Gossip Girl Round Table: "Crazy Cupid Love"

at .

Welcome to our weekly Gossip Girl Round Table discussion! Below, our panelists gather to break down Monday night's episode (see our official Gossip Girl review from last night) in even greater detail.

In a Q&A session below, TVF CEO Eric Hochberger (Gossip Guy) editor Steve Marsi (Mister Meester) and staff writers Courtney Morrison, Christina Tran and Leigh Raines discuss "Crazy Cupid Love."

Weigh in with your take on the following topics after reading ours!

-------------------------------

1. What was your favorite quote from the episode?

Courtney: Blair's references to the fun times in high school - the key to the pool, guitar hero and sushi bar birthday parties... oh how I miss high school GG. Somehow Queen B did not make a comment about the abundance of headbands at Nate's party. In my mind she did and it was a zinger.

Christina: I’m handing this one to Dorota even if her once upon a Polish beet field story was cut short.

Leigh: Georgina: "Under my stewardship, Gossip Girl has been a shell of her former self, like AOL or Courtney Love." Aww Georgie, I love when you speak in metaphors! Dorota's sexual beet story was a close second.

Steve: Gotta be Georgina telling Phillip he's been "uncharacteristically helpful" this week, then calling "not it" when Milo woke up, narrowly escaping having to put out on Valentine's Day. Phew!

Eric: I guess it was less of a quote and more of just Dan walking in on G.G.G. "You're Gossip Girl?" That obnoxiously loud ring tone. That whole scene.

2. So, Dair happened. Discuss.

Courtney: Even as a Chair cheerleader, I have to admit that it was pretty awesome. These two are the only characters as of late with a real build up into a friendship/hopeful relationship. I have seriously enjoyed their banter and their chemistry has been off the charts. Eric makes a point that this happens, of course, when they can't become an official couple, but I will take what I can get. B made a point about how great he has been to her, even if he does have a mop on his head. That was an earned and well deserved kiss. Let's keep it coming.

Christina: Honestly, I never thought that Gossip Girl would go there, and I’ve got to admit, it was kind of cool they did. Fans dared to Dair, and it actually happened! As we all know, a kiss is never just a kiss so I am kind of excited to see what happens next.

Leigh: I've gone on record that I'm a Chuck Bass fan, BUT I think the writers did a good job with last night's episode. It would've been annoying to keep teasing Dan and Blair, so I'm glad they're going to do it some justice. They are an intellectual match, he is attractive with shorter hair, and this is a teen soap, everyone will hook up at some point!

Steve: I'm impartial as far as who I want to end up together when the show ends, but I can appreciate the fact that we've been given a real love triangle with strong feelings extending each direction, rather than just nonsensical, contrived obstacles thrown in Chair's path. Okay, the pact and the dowry are totally contrived nonsense, but that's not Dan's fault! Dair is the real deal now, as is Chair. The fact that we legitimately don't know where the show's going with this is exciting.

Eric: Wow. Happy Valentine's Day Dair fans. I went on the Round Table record stating they'd never actually pair the couple together, but man was I wrong! And quite glad to be. Unfortunately, they finally decided to give us Dair during this awkward married period for B. That means they have to last a whole year and we know nothing makes it a whole season of Gossip Girl

3. Which relationship will suffer most as a result of the Dair kiss: Chair, Derena, Blerena or Duck?

Courtney: Blerena. Chuck won't stay mad at Blair and it is Humphrey, so no big loss there for him. Dan is not going back down that path with Serena, I mean it is his stepsister. So now they can be officially over. But best friends aren't supposed to fight over a boy. Things are bound to get catty now.

Christina: Blerena! Hasn’t B heard of “sisters before misters”? Then again, S would be a total hypocrite to get mad. Hello, Season 1. Maybe "hoes before bros" is more fitting.

Leigh: Blerena! Blair should know better. It didn't feel good when Serena banged Nate at the wedding on top of the bar, now did it? Hos before bros. Serena is your sister, make it right.

Steve: Blair and Serena, because the latter was just oblivious and blindsided. Chuck's totally used to undermining people in his way and fighting for Blair, so while having Humphrey as competition may be unexpected, it's not a game-changer. For Serena, though, it's clearly a blow she never saw coming from her BFF(s).

Eric: Oh poor Duck. You were just starting to blossom as a friendship that could have blossomed into something more impressive than even Date. And you threw it away for what? The woman of your dreams!?

4. Are the writers being true to Blair's character?

Courtney: I think so. Over the past few seasons, Blair has really matured. She no longer plots with her minions on the museum steps and she cares about other people besides herself. At this point, it wouldn't be true to her character if she didn't recognize the great friend she has gained and the feelings between them. We still have the best parts of B and that's all that matters.

Christina: It seems that way. To say the least, she’s just a girl with a ton of guys vying for her love. And can you blame them? What’s not to love about B?

Leigh: Now that the insufferable Louis is back in Monaco, I saw some of the old Blair humor come out. Please let it stay that way. I don't know if the writers have done her justice this season, but wardrobe did last night. She looks beautiful.

Steve: By having her acknowledge all the ways Dan's been there for her, absolutely. By not jetting off with Chuck before (or after) the wedding, and by becoming the submissive toward Louis in general? Not so much. The old Blair isn't gone, but she's certainly taken some weeks off. Hopefully the gang can get her out of this sham marriage soon. That's not helping.

Eric: Sure. First off, the amazing cupid plotting with Dorota was vintage B. Now the Dair kiss? She's being true to the same girl that succumbed to temptation in a limo. Only now, replace a relationship with Nate to a marriage to Louis. And a Chuck with my favorite Muppet.

5. Georgina as Gossip Girl 2.0: Intriguing or boring?

Courtney: I'm probably going to be hated in the comments, but boring. I have never been the biggest fan of Georgina, just because her character has always been over the top. I thought that this might giver her a better arc and make her fit better, but instead it feels forced. She either needs to shake up GG's info or leave the job to the original.

Christina: Boring! I can’t wait for the real Gossip Girl to show up and send Georgina with bags and baby Milo in tow. I know there is a ton of Georgina love, but I still find her utterly annoying.

Leigh: Option 3, ridiculous, absurd, typical Georgina.

Steve: Georgina's great for one-liners, but her motives feel a bit inconsistent ... it made more sense when she loathed and wanted to bury Blair Waldorf out of revenge. Now she's just going after a huge scandal because it's her duty as Gossip Girl stand-in? It just feels slightly off, along with the fact that her cover was blown so easily.

Eric: Option three: hilarious. I mean, she's being beyond ridiculous and over-the-top as GG 2.0. In a word, she's being Georgina.

Georgina and Dan

6. More unintentionally hilarious: Chuck seductively asking Alessandra for dirt on Dan, or Blair's "minder" gazing ominously at the wedding portrait?

Courtney: The "minder" was unintentionally hilarious for a few reasons: 1) She was never acknowledged by a name. 2) She sat in the bar alone texting Blair instead of actually minding her. 3) Her creepy gaze at the portrait. 4) Her covering Blair's face... she might as well cut her head out of the picture and taped hers in.

Christina: I’m going with the latter. That ridiculous scene with the “minder” made me also question who would ever fancy Louis.

Leigh: I was so happy to see Chuck seducing someone and not moping that he wins automatically.

Steve: Courtney and Eric's lists sum the Minder up perfectly, but I'm still going with Chuck. The fact that he tried to probe Alessandra for information in mid-seduction (versus the typical post-hookup pillow talk stage)? Amazing.

Eric: I could pick any minder scene for unintentional hilarity, but that final pining scene gave me the biggest laugh. 1) Who would ever be in love with Louis? 2) Do we really need another royal family scheme? 3) Acting classes?

7. Which Charlotte Rhodes do you like better, Lola or Ivy?

Courtney: Ivy, hands down. Mostly because I have a major girl crush on the raspy voiced vixen, but also because she has been taking care of Cece (and probably plotting to steal all of her money). I don't know enough about Lola to care yet.

Christina: Her name was Lola. She was a showgirl…Yes, I like her much better than Ivy.

Leigh Love ChIvy, but I'm really into Lola these days. Their storyline is my favorite thing on the show right now. And now that Lola knows Ivy is impersonating her... it's goin' down.

Steve: As I said in my review, I'm loving Lola and her apparent obliviousness to the identity theft that's taken place. Plus, she's making Nate work for it ... and she's already becoming Ivy's Facebook stalker. Lola FTW!

Eric: Geesh, after spending half a season ripping on Chivy, she has to go ahead to and pull on my heartstrings by taking care of CeCe this whole time? I mean, it's still not going to make me switch my vote form Lola, but the little con artist is redeeming herself.

What do you think? Sound off in the comments!

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

Show Comments
Tags: ,