A Look Back on Memorable Episodes from Every Season of Gossip Girl
Guess who’s back?
If you haven't heard by now, it's only a matter of time until the news floods all of your social media feeds. The beloved teen drama, Gossip Girl, is being rebooted on HBO Max. Get ready to once again be thrown into a world of money, power, and rumors running rampant. We couldn't be more excited.
The original series aired on The CW Network from 2007-2012. Filled with teenage love, angst, heartbreak, and more drama and Dior than you could imagine, it's no surprise the popular show will soon return to our screens in a more modern remake.
However, the question remains, what will this new series center on? How different will it be from the OG run? We've been given a little information on how the story will play out: after being dark for years, the legendary site, Gossip Girl, is back to spill the deets on Manhattan's new elite. But, instead of Gossip Girl being a blog, the 2021 edition will move our favorite troublemaker to a social media platform.
We can expect more up-to-date changes when the show hits our screens on July 8th. Not only will the show be more social media savvy, but the cast will include more diversity– with people of different races and members of the LGBTQ+ community being a part of the main ensemble. This is a long time overdue, and we can't wait to see what Gossip Girl 2.0 will hold.
Until we can binge the episodes on July 8th, let's take a trip down memory lane. What better way to kick off the celebration of welcoming a new group of Upper East Siders than to reminisce on all of our favorite episodes of Gossip Girl from each season?
Warning: Spoilers ahead!
Season 1 Episode 1– “Pilot”
Honestly, it would be a crime to rank any season one episode higher than the debut. This episode introduced us to a world of characters with more money, problems, and, lucky for us, entertainment than we could ever think of. The story starts with our mystery girl, Serena van der Woodsen, returning to New York via Grand Central Station. Who is she? Why did she leave town? Gossip Girl, snarky as she (or he) is, narrates us through the dramatics that led our lead girl astray.
After we are introduced to the main characters, we (mostly) fall in love with their dynamic personalities. Blair Waldorf with her diva attitude, Serena van der Woodsen with her defiance, Chuck Bass with his bad-boy persona, Nate Archibald with his charm, and Dan Humphrey with his quirkiness. The characters captivated us, and the episode leaves you craving more. The question on all of our minds– who is Gossip Girl? While we had our suspicions as the seasons went on, we wouldn’t get the reveal we desperately yearned for until the very last episode– over five years later.
Season 2 Episode 12– “It’s a Wonderful Lie”
Oh, if only the episode unfolded like the joyous Holiday rendition it could have been. But, in typical Gossip Girl fashion, the season couldn't be merry without a little bit of jealousy and tragedy. As the date of the Snowflake Ball rapidly approaches, trouble starts to set in for our group of teens. Blair and Chuck decide to pick each other's dates–it goes as well as it sounds–and Jenny vows to get revenge on Vanessa Abrams for betraying her as a romance buds with her crush, Nate Archibald. The gut-wrenching scene of Vanessa standing in the middle of the dance floor with a see-through dress was enough to make all of our hearts break for her.
The complex situations don't stop with the teenagers, either. Another primary focus of this episode hones in on Lily van der Woodsen (Bass) and the conflicting feelings she has for Rufus Humphrey. While she is still married to Chuck's father, Bart, her heart is evidently in another place.
So, why is this episode a top-pick? It all lies in the final moments. In the last few seconds, we are struck with the shocking news of a car accident. Especially after rewatching when you know what happens, this scene's effect on the way the rest of the series plays out is enough for this episode to make it on the top of our list. Who doesn't love a good plot twist?
Season 3 Episode 22– “Last Tango, Then Paris”
If it's been a while since you watched this season finale, brace yourself for a recap that will send you on a whirlpool of emotions. Every single feeling you could possibly have– sadness, joy, shock, terror, excitement– takes place during these 41 minutes that leave you on the edge of your seat. Try to keep up as we go along.
Let's start off on a happy note: Dorota finally has her baby! It's such a sweet moment to watch our favorite sassy character become a mother. The hospital scene where she asks Eleanor and Cyrus to be Anastasia's Godparents warms our hearts, and there is definitely no lack of tears. Plus, seeing a softer side to Blair Waldorf, who is typically as ruthless as it gets, is touching to witness. Unfortunately, this may be the only moment during this finale that makes us smile. It soon takes a turn for the worst.
Love him or hate him, we all sympathized with Chuck as we saw him toss out those flowers when he realized Blair wasn't meeting him at the top of the Empire State Building. (Little did he know, she was at the hospital with Dorota!) Chuck retaliates in a way that (almost) none of us saw coming–sleeping with Jenny. Towards the end of the episode, when Chuck reconciles with Blair and proposes to her, the betrayal comes to light. Suddenly, a fight breaks out between Chuck and Dan–aka Lonely Boy. Our hearts hurt for Blair as we see the misery surface in her eyes.
And if you thought the surprises were over, the last few minutes no doubt threw you for a loop. Georgina Sparks shows up at Dan's loft and unexpectedly unbuttons her coat to reveal a bulging baby bump, and somewhere in Prague, Chuck is attacked and shot by a group of men. The credits cut with an image of Chuck bleeding alone in the street stuck in our minds. And if you watched this in real-time, you had to wait an agonizing 4 months to see how everything played out.
Season 4 Episode 2– “Double Identity”
The stunning red dress and bright red lipstick Blair wears during her conversation with Chuck at the train station is aesthetically pleasing, to say the least. But, besides her beauty, there are other reasons this episode of season four is forever imprinted in the minds of Gossip Girl fans.
Upon learning that Chuck had been shot (spoiler–he's still alive), Blair races to confront her former love. The exchange the two have in the short two minutes of the scene is tear-jerking. We can see how upset Chuck is, not just because he felt so alone he wanted to change his identity, but in the visible hurt in his eyes as Blair tells him that she doesn't love him anymore. If that wasn't a blow enough, she hands him back the engagement ring that he literally almost died for. To soften the wound, Blair confesses that although she doesn't still have feelings for him, her life wouldn't be the same without Chuck Bass. She then encourages him to go back to New York. With the soft melody humming in the background and the passionate chemistry between these two, this is undoubtedly one of the most unforgettable Chuck and Blair scenes throughout the course of the series.
Meanwhile, back in New York, Serena discovers that both of her previous love interests, Dan and Nate, have moved on from her. If this wasn't devastating enough, Serena finds out that Dan is now raising Georgina Sparks' baby. Poor S– she can never seem to catch a break, huh?
Season 5 Episode 1– “Yes, Then Zero”
In this season premiere, Serena is living a life we can only dream about. This new Serena, the one who works full-time on a Hollywood movie set, is vastly different from the irresponsible party girl we saw in season one. The episode follows her as she is determined to please her boss and make a name for herself in the industry.
At the same time, Blair is planning her wedding to Prince Louis of Monaco. If you remember from season 2, this is not Blair's first go-around with foreign royalty. It seems as though B has a type, doesn't it?
This episode makes it on our list because of the storyline surrounding Blair. While at her wedding dress fitting, we are hit with some surprising news– Blair is pregnant. Besides the scare we had during season one, we never anticipated this. If you're quiet enough, you can still hear some Chuck and Blair shippers crying. (Although we know now how their story ended up.)
After you finish the series, rewatching the clip of Blair trying on her wedding dress is pretty somber. Knowing what we do now about what happens with the car accident sheds this scene in a different light. Even though most of us are thrilled Chuck and Blair end up together, we can’t help but have mixed emotions as we see Blair in an angelic white dress discussing the pregnancy she is trying to hide.
Season 6 Episode 10– “New York, I Love You, XOXO”
Finally. After six long seasons and 121 episodes, the iconic show came to a bittersweet end. Most importantly, the secret we had been dying to know came to light– Dan is Gossip Girl. The reveal sent viewers into a frenzy. The revelation of the true identity behind the infamous sleuth was highly controversial. So, how could it have been Dan all along?
Rumor has it that Eric van der Woodsen was supposed to be exposed as the real face behind Gossip Girl. Allegedly, the top-secret information got leaked, and the writers and producers had to cover their tracks and switch the culprit. Who did they choose for the grand reveal? None other than Lonely Boy himself.
As the gang sits in Blair's living room, Dan is interrogated by the people who fell victim to Gossip Girl. Some claim they knew it was him all along, and some are baffled by how he got away with his double life the entire time. However, no one seemed shocked that they were sitting in the same room as the legendary gossiper. As Chuck so blatantly puts it, "I mean, we always knew it was one of us, right?"
And we can't forget about the iconic line when Blair expresses, "I always thought it was Dorota!" Honestly? That would have been something to see. I'm sure many of us would have been pleased to see that Dorota was the one behind the blog.
Besides the dramatic revelation, the finale gave us a touching wrap-up to the show we had invested so much of our lives in. In a flashforward, we see Dan and Serena finally tie the knot, and a mini–Chuck Bass is seen sitting with his parents, Blair and Chuck. A heartfelt ending to the series, no doubt.
No question, there are many more memorable episodes throughout the whole run of Gossip Girl. But if we mentioned them all, we'd likely be here for weeks. So, while we anticipate the episode drop of the reboot, take some time relishing in all of your favorite GG moments. Until July 8th, XOXO.
