S3E4 Dan de Fleurette

thought about a lot. Learning French. I just think it's such a beautiful language. It's definitely the most romantus. I also feel like it's so difficult, but yeah, it's one of those languages that I think when you're learning it, you have to make a lot of faces, you have to do a lot of like mouth faces, and you know, you have to just go all all the way all in all. Yes, Yeah, but yeah, this I I don't

know that Filmotte. I'm not familiar. I don't either, and I don't exactly understand, you know how that kind of combines with the themes of this episode. But I'm sure someone out there listening to us does, so maybe they can let us know. Yeah, let us know. I don't feel like sometimes the titles have to match what's going on or like right, be parallel, what what what's going on in the episode? I think it's just they take titles.

So maybe it has something to do with dan Is in the title of the movie because he's met a movie star and it's like starting up potential. That's maybe something along those lines. Okay, so that's our episode. But before we get started, to your New York. You're not sweating your face off anymore. It's cold, freezing now. Now it's taken the turn. So now it's um you know. Now it's that kind of thing where I just had a Starbucks, you know, peppermint latte because I was like,

had to get a holiday latte. So that's the weather we have now. Yeah, we've taken the turn that time. But don't you love that? It's like holidays are near. Get to eat all these like comforting foods and cookies, and like, oh, I love this time of year so much. I do like the romance of the I like the

romance of the season certainly. So it's like it has that vibe in my neighborhood because I live in Brooklyn, So around my neighborhood there are a lot of like brown stones and people have the wood burning fireplaces so during the time, you can smell that beautiful smell and you know, it just feels like a movie. So absolutely, you know, there's something about New York with all of that.

Like there's an episode we did on the podcast and I'm like, if you've never made out with someone in New York City, like grab them in the summer, it doesn't matter if it's hot or not, like walk the street holding hands and just make out New York City, And it's the same for the winter, like oh yeah, where you're cute scarves, hold hands, goes ice skating. I don't know that it's just such a romantic city. No

matter what. It could be hot and sweaty and cold and frigid, and you're just like there's still like this romance in the air, and it still feels like a movie always. Oh yeah, especially yeah, especially when there's a little bit of holiday decor and you know, and it's also like that you said, you know, making out with somebody in the street, it's like kissing someone and there's little snow flakes in your eyelashes. Yeah, like it definitely

is exciting. Yeah, absolutely, there's also something if we're being honest, like I do remember when it would be like snowing and that first snowfalls so beautiful and everything white, and then like later that afternoon or evening snow it's like dark and it's just you're a mess. But it's also like, you know what, it's okay because I'm in New York City.

It's like part of part of the charm. In a weird it's great when we have a big snowfall and then it melts and then it reveals all of the traditions. But you know it's the that's the trade off. You know. It's like gritty and romantic at the same time. Yeah, we'll take it. Um. So here's where we left off. There was a lot of guest stars in here in this episode that I didn't yeah, like Tyra Banks. I didn't remember that at all. I didn't remember that Tyra

Banks was on the show. And it was like when I saw her, I was like, what, um, yeah, what a fun I guess you could call it a cameo. I mean it's like a one episode kind of special surprise. Yeah. Yeah, and then Georgina Chapman, who is the designer from Marquesa, which I love that brand, and I love Georgina. She's amazing. She's dressed me during the show and after the show for many many events and premiers and stuff. She's just

awesome and lovely, beautiful. And then Tory Birch, a great designer, Hilary Duff who plays Vanessa's roommate, um Casey, a lovely actress, Diana. It's just there was a ton of guest stars. It

was really a packed episode, fun of people. Hey, it really is, and it's exciting too because it has that Hollywood comes to n y U kind of you know the way maybe premiere, you know, because it's now that I'm rewatching the show, I'm realizing, you know how much every almost every episode has that grand event, you know, that connecting, you know, that thing where everything goes down.

So the idea that this was the premiere, the premiere, the one, Yeah, I was like thinking about, like when having someone like an Olivia Burke, Hillary Duff's character, I mean, that's that would have to be a very tricky and interesting and kind of like totally shocking kind of moment to all of a sudden your roommates, Like, you know, I'm guessing it would kind of be like a Christian Stewart,

lovely Christian Stewart. So I feel like this is what Olivia Burke is supposed to be at the height of, Yes, the height of all the vampire stuff. But you know, I also think I was remembering when we shot Gossip Girl. The Vampire Diaries I believe was on c W also, and that was a very popular show too, so you feel like vampires were all around us at that time. So yeah, it makes sense that uh, this character Vampire Diaries,

True Blood, Twilight. You know, it's one of those things in Hollywood when something hits and works, everyone tries to do it on everything. But but I just felt like there was so many I'm like, wow, they're really working. These people love these vampires, like oh yeah, or wherever they are, whatever it is, people are loving it. It's huge.

And and the fact that so Olivia is the star of one of those I guess it's a movie or a TV show and she But you know what I else I thought was so cool was that Olivia Burke as a name of if You're if You're inventing the name of a movie star. It's such a good name because it made me think, is there really an Olivia Burke? And I was like, no, well it's it's just well suited. What was so funny about about this, Like I knew Hillary before she came on, so when we found out

who was playing her, I was like super pumped. And she seems you know, I remember her being on set because you know, she has her kind of a lengthy storyline, and so I remember her being around and she was really sweet and and fun to hang out within the

hair and makeup room and all that stuff. I didn't have a lot of overlap with her on screen, but on camera it's like she's, you know, so charismatic and likable as this character, and you just want so badly for her to have, you know, this college moment that she wants to have, and so I really just experience I forgot. I just forgot how you know, how good she is in this role and how magnetic she isn't charming. So it was nice to um to see her get introduced. Um, So,

what what happened last episode? So we were in okay, So we left off where yeah, okay, things escalate as Georgina and Bree bow out of the action, while Scott revealed to be the son of Rufus and Lily Blair's partnership with Chuck is once again leading into a clash of wills and trust against Serena and Carter. Well, Chuck's ambitions to build his own business Bear Fruit, can Serena

bridge her emotional gap with Carter. There's just you know, many things that I'm yeah, I need to know what goes down now that we're revisiting that that where we were, where we left off. It's like a lot of those stories that were developing kind of take a little hiatus in this episode here. So it's like the Empire Hotel and Carter and all these things are kind of taking

a back seat here. We all we get introduced to the new characters and new ideas, which you know that we have plenty of episodes ahead in order to storylines. So in this episode, it's the first day at school at Constance Billard, which is nice because we get to kind of cop back into our high school mode. It's also time for Jenny to take her rightful place as the new Queen be Unfortunately for Jenny Blair is more than happy to interview to intervene when news reaches her

that she may be needed back at Constance. Meanwhile, this Lily returns. So had Kelly returns from her It's ernity leaven Lily returns to New York City. Um, she returns home to Rufus and her family to find that things are definitely not as she left them. Plus, of course, the famous movie actress Olivia Burke and rolls and y you in hopes of having a somewhat normal college experience,

and is assigned to be Vanessa's roommate. Ursula, an actress co starring in Olivia's movie, befriends Serena when she's hired as a publicist for an upcoming premiere. So, yeah, we really get a lot of new stuff here. Yeah, they're introducing a lot of relationships, jobs, roommates, things that you know are going to have big arcs and big moments here in in season three. Okay, so here, So the episode opens, we're on the streets of New York and we meet Olivia, but don't really meet Olivia. She says

her name is Kate. She's got this cute little hat on very low key. I do feel like a part of this kind of is like a part of what Hillary's life probably was, because she was she hit really big in the entertainment and all over the world with um Lizzie McGuire and she was just this huge mega star,

and so I feel like that's part of it. Yeah, And it's like if your career is so big and you're sort of still sort of forming your identity and like, you know, growing up and coming into your own, it's like that that battle, which is really nicely portrayed in this episode of of you know, having to fulfill your professional obligations, but at the same time just kind of live and be who you are and find yourself and do college and be normal and have friends and yeah,

and I feel like that's gotta be tough, because it's like once your if your career takes off and it hits on something like that, because once you are known and that famous, you're also probably a little bit like worried and and have your walls up of who's really your friends or who's trying to get information or try to be your friend for other reasons. So it's like it's hard to kind of let that down and be normal.

I would think for someone like on that level, it makes sense that she jumps on this opportunity when Dan visibly doesn't know she is, and she's able to just be herself with him, and you can see how, you know, what a gift that is for her. He's not well versed in the vampire movie TV world. He doesn't know

who she is. I guess I think we have the scene where Nate is explaining to him, you know that she's coming to n y U. So when he Caesar, he doesn't have an inkling and you know, of course there's always the complication looking in retrospect, we know that in the end of the series, Dana's gossip Girl, and so Gossip Girl seems to know about Olivia, but Dan doesn't.

But one of those does not. But it's one of those little, uh, you know, suspensions of disbelief that we have to um put into play as we look at the Gossip Girl in its linear progression. Yeah, and I also thought it was like I laughed, I was kind of laughing how Vanessa kind of knew and trips. I was like, that didn't really feel like that was up Vanessa's alley. But she was like, I'm a secret fan

and I'm just gonna treat you like my roommate. I'm like, okay, Vanessa, and I wouldn't picture you to be like, I have a question. Vanessa had a single room before, right, did she had? What was her roommates? You know? I think she was just waiting for her roommate to come, so

she just had like a delay. Yeah, but there's this fabulous the reveal when Vanessa realizes, first of all, she walks in and realizes her roommate is here, and it's the assistant who has taken down this poster, and so you could see Vanessa has been a little bit her her territory has been you know, violated a little bit here. Um in the beginning, and then we get the reveal

and it's a great scene. Um, I thought I got to kick out of it with this, like just to look on your face, you really, yeah, when you're like dealing with this assistant and then all of a sudden faced with this big star you know, coming into be your roommate. It was really a fun scene. Um. Yeah, it was. I just remember feeling like, Okay, here's this big star and clearly in this episode you can see something's going to go down with with Olivia and Dan.

But um, that seemed to me it was interesting because this is a real like turn for Vanessa because here now it's like she's dealt with these like popular kids on the Upper east Side, So here she is with someone on a on a whole bigger scale that the whole world knows who this is not just like the world on the Upper east Side with Serena. But now we're like literally living with each other and roommates and

you're like starting to possibly date my best friend. So it's just to wrap my head around that for Vanessa, I'm like, what's It's almost like you had practice, Like Vanessa had practice dealing with high profile people who are out of touch and then also dealing with watching Dan, you know, having balancing all of these kind of powerful women that he has no idea what he's doing. So it's funny because it's, yeah, it really is like a turning point for Vanessa or like a coming coming home

and roost. And Nate says something funny too, like I would have just thought a guy who dated Serena Anderwoods and would have like more game or something, because He's like, yes, that was really good. That was the true. I'm like, true, Nate, Yeah, it was a fun There was a fun scene there with them and the like Bishop when when Nate realizes that Dan doesn't know who she is and he kind of like, let's you know, he doesn't let on because he's not like he's like tergaying it too much, which

is really cute. Um, yeah, I was kind of like be a homie and let him know. But then I'm also like, no, he's fine, and it's cute that she he didn't know. I kind of like that he didn't and was like, yeah, but he's never short of girls either. Yeah,

He's always got He's always got something. And speaking of Georgina, so we don't see her in this episode, but we know Vanessa has some interaction with Scott and then Scott has sort of Georgina on the other line, so we know that whatever that is is happening, right, but we don't get a lot of vacation, so I don't know if she's going to use that relationship or that situation to get closer or have something over Dan. I don't know because at this point they're not together. Dan's already

onto Olivia. Why are you like, what what are you going to get from Scott? Right? That's really interesting girl. Yeah, it's like they plant the seed, but we have no idea where that's going at all, no idea. Um, that means maybe Scott comes back and he's like dating Olivia too, like who knows, but mom got is a secret brother. Um. But meanwhile, as all that is going on, we have Jenny at school, which I like that they did this where we still have like a flavor and a connection

to the school. But like in the beginning with her, when she's like putting on the headbands and then she decides not to wear it, I thought that was like, yes, very symbolic. Also, she looks so good her hair symbolic way of showing that she's, you know who she's going to be, that she's not going to embody the classic Blair asque queen Bee, but she's going to rather be some benevolent um force. And you see that with that very simple act of not donning the headband. So I

really thought that was an interesting start to that. And then it was such a fantastic scene I got such a kick out of when she actually went to school and realized that all of the girls were already doing her yes, yes, and already they show up and they look like little um photo copies of her little queen.

First of all, go wash your eyes. Yeah yeah. I was like, damn girl, yeah, and she's like and then it's it's getting back to Blair that Jenny is like not holding court right, And I feel like this whole episode with Blair, I just feel like Blair is better than that, Like are you still worried about these high school girls? Like let's just let that be, like just because she can't she's not fitting in and m y u and feeling weird, it's like you're gonna go and

hang out Like I just don't get it. I just I'm just like you're you're You've went right, it's the next chapter of your life, Like move on. It just feels a little like desperate. It's desperate, yeah, because usually we have Blair is such a you know, she's such a character you know usually who's she stands her strength.

And then and even if she's insecure and things like that, and we all have our own insecurities, they're still she still has this like power game where she can like outpower anyone, and she's got it and she's like the

Queen Bee and this and that. So when you see her kind of like falling off that which is kind of not nice to see because also get a grip, Blair, let's figure it out, like don't go back if you desperate and try to do this, Like you, we've moved on from you at that school, you know what I mean. We don't want freshman in high school or college going back to try to like have these kids follow you

like stop. And I also remember, like I mean, I remember that feeling from high school times that there was always that one or two of those kids who really had a great experience in high school who would then hang around, you know, they'd be like in their twenties and still coming to high school parties, and you were like, just move forward in life, you know. So it's like the idea that you can kind of peak in high school or that's where you feel most comfortable. You kind

of really don't want that for Blair. And it's nice that, you know, Chuck and even Derota has a line of like, you know, Chuck and I agree, like you know, we're of the opinion and Blair's like shut up, you know. So it's like everybody can see that she's not you know, she's she's losing her way and so it's sad to watch her go down that road, and it's nice that

they kind of rescue her. And Chuck does it with basically with like tough love because he ends up, yeah, undercutting her and kind of embarrassing her by going to this event with Jenny and you know it's Jenny, but he also knows how to do that to her, right, you have to. It's like when I mean, that's the thing with her, it's like you have to be you know, a little bit dramatic when you deal with Blair. So

they you know, so they do. But you know, it's I think it's a very relatable story to for this idea that you know, she can't find her footing at ny U. So this is what the third episode, fourth episode of this season and she is not comfortable yet, and you know, it's that I think is very relatable because it takes agree, yeah, and it's a new environment, it's it's new people, it's different personality. She's really used to her same thing for so many years that you know,

being the queen Bee everyone following her, you know. But I also think it's there's something in this where I hopefully we see in the next little bit that she learns that maybe you you have to shift a little bit, yeah, that you have to evolve because here's the other thing. People aren't falling for her ship now, do you know

what I mean? Exactly, So hopefully we see that she kind of learns from that and understands like, hey, I'm going to have to find what other people like to do sometimes not always what I want to do, and value other people's We both know Blair has a big heart, and she really is. She's funny, and she can be a great friend and a great person. It's just she's a little selfish. She's very stubborn, and she it's like

her way or no way, you know. So she's gonna have to do some shifting because people aren't going to be bossed around right now. So exactly, Sorry, Blair. My philosophy has always been the rejection. Sometimes it's an invitation to evolve or to kind of look and we're so it's like, sometimes rejection is just rejection and you have to power through. Sometimes rejection is an invitation needed to say, you know, maybe the universe is showing me something about

myself here. So I think that for her, you know, the personal growth that's required in order to make new connections and make new friends, and and it's interesting to see her in this scene and have the silly scene with the what do they call themselves, the Masters of the Universe. Yeah, you know, even though she's being totally bossy and mean to them right up the gat, it's like,

there's still there is room for her. And I guess what I'm saying is that there is room for her at n y U. It's just her finding you know, finding connections totally. Well that's so that's the other thing. So Lily comes back from being with CC. So I guess CDC is feeling better now, she says, which thankfully because everybody loves C. I mean, she's you know, or loves to hate Cecy. Right, And meanwhile, Kelly's coming back, who just had a baby, So let's keep that in mind,

Like she has a fresh little baby. That's why she's probably in the dressing room, you know, probably in her trailer for sure. So she's back, and so she basically the first thing she does is surprise the Rufus and Serena, and she's like, why are you here and not at um not at school. Yeah, so immediately Serena has to

deal with coming clean. Of course, Lily is disappointed. There's a really nice scene here where Serena and Rufus practice telling Lily, which is really funny, where LUs Rufus is doing like a Lily impression, which I really got a kick out. I like that. Serena's like, she wouldn't do that, she would turn her head this way, wouldn't hit the table.

I'm like, okay, Serena, Yeah, that was very cute. But it's like so basically they have to tell Lily, and Lily is immediately disappointed and of course convinced that she will be able to turn the tide on this um. But but Serena's solution is to say, I'm not just gonna gallopant around New York. I'm going to get a job, you know, which I think Lily finds a little bit laughable. And then pretty quickly she has a serendipitous run in

with Olivia's publicist. Well, she's actually at the same cafe with Olivia and Olivia's publicists, bunch of paparazzi are outside. When Olivia gets up, She's like, oh my gosh, what do I do? And then Serena kind of overhears and then turns and says, hey, go out through the kitchen, turn left, but she literally gives us a whole explanation of how to get out of there. And then Olivia

knows that it's Serena. Wait, you're Serena ander Woodson, right, and she's like yeah, so anyways, yes, Olivia leaves and then her publicist, Casey, is like, oh, I think you would work well, do well in this world, right, So it's like she basically sees an opportunity to, you know, take advantage of Serena's life experiences and who she is and brings her into the publicity world. And in this case, there's a premiere that night, so she ends up a

signing Serena too. The Tyra Banks's character who was named what is her name? Ursula, and this is Olivia's co star in the movie that is premiering this and they tell much like so that she's like this really kind of dramatic, hard to deal with person. In the first scene, she comes out throwing dresses and you know, she's it

looks like she's going to be a handful. But then very quickly we see that Serena and uh Ursula have gone, have made a connection, They've had a little slumber party, they've basically so immediately we see that Ursula is just a wonderful, complicated person who is an actor, who is you know, nervous about this big premiere, that it's a big deal. So immediately that character becomes humanized. And I mean,

I don't know about you. I don't know if you ever watched Tyra banks is other stuff, but you know, she has such a big personality, but also in this character plays a very vulnerable and you know, sweet hearted a character that I really related to him, was rooting for here. So yeah, well she's so fierce and so beautiful and been around for so long and like, um, you know, so when you do see this like softness, you're like, oh, you're kind of like taking it back

a little bit, but you love it. I almost don't know, she looks almost better now than she did early on. I'm like, yeah, she never just like she never changed beautiful always. Yeah, maybe that's also with her like heart and her good energy and stuff also comes through, because when someone's really sweet and wonderful, you know, you shine in a different light. I feel like, you know, I definitely agree with that, and she has in this character.

There's like, you know, she's been working really hard for something and that she's on the precipice of a big success and it just has to you know, she just has to kind of step into that door of opportunity and everything in this is relying on this big high stakes scene that she got to play as an actor

in the movie. It's it's like you kind of start rooting for her immediately, and um, and you know, also, and I think it's interesting to see Tyra Banks in that role because as as long as I can remember, she has been a supermodel and a superstar. So for her to portray someone at the beginning of their career goes to so that she has some pretty solid acting chops because she delivers it really beautifully. So yeah, and you're rooting for her, and then yeah, I thought she

brought her a game for sure. And this this whole storyline was like interesting to me too, because I'm like, wait, so Casey's here with Olivia Ursula is here with Serena, and then it's also like Serena at the end it is like, you know, is like I'm not going to work at her company unless she hires you, because Casey ends up telling Serena that they're not going to work

together because of the way Ursula stormed out. Yeah. And it's another example of like Lily is always right because Lily comes in and it's like, look, she's using you for your you know who you are, your your notoriety, and then it turns out that she's right because Casey wants her to talk Ursula into embarrassing herself for for press like press, Yeah, which doesn't make a tremendous a lot of amount of sound because publicists are usually working

on behalf of the actors they represent, But whatever um Right in the end, it's like basically Serena has to face her either acting out of her own integrity or keeping the job, and she chooses integrity and friendships so to protect Ursula totally. And that's where I think the way they write these characters are Serena is where you

keep falling in love with Serena the whole time. You're like, wow, you just love her because not only like then does she get the job taken from her then you know, the main client, So she's not going to stay at the company unless Serena stays there. That's just such a Serena moment in Gossip Girl. Like I always think things like this happened to her, like it's the craziest thing. But then she like saves the world or saves the day and saves that, you know, and I'm always like,

this is so funny, like to Serena thing. That is such a Serena thing. Absolutely it is. But I also do like that she didn't lose her integrity and she did do the right thing, like, you know, I really do. I like that she keeps getting tested and usually she comes out on top in terms of like, yeah, when she's able to make that choice, you know, she she'll make the choice for the better ment of the other person,

which is nice. And I think even though she's not in college, it's like we're we're still we're still going to see personal growth, you know, because she's still on her journey, even though it's not the journey that Lily wants for her, right right, What did you think of that, Like, it's Lily wanting Serena so badly to go to Brown because she she's doesn't want Serena to make the same mistake she did. Like there's something really that Serena is not feeling to go to Brown now? Is it because

she's scared? Is I don't know, but I'm wondering why. Sometimes I feel like it's so pushed, Like why is Lily need her to go, like if she really doesn't want to do. Yeah, I know it's all situational and everyone's beliefs are different. I just sometimes watching this, I'm like, maybe just take six months to figure something out because colleges still be there. Well, why is it so important for Lily? I mean, some people don't need to go to college at all. Some people taking that gap makes

a lot of sense for them. And so I think that with Lily, we see that overbearing parenting style and it's always comes into question. But in a way, I think she's a little bit right because what Serena isn't doing and she isn't facing what actually is an issue, So she's seems to be chasing this and that was my father, right, Yeah, So I think it's like she wants she wants to find her dad, and and the failure to do that in this previous summer I think sent her on a spiral. So she actually isn't in

a healthy place. She's not in a place of like, you know what, I need a year off for self discovery. I think she's like a little bit lost. So I think Lily has the right maternal instinct, which is to say, you need some guidance now. But pushing her to Brown maybe isn't the thing. But if Serena was really being honest with everyone, then maybe they could all work together to make sure that her next year of life is fantastic. Right.

So I feel like right now there's a part of that where it's like it's very complicated because there's a part of I'm sure for Serena with the whole father situation, that's a lot to digest that there's someone who is making an effort not to see you or not to know you. It's a very big, hard issue. Yeah, and then there's like adding everything else, and maybe that's where Lily's coming from. I don't know. It's like you said,

I can see both. Lily really need could ask herself to like why is it so important that my daughter go to Brown? Is it just cash A? Is it just is it that she doesn't she wants a better life for Serena than she had for herself. Or is it that that feels good to her because it's something she can brag about. So I feel like those questions always come into play with her too. So You're like, what is it? Because that's why for me, it's like what is yes, Like that's my question. I'm like, Lily,

why is it so important to you and Serena? Why why do you not want to? For there? Was she was pumped about Brown for a minute, you know, And it is, you know, interesting because she's the only character who would be leaving. So yeah, it's scary. I mean, I left my town, you know, and I grew up an in Anna and I went to college in New York. I remember that moment of being like, by everyone and everything I've ever known, I'm gonna go live my life

over here. So you know, it's crazy because I actually think it's really interesting that we ask young people at seventeen eighteen years old to make that huge move because it is especially in the United States, people tend to go to school far from home, whereas like you know, in other you know, my Polish family, they all stay in the town where they are to go to school.

And so I feel like that idea of really leaving the fold and saying I'm gonna start my new life and I'm gonna go here, and you know, it's a scary, scary time of life. And um, so I think it's part of what's so great about letting these characters grow up is that we get to see them experience this the kind of the scary part of the transition to Yeah, but there's also probably a lot of like shocking things.

You know, you don't really know the roommate that you're going to have, Like, there's just so many things, and but also can be super fun and you and you probably really you also make some you know at that point to make some your best friends for your life too. Yeah, and that's the great thing about college is that those friendships sometimes are found in unlikely places. So you know, and you together that would never ever otherwise maybe me

or be friends. Yeah, And there's a really fantastic scene when so basically we go to the premiere, Dan realizes that Olivia is Olivia and not Kate, and you know, they kind of had I knew that before, but didn't know was to that extreme because remember she's like, well, my life is like you know, I don't stand yeah, and he's like, well I dated someone who was kind of in the spotlighter. I don't remember what he s talking about. And he was talking about Serena, right, Serena.

I mean who else is dand dating? Like I guess what's his name, Pete Davidson, who's dating rights? Right? So Dan. So then he gets to the premiere and he realizes like, oh, this is like really wild what it is. But he also said I thought you were working. You could have just told me, like you didn't want to hang out to a liberal says that, and she's like, well what

I am? You know, because he's not really because there's a mirror movie and she's the star, and like, yeah, her doing the red carpet and interviews is work, which is funny because I do feel like people if you're not in our industry, Like sometimes Brad has come to stuff with me and he's like, this is your work, and I'm like, well you probably yeah, like get you know, doing a carpet or doing the interviews are going to be compressed, and I'm like, well, yeah, it's all part

of it. And sometimes it looks more glamorous than it is, even though it can all be fun at times or tiring at times, you know, but it's like people parties, right, but sometimes people only see the like stepping on the carpet and people yelling your name like they're not understanding like you know, getting up at four in the morning to do the press and getting on flights and all the things, you know what I mean. And I mean,

just on that topic. It's like I always think it's interesting to see, like you know, these stories of like movie premieres and and you know, when you actually start breaking down, like what it means is to be one of those stars on the carpet, Like the idea that everybody's looking at you and you have a persona to maintain, you have a way you have to comport yourself. That's

a really stressful thing that a lot of people. It's a really big point of discomfort for people public speaking, you know, getting out in front of people, you know, social anxiety. So I feel like, you know, nine of the world can understand that one of the hardest things to do is to be yourself and to present yourself, you know, to people who are staring at you. So

it does work in that regard. And yeah, and you can mess up, you can say the wrong thing, you can fall down, like I mean, you know these it's of course, it's not brain surgery, and there are every job has its difficulties in its um pros and cons. But this idea of having to be a certain person um can be hard. And it makes sense in this episode that she's really struggling with that and she wants

to escape it. She wants to have you know, just just Olivia time, just be herself and go to school and so yeah, and part of it too, on top of all that trying to be yourself and and you know, do well getting into these roles like doing her job, it's also like you're under a magnifying glass and people are criticizing your work and what you're wearing and all the things, you know, like and even when we were on on this show coming out, you know, like all

the reviews and what the parents were saying and all the things. And that's why sometimes people be like, how do you do it? I'm like, I don't read it all, like if I did, I would drive myself crazy. And Olivia she now gets to n y U and sees all these people that are her age, that can just walk and get a coffee and not be bothered or go do this, and she's got to worry about her premieres and people judging her and all the people on her floor signing up an n d A right, and

she's so embarrassed about it. Yeah. Yeah, so that's like to to try to be normal and then have your life be that way. But but then you're also seeing it all in front of you. That's gotta be tough. But then again, if you would probably ask Olivia, would you go back and not take that first all that blew you up? She'd probably say no, I would have

taken it, so of course, right. But but there's a really good point made in this episode, which I think is like this idea that her representative, Casey, is doing all this stuff on her behalf, and that when she realizes that her representative has sent non disclosure agreements to all of her floormates, she's embarrassed and like you know, when you are in the public eyeor, when you're when you're an actor or a performer, and you have team a team and people representing you. It's like a lot

of times you don't get to speak for yourself. So uh, you know, I think we hear all these stories about celebrities being like I only like green Eminem's or whatever, and you're like, you never even know if that's true because everything is always funneled through all these other people who are in the mix, you know. So I think that's an interesting storyline here. I like that moment because

we don't see that very often. Is the fact that she's like, oh man, Casey, Casey, Casey is blowing up my effort of being cool and making real connections here. So kind of yeah, she's like, I don't want these girls to hate me anymore, like now they're you know, and you know I've seen both. Yeah, our industry is very um like fickle with that kind of stuff because it's like if you say, okay, she just wants a cold ice water, that doesn't mean that this person is

a diva. She just wants maybe that's just a nine hour flight right right, or maybe she did an ascro one. So there's different things. And then there's you know, and we also know that there are obviously some diva's out there that you know, do want only blue eminem's. But of course there's nothing wrong with that. Maybe that's something where they're like, hey, I can only perform this way because that's what I write the fuel of the Yeah,

so it's just funny. It's all obviously again situational, but um, I do like that you see that in this where it's like, Okay, you know, Casey's like kind of being selfish because she wants her to have this press because you know, that's what she gets paid for, but willing to like lose her integrity and obviously a real minute later too, Yeah, because like we see later with Ursula that you know, she's she's a little bit of a

schemer that Casey and I don't think she probably doesn't represent. Uh, most publicists come at their work in a different, very different way. But in the terms of the Gossip Girl, I don't think, you know, having this time, there's always that person who has malevolent intentions that's like stirring the pot and testing all of our characters, right, So totally, But you know, this premiere that we see here is

also funny because they have. They went ahead and shot like a scene of the movie because we watched like a little short scene of the movie. So That'svie was very funny because I was like, are they going to go and shoot this like, you know, world War two drama? And they did. They did like a little bit. Yeah,

it was cute. And then how about at the end of the premiere, So Blair has the sleepover and these girls from concerts are there and she's about to tell the story of how she got Chuck to tell her that he loved her, and then there's a blast that goes out and one of the girls are like, you know, there's a gossip girl blast, and Chuck is seen at a premiere of Olivia Burke's new movie with Jenny Humphrey.

So dunt dunda. So that happens, and then we get to the premiere and Blair shows up, and then a photographer asked Blair to stop on the carpet as she's leaving and says, wait, can I take your photo? And Blair goes to me and he goes, yeah, you're Blair Waldorf, aren't you. And in that moment for me, I'm like, oh my gosh. She needed that she's going through something right now, she has her insecurities, maybe this will give

her a boost of like that she confidence and validation. Yes, And I know that that sounds like really lame, like you need some photographer to like, but maybe it was that little thing to be like I am being seen

and I am here and I am Blair Waldorf. And I felt for Blair in that moment because I saw even the way Layton played it like okay, she like there was a little glimpse of hope, and Park came back a little bit and then you know, we find that we go to and I'm like, you know, the guy's leaning into the limo and Chucks like, you know, we're done here. But the photographer says, why did you want me to take a picture of that girl? And he says something like I always knew she could fly,

but we needed a magic feather like yes. So then when I saw he was doing doing that, I also love that because what what Blair and Chuck do is they see the strength in each other and they see when someone's really like where they need to be lifted up again, and they lift each other up in the best way. It was like what we saw in the last episode about the photo at the auction, you know, like she was giving up the invitation so that he

could have the photo. And then you know, now we're finding out that like he was doing that to just pick her up and give her that confidence again. And I thought, that's what I really like about those two. Oh yeah, it's and it's great because it was like behind the scenes stuff, so it's like, you know, he's not going to get the credit for that, it's just that he really needed. He needed to get her out of that phone. He needed to get her out of

that slumber party totally. And and and it was like the way it all went down, like going to the premiere with Jenny, to get her attention, to get her to come there, to get the photo taken of her, to like the chess game that he played to get her there, to make that all go down, to make her feel good for for a minute again, was just like,

oh yeah, oh definitely. I wanted to ask you because we're talking about premiere so much, and I know you have a movie premiering right now, and I'm wondering, like, how exciting is it to know that some work that you made is coming into people's televisions and homes or is it a thrilling part of the process or a scary part. I'm excited because it's my first Christmas movie, holiday movie, and that's my favorite time of the year. It's and I just had a really fun time making it.

My whole family, like Brad, Lexi and Bowie all got to be with me in Canada for um why I was filming. So I just had a really good experience with everyone on it. And I'm just so pumped that were at that time of year and that I got to do this like fun, feel good movie, right, you know.

So watching the premiere in this episode and watching sort of the pain that Ursula goes through because her big scene is cut, but Serena says something interesting to her, which she says, you know, you're an artist, you're an actor, Like you should be gracious and um, you know, just move forward, and like I feel like it's you know, in this life of you know, seeking a life and a career in the arts, it's like sometimes you have to you do your work, you put your heart into it,

and then you just let it fly. And sometimes it's sometimes the result is not what you expected, but you know it's like, uh, you know, Serena was wise. Serena sometimes very wise. No, Serena is wise a lot, and she's that's why sometimes I like she seems just older than everyone because she's giving advice as that she's been through things that like she's thirty five. But um, it

is true. And if we don't do that as artists and actors, we could drive ourselves absolutely crazy and it can can affect our work on on such a level. But you know, again, you just see a lot of people see the finished work. There's a like a photo out there of a ballerina's foot and it's all cut up and tore up, and there's like scrapes and she's it's the on their toes and it just looks gnarly. You're like, oh my god. And then it shows one of just the ballerina slipper looking perfect. You only see

the finished products. So everything that's going into this like beautiful thing that's done. You didn't see the blood, sweat and tears. It's like the tip of a glacier, right, Yeah I heard that. Yeah, yeah, I mean yeah, And

it's like they're so right. So it's like in this episode two, it's like we see the obviously I'm Hillary's character, um Olivia is, you know, she's at work, and then that moment of release, like that moment of like taking off the l a shoe is is this lovely scene that she has back at the dorm with Vanessa where they come to they come to sort of become friends.

I think in that moment that scene was great. And I mean, we haven't even talked about this, but I know you you knew Hillary before, but like, in creating these two characters together, what was it like doing these sort of roommates scenes. It was fun. I just think the dynamic of Vanessa and Olivia, even in this scene, really sets a tone of um, there's like a respect there and you can tell they like each other, you know.

Vanessa says, she tells her she's not going to look at her as a celebrity, that she's just her roommate. And Olivia admits that coming to m YU made her want to be normal, but she's also saying she can't just be She has to show both or have both sides, Like she can't want to be normal and let go of the whole movie star Olivia Burke that that's part of but she liked that. Here's where Vanessa, I think, you know, triggers her like, oh call Scott, but yeah

that scene. Um. I always liked working with Hillary. She's she's so professional, she's so great. She's been around for so long, so she really knows a set knows, you know, and I really feel like she brought Olivia to life in a really great way. And it was really something different for the show. Obviously Net Network, you know, we're

not in the high schooling. Everybody was like, you know, it's always thrilling when the show is like gets his legs and then starts going and become popular and then all of a sudden you get these really cool, high profile guest stars to come in and people are excited to see them. So like that was a big one and really exciting. And yeah, and it was just funny too, Like at the premiere she's like, well, Vanessa says, I

gotta find Olivia and he's like, you know Olivia. Like it was funny because again, it was one of those moments where I was like, yeah, I know Olivia, you know, yeah, she's my roommate. Yeah. It was the one person who wasn't you know in this premiere storyline was Jenny because I mean, well Jenny was at the premiere with um but her, but the big drama with her was sort of happening, you know, back at Constance in a way.

And so at the end of the episode we realize that her minions are back right um and she's like meet me at the met Yes, like yogurt ready for me, which was fantastic moment. And so tact we go full circle with her. So we start the episode with her, you know, kind of has off the headband, and then she goes and tries to makes this beautiful speech about all this egalitarian stuff. We're gonna have no Queen Bee,

It's gonna be great. Everyone's everyone's popular, and then goes through the gamut with Blair and then comes out the other end as the classic you know, dictator, bossy Queen be Allah Miss Blair. So it's kind of funny because we come all the way around. So we land with Jenny's back and Jenny Gina is out there in the world somewhere causing some sort of turmoil with Scott. Yeah, Vanessa calls Scott and uh, it's just kind of saying, hey, thinking about you, and he's like, I can't talk long.

I have to take this, and then you hear afterwards he answers a call from Georgina and he agrees to go and meet her at a restaurant a block away. So now you know that she's she's in Boston, Like that's where he went back. That's why we found out last episode. Yeah, Georgina made what are you doing now, girl? Like, what are you doing? And also she's missing classes? Hello, she supposed to be. Yeah, we can't all around. Yeah we have we're supposed to go to class. Um. Yeah,

so it's fun. I mean, we have a lot of Yeah. So by the end of this episode two, I think we're done with Serena's PR career, publicity career. Yeah. I like, I liked it because I understand what we had to do for that for this episode, but I was also just not feeling it. This isn't like a Serena situation for me, you know, I agree, And it was weird, you know because, yeah, because she's such a glamorous character and she's sort of the center of attention. Watching her

uh be even that's part of it. Yeah, watching her be on the other side of the camera. You know, it just felt weird because to me, you know, it's like she just has such a star quality as a character. Yeah. Even her standing next to Tyra though, and I mean this in the best way, because they're both beautiful and studding. She's just doesn't look like she just graduated from high

school next to this beautiful supermodel. I'm like, you both look like your supermodels, and like, you know, what's her name said at one point, says, you know, don't listen to her. She's a teenager. And I'm like, she doesn't look like, yeah, it looks like a fantastic supermodel movie star, so I guess. Yeah, so it's yeah, you're right, those are things are funny. But but I think it's like we have Lily back on, you know, so we'll see

what happens there. We have um, you know, uh, Olivia moved in and and Blair continues her thing at m I U. Now there's a couple more I feel like minions come in now from what I was saying earlier, and now I feel like she has found a couple of girls. Then there's a garment bag waiting for her. There. They they're like, look behind you. She gets this garment bag. So maybe Blair did find her people that are gonna make Blair be able to do her thing because she

was falling. Blair was falling. She's like, you know, if she's not bossing people around, I don't really know she knows what to do right, right, So yeah, we'll see what happens. But it is really interesting because we never talked about things. When when Chuck gets there and Deronda comes out holding, she says she's having a cram session like a studying session. This is earlier in the episode and I meant to touch on this before. And then she tells Chuck that because she doesn't want Chuck to

know that she's having a slumber party. Yeah, it's embarrassing with the girls from concerts because it is embarrassing, like, come on, Blair. And then Derota comes out holding, She's like, what do you want me to do with What was it like for the for the betting or whatever. Yeah, it was like a bunch of silk betting. Yeah, so it's like you know, and Chuck immediately is like, it's the wall door slumber party, which is really funny. Yeah, but I love a de rote A moment. There was

also a good de rot A moment. When I was watching the episode. My boyfriend was working around near me and he glanced over when the Deronda was passing out martiniz to high school students, and so we got to laugh out of that. Blairs like these martinis are two watered down. Um, so you know, I love the Toronto is just doing what she has to do. Man, you know she's going to make Flair happy. Yeah, whatever you need,

Blair jin martinis for high school sophomores. But you know, yeah, speaking of we talked about this a couple episodes ago. I have to touch on this quick because after we got off, I went and looked up Vanessa's drink and I for some reason, I don't know why I said Jin, because if it was gonna be Gin, I would it would have been maybe Ceci, who doesn't have a drink on the menu I saw, But Ceci was, yeah, entire hotel they have drinks on named after the characters, some

of the characters on the show. But CC was like, remember she smells like Gin and Chanelle number five was the whole thing about her. So I don't know why in my mind and and I went and had it. But you did say maybe they switched them. Maybe it's definitely anyways, because I had seen different things there. Yeah. Yeah.

The one that I saw for Vanessa was a like vodka cranberry, like something else, which is something I would definitely like if I was in New York and at the Empire Hotel, would would try So I don't know, tryer. In my mind it was a gin, but Blair was gin, which was like it was like satur and bitter. It said something, right, I guess it makes sense. Yeah, and then it's well because gin, well, I mean, she's definitely champagne, but if you're making a cocktail, I guess jim makes sense.

And then in this episode she in fact is drinking to martini, so I guess they were on point with that maybe. And then Serena's was like champagne and topped off a champagne. What was Nate? Oh, I don't remember now, but I feel like Nates had to have had like a little bit of beer in it, little beer. I mean that, Yeah, here we go, Okay. Nates was um Saint Germaine sour blackberries. Um Jenny's was white rum mint,

ruby red grapefruit. Lonely Boy is Brooklyn lagger Maker's mark Bourbon uh Chuck Bass is a tad on the small and weak side. But for those who like sweeter fruity drinks, this Scotch apple and ginger concoction is the way to go. Um the XO XO drink is it says, figure me out. So that's interesting, probably, Like I like that show and what was and what was Geroda? She was a vodka like vodka as well? No, yeah, the one when I was there, I saw it. It was like a vodka.

I think it was like a vodka apple juice or something like that, Like there was like an apple. There's like there's a Polish vodka um called which is like has a bison grass a piece of bison grass in it, and it's like slightly herb herbal kind of um, it's kind of a herbal vo It's very popular and poles. I think it was that with like apple juice and something, which makes sense because it's like kind of a Polish cocktail. But yeah, so I feel like, you know, if anybody's

gonna have a cocktail, its roade. I'm sorry she fell off the list, but you know, if anybody's drinking. This is like a chapter one. No, it was definitely on there and then um, serenas I'm trying to find um might tangy easy, knocked back, don't be pulled by the champagne, honey and water, and champagne is topped with plenty of vodka something vodka can't see. They really know how to

describe anyways, they are really trying to do it. Yeah, and gray goose hair nectar and white grape juice for Vanessa. You know, people ask me all the time, like when I meet fans in in in the world, I get asked a lot to say um when it comes when

Gossip Girls revealed and everything. And there's something about vodka in the rocks no rocks or something just like rocks, something about the So she's definitely drinking, like and I remember that they were pouring me like these huge vodkas that were like triples um for the same So I was like, Doroto was really tying it on because Dorota has a lot she's hard working, so she has very hard she's got a lot of secrets, works very hard, long hours. All right, so should we should we wrap

it up? Yeah, let's see that. There's a quite a quite a lengthy quite today. Yeah. Oh man, who she'll read it? Should I do it? Yeah? Go for it. Okay, here's the closing Gossiprol quote. If you ask me, we go to the movies because we want to see fairy tales. A sleeping queen woken by her true love's kiss, a princess who puts aside her jewels to make her way in the world. Lovers torn apart being brought back together. But life isn't a fairy tale, and happy endings are

few and far between. In life, the young queen becomes tyrant and takes her subjects to war. So that's why we need movies to remind us that despite it all, love can still spring in the most unlikely places, and that sometimes even fairy tales can come true. XO XO Gossip Girl. Wow, well that's a good lesson. Even fairy tales can come true. I love it. Yes, that is why we need movies, and that's why we need Gossip

Girl good to remind us. You know, funny, glamorous, crazy plotlines, but you know, it's fun to watch, and I feel like we always get something out of it. And so yeah, we're go down that and got Olivia's at M y U. Serena is not going to Brown. We are not sure where what Nate's doing at M y U. Why why is he just we've lock of that, but it doesn't matter and we'll see what you know, what what comes. And the one thing we know for sure is that

nobody's really doing any homework. So no one's doing homework. This is true. That's like evers version of college totally. I know, like there's so much time that you're like studying and reading and not getting sleep and they're going to premieres, parties and auctions. Without that, it wouldn't be gossip Girl. It's true. Well, thank you all for listening, stay tuned or we'll see you next week. Um, and

there's a lot to come. This was an interesting episode because it felt like, yeah, there was just a lot of new introductions kind of off, not offset, but kind of like we weren't following the normal a few of the story storylines. I mean, yeah, I left them on the back, take a back seat stuff, right. So it's

a good one. Yeah, yeah, it is good. And I also feel like Serena is gonna she She's definitely learned something from this situation, Like all of a sudden, I think whatever is next for her is going to be major for her for Lily because I don't it's not going to be brown own because she's fighting it too hard. So we'll see. But we will be back next week. Everyone. Thank you so much, Thank you. XO XO is produced by Propagate Content and Meet Jessica's Or. Our show is

executive produced by Linkley. Our senior producer is Diego Tapia. Our producers are Hannah Harris, Emily Carr, and Kristin Vermilia, and our intern is Sammy Cats. Original music by Moxi and Luke and the episode was mixed by Seth o Landski