I cannot believe tonight was the last episode of "Gossip Girl." Ever. I may need a support group.
I specifically made no plans tonight so I could come right home, snuggle into the couch and spend two final hours with my Upper East Side friends.
I had no idea the first hour of the series finale would be a recap of seasons past. "Sex and the City" surprised me by doing this for its series finale as well. This recap was very appropriately named, "Gossip Girl, XOXO."
Most of the package featured the co-executive producers Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage who are the same minds (and teenage hearts) behind "The OC." I loved when Josh said, "It was really important to us to shoot in New York. We always saw the show as a real love letter to the city." Josh also commented on the majestic evolution of the Chuck Bass' scarves over the years.
We also got to hear from the costume designer, Eric Daman, who is nothing short of a fashion genius. I can't wait to see who scoops him up now that his "Gossip Girl" reign is over.
Of course we also heard memories and inside scoop for our beloved cast. My favorite moment was when Chase Crawford admitted his grandmother watches the show and sent him texts saying, "I don't like you with that cougar!" Ha!
Toward the end of the walk down memory lane each of the cast members shared a prop from the set they thought about taking and Ed Westwick pointed out a brass sculpture in the Empire apartment and said, "We call that the Chuck Brass. I'd like to have that." I never even noticed that!
Then it was time for the final hour. I can't believe I am typing this, but it's officially time for the final review.
At the start of the episode as the scenes cut from Chuck and Blair to Serena and Dan a song called "Bonnie and Clyde" is playing. How appropriate!
Within the first few minutes Cyrus is back and Jack Bass is back! Jack suggests to Chuck and Blair that they get married so Blair will be protected from testifying against Chuck. How brilliant. As if I needed another reason to love Chuck, he strongly protests against a quickie wedding because he wants Blair to have the wedding she has always dreamed about. Swoon.
Meanwhile, Lily is being comforted by William. They walk into the building together and Lily says, "The good news is, we can do the same thing we did the last time Bart died." Ha! Love that.
Ivy arrives ready to crush Lily with the news that she and William are together. It turns out he was only using her to get back with Lily. Poor Ivy, on the outside again.
After reading Dan's final chapter, Serena comes back to the city to confront him. This is where we learn the truth about Gossip Girl. Apparently on a field trip in high school Dan heard two girls talking about Serena and whether or not she'd be humiliated by wearing a white dress in the rain. One of the girls said, "You're no one until you're talked about." That was the statement that started it all. Dan is Gossip Girl? Lonely Boy Dan Humphrey? My mind is blown.
Since we saw the shot of Gossip Girl in the black hoodie I was convinced it was Eric. It was clear it was a man's body who stole the laptop. I never thought it could be Dan! Never ever.
Apparently Jenny knew the entire time and had Dan post about her strategically to achieve her own personal objectives.
For his big reveal, Dan decides to give his story to Nate to publish with "The Spectator" instead of "Vanity Fair." An olive branch perhaps?
As the texts start beeping we see many people reading about the identity of Gossip Girl including Vanessa, Kristen Bell (the voice of Gossip Girl) and Rachel Bilson. I have to say, I get why they wanted to give Kristen Bell an on screen moment, but it didn't work.
Toward the end of the episode it's finally time for Chuck and Blair's wedding. My dreams are coming true! To the sound of the Imagine Dragons song, Blair waltzes on screen in a breathtaking, ice blue Elie Saab gown and a feather shaped diamond tiara. Perfection.
Chuck on the other hand, the love of my life, arrives looking like a bad 70s prom date in a white suite with a turquoise lapel and a bedazzled bow tie. Horrible!
Cyrus officiates and they have just enough time for a first kiss before the police arrest them.
When we come back from the commercial break, we've fast forwarded in the lives of our crew. Nate steps out of an NY Spectactor branded plane and is being asked by the press if he is running for mayor. Chuck and Blair have an adorable son (in a suit, of course) named Henry. Rufus is apparently with Lisa Loeb. Eric and Jenny are back and by way of a newspaper ad we see that a movie has been made about Ivy's life.
As Florence + The Machine's version of "You've got the love" blares (Florence is a real life friend of Blake Lively), Dan walks out in his suit and a few moments later Serena comes down those famous stairs in a gold ball gown. We don't get to see their wedding vows, but we know where it's all headed. Interestingly, the "You've got the love" version by The Source and Candi Stanton was also the song during the finale moments of the series finale of "Sex and the City."
To close the episode, we zoom out and down onto the street where a new group of high school kids are on the side walk. Gossip Girl's voice returns and asks, "Who am I now? That's one secret I'll never tell. XOXO." And the cycle begins again!
I really have to hand it to Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage. I got everything I wanted out of this finale. First, Chuck and Blair's wedding, but even more important and impressive, a shocking reveal of the true identity of Gossip Girl! I am not ashamed to admit I would never have guessed Dan in a million years.
So, what did you think? Were you as shocked as I was?
*Images courtesy of CWTV.
