‘Gossip Girl’ back from Vacation

The CW’s hit series Gossip Girl has returned from its three month hiatus with more of the sex, drugs, scandal and, of course, gossip, dedicated fans have been anxiously anticipating. Having become a staple of pop culture, debuting everything from hit songs to hot trends, Gossip Girl, the mysterious narrator of the show, follows the scandalous lives of Manhattan’s elite on her blog of the same name.

Recent plots have revisited scandals from the past, adding more layers to the convoluted, hyper dramatic portrayal of these privileged teens. Blair, the prototypical elitist brat has finally settled down with Chuck Bass- the damaged, at times devious, heir. Together, mostly at Blair’s insistence, they investigate the mysterious woman believed to be Chuck’s mother who was always believed to be dead.

Serena, the beautiful wild blonde has reignited her flame with Nate, Blair’s ex, a handsome good guy of the influential Van der bilt family, and the two have added plenty of sexuality to recent episodes. Dan, the Brooklyn intellectual and Serena’s ex-boyfriend, has muddied his friendship with Vanessa, Nate’s other ex, and long-time childhood friend by confessing his love for her; the two are now trying to find a balance between romance and friendship.

The show took an extended mid-season break to free up The CW’s Monday night timeslot for their new show “Life Unexpected,” and viewers waiting was finally put to an end on March 8 when new episode “The Hurt Locket,” premiered.

For Mari Taylor Troutman, a freshman in human biology, the second half of the season has been a bit of a disappointment compared to previous episodes.

“It’s still good, I’m still very invested in the show, but there aren’t as many new scandals and not much is really going on,” Troutman said. “I like Chuck and Blaire finally being a couple, and I’ve always liked the scenes in the city because I love New York.”

Elizabeth Biggerstaff, a sophomore in public relations, has been disappointed with the entire third season in which the main characters made a major switch from their small private high school drama to life after graduation, including college for some and resulting differences in the show’s plot.

“I am not a big fan of them being in college, I feel like the plot is being dragged on. They are running out of things to do and the story lines have gotten too extreme and hard to believe,” BIggerstaff said. “In the beginning of the show the characters were all good and new, but now the same characters have been stretched, all have dated or are dating each other; it’s just not as interesting anymore. Their portrayals of college and parties are not good, I feel like I have more interesting things to do at State than they do on that show”

Biggerstaff, like Troutman, finds some redeeming features in the newer episodes which, along with the attractive cast, high fashion and upper class New York theme, keep her watching. “Serena dating the politician, Nate’s cousin, was one of my favorite things so far in the season. I also really like Nate and Serena being back together, they’re a very good looking couple,” Bigerstaff said. “They get to go to high society parties and every day is a fashion show.”

Sometimes it isn’t possible to catch the episodes when they first air so many fans utilize technology such as DVR and The CW’s online free episodes in case they can’t sit down to watch a new episode on Monday night. However, some fans will occasionally put higher priorities on the backburner in order to get their Gossip fix. “I always watch it on Monday night, I am a die-hard fan,” Troutman said.

More casual viewers will let more than one episode go unwatched and catch up when it is convenient to them. Megan O’Connell, freshman in first year college, has missed the last two episodes and plans on watching them sometime this week.

“I have to prioritize my other obligations, like if I have class or homework, but if I’m not doing anything on Monday nights I turn it on,” O’Connell said.

Gossip fans, whether the wait between episodes is three days or three months, are loyal viewers. Though they may at times be disappointed with the melodrama of certain episodes, or the unrealistic situations, fans will persevere if only for that hour long glimpse into high society New York.