Really, show, really???

[felicityking]

Don't read if you don't want to be spoiled. Another rant about Chuck and Blair and they way they are written this season.

So, tonight, Gossip Girl tried to inform that Chuck and Blair not meeting at the Empire was because of "fate." Um, yes, as in he whored her out for a hotel and then then bullied her back to him in subtle and obvious ways. And, when his bullying failed, he immediately did another stupid thing and slept with his stepsister (so glad the show got part that part right tonight).

But, instead of that common sensical explanation we instead get Blair and Chuck wistfully having an 'only if' conversation. Um, NO! Nobody forced Chuck to act like such an asshole! Nobody forced Chuck to do all the stupid things he did. And, really, Blair, I know you're a softie, but even you would be rolling your eyes at Chuck's "it's never my fault, it's all fate's evil plot plan" speech. (And, seriously, writers: it's FATE's fault now? If Chuck and Blair weren't endgame, I might buy that, but since you've write the show around them now, I think Fate is an innocent concept in all this. In fact, Fate resents being abused by Chuck.

The only good part of this episode was Jenny not letting standing up to Chuck and Blair throwing shit her way. Good for her for outing Chuck. And for subtly reminding Blair that she doesn't own Manhattan.

Although I loathe that Blair took down Jenny. I've been having problems with Blair's characterization all this season (I'm glad that the Bitch is back, but hate that she is acting so shallow and not remembering any of her season 2-3 growth moments.). I can't root for Blair when she is refusing to forgive Jenny but somehow makes peace with Chuck.

Of course, Chuck is even worse. The perverted bad boy with a secret heart of gold (when he remembered he had it) is now a feelingless psycho stalker. Even Westwick, no matter how dapperly dressed, can't make Chuck look redeemable. And, Ed, in the past has been able to make Chuck's woobie and evil sides convincing.

I can't get past the final song though. "Love the Way You Lie" is about an abusive relationship. It was rather jarring it seeing it put in the episode because it wasn't meant in an ironic way: it was 'ooh, Chuck and Blair are Healthcliff and Cathy EPIC!!!! Squee.' And, I'm being told to root for it (the song was played against a scene where CB come to a truce and discover they stilll harbor feelings for each other: the hurt is the way of showing the love. Cue me rolling eyes.)

Fortunately, I found several CB videos set to the song that don't romanticize them but show how damaging they are to each other. (One vidder is a former CB shipper but writes on her page that she is disgusted by them now.) Will link them soon.

 

Comments

[veritas724.livejournal.com]

I guess since I always watch a download of the ep, without the "scenes from next week," it's easy for me to take it episode-by-episode without really looking ahead... because I thought they played "Love The Way You Lie" exactly TO show how corrosive their relationship is... not to romanticize it. But after reading some reactions I went and looked for next weeks clips and... urgh.

I used to be diehard CB but now I'm not. Actually now I'm avidly watching for Dan/Blair, as I have been almost since CB became canon, haha. Now there's just too much damage. There's really no way to rewrite this ship to make everything okay, you know?

[felicityking.livejournal.com]

Don't you just love how every season 1 and 2 sweet or meaningful Chair moment from seasons 1-2 is being ruined post IP?

"Seventeen Candles" is one of my favorite episodes, but somehow I don't think I'm going to able to stomach it for a long while after next week. ("War at the Roses," which is next Monday, is B's b-day episode this season.)

I actually became a Chair shipper in season 3 (I missed season 2 of GG and only watched it as season 3 was airing). However, once IP-ultimatum-Chenny happened, I was back off that train. I love Ed and Leighton as actors, but even they can't save the horror CB have become.

I have long loved Dair too! Dair, S/B, Nate/Dan, and the Juliet storyline are the only reason why I'm watching it this season. (And, because I like seeing the fashion and the music.)

[veritas724.livejournal.com]

I have to admit that as much as I love Dan/Blair, the main delight I find in these episodes nowadays is Nate Archibald. He used to be my least favorite because he just sort of wandered around the UES and things just sort of happened to and around him, but after four seasons of watching how IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME, I love that he can just sorta shrug and move on and be totally surprised when it happens again. I don't know why but it's so freaking endearing.

[felicityking.livejournal.com]

LOL! I LOVE that description of him. And, it's so true too! Everybody else freaks out if something bad happens and he's just like "well, it's going to happen, can't stop it, might as well enjoy the crazy ride." Ironically, for someone who is portrayed as dumb by both the fans and the show itself, he seems to be the most--maybe not realistic--but able to handle/make sense of the craziness thrown at him without reverting to his worse self (unlike S, who becomes a whore, B, who becomes a bitch, and Chuck, who becomes a manipulating pimp). And, for the most part, he does seem to be the most mature in how he responds to the other people affected by the crazy situations (although Dan and Eric do give him serious competition).

[caitie.livejournal.com]

Um, yes, as in he whored her out for a hotel and then then bullied her back to him in subtle and obvious ways

This is a good point that I barely bother talking about any more. Instead of earning Blair's forgiveness, he demanded it on his own timeframe. Everything about that was really messed up, but it's clear that the show does not share said opinion. So frustrated with the show right now, ugh.

Ed Westwick seems really off to me. I have no idea what Chuck is thinking most of the time. It's really annoying. I know the writing is bad, but I thought Leighton Meester did pretty well with what she was given, and I can be kind of iffy on her acting on an episode-to-episode basis. I thought she very deliberately toned down a lot of the shrill, hysteria we saw in the NYU arc, hopefully because she knew she needed to bring her A-game to balance the writing.

Re: LTWYL, I agree with veritas724 that it's the sort of thing I'd normally be able to see as a deliberate nod at the audience, but I'm so spoiled that I know it's not and I'm just like ... at this point. Did you hear JS quoted a lyric from the song about CB on his twitter? IDEK.

By the way, you might like this picspam if you haven't seen it already.

[visionsbeyond.livejournal.com]

Not yet watched s4 of GG but well this show isn`t really known for it`s writing so....lol

[felicityking.livejournal.com]

I agree. The writing has been bad for awhile, but even in the previous seasons, the writers at least TRIED to give the characters growth or something original to do. Now, they aren't even trying.

(And, frankly, I can't blame any of the cast for phoning it in if this is what they are going to be given to this to work with. Only Leighton Meester seems invested in her storyline but she's also a hopeless Chair shipper. Every other member of the cast has come out circa seasons 3 or 4 to say that they are bored of GG. The most recent being Penn Badgley. And, you can tell they're bored while watching them onscreen! They don't bring any of the gravitas they had in seasons 1-2 to their acting!)