User:Gossip99

"Gossip Girl Here! Your one and only source into the scandalous lives of Manhattans elite..."- A Pilot
The familiar voice rings out as our screens fill up with a blown up image of Serena Van der Woodsen fleeing Grand Central,bags in head, after a year away at boarding school in Cornwall, Conneticut, she's back! Her best friend,Blair Waldorf, if definitely to hear the surprise news that her former-friend is back,after leaving without a word of warning- unsure why she, as the new Queen 'B' of the UES, wasn't told first. Prepared to consumate her relationship with WASP Upper East Side hottie bf, Nate Archibald, the news couldn't come at a timer any worse- since Miss.Waldorf is clueless about an evening her man and her ex-friend spent at the Shepards wedding...That CHUCK BASS saw with his own eyes! So, upon hearing the news, Nate leaves Blair alone in her bedroom (they are at a party hosted by her mother, Eleanor, at the Waldorf Penthouse.)- but upon confronting Serena, who has wearily wandered in to say a quick hello, Blair trailing behind him- i to shocked to say a word. Serena declines an invitation to stay and eat dinner when offered a spot next to Blair at the table, and leaves after a few quick words. Nate is left shocked and surprised, but Blair appears angry and jealous, having always envied the fact that Nate admired Serena from afar. The next day, Serena leaves the hotel, The Palace, where she is staying with her mother (her brother Eric remains in intensive care in a mental institute after a failed suicide attempt),when Nate "suprisingly" drops past, He pretends he didn't know she was staying there- and just came to say hello, but Serena makes it clear that she is a reformed girl- no more partying and drugs for her, as she wishes for a clear slate, and that what happened between them at the Shepard wedding was never to be mentioned again.

We now start with a day at school, Serena(of course) being late, tries to make amends with her friend on the stepsof the Metropolitan Museum of Art. There is a quiet war brewing between the two over a power stuggle, but they settle by making a date for drinks and a possible heart-to-heart.

As promised, the duo meet at the bar of the Palace Hotel, order martini's, and have their first heart-to-heart asince Serena's disappearence. Blair reveals that since her father left, her mother has been doing 'very good'; "She lost 3 pounds, got an eyelife- it's been good for her!". Blair has been feeling lonely and chetaed since her father left for his male lover, Roman, and Serena for reasons unclear- so she presses the question as why she left in the first place. Serena tells her that she needed to "Get away from everything", which ultimately confuses Blair as she believes she had "nothing to run away from". Serena doesn't reveal what happened between her and Nate, and Blair doesn't press on the issue anymore. Leaving her barely-touched Martini, she tells Serena she's late for a 'date' with Nate (with 'special plans' for the evening as her mother is out), and they hug and make-up, relieved that they finally have each other again.

After Blair leaves, Serena quickly skulls her friend's leftover drink (hinting that she has something to drink about). Chuck Bass approaches her, the UES resident sleazebag, and asks why the bar is serving minors, that he should tell his father (who, a wealthy businessman/philanthropist, also owns the Palace hotel). Serena responds with "and if they are serving you, they are also serving pigs". Chuck tell's her he "loves it when she talks dirty", Serena drily replying that she's "missed his witty banter", before sipping yet another drink. Chuck presses the issue of her leaving on her- knowing that Serena is guilty, hiding something that she doesn't want anyone to know about- something that could potentially ruin her recovered frienship with Blair, and many of the other UES kid's that she has grown up with.

After Chuck takes a hungry Serena into the kitchen (convinced she is still the old 'down for anything girl'), has has the chef's make her a melted cheese and truffle sandwich, before closing the kitchen down for the night. He jumps onto Serena, trying to hold her down and kiss her- but Serena refuses to let him go any further, and he reveals that he knows about her expolits with Nate before she left, at the wedding- so she kicks him in the crotch, and runs off, dropping her phone, causing Dan Humphrey, a boy she had met before- to pick up her belongings, as she runs off, a mess.

Cue Blair... Dressed to the nine's in a slinkly pink and black lacey negligee number, candles lit- lights off, as 'Air' by 'Photograph' plays, while Blair quietly (and obviously nervously) sit's on a bed, waiting for her man as he pushes open the door to her room. Blair has a complete romantic mood set- and Nate decides to ruin it by stopping her before they go any further, to launch into a guilt-filled confession as to what happened bewteen him and her bff Serena, before she left.

After he reveals the details of his previous exploits with the blonde bombshell (cue flashback montage), a disgusted and upset Blair throws him out of her room, making it very clear that they are over.

The next day, Nate and Serena are waiting in the Palace Hotel for Serena (Nate, to reveal that he confessed to Blair, and Danm to return her missing pieces).

Upon realising that she has been uninvited to the inaugural 'Kiss on The Lips' charity party, Serena asks Dan outon a date as a distraction, causing Jenny to receive an invitation herself as a thanks for creating the invitations for the party.

Nate believes things with Blair ending 'hastily' (he has caved into his parent's wishes to close a deal with the Waldorf's, and goes to pursue Blair again). Blair agree's, believing that he did it because he loves her. The duo share sushi as 'The Cold War Kid's' 'Hang Me Up to Dry' plays, filling the awkward silence.

Skip to the 'Kiss on The Lips' Party: Blair, all dolled up, is getting out of a limo with Nate, that they shared with fellow UES group of Chuck,Kaiti and Is. An unhappy Nate is pulled along by a cheery Blair into the party, speakers booming with Timbaland's 'Way I Are', and we see the amazing set-up of the party.

Chuck, on the prowl as usual, spot's a naieve and completely sweet-looking Jenny Humphrey, dressed up, nervously waiting in the corner as she knows no-one personally at the party. Chuck approaches her, and Jenny is excited that the 'famous Chuck Bass' has actually recognised her, and is working his weasly charm on the young one.

Serena, is prepared to go on a date to a Linkin Hawk concert with the smitten Dan, but it is interupted when Jenny call's, stating an "EMERGANCY!"

Dan swoops in to save his sister, Serena in hand, strirring up controversy within the party as Blair notices the fuss upon their arrival. Dan ascends the stairs to the rooftop just in time to punch Chuck, pull him off her sister, and bring her downstairs.

Blair glares at Serena as she leaves: This is a new war like no other. Serena always got what she wanted, and that included Nate- and they were now enemies.

The episode ends with "The Gift" faintly playing as the trio whiz back home amidst the neon NYC lights in a yellow taxi. We see Serena, face zoomed on in- she has come back home not knowing what to expect, started a ar with Blair within 2 days of being home, possibly alienated several friendship connected through Blair, but met a great new guy and started afresh.


 * This was a "Bite Size" Review. Forget pages full of endless plot-points and people droning on-and-on about the episodes. I narrow episodes down until their easier for your mind to digest by limiting them to the important facts only!

XO