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"Haven't you heard? I'm the crazy bitch around here."
Hey! I'm back for a matter of hours and I'm immediately inundating you with one of those posts where I ramble and ramble about a show that I should have been watching for years now and so it's all old news for you. But I'm a new convert to Gossip Girl, dang it, and though I should have listened to Izi and May and started watching long ago, I'm now so flail-y about it that I just have to share.
So!
Strictly speaking, I should hate this show. Teen dramas are not my idea of fun (unless they're crazy smart like Buffy or Veronica Mars, but neither of those are typical at all and I don't judge them by the same standards) and I'm more drawn to sci-fi-ish, high concept dramas (well, Friday Night Lights doesn't fit into this category, but it's the exception. Also, I just bought season 2 on DVD and I'm going to actually watch it all the way through soon, just so you know). Also, the last thing I typically want to watch is moral-less millionaires revel in their own wealth.
But I don't care waht anyone says. This show is a satire. Or at least (mostly) maintains the tone of a well-written one. It has to walk the very thin line between melodrama and being too tongue-in-cheek, and in its best moments, it manages to do both.
But as stylish and snarkily-written as it is, there are two reasons I am still watching this show: Blair Waldorf and Chuck Bass. (Well, and possibly Eric. He's awesome, but not reason enough to continue watching on his own)
But I'll get to them in a second. First, for the rest of the characters.
I kind of hate Blake Lively. How can she manage to look so gorgeous in some really ridiculous clothes (some of them are awesome, but others? Way too over the top) and no matter how her hair's done? Seriously, me and my crazy mass of uncontrollable curls hate her for her perfect hair! Evil girl! She must have made a deal with a demon for hair that perfect (that sounds like crack!fic. Gossip Girl/Supernatural crossover, anyone?).
But other than that, I have very little to say about her. Meh, mostly. She's very choppily-written, I think. I realize that she's torn between her past and the person she's trying to be, but a lot of the time she just comes across as schizophrenic. Especially this season where all it takes to return her to her old ways is Dan going out with someone else? That whole thing was just silly. I mean, hopefully we'll get some cool evil competition with Blair, though the preview for the new episode doesn't leave me very confident. Whatever, Serena van der Woodsen. I care for you not.
Speaking of Dan, Penn Badgley is kind of adorable. And I like Dan fine, but I just can't muster up a whole lot of enthusiasm for him. I like the idea of "poor(er) boy trying to navigate the world of the upper class" in theory more than I do in its execution on this show. And he started out as the voice of reason, but he hasn't been doing that very well lately.
In the world of "Meh," though, Nate is probably highest up on my list. He's so distracting when he's onscreen because I keep expecting him to start posing for a Ralph Lauren ad at any given moment. He's so well-groomed it's almost creepy. Also, I've decided he's stupid to have gotten involved with that Catherine/Duchess person in the first place. Dumbass. I know I should feel sorry for him because his parents are so horrible, but again, I just can't feel anything like passion in reference to him in a positive or negative way.
I really, really liked Jenny at first, when she was still sweet and resourceful and relatively untainted by the world she was living in. I also liked her relationship with Dan and her dad, too. But now she's become so whiny. Worse than Claire Bennet, actually, who has been my whininess standard for a while now. She's always blatantly disobeying her dad who is the only parent even trying to do the right thing (even if he's often pretty bad at it) and then moping whenever things don't go her way. I know that she's a teenage girl, but get over it! And when she tries to play the popularity game, she just comes across as unlikable, mostly because Taylor Momsen isn't nearly as talented an actress as Leighton Meester (but then, who is?). So just shut up, Jenny!
I was over the whole Rufus/Lily thing from the first episode. It's going to be that thing that they drag out over seasons, and I'm going to get more and more annoyed about it. But they're both okay as characters on their own, though I'm wondering what audience the show is writing their story for. Does anyone actually care? The kids who watch don't care about the adults, and the adults are watching to live vicariously through these filthy rich kids. So who cares?
Vanessa I like, even if she's a bit too perfect. Also, she insanely beautiful. And I'm jealous of her hair and her awesome huge earrings. But she's cool and sassy when she needs to be, though I spend vast portions of the show wondering what on earth she thinks she has in common with Nate. Honey, he has no personality! You can do so much better! I feel like they were the only unattached characters on teh show and so the writers threw them at each other. Also, if they're going to do that relationship at all, Nate should be chasing after Vanessa. She's too self-possessed to be moping over him. Maintain your pride, girl!
The Georgina thing was awesome. Michelle was so evil and fun, and I loved her waging psychological warfare on Serena. I didn't think they ended it very well--Blair could have come up with a way cattier punishment for her, but whatever. The entire time she was on the screen, I kept thinking, "Uuuummmm! Dawnie Summers! When Spike and Buffy find out how you've been acting they're going to show up and drag you back to California and you're going to be in so. Much. Trouble!" No, really. That's what I wanted to happen.
Eric may be the only character I straight up like. I would like him in real life, and I like him on the show. I have sympathy for him, but despite his suicide attempt, he's too sure of himself for me to feel anything like pity, thank God. He's so clear-sighted. I have to admit that back in the day, I shipped him and Jenny. They totally wrote him like he was enamored of her, and I was sure they were going to go in the direction of having Jenny compete for the affections of some personality-less Ken doll before she came to her senses and saw that Eric was right. There. and the only character who really seems to be untainted by status and money. So I was disappointed when he made the revelation that he's gay, not because he turned out to be gay, but because it ruined my first ship of the show. But now I'm over it and I just want to see him being cool (and having more screen time!) and hanging out with Chuck. And maybe being really good platonic friends with Jenny and being the one to make her see how self-involved and immature she's being.
But!
There are two characters so awesome, so snarky and horrible, so well-drawn that I will put up with any level of mediocrity in order to experience their awesomeness.
Okay, I'm giving up on the suspense thing. It's not like you didn't already know who they were.
Chuck Bass is the slimiest, most loathsome character I've encountered in a while. He's horrible and disgusting and vile. But "he's Chuck Bass," and so I adore him. I never want to meet him, I just want to watch him drink and whore his way across my screen and enjoy the hell out of it. By the way, "I'm Chuck Bass" has officially become my favorite line from anything ever. Ever.
I love his stupid scarf and his stupid bedroom voice and his stupidstupidstupid colored suits. I love his loyalty to Nate and his taking Eric under his wing (which he totally didn't have to do, by the way) and his wanting his dad's attention in any way he can get it (cliche as that is). And I love how much he hates how much he wants Blair. Oh, Chuck Bass. You are too awesome.
And as May and I were discussing, Leighton Meester is the actress who is going to come out of this show with a real career. I can't get over how pitch-perfect she is, always. No one else I can think of could take this selfish, manipulative person and make me actually care about her. Blair's got so many layers, but none of them contradict each other. She's the definition of "I am large, I contain multitudes." I squee with happiness when she schemes and she makes me cry when she does. I love her headbands and even her clothes are sometimes ridiculous, she sells them because of her dignity. Which she manages to maintain even when the world is falling apart around her. Everything about her makes for an awesome character.
And yes, of course, I ship Blair/Chuck, just like you always knew I would. Obviously, Chuck and Blair will never be a normal, functional couple. They're both too selfish to have a real relationship. But they understand each other better than anyone else ever will, and they could easily take over the world if they wanted, what with their combined powers of manipulation. Honestly, my favorite moments with them were before they slept together, when they teamed up with their diabolical plots and admired each other's deviousness. Perfect. I want to see them scheme together at least once more this season. I mean, not that I'm not enjoying their angsty "I love you/I hate you"-ness, but watching them plot together is just so much fun! Oh, those two crazy kids.
Also, my other favorite part of the entire show so far (that didn't involved only Blair and Chuck and their rollercoaster of an anti-relationship) was the "Non-judging Breakfast Club." For some reason, when Blair and Chuck and Serena and Nate were all together and the other three were being there for Serena, all over protective, and, for once, fairly selfless, I flailed with happiness. It was so Fab Four--Veronica, Lilly, Logan, Duncan--all over again, and I flipped out. I want to see that happen a lot more.
So. Gossip Girl writers. Here's what I want:
1. Blair and Chuck plotting. And angsting, too. But mostly plotting.
2. Eric to have his own storyline.
3. More "Non-judging Breakfast Club" awesomeness.
4. Vanessa getting her backbone back.
5. Jenny to either shut up or learn her lesson.
Wow. That was crazy long. I doubt anybody actually read all of it. But I had lots of fun writing it! And it's always exciting to gain a new fandom, especially one with characters as awesome as this one.
Also, who's been watching Fringe? Is it good? I tried to watch the pilot and couldn't make it through it. But if anyone I trust enjoys it, I'd be willing to give it another chance. J.J. Abrams and I have such a love/hate relationship, so I need advice on this one.
Oh, television. How I'd missed you.
So!
Strictly speaking, I should hate this show. Teen dramas are not my idea of fun (unless they're crazy smart like Buffy or Veronica Mars, but neither of those are typical at all and I don't judge them by the same standards) and I'm more drawn to sci-fi-ish, high concept dramas (well, Friday Night Lights doesn't fit into this category, but it's the exception. Also, I just bought season 2 on DVD and I'm going to actually watch it all the way through soon, just so you know). Also, the last thing I typically want to watch is moral-less millionaires revel in their own wealth.
But I don't care waht anyone says. This show is a satire. Or at least (mostly) maintains the tone of a well-written one. It has to walk the very thin line between melodrama and being too tongue-in-cheek, and in its best moments, it manages to do both.
But as stylish and snarkily-written as it is, there are two reasons I am still watching this show: Blair Waldorf and Chuck Bass. (Well, and possibly Eric. He's awesome, but not reason enough to continue watching on his own)
But I'll get to them in a second. First, for the rest of the characters.
I kind of hate Blake Lively. How can she manage to look so gorgeous in some really ridiculous clothes (some of them are awesome, but others? Way too over the top) and no matter how her hair's done? Seriously, me and my crazy mass of uncontrollable curls hate her for her perfect hair! Evil girl! She must have made a deal with a demon for hair that perfect (that sounds like crack!fic. Gossip Girl/Supernatural crossover, anyone?).
But other than that, I have very little to say about her. Meh, mostly. She's very choppily-written, I think. I realize that she's torn between her past and the person she's trying to be, but a lot of the time she just comes across as schizophrenic. Especially this season where all it takes to return her to her old ways is Dan going out with someone else? That whole thing was just silly. I mean, hopefully we'll get some cool evil competition with Blair, though the preview for the new episode doesn't leave me very confident. Whatever, Serena van der Woodsen. I care for you not.
Speaking of Dan, Penn Badgley is kind of adorable. And I like Dan fine, but I just can't muster up a whole lot of enthusiasm for him. I like the idea of "poor(er) boy trying to navigate the world of the upper class" in theory more than I do in its execution on this show. And he started out as the voice of reason, but he hasn't been doing that very well lately.
In the world of "Meh," though, Nate is probably highest up on my list. He's so distracting when he's onscreen because I keep expecting him to start posing for a Ralph Lauren ad at any given moment. He's so well-groomed it's almost creepy. Also, I've decided he's stupid to have gotten involved with that Catherine/Duchess person in the first place. Dumbass. I know I should feel sorry for him because his parents are so horrible, but again, I just can't feel anything like passion in reference to him in a positive or negative way.
I really, really liked Jenny at first, when she was still sweet and resourceful and relatively untainted by the world she was living in. I also liked her relationship with Dan and her dad, too. But now she's become so whiny. Worse than Claire Bennet, actually, who has been my whininess standard for a while now. She's always blatantly disobeying her dad who is the only parent even trying to do the right thing (even if he's often pretty bad at it) and then moping whenever things don't go her way. I know that she's a teenage girl, but get over it! And when she tries to play the popularity game, she just comes across as unlikable, mostly because Taylor Momsen isn't nearly as talented an actress as Leighton Meester (but then, who is?). So just shut up, Jenny!
I was over the whole Rufus/Lily thing from the first episode. It's going to be that thing that they drag out over seasons, and I'm going to get more and more annoyed about it. But they're both okay as characters on their own, though I'm wondering what audience the show is writing their story for. Does anyone actually care? The kids who watch don't care about the adults, and the adults are watching to live vicariously through these filthy rich kids. So who cares?
Vanessa I like, even if she's a bit too perfect. Also, she insanely beautiful. And I'm jealous of her hair and her awesome huge earrings. But she's cool and sassy when she needs to be, though I spend vast portions of the show wondering what on earth she thinks she has in common with Nate. Honey, he has no personality! You can do so much better! I feel like they were the only unattached characters on teh show and so the writers threw them at each other. Also, if they're going to do that relationship at all, Nate should be chasing after Vanessa. She's too self-possessed to be moping over him. Maintain your pride, girl!
The Georgina thing was awesome. Michelle was so evil and fun, and I loved her waging psychological warfare on Serena. I didn't think they ended it very well--Blair could have come up with a way cattier punishment for her, but whatever. The entire time she was on the screen, I kept thinking, "Uuuummmm! Dawnie Summers! When Spike and Buffy find out how you've been acting they're going to show up and drag you back to California and you're going to be in so. Much. Trouble!" No, really. That's what I wanted to happen.
Eric may be the only character I straight up like. I would like him in real life, and I like him on the show. I have sympathy for him, but despite his suicide attempt, he's too sure of himself for me to feel anything like pity, thank God. He's so clear-sighted. I have to admit that back in the day, I shipped him and Jenny. They totally wrote him like he was enamored of her, and I was sure they were going to go in the direction of having Jenny compete for the affections of some personality-less Ken doll before she came to her senses and saw that Eric was right. There. and the only character who really seems to be untainted by status and money. So I was disappointed when he made the revelation that he's gay, not because he turned out to be gay, but because it ruined my first ship of the show. But now I'm over it and I just want to see him being cool (and having more screen time!) and hanging out with Chuck. And maybe being really good platonic friends with Jenny and being the one to make her see how self-involved and immature she's being.
But!
There are two characters so awesome, so snarky and horrible, so well-drawn that I will put up with any level of mediocrity in order to experience their awesomeness.
Okay, I'm giving up on the suspense thing. It's not like you didn't already know who they were.
Chuck Bass is the slimiest, most loathsome character I've encountered in a while. He's horrible and disgusting and vile. But "he's Chuck Bass," and so I adore him. I never want to meet him, I just want to watch him drink and whore his way across my screen and enjoy the hell out of it. By the way, "I'm Chuck Bass" has officially become my favorite line from anything ever. Ever.
I love his stupid scarf and his stupid bedroom voice and his stupidstupidstupid colored suits. I love his loyalty to Nate and his taking Eric under his wing (which he totally didn't have to do, by the way) and his wanting his dad's attention in any way he can get it (cliche as that is). And I love how much he hates how much he wants Blair. Oh, Chuck Bass. You are too awesome.
And as May and I were discussing, Leighton Meester is the actress who is going to come out of this show with a real career. I can't get over how pitch-perfect she is, always. No one else I can think of could take this selfish, manipulative person and make me actually care about her. Blair's got so many layers, but none of them contradict each other. She's the definition of "I am large, I contain multitudes." I squee with happiness when she schemes and she makes me cry when she does. I love her headbands and even her clothes are sometimes ridiculous, she sells them because of her dignity. Which she manages to maintain even when the world is falling apart around her. Everything about her makes for an awesome character.
And yes, of course, I ship Blair/Chuck, just like you always knew I would. Obviously, Chuck and Blair will never be a normal, functional couple. They're both too selfish to have a real relationship. But they understand each other better than anyone else ever will, and they could easily take over the world if they wanted, what with their combined powers of manipulation. Honestly, my favorite moments with them were before they slept together, when they teamed up with their diabolical plots and admired each other's deviousness. Perfect. I want to see them scheme together at least once more this season. I mean, not that I'm not enjoying their angsty "I love you/I hate you"-ness, but watching them plot together is just so much fun! Oh, those two crazy kids.
Also, my other favorite part of the entire show so far (that didn't involved only Blair and Chuck and their rollercoaster of an anti-relationship) was the "Non-judging Breakfast Club." For some reason, when Blair and Chuck and Serena and Nate were all together and the other three were being there for Serena, all over protective, and, for once, fairly selfless, I flailed with happiness. It was so Fab Four--Veronica, Lilly, Logan, Duncan--all over again, and I flipped out. I want to see that happen a lot more.
So. Gossip Girl writers. Here's what I want:
1. Blair and Chuck plotting. And angsting, too. But mostly plotting.
2. Eric to have his own storyline.
3. More "Non-judging Breakfast Club" awesomeness.
4. Vanessa getting her backbone back.
5. Jenny to either shut up or learn her lesson.
Wow. That was crazy long. I doubt anybody actually read all of it. But I had lots of fun writing it! And it's always exciting to gain a new fandom, especially one with characters as awesome as this one.
Also, who's been watching Fringe? Is it good? I tried to watch the pilot and couldn't make it through it. But if anyone I trust enjoys it, I'd be willing to give it another chance. J.J. Abrams and I have such a love/hate relationship, so I need advice on this one.
Oh, television. How I'd missed you.
no subject
+ Serena totally made a deal with a demon for that hair. It is ALWAYS perfect. Even in that one episode where she supposedly didn't shower it was perfect. Someone needs to write that fic.
+ Well, and possibly Eric. He's awesome, but not reason enough to continue watching on his own Haha, he totally is for me. I adore that kid like nothing else. I can't even begin to explain. The minute they realize how utterly awesome he is and make him a pernament part of the cast with YES, his own storylines I will die a happy death.
+ Honestly, my favorite moments with them were before they slept together, when they teamed up with their diabolical plots and admired each other's deviousness. Me too, me too. Most of fandom jumped on board after Victor, Victorla, but the time before that is exactly why I love them. They're both so good at self-destructing that it's natural to spread that misery around especially when they've been slighted.
+ It was so Fab Four--Veronica, Lilly, Logan, Duncan--all over again, and I flipped out. I want to see that happen a lot more. I had the exact same flashback and funnily enough they work out with those characters too, in a half-assed sort of way lol. Serena a less astute, and more adorable Lilly. Duncan = Nate, Veronica = Blair on the scheming alone even if it isn't for the same reasons, and um, our obligatory psychotic jackasses, as vastly different as they are, bring the snark every time.
I love his stupid scarf and his stupid bedroom voice and his stupidstupidstupid colored suits. If you see me quoting you somewhere for that, don't hate me. Why I love the boy in a nutshell, right there.
she sells them because of her dignity. Which she manages to maintain even when the world is falling apart around her. THANK YOU. Whenever people try to knock her, I want to say exactly what you said. She is truly the most complex, fleshed out character on this show and it doesn't contradict and the fact that we pull for her even when she's being insane because sometimes, she goes there, just proves how well Leighton portrays her.
And you know I felt the exact same way about Nate, but me and Izi warmed up to him when the Vanessa thing happened. I fought it with all I had, but the fact that Chace can almost ALMOST emote now is kind of a miracle lol.
And as for Jenny, I love the girl. Everything you said is true, but my love for Ms. Humphrey is unconditional it seems. I can't get mad at her. I think the absentee mother and the dad and brother who are basically the same person with the same love story decades between the other, and the wanting so badly to make herself into someone because she wants the validation and she thinks that if she gets to where she needs to get, everything will be okay. I just can't bring myself to fault her even as her flaws come up time and time again. Plus she's the baby on set.
AND YES YES TO FRINGE. The pilot had me wanting to take a nap, but it gets better I swear, Lauren. It gets so much better and Walter? Walter is the most hilarious character to ever grace the small screen I kid you not. Give it a couple more eps, and then I will shut up. ;)
no subject
+ Don't they even make a reference to it? I think it's Dan, saying something about her hair being perfect even though she didn't wash it. Yeah, my unwashed hair would look that good if I had a team of stylists to fix it when I got on set in the morning, too.
+ I know! Why does Eric not get the love/screen time he deserves? I want him to be the sardonic voice of reason on the show. Because he could totally be that.
+ Exactly. And I'm glad we agree on that. Their natural appreciation for each other's deviousness just owns my soul. For always.
+ our obligatory psychotic jackasses, as vastly different as they are, bring the snark every time. Yup! Logan's a much better person than Chuck, but still. It's all about the snark.
Please quote me. I'd be insanely flattered.
Well, Blair can be completely horrible. But like you say, she's so complex, and I love that in a character.
Yeah, Nate is infinitely more likable when he's with Vanessa. I just can't help feeling that she can do better. I don't dislike him by any stretch of the imagination, and maybe Vanessa will do wonders for him, but I'm still a bit, "Meh."
I'm glad you can have unconditional love for Jenny. I really do want to like her again, but she just keeps piling the frustrations on. There will be moments, like when she just turns her back on the popularity, that I really like her. And I even like the idea of her going for what she really wants with the fashion job and all, I just hate seeing her disrespect her dad like that to do it. He loves her. He wants to see her succeed. She needs to understand that.
I will trust you on Fringe then. I'll give it another try and hope I love it, and knowing us and our ridiculously like-minded-ness, I probably will.