'Gossip Girl': Serena's secret is out...and so is Eric

Well, they finally did it. After weeks of speculation, "Gossip Girl" dropped the gay bomb and outed little Eric Van Der Woodsen. The bigger bomb, however, was who the high school freshman was caught canoodling with: Jenny's new boyfriend, Asher! Poor Little J just can't catch herself a break. She was so consumed by her ambition to top Blair that she didn't realize that her dreamboat accessory was actually wearing her. It was enough for her to wave the white flag and surrender to Queen B.

But back to Eric's outing, which happens at the dinner table no less. Naturally, the bearer of the big news is perennial party crasher Georgina, whose fake earnestness becomes more maddening with each scene she appears in. Lily is flummoxed by the news. How could she not know her son was gay, she later asks Rufus (Hello? He has highlights!). The only person unaffected by it all is Eric. The boy has attempted suicide and spent time in a mental institution -- anything after that is a cakewalk. Exuding confidence beyond his years, he shows up to Jenny's party and bravely announces his sexuality (and Asher's) to his peers. You forget for a moment that Eric is f15 and even in these progressive times, not many teenagers would be quick to proclaim their homosexuality in front of their classmates like that.

Just as the show is quick to blithely name-check people from Manhattan's current dialogue (Gov. Elliot Spitzer and socialite Tinsley Mortimer got shout-outs last night), that same nonchalance is applied when addressing popular teen issues such as eating disorders and homosexuality. In a post-"Will & Grace" world, introducing a gay character is now as common as the wacky neighbor or the long-lost illegitimate son (heck, someone was outed on "Grey's Anatomy" last week). Last night's episode conveyed that coming out can still be a mortifying experience for some, but in the end, family members and society are always far more accepting than one would think. In fact, Jenny's friends didn't bat an eyelash at the news that her boyfriend was gay; her lying about losing her virginity to him, however, was deemed unforgivable. Sex is still a big issue. Sexuality? Not so much.

Since Eric's gay bomb didn't leave so much as a baby mushroom cloud in its wake, news of Serena's secret certainly did. Murder! As much as I held it as a possibility, I truly didn't think GG's writers would go there. But am I glad they did! Turns out I should have added another option to last week's poll: All of the above. There could be a dead body and a sex scandal in that video. Who are Mr. and Mrs. Shepherd and how do they know Serena? More important, what could have happened that could lead S to kill someone? The suspense of it all is killing me!

xoxo

--Enid Portuguez

Comments

[soholove]

Man, was I proud of Erik last night. I always knew he was gay, and I was almost sure he knew it, too. My favorite part was that Chuck already knew. They are my favorite couple on the show right now.

Okay, fine. Serena and Blair are. That last scene was brilliant- it just shows how wrong for her Dan is right now. She can't tell him something and he leaves her to catch a cab back home? Least understanding boyfriend in the universe. Whereas you you know Blair would have just let her cry and held her if S didn't speak up. And even Chuck, whom we know already tried to get the truth out of S, just keeps on calling without worrying that she's hiding something.

Put that in your pipe, Dan Humphrey, and smoke it.

[soholove]

Man, was I proud of Erik last night. I always knew he was gay, and I was almost sure he knew it, too. My favorite part was that Chuck already knew. They are my favorite couple on the show right now.

Okay, fine. Serena and Blair are. That last scene was brilliant- it just shows how wrong for her Dan is right now. She can't tell him something and he leaves her to catch a cab back home? Least understanding boyfriend in the universe. Whereas you you know Blair would have just let her cry and held her if S didn't speak up. And even Chuck, whom we know already tried to get the truth out of S, just keeps on calling without worrying that she's hiding something.

Put that in your pipe, Dan Humphrey, and smoke it.

[JCD SOUNDSYSTEM]

it's now Wednesday and I've barely recovered from the shock and awe that is GG. Every scene left me pulling out my hair and now the result is a look that resembles a mild case of alopecia. Can we please discuss little Jenny Humphrey's fall from grace?!? I was shocked 2 weeks ago when her friends overlooked the theft of a custom Valentino couture gown (seriously...Nate Archibald is hot and all but as a die hard fashion phile, I hardly call that fair trade) I thought for sure that couture theft would be her demise but to be publicly skewered by Blair in a messy gay love triangle was utter brilliance...how does one recover from that?!? I would have to pick my face up off the floor and and have my Laboutin heels lead me out. Poor J...just goes to show that if you wanna play w/ the big dogs, you can't pee like a puppy..looks like she's back to being daddy's little girl...Her apology to Blair was close to being day time Emmy worthy but Blair's "I hope your not expecting a hug" response brought her to Alexis Morrell Carrington Colby Dexter Rowan status...for all the young one's, it's a "Dynasty" reference...moving onto to Georgina... she's sooooo good at being soooooo bad!!! she makes Blair look like a calendar full of puppies. I'm so torn between wanting to annihilate her or join her in the havoc she's causing. Poor little E outed at the dinner table...it's as if gems were falling out of Georgina's mouth. I must have to agree w/ Enid. It was no surprise at all that Serena's little bro was gay, he suffered from frosty locks and a mild case of gay face but I'm sure his bravery to out himself and his lover Asher (at Jenny's social event no less) was inspiration to gay tweens everywhere. no longer will they have to hide their love for the Jonas Brothers. I couldn't have wished for a better coming out party...So let's talk Blair...is it me or has she gotten a bit soft? I'm really enjoying her vulnerability though. The last scene was close to tugging at my heart strings...I can't wait 'til next weeks episode. I NEED TO KNOW WHO, WHAT AND WHY SERENA KILLED...

P.S. I heard that ratings for GG haven't been stellar and that the show is in danger of cancellation...WTF...OMFG!! If they even think of canceling the show, I will stand on the ledge of the Chrysler Bldg. while on hunger strike clutching photos of Penn, Chase, Ed, Leighton, Blake and Taylor and I will jump!! It's that relevant...seriously!!

[B-Side]

Great recap.