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‘Gossip Girl’: the green-dressed monster

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I’d say it’s time to make those ‘Team Serena’ and ‘Team Blair’ T-shirts.

Ask any teenage girl -- or grown woman for that matter -- and she will tell you that jealousy is probably the leading cause of conflicts within female friendships (I’m sure there are statistics somewhere). That’s why if you strip last night’s ‘Gossip Girl’ episode of its glitzy backdrops and dramatic foibles, you will have the makings of the show’s most realistic storyline to date.

So much about the gradual dissolution of Blair and Serena’s friendship rings true. Blair is the dominant friend for a reason -- she’s neck deep in insecurity and exerting power over people gives her a sense of control. When her influence is threatened and her ego is bruised, her inadequacies move closer to the surface. Leighton Meester does such a brilliant job of conveying Blair’s complexity; she’s so tempered that her triumphant smirks are equally as fleeting as her pouts of powerlessness. Her frequent exhibits of self-absorption are relatable, but her moments of self-doubt are by far the most resonant.

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Serena, while fully aware of her potential, was content to remain in the supporting role because she already shined in the eyes of her boyfriend, Dan. Now that Dan is out of the picture, Serena, as an act of self-preservation, must find another way to shine. Can you blame the girl? I cheered when she demanded that Blair ‘get over it’ and be supportive. It’s exactly what you’d say to the friend who’s being a hater. I also liked the addition of new socialite BFF Poppy Lifton. Serena’s single and ready to party -- she’d definitely try to meet more girlfriends to go out with. Poppy also sends that message to Blair that she could be replaced.

Speaking of BFFs, how much did you love the pairing of Chuck and Dan? Encouraged by his editor to live a more reckless life in order to spice up his writing, Dan naturally chose to shadow the guy he despises most. It turns out they actually have some things in common. They both have little to no friends and seemingly clear judgments about each other. They also struggle with similar dichotomies. Dan’s actions haven’t been as moral as his convictions would imply while Chuck’s true motivations aren’t as deeply rooted in evil as his actions would suggest. I couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed when Chuck found out Dan’s real reasons for befriending him -- I really wanted them to be buds!

And then there was Jenny, who at the end, dropped out of school to pursue a career in fashion. This clearly will not be the best idea for her, and if the producers are denying rumors of a spinoff involving Jenny being sent off to boarding school, then they need to steer this story away from that direction. So far, she’s practically asking to be shipped off! Even Marc Jacobs couldn’t expect to skip high school and go straight to Bryant Park. Once she’s had her rise and her subsequent fall, I wonder if she’ll have any other viable options but to move.

So whose side are you on: Team Serena or Team Blair? And do you think Jenny is destined for greatness or failure?

xoxo

-- Enid Portuguez

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