October 30, 2008
Gossip Girl
It is no secret that I am obssessed with Gossip Girl and, as cognoscendi will attest to, Chuck Bass is by far the most compelling character of the teen drama. However, rather than argue my case, I’ll let my favorite blog on the subject (via) explain why:
Now, I’m sure it didn’t take you long to realize the reason to watch and real moral centerpiece of this whole deal was, and is, Chuck Bass.
No one really makes this clear up front. Least of not Chuck Bass himself.
While we’re initially met with the bumbling (and ultimately charming) histrionics of Mumblecore ambassador to the tween set Dan Humphrey, and the king of corrupt crippling family baggage with the blindingly white smile of inimitable charm, Nate Archibald (a.k.a. Broody Mc Brooderson), for Chuck Bass, we basically get him as a dapper dressed date rapist, after his underage aggressive rooftop escapades with little Jenny Humphrey. Basically, a regular Humbert Humbert in a pin striped suit with a devilishly wry grin and a trust fund.
So, it’s actually rather miraculous that, as the season progresses, he manages to win you over. And win you over he does. Whether this is merely a testament to the consistently strong writing of the show, or the thespian talents of Ed Westwick is up for debate, but I suspect the glaring lack of Chuck Bass bloopers on the “LOL Reel” of Disc 5 may indicate the answer here…Penn Badgley: we’re looking at you and your flub-happy, truck driver mouth. You kiss Blake Lively with that filthy thing?
Chuck ends up being the most grown up, morally sound and richly complex character on the show. And while countless she-tears were surely shed over the frustrating on again off again stop/startings of the (admittedly involving) Dan and Serena love shenanigans, our money was, and remains, on the scintillatingly über-hot courtship, coupling and pairing of Chuck and Blair. Those episodes of their electric exchanges are priceless.
The past few episodes of the new season only confirm these observations.
Leave a Reply
