After only three episodes I find myself addicted to "Gossip Girl"; I watch every week and not only do I turn up the TV but I cannot take my eyes off the screen. The series is based on a series of books by the same name, and brought to us by executive producer Josh Schwartz of "The O.C." fame.
The show is about priviledged teens from Manhatten's Upper East Side, some spoiled brats and some grateful for second chances, and the few who yearn to be a part of their worlds and receive their opportunities. The main character is Serena van der Woodsen (Blake Lively) who has just returned home from boarding school to be at the side of her younger brother Eric (Connor Paolo) who attempted suicide (Please note that thoughout the show: Gossip Girl informs everyone via text message or her website of Serena and all her latest happenings). Serena has changed from party girl to sophisticated young woman with goals.
Her used to be best friend is Blair Waldorf (Leighton Meester) who is bent on revenge because Serena slept with her easy on the eyes boyfriend Nate Archibald (Chace Crawford) before she left for boarding school. Blair is determined not to be second to Serena anymore whether it involves Nate, school, the social scene, or anything else for that matter. Nate is dealing with his own issues, he still harbors serious feelings for Serena and is confused with how to deal with all the expectations his father has for him.
Then there is the troublemaker, Chuck Bass (Ed Westwick), a spoiled brat who is always tempting Nate and Blaire to do wrong and pushing his enemies to the brink of madness.
The two outsiders in this world are Dan and Jenny Humphrey (Penn Badgley and Taylor Momsen), the brother and sister team who come from a middle class family. Their dad Rufus (Matthew Settle) is a part of a rock band and a art gallery owner, and he has a history with Serena's mom, Lily (Kelly Rutherford) a socialite.
Dan and Serena meet and he is quite taken by the intelligent beauty who also shows an interest in him and asks him out on a date. Chuck takes things with Jenny too far at the "kiss on the lips" party and Dan and Serena come to her rescue (Chuck makes Dan his enemy). Many people are going to complicate Dan and Serena's relationship (I will explore this in another post).
The young actors in this series are brilliant and right on point. Their lines are delivered with a clever conviction that makes them believable as people. I am already attached to certain characters, for example, my heart sunk for Serena when Blaire told Dan in front of Serena that she slept with Blaire's boyfriend Nate. Dan walked out on Serena at Blaire's brunch and said she was just like everyone else.
The music for the series is hot with everything from Vivaldi to The Killers to Joss Stone to Rooney to Justin Timberlake to Rihanna to Fergie to newcomers like The Bravery and that's just a starting list, bleieve me. The writing is tight, mature and seriously believeable without being over the top with dashes of comic relief in between. "Gossip Girl" is a diamond in the rough, more priceless because it's rare and original. If you aren't watching it yet, you must tune in, you won't be sorry; it's a hit.
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