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Gossip Girl Season 3 Episode 2

The Freshman

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Episode Summary

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AIRED: 9/21/09

Blair ends up with Georgina as as her roommate in the dorms at NYU. While Serena and Chuck come to blows, so she joins forces with Chuck's enemy, Carter. Nate and Bree try to take their relationship up a gear despite the animosity between their families.

FAN RECAP

Fan Episode Reviews (6)

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7.7

By Canogaparkcindy, Apr 28, 2011

I don't know why I'm liking Gossip Girl now more than ever, I have no idea what's the difference from last season. Last season was a train wreck as Chuck called Serena here, and season 3 looks pretty promising so far taking account of the first 2 episodes of the season.

We just got great interactions from the entire cast. Yes, Serena is still annoying and she ended the episode the same way she did the last episode: making out with Carter, but at least she has a noteworthy story line with a lot of potential regarding her father. Definitely keeps me tuned in.

Georgina subtly trying to take down Blair was great. I think everyone missed the classic cattiness of this show in general. What I loved was the different interactions that we got. Not focused on Chuck & Blair, it's good that the writers are conscious not to shove the relationship in our faces in every episode.

Chuck & Serena got some good scenes. Dan & Blair also got some good scenes. The only story line that leaves me puzzled is Nate's. I mean, I'm liking the relationship overall but I just find it hilarious at how unrelated he is to the cast these days. Good episode of Gossip Girl. Keep it up!moreless
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One of the best episodes yet of all time. Why? Read on!

9.5

By mikeygriff27, Oct 15, 2009

Season 3 sort of kicked off with a whimper last week. Where Serena took center stage and pushed everyone else off to carry on her Is serena good or bad plot which is frankly getting very boring. Thank God Georgina showed up.

Episode 2 highlights the new school or colleges in this case and who's going where and more essentially with whom. Blair decides she wants to be queen B once again in her new surroundings however ironically Georgina turns up and social dominance begins. However surprisingly georgina is Bad girl Gone good (And it hasn't took her three series to get there). I preferred this georgina because she's even more wild and unpredictable and certainly some parts of this episode she showed her **** was hidden in there especially closing the door on blair's face. Because this episode put serena on the backburn it was realy funny and one of the best we've had in a while. Dan came out of his shell and showed he's quite a wild character too which i predicted this series was going to take him. He made up with vanessa (No surprise) and after my praise of her character last week unfortunately the writers didn't capitalise on her fiestyness and she was just vanessa again, however we have got another 20 episode's to go and i'm guessing her beau may be about to cause alot of drama with her and Dan! Especially witht he fact that Dan and him are brothers! Oh Yes! Blair was her ultimate best this episode and even though she was defeated she still rules. Her acting and general character is the best out of the female characters. She is in no doubt my favourite charatcer and she proved in this episode why. Other characters were pretty much non-existent this episode. Lily for example was not here again leaving Rufus to tame serena who's becomming more annoying than his own daughter Jenny. Who also wasn't in this episode. Meanwhile Nate was there in bits but might as well have not been, all he did was roll around on the bed with his new girlfriend. I was intrigued where this plot could go last week however no i'm not bothered in the slightest. And serena well she's being a bad girl again. This time messing with Chuck, who has gone all good and wants to open a restaurant which serena ruins. Even Carter Baisen can't stand her in this episode (Doesn't she get the hint!). Any bet that Daddy will save her i mean after all where's Lilly gone any guessing it's to do some dodgy dealing with the ultimate Van der Woodsen himself. Like i said in my last review i have a feeling this series will be the best and most amusing yet. And this episode does not disapoint.moreless
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All.About.Serena is all about Serena, Chuck builds up his Empire and Blair goes insane. What? Nate was in this episode?! Oh wait...

8.0

By electricpeppers, Sep 24, 2009

It's the second episode of Gossip Girl season three. The kids are off to university and I'm still reeling from the first episode. The episode opens with some stuff I can't remember and therefore couldn't have been very interesting... after that Blair arrives at uni to discover Satan has invaded her dorm room. Satan working under the false name of Georgina Sparks. I was happy they brought back Georgie to terrorise the gang. I want to see her all evol again because the good girl rubbish is kind of annoying -- I also don't trust her as far as I can throw her, which, incidentally, isn't very far.

Blair screams shrilly at Georgie (dear lord she is pale), and stomps around all over the show until she comes up with The Ultimate Planz For Social Domination. Unfortunately for Blair weird sea food and her elitist attitude do not ingratiate her to her fellow students. Blair realises that The Ultimate Planz For Social Domination didn't work -- so she stomps around again and finds Vanessa, her dreadlocks, and Dan plus countless extras sitting in V's dorm room watching her crappy documentary about poor people. Blair is angry and attempts to get back at them at the end of the episode. I did laugh when the Jesus lovers came out and she declared Georgies shindig a 'Conversion Party'. Blair feels she's won and is all smug and inviting people to some strange sounding hip bar, fully believing that The Ultimate Planz For Social Domination Version 2.0 has worked. But she didn't count on Dan, Dan who is suddenly hot this season and who has happily taken up his role as Pretentious College Guy. He somewhat ineptly (but successfully) sabotages Blair and invites the extras to get drunk with him instead of spending the night with Blair at whatever random posh place she invited them to. I kind of laughed, but felt sorry for Blair. She deserved everything she got and needs to let go of this ridiculous Queen Bee idea. She seemed to have gotten it last season but here we are again with her desperate to reassert her social position. So, Blair leaves with the knowledge that The Ultimate Planz For Social Domination Version 2.0 also failed. She goes home to Chuck for some much needed spooning/snuggling after they've both had awful days. Aww! It was actually my favourite part of the episode their final scene together. Don't screw it up writers even though I know you will.

Elsewhere, Nate is doing something boring and forgettable in bed with that woman from Privileged. His current mission being to sleep his way through New York. Meanwhile, All.About.Serena has decided that university holds no allure for her effervescent personality, so she's deferring for a year and going to be a whiny wench about it. In this episode she single handedly manages to alienate three people -- Chuck when the dim bimbo lets slip that his business venture is pretty much a high class brothel, Rufus when she whines about not going to uni because she's too awesome for that mundane place, and Carter when she acts all flighty and uses him to get back at Chuck for telling on her. All.About.Serena doesn't stop there however, she realises what an idiot she's being and runs around apologising to everyone but Chuck. And gets her two minute mature conversation with Rufus as the camera pushes in as she realises what an Awesome Guy Rufus is. Who needs your real daddy when you have your ex-boyfriend's/step-brother's/friend's annoying father to give you Dad of the Year mug worthy advice. A tear in my eye there was.

All.About.Serena spares a few minutes to have a cute scene with Blair -- which they should really have more of before going to Carter to tell him she wants his smex, his smex and no one elses. He agrees because smex? Yes, and he's in lurrve as well. Someone said Carter is the Blair to Serena's Chuck: I really like that analogy. Back at NYU Vanessa and her dreadlocks are slowly eating Scott Humphrey's face. Scott gets more freakish soap opera glares to the camera and is obsessed with Danny boy. I think he's also in lurrve but not with V. Scott, Vanessa and her dreads have a bunch of superfluous rubbish designed to pad out the episode and designed for me to have time to day-dream of more interesting things.

Back to Nate, who decides he and the woman from Privileged shall no longer sex it up in private and will bring their stupid relationship out into the open -- promising that he'll stay with her until he gets distracted by something shiny. That charmer.

So, we're left with Georgie/Satan plotting Blair's demise, All.About.Serena and her bi-polar issues gaining a lurrve interest, Blair's hyper bunny freak outs only just beginning, and Chuckles showcasing more of his dapper man-suits. Still the questions remain... Will we get to see Chuck's silky stripey pajamas again? Will Nate EVER get a storyline that doesn't revolve around his man bits? Will Blair find the holy relic that can defeat Satan once and for all? Will she be able to construct a Ultimate Planz For Social Domination that actually works? I know I can hardly wait. Tune in next week! xoxo.moreless
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College rules

8.0

By Truffethedog, Sep 22, 2009

I liked this episode very much. Well, except Serena cause she was getting on my nerves with everything she did. Enough with her being the "I can't find my way in life and therefore I'll just do stupid things"-girl already. I actually do like her with Carter more than I liked her with Dan.

Everything that was going on in the college was great except Vannessa and Scott. They were just boring but that always seems to be the case with them. I liked how Georgina got back at Blair and Blair then got back at Georgina and finally Dan got back at Blair. Dorota was also cool as always in this episode walking the streets of NY. And didn't I just love the ending with Carter kissing Serena, Blair going to Chuck(probably one of the cutest scenes they've had) and Dan waking up with Georgina. Wonder where that's gonna go...moreless
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A Georgina episode, did she live up to all the hype?

7.0

By lexacliche, Sep 22, 2009

This week was all about everyone finding their niche in college and overall life. 'The Freshman' showed the tug of war between Georgina and Blair which didn't really portray the angst I anticipated.

At least we now know why Blair preferred to live in a dorm as opposed to bunking with Chuck; it actually gave her time to climb the social ladder.

I actually knew that Blair would have some trouble fitting into NYU; people focus on studying as opposed to style and no one really pulls up in a limo for school which is exactly why Blair's attire and bulling couldn't fetch her more friends. She actually learned that private school is far away from public school.

The biblical reference with respect to Georgina was out of whack. I really did not believe that she changed. Georgina was fake nice and was trying to hard to have a clean slate that her true motives were apparent. At least it came off as a surprise when Vanessa showed more compassion for Georgina than Blair. We all know what Blair wants; a status, social gratification and control, so Blair's motives are always obvious. Georgina on the other hand would always have that extra card up her sleeve; she may feed you for a while, but bite your hand off later.

I really hope she and Dan didn't go beyond the awkward kiss, for the viewers that is, because that revelation was a jaw dropper, even though I somehow knew that trick was somewhere in there. Really what was Dan thinking, even after he came to his senses?

I really felt sorry for Blair when Dan gave his speech. The tables actually turned since High School; Dan is the leader and Blair is the one on the bench. For all those Dan and Blair (Dair) fans, I sensed a connection between them on the staircase towards Georgina's party where he flinged her headband on the ground. I actually thought it was cute.

It seemed as though the only people Blair had in her life was Dorota, Serena and Chuck.

The Chuck and Blair love affair was still in the air. Couldn't really turn away from their huge make out scene before she went off to NYU, it actually looked as though he wanted to 'make love' to her lips right there. Chuck and Blair have this on screen connection that I really admire and they are not too much 'mushy mushy' in love. I was happy to know she could turn to him and make his day seem brighter.

Chuck's scenes were more business like; trying to turn a vault space into a club. I must admit a trendy idea, but he chose the wrong person to confide in at first. I didn't understand why Serena believed she could count on staying with Chuck to hide out from Brown. Was she actually seeing him as the brother icon, or was he second to confiding in Blair? It still left Serena obsessive over her father. Why the sudden urge to see him? Why didn't she even consider him in her thoughts during high-school? Is it that she's getting older and really wants to get in touch with him? She did fine without him for so many years, so her obsession remains a mystery. I also don't understand Serena and Carter of all people she would consider confiding in. It actually looked like those two were entering into a relationship ... with Rufus being the 'father' temp icon, what would he say about Serena and Carter?

Serena was also finding a way to settle down, just like Blair and Scott. I am really trying to figure out what Vanessa sees in Scott, who's true intentions aren't really revealed. Scott seemed interested in finding out about his half brother, but does he really have feelings for Vanessa?

The most out of place scenes were Nate and Bree spending all day alone, hot and sweaty for each other. Where they falling in love so soon and was she willing to risk rekindling with her family on him? I find them interesting, but I wouldn't really place a bet on their long lasting relationship. Nate's grandfather surely had a trump card to play and that leaves us with something to look forward to. Wasn't Nate supposed to go into Columbia, or was he too occupied with something or someone else?

So maybe 'The Freshman' wasn't really my favorite episode this season. Gossip Girl, just like many of the characters, is finding it's niche and we now have to get accustomed to the college side of the show. The storyline is still being developed. We might hopefully get the high school drama with Jenny being the new 'Queen B'. Would Blair regret giving her that title? I would love to know how Jenny would deal.

There is a lot of change going on, but we'll cope, at least next week we would sit back to another episode, until then.

Lexa Reviews

http://lexabuti.blogspot.com/

_________________________)__________

Three and a half out of Five Stars

Grade C+

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Cast & Crew: STARS

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Leighton Meester	Blair Waldorf
Penn Badgley	Dan Humphrey
Jessica Szohr	Vanessa Abrams
Blake Lively	Serena van der Woodsen
Ed Westwick	Chuck Bass
Chace Crawford	Nate Archibald

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Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

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JoAnna Garcia	Bree Buckley	Guest Star
Chris Riggi	Scott Ronsson	Guest Star
Armand Schultz		Guest Star
Michelle Trachtenberg	Georgina Sparks	Recurring Role
Sebastian Stan	Carter Baizen	Recurring Role
Zuzanna Szadkowski	Dorota Kishlovsky	Recurring Role

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (1)
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- Featured Music:
  "Embers" by Just Jack
  "Problems with Authority" by Names in Vain
  "What Do You Know About Jesus?" by Cast
  "Good Girls Go Bad" by Cobra Starship feat. Leighton Meester (Blair)
  "1901" by Phoenix
  "Hot Mess" by Cobra Starship
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QUOTES (6)
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- Georgina: My parents said it was either Bible camp or college, so ... go Bobcats!
  
  Blair: So you're not in love with Jesus anymore.
  Georgina: I still hold Him in my heart, but Jesus and I have redefined our relationship.
  Blair: You mean He dumped you because He found out you were Satan!
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- Gossip Girl: Rah rah, sis boom bah, Georgina's pulled a coup d'état! Welcome to college, B. This is going to be a blast!
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- Vanessa: Maybe we were too hard on her.
  Dan: Are you serious? She's Georgina!
  Vanessa: And you're Dan!
  Dan: And you're Vanessa! This is a fun game.
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- Blair: There's a reason we never went downtown…it's awful! The minute you cross 14th street people forget there is a class system!
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- (Blair gets into bed while Chuck is asleep and snuggles up to him)
  Blair: You were right about the dorms. The lighting is awful. You ok?
  Chuck:I am now.
  (takes Blair's hand and kisses it)
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- Dan: I have to go.. but remember we don't have any servants here. So if you see anybody else in the loft besides me, call the police, it's not the chef.
  Serena: Good to know.
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NOTES (3)
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- International Episode Titles:
  Czech Republic: Prvák (First-Year Student)
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- Original International Airdates:
  Philippines: September 29, 2009 on ETC
  United Kingdom: October 14, 2009 on ITV2
  Sweden: October 25, 2009 on Kanal 5
  Latin America: November 1, 2009 on Warner Channel
  Norway: January 11, 2010 on FEM
  Turkey: March 9, 2010 on CNBC-e
  Slovakia: July 25, 2010 on Doma
  Czech Republic: September 11, 2011 on Prima LOVE
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- Although credited, Taylor Momsen (Jenny) and Kelly Rutherford (Lily) didn't appear in this episode.
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ALLUSIONS (1)
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- Title comes from the 1990 movie "The Freshman".
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