There’s nothing like Christmas in New York. The Rockefeller tree glows, locals and tourists alike trot through Bryant Park’s Winter Village, the Saks window displays are a decadent delight, and ice skating tours take over the weekend plans. While you can trust your favorite iconic Christmas movies to increase the seasonal cheer, consider turning to Blair Waldorf, Serena van der Woodsen and the rest. Gossip Girl‘s Upper East Siders to put a different kind of spin on the most wonderful time of the year.
Because you’ve definitely streamed the best Thanksgiving theme by now Gossip Girl episodes, why not make the gang part of it? all of your holiday traditions? Below, your guide to the show’s two completely bonkers Christmas episodes. Spoilers ahead… xoxo!
Season 1, Episode 11: “Roman Holiday”
Photo: CW Network/Courtesy Everett Collection
Vanessa takes a short story from Dan’s room and submits it to a literary competition, then gives him the best Christmas present ever: a byline in The New Yorker. Unfortunately for Serena, it feels like a gift too hard to surpass, not to mention her growing, yet repressed, jealousy of Dan’s best friend and first love. At first, Serena leans toward an expensive gift, something Dan isn’t really into (and as far as price goes, he can’t answer either). Instead, the two agree to a gift budget, and Serena enlists Vanessa’s help, resulting in a perfect romantic evening between Serena and Dan, but one that leaves viewers with the distinct impression that Vanessa’s feelings for her friend are more then only platonic.
Meanwhile, Blair’s Christmas plans are derailed when her father shows up with an unexpected (and unwelcome) plus-one: his partner, aka the man he left her mother for. The teen resorts to her usual manipulations to get her way, including taking out Mr. Waldorf and sending his partner to the ER. (Just a tip: never go ice skating while a knife-wielding Waldorf is being scorned.) As the senior Waldorfs realize their vacation has gone awry, Eleanor says something that perfectly explains her daughter’s aptitude for planning: ” Blair learns to make plans from her. mother, and her father’s unrealistic dreams. She tries to act mature, but don’t be fooled; she is still a little girl.” Ultimately, the Waldorfs find a way to make peace, and familial love trumps all ill will. In addition, Blair receives an invitation to France for the summer. Everything is going well etc.
I should also shout out the Lily-Bart-Rufus subplot in this episode, which delivers one of the best lines of Season 1. Lily’s revelation that she is dating Bart Bass elicits a “He raised Chuck, that scares me” from Serena. , which…agreed! Then an emotional Rufus Humphrey walks all the way from Brooklyn to the Upper East Side of Manhattan, without a jacket on – which is probably the most unrealistic thing I’ve ever seen a fictional New Yorker do. Where’s your pufferfish, Rufus? And the subway is there, Rufus!
Season 2, Episode 12: “It’s a Beautiful Lie”
