First let me say, I am in complete and total denial that this is the final season of "Gossip Girl." How am I supposed to carry on without my weekly dose of Chuck Bass?
Speaking of Chuck, the episode opens with a steamy love scene between him and Blair at the hotel in Monte Carlo. I am so happy they are back together! As the episode progresses we find out that Chuck and Blair have decided to stay together, but to tend to their personal business first. Sort of a "hurry up and wait" situation.
In the final scene of the episode, Chuck and Blair are in the back of the limo and we discover that Blair is wearing her Harry Winston engagement ring (yes, that ring!) around her neck on a chain, Carrie Bradshaw style. This makes me sad. I have a feeling Chuck and Blair are going to have a bumpy road. Again.
The whole gang winds up reunited when Lily reveals that Serena is missing and has been all summer. The crew finds her at a celebration in someone's backyard in Poughkeepsie. She is masquerading as "Sabrina," telling people she grew up in Madison, WI and went to Vassar. Despite her lying, she looked stunning in that white and canary yellow gown. I loved the sheer back and the lace detail on the sleeves and the neckline. Swoon.
Serena's new love interest, Stephen, is played by Matt Camden. I mean, Barry Watson! I read on one of the celebrity gossip sites that Watson has signed on for a multiple episode arc.
Dan, with Georgina in tow, returns from Italy to help look for Serena. During their ambush Dan confesses to Blair that he was dealing with losing her to Chuck, but now that he knows they aren't really together, he feels deflated again and sorry for her. Ouch. Unrelated, what is going on with Dan's hair? It's too voluminous.
At the end of the episode Dan returns home to the Brooklyn loft and walks in on Rufus and Ivy! Let me say that again - Rufus and Ivy. Ivy calls Lola to update her on their scheme and mentions how easy Rufus is to manipulate. What is her plan? How is she going to use Rufus to get back at Lily? I don't see the plot line yet.
Speaking of Lily, she and Bart spent the summer in the Hamptons and renewed their vows. They also apparently visited Eric in Africa. I love how they keep mentioning Eric as if he might some day return.
Lastly, Nate was about to out Gossip Girl in "The Spectator" when he traded his inside information for Serena's location. In the midst of all of this, Nate is being pursued by an eager beaver intern hopeful.
In the previews for next week we discover this intern girl is in high school! We also get a sneak peek of Chuck beginning to wage war on Bart. The previews also revealed that there are only 9 episodes left in the series. How can that be? Only 10 episodes in the whole final season? I feel robbed.
