GOSSIP GIRL - "Seventeen Candles" Recap or Welcome to the Chuck train
[This recap will contain spoilers]
First let me just say that I LOVED GOSSIP GIRL's episode "Seventeen Candles" and someone named Chuck had something to do with it.
So Blair is turning 17! Happy Birthday B, but something tells me things are not going to be as happy as expected.
First I need to say, is it me or is Chuck becoming sweet? He might be suffering from the "I start out as a bad guy and end up being good" factor. We have seen this with Nathan in One Tree Hill and Logan in Veronica Mars. It's the thing where you start hating them and then you end up liking them better than the original "nice" characters.
But before we get to Blair's party, Dan (Penn Badgley) is hanging out with Vanessa (Jessica Szohr), again. Two things: 1) How annoying is Vanessa? She acts like Dan is her boyfriend and gets mad when he wants to see Serena (Blake Lively). 2) Turns out I don't care about the Serena/Dan storyline that much anymore. Why? Because now I have Chuck and Blair to care about.
Cut to Blair's birthday party and the "famous" balcony scene (ok so maybe it's only famous in my mind...) with Chuck (Ed Westwick) and Blair (Leighton Meester).
Chuck being Chuck to Blair: "You're ready for your present. [Blair pulls his ear] If you wanted to play rough, all you had to do was ask."
Note: I Heart Chuck!
The whole balcony scene where he sort of admits he likes her and has butterflies (how cute)... all my repulsion for him is officially gone. The vulnerable side makes me melt every time.
So then Dan gets to the party with... Vanessa, WHAT?! Seriously, pick one, Serena or Vanessa?
Cut to: Hot Wager between Blair and Chuck - if she wins Chuck leaves her alone, if he wins she spends the night with him. Will Nate call at midnight? You know he won't.
[I will have a side comment here and say: How cool was that guitar video game they were playing: Guitar Heroes. Funny thing is someone mentioned it to me a while ago and now I totally want to get it. Can I say Product Placement?]
Vanessa is a beotch! She brings up the whole Dan's mom being back when she sort of knows Dan hadn't told Serena yet, and then acts all innocent about it? Come on Dan, wake up!
Obviously, Serena is upset that Dan didn't tell her about it and when she sort of mentions how he told Vanessa and not her, all Dan can find to say is: "I tell Vanessa everything, alright. I have since I was six." Again, what?!
I'm with Serena on that one: "Well, you're not six anymore, Dan."
How stupid are you Dan? Hasn't anyone ever told you that you tell your girlfriend about things happening in your life first before your tell your girl friend, if you know what I mean.
Back to the wager: While Blair is waiting for Nate to call her at midnight for her birthday, Nate (Chace Crawford) is hanging out with Little Jenny (Taylor Momsen)... interesting. Isn't she too young for him?
Chuck, Chuck, Chuck Chuck Chuck (now imagine me singing it... okay maybe not a good idea)
Midnight and no call from Nate. Blair breaks down and all I can think about is that I am liking her more and more every week. Funny how everything can change in a matter of episodes. I started out liking Serena and Dan and now it's all about the Chuck and Blair Show.
Chuck goes to comfort Blair and of course we find out that he is the one who bought the necklace Blair had set aside for her birthday. Totally saw that one coming, but it still worked. Good move Chuck!
Finally, Serena catches Blair making out with Chuck, and for some reason she seems concerned. Why? Blair and Nate are over, the girl has a right to have fun with whom she wants. Especially if it's Chuck.
Finally, as I was writing this, I found out that our dear Ed Westwick who plays Chuck comes from England... it all makes sense now, that's why I love him so much! Who can resist a Brit?
So Upper East Siders, what did you think of Gossip Girl's "Seventeen Candles"?
November 15, 2007 by Sandie · Print This Article
Category: Gossip Girl, Reviews
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I gotta say, I still like Serena and Dan better. Although, Chuck is getting a little more bearable.
A sophisticated storyline seen previously in Dawosn's Creek? surely not? Who will get hurt? my guess is, the ever sensitive Chuck who hides his true sensitivity behind the veil of "do it to them before they do it to you!" I would dearly like to meet the girl that did the number on him ( in a dark alley with a mallet!).
Has he always had a secret passion for Blair? perhaps! As the show progresses, we will probably end up hating him once more only to discover that his true motives have always been one of love for Blair and those that she loves.
As much as i wish he gets the girl, love is hard, and for a playboy, love is almost an occupational hazzard. We always love cute Villains but will Blair be the one that tames the savage Bass, we will have to wait and see! xoxo
I too have been enjoying Chuck and Blair far more than I would have expected after the first episode. However, I do wish this apparent redemption arc didn't follow his assault on Jenny. I think that was a really misjudged scene on the part of the writers, because I find it hard to forgive an apparent sexual predator. If I pretend that first episode didn't exist, everything is great, but it seems as if the writers are trying to pretend the first episode didn't exist, either, which just feels sloppy.
I was so inlove like you with Serena and Dan (Pushing them to the side for Chuck and Blair (wishing it was Jenny) I wanted more than ever fo Jenny to tame the shrew, but it looks as though Blair is going to be the Shrew to tame the Bigger Shrew. None the less I love it!!!! Want more of it!!!!!
Love love love the chemistry between Chuck and Blair!!!
I agree. Started out despising Chuck and loving Dan/Serena, and now I'm digging the Chuck/Blair (as well as the Nate/Jenny?) relationship while being bored with the Dan/Serena/Vanessa thing.
I started out sort of liking Chuck, and adoring Dan. A few episodes in, Dan's sarcasm and constant making out with the uber-boring Serena got to me, and I realized how much more interesting Chuck is. I've been a Chuck fangirl for, I dunno, maybe 5 episodes, and I'm really happy to see him with Blair. My older sister actually predicted C/B from the pilot episode -- when B and C were standing next to each other towards the end, after C had been punched by Dan. So excited for next episode!
If you read the books, you will love Vanessa. She is very different in the series as a bald headed inspired film maker. Her and Serena are actually good friends in the long run. As for who gets Dan? You'll have to read.
Chuck and Blair together makes me gag.
Reading just the first chapter of the first book would make anyone biasly in favour of Blair and Nate, whilst also giving them a burning hatred/jealousy of Serena. And reading the entire series would make them hate Chuck more than Serena and give them an "understanding" of Serena in the same way Blair likes to cast her of.
So to sum it up: I love Blair loving Nate loving Blair.
And who can resist the dreamy Chace Crawford with the cute American accent?