily and Rufus. Lily and Rufus had far superior chemistry and a better love story. They are each other’s “one that got away.”

While Dan and Serena have their moments, nothing compares to Rufus admitting he made a mistake letting Lily in gossip Girl season 2. After everything they’ve endured, Lily and Rufus finally got together, with the show making them look like they were made for each other. So it doesn’t make sense for Lily to break up with Rufus so Dan and Serena could be together without it being awkward. Lily and Rufus already have a child, which should have permanently ended Dan and Serena’s romance. Lily and Rufus deserved to end the game, not Dan and Serena.

6

Bart Bass should have stayed dead

His reappearance had no real purpose

Bart Bass, father of Chuck Bass, originally dies in a car accident in gossip GirlSeason 2, Episode 12, “It’s a Wonderful Lie.” gossip GirlThe decision to kill Bart Bass makes sense – Bart has no purpose other than to contribute to Chuck and Lily’s arcs. Bart Bass’ character doesn’t have enough substance to stand on his own, so his presence after a few seasons would feel forced and unnecessary.

Revealing that Bart Bass faked his death in gossip Girl Season 5, Episode 22, ‘Raiders of the Lost Art,’ has no other purpose than to amplify the show’s drama. Furthermore, Bart Bass’ return only destroyed Lily and Rufus’ marriage and reversed Chuck’s character arc to the point that neither of these storylines made sense anymore. It almost seems like Bart only came back because the writers ran out of ideas.

5

Chuck Bass Shouldn’t Have Been Rescued

His actions were too disgusting and he was not committed to redemption

gossip Girl tries to portray Chuck Bass as the typical bad boy from Manhattan’s Upper East Side, but doesn’t work because Chuck is almost immediately established as someone much worse. In the pilot episode, he already tries to sexually assault Jenny Humphrey, a ninth grader who doesn’t want to be with Chuck. He’s not just a player – Chuck treats women terribly, often assaulting or physically attacking them. A bad boy would just be a player who can’t commit to a girl, with some shady but not romantic antics.

Chuck Bass is so materialistic that he traded his own girlfriend for a hotel. Furthermore, Chuck isn’t committed to his “redemption arc” unless it’s convenient for him. His only motivation to be a better person is to be able to be with Blair – a misogynistic motivation that no longer has a place in fictional redemption arcs. If the writers were serious about Chuck redeeming himself, then they should have portrayed his arc as being dedicated to his own redemption and not just being with a girl. Otherwise, gossip Girl should have kept him as the villain.

4

Blair and Serena were the true love story

Blair and Serena’s friendship overcame all odds and they became stronger

Blair Waldorf and Serena van der Woodsen are the true love story of gossip Girl. The show begins when Serena returns after spending a year away out of guilt over sleeping with Blair’s boyfriend, Nate Archibald. This revelation seems like the end of their friendship, but it’s just the beginning. Blair and Serena face a lot of betrayal and fights, and there are many cases where the conflict seems so severe that their friendship is actually over for good. However, each scenario only strengthens their bond and brings them closer together.

By the end of the show, Blair and Serena are the only consistent dynamic that has grown since the beginning. The heart of gossip Girl is ultimately Blair and Serena, the many obstacles they face and grow closer to after overcoming them together. Without Blair and Serena, gossip Girl It wouldn’t be the show it is.

3

Chuck and Blair were abusive

Chuck shouldn’t have gotten away with his rude actions

Chuck and Blair are often considered one of the best on-again, off-again couples on TV. Their romance has been iconic since gossip Girl season 1, episode 7, “Victor Victrola”, when Blair joins Chuck at a club and taunts him on stage. However, Chuck’s treatment of Blair throughout the show is terrible. He said horrible things to her, like: “You are like one of the Arabs my father owned; I walked hard and kept it wet“when she needed him most. Chuck reacts when Blair rejects him, retaliating by exposing her deepest secrets to the Gossip Girl blog.

However, Chuck and Blair’s point of no return occurs in gossip Girl Season 3, Episode 17, “Inglourious Basterds”, when Chuck sells Blair to his uncle in exchange for a hotel. It gets even worse when Chuck becomes physically violent with Blair. Chuck is possessive, dangerous, and obsessive about Blair. Of course, Blair also did terrible things to Chuck in gossip Girl. However, trying to make Chuck jealous and disregarding him for Nate doesn’t compare to Chuck’s criminal abuse. Chuck and Blair should never have gotten together due to the problematic nature of their relationship.

2

Dan and Serena were an odd couple

Dan and Serena weren’t suited for a long-term romance

At the beginning of gossip GirlDan and Serena seem like ideal partners for each other, but their relationship largely stems from Dan’s infatuation with Serena. Unlike Dan and Blair, Peeling back the layers of Dan and Serena’s relationship illustrates that they don’t have much in common and don’t work well together. Ultimately, what cements their relationship isn’t one big moment, but rather the show simply coming to an end in Season 6.

If Dan and Serena’s relationship hasn’t changed, then it’s more than fair to assume they’ll break up again at some point after the show. When Blair and Dan were together, their relationship was much stronger and more secure because their dynamic worked like a romance. Dan and Serena were much better off as friends and should have remained separate.

1

Dan being Gossip Girl doesn’t make sense

Dan’s True Identity Damages His Entire Character

The revelation that Dan Humphrey is Gossip Girl is one of the most absurd things that has ever happened on the series. This narrative decision received a lot of backlash, but it is well deserved. Making Dan Humphrey the Gossip Girl of all people destroys his arc and the core parts of his character development. Dan has always felt morally and intellectually superior to his wealthy peers, but a large part of his journey involves realizing that he is just as flawed as they are and that he may have a lot more in common with them than he initially thought.

Dan learns to value his classmates for who they are, but remains disinterested in their world. Dan was never obsessed with the lives of his peers and never wanted to be like them. Part of Dan’s growth involves accepting his rich peers, so being Gossip Girl is a slap in the face to him. While there are several missed clues about Dan being Gossip Girl, most come from his crush on Serena, not a secret obsession with her lifestyle. The program built according to the blogger’s identity gossip Girlso it was highly disappointing and unsatisfying when it turned out it was Dan.

Source: Screen speech