GOSSIP GIRL hit the ground running right where the pilot left off. It’s the morning after and everyone’s still reeling from the night before. S feels like she needs to make amends with B. Dan thinks he needs to apologize for being a dweeb at the end of his date with Serena (I mean, how funny was the door slam then lame wave?). Jenny wants to solidify the train she’s got moving into coolsville and Chuck just wants to get laid. Shocker, GG’s back… did you miss her?

The opening scene is wonderfully sweet and playful and sassy and everything I love about this show. Dan Humphrey is officially my new psycho TV crush. Where I was a little wobbly at the sight of him, I’m now full on gob smacked and drooling in his presence. He’s charming and cute yet reluctantly gallant and humble. Oh and can we talk about the loft they live in? Killer with the garage door walls. Lastly, the Dan/Jenny dynamic is precious.

I’m also loving the other brother and sister relationship, that between Serena and her suicidal brother. There’s just a really nice and natural chemistry there and while I sometimes feel Blake Lively is stretching to be a highschooler, I never feel as if she’s stretching for truth in her performance. It’s evident that she’s got some skills when you watch her and her little bro verbally ping pong their way through recent events.

Blair is a full on Cruella. She’s so insecure, hurt, and threatened by Serena’s return that she masks it with some of the juiciest diva lines this side of Nicole Julian on Popular. Her willingness to keep Nathan in her pocket is admirable yet sickly weak. Sure after finding out that the love of your life, your longtime BF slept with your longtime BFF, had to hurt but if we’re to feel any sympathy for your B, don’t be so needy.

Chuck’s up to his usual tricks, and by tricks I mean hotel whores staffers. Boy wakes up the night after the Kiss On The Lips party with not only a shiner but two chickies in his bed and a habit to feed. His father is throwing his annual fundraising brunch in a couple hours and there’s still time to try and ruin someone’s life, the day’s early.

Mrs. Van der Woodsen meets not one but two gentleman callers for her recently returned daughter. Charmed by Nathan and annoyed by Dan Humphrey she heads off about her day leaving the two boys waiting Serena’s return. See, S is off to B’s not knowing that B’s fully aware of her BFF’s indescretions hence the cold shoulder the night before. With caps, croissants, and Breakfast at Tiffany’s in hand S mistakenly tries to make nice with B. Not happening. Serena’s floored that Blair knows about last years fling with Nathan and even more so that Nate spilled the beans.

In the meantime Mrs. Van der Woodsen runs into Mr. Humphrey where they have quite the altercation that’s both playful and disgusting at the same time. What I love about this scene in the coffee shop is that it’s so Josh Schwartz. He does the best job at balancing the A storyline which is always the kids with the B or C storyline which usually pertains to the parents. On The O.C. both Sandy and Kiki had some unbelievable scenes of their own. I like that he lets the grownups play around in the world of adolescent excess without making it seem forced. The chemistry between Kelly Rowland and Matthew Settle is palpable.

Back at the Hotel, Serena returns from Blair’s to find Dan still waiting around for her. He apologizes for his peculiar wave the night before and they agree to get some food. Mrs. VdW returns as well and convinces Serena that she’s not going anywhere except Chuck’s father’s brunch. Oh did I mention that this all goes down mere seconds after Nathan stops Dan or Chuck from killing each other? I love that Dan’s the nerdy one yet he’s not afraid to throw down!

At the brunch, the socialites are a twitter with news of Serena having the balls to show up, let alone with Dan Humphrey by her side. Blair’s pissed and Chuck’s ripshit, two emotions I thoroughly enjoy. Nate convinces Serena to talk and gives her the key to Chuck’s suite. In the meantime Chuck’s convinced Blair that if she wants to solidify Nate as her mate, she needs to seal the deal right now. He gives her the key to his suite and off they go. Too bad Serena’s already waiting inside which gives Blair a well coiffed meltdown causing her to storm back down to the party with some words of caution for My BF Dan Humphrey.

Too bad Dan’s outside witnessing Mrs. VdW argueing with Chuck’s Father about going public with their relationship. Let me tell you my friend, now was not the time to head outside and hear what you heard.

Here’s where I got most excited. This was the first scene where all the principle teen players are together in one room, one space, and causing quite the stir. Blair starts to spill when Serena walks in and tries to explain only to have Chuck do some of the dirty work, leaving Dan with a foul taste in his mouth. With all of her dirty little secrets out on the open, Serena chases Dan down, apologizes and tries to reconcile but my boy is discouraged, disheartened, and obviously disgusted. I loved watching all of them bounce lines off each other. It was a pissing contest of one-upsmanship and they all came out on top!

It ends with Blair and Nathan in bed talking a very political talk about their relationship, Jenny trying on the blue original dress she received from Blair in trade for a yet unnamed favor (which I’m sure will be devastating), Dan sitting on his fire escape thinking about Serena and our main girl tossing her old cellphone into the trash, signifying a new beginning for the new and hopefully improved Serena.

There were some great lines tonight so I had to highlight a few for you guys…

Kelly Rutherford and Matthew Settle’s playful banter included this zinger.

Mr. H: Admit it, you’re falling for me again.
Mrs. VdW: You’re right, you’re right. It’s the low income tax bracket, the bad V-neck, the awful jokes… I don’t know why your wife left you.
Mr. H: Well, she had better taste than you!

Dan commenting on Chuck’s one black eye.
Dan H: That one black eye looks a little lonely.

Chuck’s Dad giving Chuck the what for given his appearance and black eye - all I have to say is NO HE DIDN’T! **Okay, so I had a convo with someone here at work who said Chuck’s dad said “Do me a favor, lose the Scotch, it’s barely noon” and that makes total sense but I so want it to be what I heard (see below)
Papa Chuck: Do me a favor, lose the Scotch, it’s better than you.

And finally, Kristen Bell had some killer narration agan this week and among them, a doozy!
Gossip Girl: Looks like Chuck and Blair showed up with an appetite… for destruction.
Gossip Girl: Some might call this a Fuster Cluck, we call it Sunday Brunch.

What did you guys think of Episode 2: “The Wild Brunch”?

This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 26th, 2007 at 9:29 pm and is filed under Ducky Does TV, Gossip Girl, TV Boyfriends, The CW. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.