'Gossip Girl': All bets are off

So I couldn't have been more wrong. My theory of what led Serena to kill someone was completely off -- Mr. and Mrs. Shepherd had nothing to do with anything -- because technically she didn't kill anyone. (I was right on about the sex tape, though!)

Last night's "Gossip Girl" was a bit anticlimactic in terms of revealing the juicy details behind Serena's confession. After the Shepherd wedding in which she had her drunken OMG moment with Nate (that was the only role the newlyweds played), a guilt-ridden S scurries off to meet with Georgina, who waits in a hotel room with cocaine and an addict named Pete. Convinced Serena would be down to get frisky with Pete, Georgina plants the video camera with hopes of recording a sex tape. Instead, it captures S eventually spurning Pete's advances and encouraging him to do more lines. The poor guy then begins to convulse and foam at the mouth while a panicked Serena attempts to call 911. Afraid of getting caught in a room full of drugs, the duo flees the scene but not before seeing a body bag containing Pete wheeled out of the hotel. Serena wasn't directly responsible for Pete's death, but by handing him the cocaine and neglecting to get him the proper help, she felt her actions had led to his demise.

The show may not have made a murderess out of Serena, but it did give viewers a real glimpse into her troubled past. You understand why she'd be adamant about keeping the secret from Dan -- like she said, he holds her up on a pedestal. Sex with Nate, an almost-sex tape and a cocaine overdose all in one night would just be way too much for judgmental Dan to handle. Even so, I was crestfallen when he walked out of Blair's penthouse thinking Serena had cheated on him and straight into Georgina's arms. Dan and G locking lips at the end confirmed that his and Serena's relationship has officially entered the danger zone. How will the golden couple ever get past this? S was able to make amends with her dark secret, but will she be able to salvage her first love?

My favorite part of the episode, hands down, was the reunion of the "non-judging Breakfast Club." With all the backstabbing in these last few episodes, it was nice to see Nate, Chuck and Blair put aside their issues to help Serena. There's a real friendship among them, at times dysfunctional, but unconditional nonetheless.

My second favorite part of the episode was Lisa Loeb's brief appearance as herself (you know you were singing along to "Stay" long after the cameo ended). That moment was followed closely by Lily and Rufus' smooch. Since Serena and Dan are on the rocks, it would be an opportune time to bring these two former flames together. Judging from photos leaked online, the Bass-Van der Woodsen nuptials will go as planned in next week's season finale, but the previews hint that Lily and Rufus enjoy a roll in the hay beforehand. If Lily doesn't leave Bart for Rufus, what then will the requisite season finale cliffhanger be?

xoxo

--Enid Portuguez

(Photo courtesy of the CW)

Comments

[T]

Why do I enjoy this show so much?

[nat]

Same here!! All my co-workers love this show! We're addicted and we're in our 30's and married!

[SeaShark]

The GOSSIP GIRL creators, producers and writers have a talented and attractive cast portray private high school students as arrogant, petty, selfish, cruel, malicious, dishonest, alcoholic, drug-sucking, irresponsible, untrustworthy jerks. These characters have nothing in common with the high school students that I am aquainted with.

The rare mature, caring moments that some of these characters share do not mitigate the show's cold climate of relentless, self-destructive, boorish behavior that demeans and diminishes the characters. I was hoping that the recent tender heliport scene between Blake and Leighton was the creative team's signal that the show was moving to a more intelligent, assured, refined story line but Georgina's return in the episode described at length above is the single most disheartening episode of any television drama this season.

My admiration for Margaret Colin persuaded me to watch GOSSIP GIRL, but I''ve quit this malignant series and will look for Margaret in the movies.