Gossip Girl

I binged this show on Netflix and found it quite addicting, even when it became increasingly farcical in the later seasons. While the characters and story lines could be silly at points I have to say the acting was better than on most teen shows. Leighton Meester, Ed Westwick, Taylor Momsen and Kelly Rutherford were particularly strong. I loved the fashion, the NY setting, and the music. I adored the copious film references as well. While the non-stop bed hopping and relationship merry go round got annoying, one of the main couples has the best chemistry I've seen on any television show in years. These two are reminiscent of Rhett Butler and Scarlett O'Hara, a touch like Bonnie & Clyde and very Beatrice & Benedick. This one relationship really carries the show emotionally and makes it worth watching until the end to see how it is resolved.

There are a large number of negative reviews on IMDb so I also feel compelled to offer some warnings: It's not a realistic TV show. It's hyper-realistic. A fantastical soap opera if you will. If you're the type of person that gets annoyed over characters traveling from Brooklyn to the UES in 15 minutes don't watch. You'll go mad.

It's not a show with warm fuzzy ethical teen show protagonists like Sandy or Seth Cohen. I was a big fan of The OC. This show has some similarities but is much darker and much more satirical. The characters on Gossip Girl that you expect to be the moral center (the "poor outsiders") end up being quite devious while the clearly wicked rich bad characters end up being the most emotionally compelling. Every lead character is gray. If you need a show with clearly delineated heroes and villains don't watch. You'll hate everyone by the end.

It's not a show with a moral code. It neither reflects traditional conservative values nor progressive liberal values. If you need a show that promotes "good values" of either kind, I'd stay away.

It deviates wildly from the books. If that matters to you, stay away.

But if you want a glossy glitzy glamorous guilty pleasure filled with beautiful people like Chace Crawford and Blake Lively, tons of drama, fashion, and some over the top but emotionally compelling characters and relationships? Give it a shot.

So one of my big annoyances is that from the off it's clear that one of the main plot lines will be "who is gossip girl?". But, realistically does it really matter? Any sort of justification on why they need to know is executed really poorly and in 6 seasons I recall them wanting to know who it is about twice (before the very end, obviously). It becomes such a pointless plot line. Because it's just a website that people post gossip on and very quickly the important plots end up being "will this character end up with this character?".

The "will this character end up with this character" got incredibly tedious the more it went on. We all know who's going to end as a couple and yet after 60-80 45 minute episodes and still not together, just becomes annoying and not fun to watch. Characters falling in love after about 15 seconds with other characters, then going nah I want the original one again. Tedious and repeated over and over. Really needed to mix it up a little, just became tiresome.

The characters I found to be frustrating, yet I think this was the point. These rich upper east teens do act this entitled. So although it can be very frustrating and almost making characters unlikeable, it's actually very well done from the writers/directors.

Although I've basically shunned the entire plot purpose of this show, it was still entertaining in parts. I just wish they did the whole romance plots better and a bit more in depth.

So I'll give it a 6/10. It's still watchable at the end of the day and I've seen much much worse TV shows in the past.

The show Gossip Girl is an insider's guide to the life of the elite. It is filled with teenagers acting like adults and adults acting like teenagers, with one person exposing their every move with the help of the entire Upper East Side. Secrets and betrayals are two things that this show revolves around, along with putting friendships and relationships to the test. If you are not interested in on going drama that seems to always circle back around to where it started, I would not recommend. However, if a show filled with interesting characters, dramatic plot twists, and an appealing setting, you will be hooked.

The show has nothing to do with reality nor common sense, but I still love it. It's a nice escape from my every day life but I sometimes am bothered by all the very unrealistic events and characters. All the characters for example, have an incredibly high tolerance for remixing, reworking and rehashing the drama in their own lives. There were times when I felt fed up with all the new characters and the drama which created disjointed mess but there still are high points within the seasons. I miss Jenny and Vanessa as characters, especially Jenny who was one of the most down to earth characters. I love how things go with Chuck Bass and Blair but somehow I have the feeling that the character of Dan is missing the point. I'm not sure if it's the actor who's playing him or the screenwriters who slowly but very certainly 'kill' Dan's personality. And of course, there's Nate whose existence on the show I still can't figure out. All the critics aside, like I said in the beginning, it's a really enjoyable show which does its job - it entertains us.

I'm so addicted to Gossip Girl and Leighton Meester. Her acting is so great!!