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Gossip Girl Season 3 Episode 8

The Grandfather: Part II

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7.6

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Episode Summary

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AIRED: 11/2/09

Olivia, as a guest on Jimmy Fallon's talk show, says something she regrets and tries to hide it from Dan. With elections coming up, Nate suspects his grandfather will do everything he has to get Trip into congress. After another fight with Serena, Blair gets a new friend and takes her to an election night party at Chuck's hotel, just to make Serena jealous.moreless

FAN RECAP

Fan Episode Reviews (5)

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6.0

By Canogaparkcindy, May 30, 2011

So Gossip Girl is now a political drama? I definitely never expected that. Vanessa's character was put on the fore front here, and she was just intolerable here. She pulled the "holier-than-thou" act tonight, and next week's episode, she'll probably be the one scheming: yep, that's Vanessa for you.

The writers clearly have lost their way, and you can tell by watching this episode. They clearly have no idea what to do with their characters. Last week, Serena was a publicist's assistant, and next week, she'll be having an affair? With Trip?

Hilary Duff's character is so pointless, I'm starting to wonder why they even put her on this show. I am a huge fan but her guest spot on Gossip Girl was clearly a mistake. The Dan & Olivia relationship has become ridiculous what with the hard-to-fathom Jimmy Fallon interview. Also all the plots were completely inconsistent with each other.

The only highlight of the episode was seeing Blair fall in to a cake, but that's really about it.moreless
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Resorting to politics maybe a stretch for Gossip Girl. However, as fans we have to acknowledge the fact that the show is growing up just like its characters. Don't get me wrong though, I am a huge fan of the backstabbing and scheming.moreless

7.5

By machiavellian28, Jun 05, 2010

Using Politics as a plot in this episode was a huge risk that in my opinion certainly paid off. Politics is a major factor within the Upper East Side so using it didn't hurt. It's about time Gossip Girl take on complex and grown-up story lines other than their "I'm a Queen, you're a Bee" mantra. And it's nice to see our Golden Boy Nate get the screen time he deserves. Tripp Vanderbilt? I think he'll be around a little while longer. Hilary Duff isn't as annoying as I thought she'd be. She actually fits in if you ask me.moreless
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Good :]

9.5

By jaimeem-123, Nov 04, 2009

I really liked this episode.

I think season 3 hasnt been as good as the rest of the seasons so far, but this episode was good.

The election stuff wasnt that great, but the rest of the episode was good.

Serena and Blair fighting was good. "This night is over and as far as im concerned so are we". That was such a good line. And Blair being shoved in the cake was funny.

Everyone else seems to be fighting too. Serena and Nate. Serena and Blair. Nate and Vanessa. In my opinion it was one of the better episodes of the season so far.

And next weeks the 3some, wonder who it will be?moreless
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Gossip Girl has resorted to political drama, celebrity gossip and child play in order for a good story to have its punchline.

6.0

By lexacliche, Nov 03, 2009

All they manage to achieve is constant chaos and overachievers that just grew up too quickly.

In this case, politics and celebrities does equate the vile drama and disarray with the touch of gossip somewhere in the middle, but I got lost to the point where Gossip Girl kept narrating the lives of the tarnished and the only text message received was to Dan's phone about Olivia's personal spill on live television. I think Gossip Girl has lost her touch, her witty remarks are effective enough to bring about a smile, but at the same time (she) has lost her target audience. The scores of her targets have lost interest in her material and she has yielded to reusing circulated gossip.

The life of a celebrity can be complicated and engaging, which leaves me wondering how Olivia would have time to cuddle up with her boyfriend and play boardgames for five hours just to keep him from seeing her 'bathroom boy' slip in a Jimmy Fallon interview. Olivia and Dan's relationship is rendered like any ordinary relationship. There seems to be a struggle when it comes to separating the lives of teens to that of adulthood.

Nate's ability to portray himself as an eligible political idol seems unlikely. In a matter of a few seasons Nate jumped from being a seventeen year old ladies man to an incisive mid-twenty year old playing eighteen. Too much responsibility is placed in Nate's hands. It may seem that he has potentially raised himself all his life and took care of his mother by playing the 'father role', but Nate's character still lacks the necessary development needed to be appreciated.

The center around his grandfather should give cause to wrap up last Season's Part one. He was given the strong corrupt role last season, but it seemed like he was dethroned by an unsuspected rivalry within the family - a wife who always felt out of the loop and controlled by 'Grandfather'.

Vanessa was once on the other side of the struggle when she was with Nate and he chose and internship over her. I believe that Vanessa is given too much credit; she sweeps in and out of plots and she is always with this camera in her hand - she surely likes recording stuff. There is a fine line producers may cross when it comes to delivering believable story-lines and making characters the heroes in plot lines, but Vanessa's filmography felt fabricated. The fact that she was around to capture Tripp's hero moment was slightly touching that line, but being the 'Only' one to capture the whole thing may have crossed it.

Gossip Girl has reached a point where the reason we fell for it in the beginning is being washed away with drama we might get from other shows. There was always something that separated 'Gossip Girl' from all of that.

Blair has gone into official spoiled mode, even though she recognized that she has to focus on NYU, she still manages to throw cheap shots Serena's way. Serena's herself has lost her significance, her storyline is far-fetched and almost useless.

Jenny herself falls into the shade and I can't even point out one scene I may have appreciated seeing her in this season.

I have no idea where they would spin this series, I am almost certain most fans feel lost in the wilderness. While the producers are picking at straws the only thing I feel eager to see is Chuck and Blair together. At least they managed to get something right. Chuck's character feels fallible at times; especially since he seems mature for his age, but I enjoy Ed Westwick's contribution and his ability to pull off a convincing accent besides his own.

Olivia and Dan are too much the Hollywood couple you don't really hear about and I expect a bit more drama with their relationship, but maybe I'm just pulling at straws here. Still waiting for the punchline.

Lexa Reviews

http://lexabuti.blogspot.com

________________________

Three and a Half Stars

Grade C+

________________________moreless
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Vanessa + Nate + Congress on a show like Gossip Girl = Pretty Boring!!!

8.5

By AnilThornberry, Nov 03, 2009

Vanessa + Nate + Congress on a show like Gossip Girl = Pretty Boring & Solid!

It was pretty a slow moving episode this week. Actually looked forward for the end to come.

But like most of the time Gossip Girl achieves to make it all up to the viewers by throwing in 'some' good scenes and a fantastic song for the ending scene like tonight.

*Loved Serena/Blair scenes. Watching them act like bratty childen was humorous. Blair was right about everything she said. Serena's working with some stupid publicist who she has no future with. She did the right thing by quitting.

*And lastly, I LOVEDDD the song they threw in at the end. I rushed off to youtube immediately after the episode. If anyone else liked it, it's called ''MIKA - I See You''.

Overall, 8.5 for this week's episode.Was going to rate it lower but like I said Serena/Blair and the lovely song at thend saved the episode a little. GG's music always rocks!moreless
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Cast & Crew: STARS

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Blake Lively	Serena van der Woodsen
Leighton Meester	Blair Waldorf
Penn Badgley	Dan Humphrey
Chace Crawford	Nate Archibald
Ed Westwick	Chuck Bass
Taylor Momsen	Jenny Humphrey

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Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

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Jimmy Fallon	Himself	Guest Star
Aaron Tveit	Trip	Guest Star
Holley Fain	Maureen van der Bilt	Guest Star
Hilary Duff	Olivia Burke	Recurring Role
James Naughton	William van der Bilt	Recurring Role

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Episode Photos

Leighton Meester as Blair in Gossip Girl...

© 2009 The CW Television Network
Blake Lively as Serena in Gossip Girl's ...

© 2009 The CW Television Network
Leighton Meester as Blair in Gossip Girl...

© 2009 The CW Television Network
Jessica Szohr as Vanessa in Gossip Girl'...

© 2009 The CW Television Network

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (0)
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- ADD TRIVIA from this episode.
QUOTES (7)
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- Brandeis: I'm sorry. I thought I was working this party alone. Did the agency send you?
  Serena: (smiles) No, you're right, this party is all yours. Excuse me. (walks away)
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- Blair: I need a friend, stat.
  Amalia: I'm your friend.
  Blair: Please, I'm not friends with staff.
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- Blair: Washington Square Park, Bobst Library, Bar None, I even tried spinning the cube in St. Marks Place, but not a friend in sight! I just know this wouldn't be so hard at Yale.
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- Serena: (to a congressman flirting with her and Brandeis) Let me guess, you want to go upstairs and see if two blondes make a right?
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- Chuck: What the hell is wrong with you?
  Serena: Right now? Thirst. I need a drink. [Blair] called me a prostitute.
  Chuck: Yeah. Why do you think she did that?
  Serena: I'm not sleeping with Patrick. You of all people know what a prostitute does.
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- Brandeis: Sorry, but I'm new to the Big Apple.
  Blair: And rotten to the core!
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- Gossip Girl: (closing voice-over) Sometimes it's hard to see the lines we've drawn until we've crossed them. That's when we rely on the ones we love to pull us back and give us something to hold on to. Then there are the clearly marked lines. The ones that if you dare cross, you may never find your way back. XOXO, Gossip Girl.
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NOTES (3)
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- International Episode Titles:
  Czech Republic: Další potíže s dědečkem (Further Problems with Grandfather)
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- Featured Music:
  "I Could Rob You" by The Plasticines
  "Cyclone" by Quitzow
  "Damn You Hollywood" by Fred
  "The Nerve (Dance Remix)" by The Republic Tigers
  "Hollywood (Clean)" by Hollywood Holt
  "Two Left Feet" by Anya Marina
  "Take You Out" by Estate
  "Everything is Shattering" by Maps
  "I See You" by Mika
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- Original International Airdates:
  United Kingdom: November 25, 2009 on ITV2
  Sweden: December 6, 2009 on Kanal 5
  Latin America: December 13, 2009 on Warner Channel
  Norway: February 22, 2010 on FEM
  Turkey: April 13, 2010 on CNBC-e
  Slovakia: August 15, 2010 on Doma
  Czech Republic: October 23, 2011 on Prima LOVE
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ALLUSIONS (2)
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- Title comes from the 1974 movie The Godfather: Part II.
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- The character Patrick Robinson mentions Miley Cyrus, saying "Yeah but Miley Cyrus has signed on to play the Elizabeth Shue role, they must have seen her on that pole at the TCAs", referencing the controversy she caused by her performance at the 2009 Teen Choice awards where she danced on an ice cream stand with a pole.
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