The spirit of Valentine's Day was in the air on Gossip Girl Monday night, but did "Crazy Cupid Love" tug at our collective heartstrings, or did it flatline amid high expectations?

There was plenty wrong with the episode, but at least Dan went there. He did it!

There's no longer any doubt about how Gossip Girl's underdog non-couple feels about one another. Dan's feelings may be stronger (or at least less complicated, with no dowry looming over Rufus) than the reverse, but they're mutual. He kissed Blair and unlike the first time, it wasn't just Dan doing the kissing.

On the contrary, she was all for it. That was awesome.

Whether you're rooting for a Chair series endgame or for unrequited Dair love, you have to concede that the show has short-changed both twosomes of late, and that something had to give one way or the other.

Blair probably should have run off with Chuck last week. Or the week before, during the now-infamous pre-wedding confession. But she didn't, and Dan subsequently remained in the romantic picture.

Tonight, he decided to make the most of that opportunity, and give the Hump credit for having giant cojones. Sadly, crazy Georgina was creeping nearby and engineered the ultimate c--k block on Dair.

I didn't think he'd actually do it, or that she wouldn't pull away. The long-awaited kiss was worth the wait for those who have watched Dan and Blair grow together and experience so many near misses.

The evolution of their relationship has been an enjoyable constant in recent months, culminating in Blair's recollection of all the reasons "Serena" should love him. That scene was as heartfelt as it gets.

How adorable slash hot was that kiss, too? Leighton Meester was typically wonderful in conveying the mixed emotions of feeling forbidden to do such a thing but at the same time wanting it SO badly.

While this chapter was cut short, the love story remains an open book.

Make no mistake, Dair is no longer just a momentary obstacle or a blip on the radar. Blair and Chuck may indeed end up together in a year or so, but after this? Dair is the real deal, and all bets are off.

The fallout should be interesting, with Georgina holding the infamous photo as blackmail, Serena bitter at her BFF for moving in on Dan, and Chuck apparently for revenge against Dan for moving in on Blair.

The juiciest part of all of this is that the Dair kiss has dealt a serious blown to Chair and Derena ... and Blerena and Duck. No one will be able to wrap their minds around (or get over) this one anytime soon.

At least I think that's Chuck's motive. His random hookup with Alessandra was preceded by an unintentionally hilarious request for info on Dan's book. What could she possibly reveal that would hurt Dan?

Therein lies the problem with Gossip Girl these days. Dair did all they could to salvage this installment, but they can't stop the majority of the plots from feeling disjointed and patched together haphazardly.

Take Blair's return to N.Y. for example. Needing a way to push Louis out of the picture for one week, but still have him looming over Blair, they give a "minder" ... who's conveniently absent at exactly the wrong time.

Then there's Georgina's desire to break a mega-scandal because she's ... bored? Until Dan outs her, because she has the loudest cellphone ring ever, so she can't? But she magically gets her hands on Blair's prenup?

Or Nate's desire to woo Lola at a party Gossip Girl told him he's throwing, which can't happen because she won't cater Spectator events, but shows up at when Chuck moves the shindig to his place spontaneously?

It doesn't make a lot of sense. Even if you're entertained by it all (and for the most part I am), you can't escape the fact that the show tries to strong together seriously convoluted plots with 2-3 lines of dialogue.

What else did we learn Monday? Where do we even begin. Some of the major developments:

• Ivy's been staying in the Hamptons with Cece, who is totally the frontrunner in this spring's Gossip Girl death pool if she wasn't already. Ivy ran into Lola, who she'd bet before in Florida. Obviously.
• Lola's a cutie who's playing hard to get, which only causes Nate to want her more. Love it. Also love that she's apparently clueless about everything that's gone on. Time for some recon/payback!
• B's minder has a thing for Louis or is a serial murderer intent on offing her. Or a bit of both.
• Fair, young Dorota was once wooed in a Polish beet field. Too bad that story was cut short.
• Serena pines for Dan and broods a lot. Not too much else going on in the land of S of late.
• Georgina employs various minions, including Nate's random Vanessa look-alike assistant.
• Phillip and Milo? Say a prayer for those guys.

All in all, this week was very much up and down for me. The Georgina/G.G. and dowry angles are all over the place and on the verge of being mishandled to the point where it's hard to take them seriously.

That said, Dair continues to carry the show, just as Chair was once the reason to tune in. Which of the two couples has a brighter future romantically? Will Serena sabotage Blair before Chuck undermines Dan?

Can't wait to find out.

Before we turn it over to your comments, here's next week's promo for "Cross Rhodes." Blair looks like she wants it bad. Again. Consider this a 20-second glimpse of the next round of fan wars about to erupt ...

What did you think of this evening's Gossip Girl episode? Discuss below!

Are Dan and Blair soulmates?

Steve Marsi is the Managing Editor of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Google+ or email him here.