Gossip Girl Round Table: "The Fugitives"

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

In a Q&A session below, TVF President Eric Hochberger (Gossip Guy), editor Steve Marsi (Mister Meester) and staff members Courtney Morrison, Christina Tran and Leigh Raines discuss "The Fugitives."

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

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1. What was your favorite quote or scene from the episode?

Courtney: Every scene with Chuck and Bart was amazing, but the best quote has to go to Blair: “The most important thing in a relationship is trust. After sex, hygiene, and earning potential.” She’s so honest, you can’t help but love her.

Eric: Damn you Courtney. Stealing my line I actually rewound to make sure I got exact. So in closing: ditto.

Leigh: Even though I've been hating on her lately, it's a tie for Blair. First to Ivy "You'd have to be in the gang in the first place to get back into the gang." Ivy just stop trying. Second her rolling her eyes at Ivy and Lola like puhlease you think this is the first time I've working with prostitutes?

Christina: Blair: “You think this is the first time I’ve entrapped someone with prostitutes?” Sure, the girl owns a cipher slide, but who’d a thought?!

Steve: Dorota's incredible save of Serena's ruse when Eleanor arrived. "I good!"

2. Did the return of Bart live up to the hype after last week?

Courtney: I think so. I was a little let down that it was the PI who had been behind it, but regardless, it got the incredibly handsome Bart Bass back in our lives and that’s all that matters.

Eric: No! It was super cheeseball after the entire Thorpe plot line, that the person trying to kill Bart was merely a competitor. After meeting an enemy who thought Bart killed his wife, it came down to one that just merely wanted a bigger chunk of the business world!? Then, it all came down to catching a blackmailed PI before calling it a day? You know it's a terrible copout by Gossip Girl when the scheming is over and the police are brought in.

Leigh: I mean, I feel better for Chuck that he got some answers. But Bart was never even a good father to him so I don't really care that he's back. Decent scheme, not great.

Christina: For the most part, yes. The return of Bart Bass brought on a whirlwind of messy plotting and scheming. And I’d like to think that’s one of the not so many reasons I still watch Gossip Girl.

Steve: As I talked about in my review last night, the explanation of Bart's disappearance was pretty weak. On the flip side, Bart's return set a lot of intriguing things in motion this week and heading into next, and wasn't simply forgotten about with him jetting off into the great blue yonder again.

3. Did Nate do the right thing letting Diana off the hook?

Courtney: Definitely. Girlfriend was just trying to start a new life you know; heading a brothel, hiding a supposedly dead man, sleeping with boys half her age. Regardless of all that, she was there for Nate and he didn’t need to hurt her anymore. Getting her out without smearing her name was the nice thing to do. Hopefully it gets rid of Diana Payne for good.

Eric: Absolutely. Have you seen Elizabeth Hurley? Plus, who doesn't love a good riches to (celebrity gossip) rag story? Boo.

Leigh: Yes, but only after he almost blew Chuck's chance at finding Bart's rival because he and his girlfriend are dumb as nails. Seriously, calling the New York Times with Diana still in the apartment? Lola, you don't understand the history of this group, so please dismiss yourself.

Christina: Definitely. That’s our Nate, though, doing the right thing and looking amazing as ever. P.S. His reaction to being asked to stall Diana was priceless.

Steve: Regarding Leigh's point, I agree, but give Nola somewhat of a pass because had Chuck just told them about Bart, they clearly wouldn't have sabotaged the plan. Once he realized he was getting what he wanted (her leaving town), he made the right call in letting the British seductress go.

Serena Under Fire

4. Did Serena really sell out Blair with that diary pic, or is there more to it?

Courtney: I hope not, because if she did, she is the worst BFF ever! I really can’t put it past her considering how much fun she was having playing Dan’s girlfriend again. But if she did, that is extremely low. Here is hoping there is something more to it than just a jealous BFF.

Eric: Maybe S just has that pic uploaded to the Gossip Girl site in draft form. You know, in case she had a low traffic day and had to run a big scandal. Girl had advertisers to answer to. 

Leigh: I really don't think S would stoop that low. I just won't allow myself to believe it. I know Blake Lively has looked miserable all season but I think she's just bored of the show and wants to be off making movies with Taylor Kitsch and cuddling up to Ryan Reynolds in real life.

Christina: There’s got to be more to it. I just can’t think of who would do something that cruel. Maybe, Jenny, Vanessa, or Georgina (please, no) will make a surprise visit revealing themselves as the real culprit. Otherwise, here’s wishing luck to S because hell hath no fury like a scorned B.

Steve: With the return of a certain someone next week, I think there may be more than meets the eye. That Gossip Girl laptop has been in plenty of devious hands, remember.

5. More amazing: Serena's hole-filled top, or Dan's hair after he gets out of the shower?

Courtney: Dan’s hair after the shower, no contest. That right there should have been enough for Blair to make her decision about going to Rome. Seriously, the Muppet hair needs to be cut now.

Eric: Pretty sure you just baited the entire Round Table. That whole question read to me as, "Dan's hair: go!" So here we go. WOW. That might have been one of the most amazing moments in television history. I have all new respect for Dan now that I see the Sideshow Bob that's growing out of his follicles. Dude, his stylist, and hair products have been working miracles all season.  Do they give out an Emmy for that? Gossip Girl may finally get one!

Leigh: Agree with Eric that you baited the whole Round Table. When Dan walked out with that hair... I just... stopped... thinking clearly. It's on par with Blair's ugly robes she's been sporting. I really just don't have words.

Christina: Dan’s hair! First off, gross. Secondly, all I could think about was Rizzo on Grease. Thirdly, I am almost certain I lost a good two minutes because of the Muppet hair. I tried to rewind and concentrate, but that disgusting mess was way too distracting.

Steve: I guess I was sort of trying to bait you all, but I didn't think it was a total runaway. Look at that thing she's wearing in the photo above. They're called mothballs, Serena. Mothballs.

6. Lola or Ivy: Who would you rather ... employ as a faux prostitute to entrap someone?

Courtney: Can’t I pick both? No? Okay, then I have to go with Ivy. Although Lola looked really hot, I can’t choose anyone but the raspy voiced raven. That girl is beautiful and kind of funny.

Eric: Pretty sure you entrapped me. I'm ordering both.

Leigh: Ivy. I'm sorry but I don't think Lola has much of a sex factor. Ivy is a little more curvy, she's got the sexy voice and just generally saucier.

Christina: I don’t know. I’ll go with Lola, though, because I still don’t get why Ivy is hanging around.  

Steve: Lola all the way. Better actress, slightly cuter (though that was never Ivy's problem) and less inclined to double cross me and skip town afterward ... I put nothing past Ivy.

Blair, Dan

7. Share your predictions for the fifth season finale.

Courtney: Blair starts a war with Serena after the GG blast, Chuck and his father go on a scandalous trip somewhere, Nate and Lola continue their perfect relationship, S goes after Dan in a jealous haze, and Blair will choose to stay in NYC for the summer and work towards a relationship with Chuck.

Eric: Pretty obvious what they've been building for all season with their Simpsons-esque reset button ready to be pressed. A Chair and Derena reunion in one episode (at least according to the Gossip Girl season finale promos)? With B-S war returning, I think so. If Nate has his man bangs on and V shows up I may just lose it.

Leigh: Agreeing with my co-roundtablers. S and B are going into World War III. Blair will have to choose between Chuck and Dan, but this time it's not because anyone is begging her too it's because they are both sick of being toyed with. Serena will exact her revenge for being a back story all season. Man bangs will look pretty. Lily will have to deal with the fact that she's currently married to two men. Once a Rhodes girl, always a Rhodes girl. Dorota will be baller, naturally, and Georgina will return out of nowhere.

Christina: Last night, Gossip Girl promised not to play nice anymore with S and B. I hope she actually comes through and causes some catastrophes leaving the UES in shambles. Also, B will choose Chuck leaving D to run towards S’s open arms, Lily and Bart will make a reprise, and it’ll be smooth sailing for Nola. We’ve been waiting all season long for some major drama! Whatever happens, I hope there’s reason enough that we’re concluding on a season finale and not a series finale.

Steve: Blair and Dan run off to Rome and spend the summer blissfully in love. Hey, someone had to stand up for them. Why is everyone writing off Dair? It's still possible ... right? Maybe a little?

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.

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Gossip Girl Season 5 Episode 23 Quotes

Blair: That was your agent. She wants you to reconsider the program in Rome. Which is odd, because you told me they went with someone else.
Dan: Ah, well, yesterday when you ended up with Chuck I was a little nervous about leaving for the whole summer. And I know you told me there were other people there and it was not romantic, but... come on. It's Chuck.
Blair: So you lied to me.
Dan: I figured you would just think I was some jealous freak if I told the truth.
Blair: Well maybe because you are. But you don't have to be. You have nothing to worry about. Take the offer. It's an amazing opportunity and I would never stand in the way of it.
Dan: It means the entire summer apart.
Blair: But it's not like I can't come visit. Rome is just two glasses of chardonnay away.

Chuck: So the car accident was real?
Bart: I was lucky to survive it. But it wasn't an accident. I'd been threatened.
Chuck: By who?
Bart: A very powerful competitor of mine. I had information on some transactions of his that could have put him away for a very long time. But his threats didn't work.
Chuck: They had someone ram your limo with a truck? Dad, You could have gone to the police. You didn't have to—
Bart: Yes, I did. He'd made it quite clear that both you and Lily were fair game. Once I realized his threats weren't empty, the only way out was to make him think he'd already one. Once I got to the hospital tonight I figured that would be my best chance.
Chuck: So what, you just paid some doctors to switch off the machines? Hope Lily was crying so much that she wouldn't notice you were actually still breathing? What did we bury in that coffin?
Bart: Charles, I am here with you now, trying to explain.