I had very high expectations for the Season 4 finale of Gossip Girl. Did it live up to my own hype?
With the exception of the first few scenes … yes!
Let me just say that the beginning of the episode (which picked up right where last week’s episode left off) was very awkward. The acting seemed forced and unnatural (I realize that saying this about a show like Gossip Girl may seem redundant, but let’s just say it was more forced and unnatural than usual). Serena and Vanessa teaming up was kind of comedic, the way the high school nerd and the head cheerleader are paired up for a science project or something. When they approached Dan, their synchronized “We need to talk to you!” seemed like something straight out of an episode of Full House. And how many times can Chuck say “Where’s Blair?” in one scene?
But the episode picked up soon thereafter. One high point in particular: Nate’s face after Dan told him about the “Call me Serena” incident from last week. Nate’s expression had more acting power in that one look than in every facial expression put together over the course of the entire season! Well worth holding back just for the pleasure of exciting your audience when showing that much surprise.
Bringing back Georgina Sparks seemed, at first, sort of unnecessary. I thought it was all part of the requisite finale fireworks, until her connection with Charlie/Ivy toward the end made it all make sense … or, as much sense as this show makes. It’s funny that she keeps resurfacing, being that everyone hates her. Well, I suppose everyone hates Vanessa too, but that doesn’t stop her from butting into other people’s business and, oh yeah, publishing other people’s books anonymously and getting the checks mailed to herself to be “passed along to the author.” We’ll see how that goes. (More on that later.) I found it amusing that Georgina was bored with her new life as a wife and mom and was itching to get involved in some scandal(s) again. Pathetic, but amusing.
To be honest, Blair and Russell Thorpe’s rooftop incident was a bit anti-climactic for me, and ended much more quickly than I would have thought. But I loved Blair and Chuck’s Bar Mitzvah scene. Especially with Adele playing in the background. (“Rolling In The Deep” is certainly having a moment, isn’t it?) The way Chuck kissed B on the forehead and “let her go” was so sad! It felt like a father giving his daughter away at her wedding, which, in a way, is what Chuck is doing here. Why can’t they just be together … WHY!?!
On to other insanity … “A window that opens,” Charlie? I think we all called that one last week. That’s as cliche as emptying an entire bottle of pills into the trash for someone to find. Oh wait … But she’s not Charlie! And that scheme clearly demonstrated that she can Georgina with the best of them. Glad to see the two of them will be pairing up to reintroduce a more sleazy, crazy, creepy type of evil into the show.
Would Dan have ever pulled a Jen K and exposed his Upper East Side “buddies” in a satirical novel on his own? Now we’ll never know. But isn’t his life just a satire anyway? Does he really need to publish something rehashing all the dirt that’s already been revealed by Gossip Girl herself? I know he’s a literary guy and all, but print is out! Maybe he should create an audio book, narrated by Kristen Bell. Or an e-novel for the iPad or Kindle! Or, even better, a book comprised solely of tweets. Kidding, kidding. I love books, and if it were possible for me to read Dan Humphrey’s book, I probably would. (Side note: Serena reads? And, if that weren’t enough, she reads Fitzgerald!?!?!)
Eric’s little look when Blair and Dan were discussing his Netflix queue (which sort of sounds like a euphemism for something) was quite funny. Was their flirtation and kiss just a fluke? I supposed Blair’s too wrapped up in her Chuck and Louis sandwich to even consider Lonely Boy right now.
And, finally: all I have to say about the pregnancy test in the trash can is … OMFG! (Because this is Gossip Girl, I am allowing the use of one “OMFG.”)
Until next season, when — if we’re lucky — the crazy will get even crazier.
Xs and Os:
“What we have to say is far more important than the location of Blair Waldorf.” — Vanessa
“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go get drunk enough to make all of you seem interesting.” — Georgina
“I haven’t been this bored since I believed in Jesus.” — Georgina
“I’d ask how you are, but I don’t really care.” — Serena, to Georgina
“You scared me.” — Charlie, to Georgina
“I get that a lot.” — Georgina
“Well, look at that. Chuck Bass, maturing.” — Nate
Clacked by Rachel Blum-Jose 
on May 16, 2011 @ 23:29 EST5EDT
