The Wild Brunch

Last updated
"The Wild Brunch"
Gossip Girl episode
Gossip Girl-102.jpg
Serena reenacting Dan's "wave".
Episode no.Season 1
Episode 2
Directed by Mark Piznarski
Written by Josh Schwartz
Stephanie Savage
Production code3T6751
Original air datesSeptember 25, 2007 (CTV)
September 26, 2007 (The CW)
Guest appearances
Episode chronology
← Previous
"Pilot"		Next →
"Poison Ivy"
Gossip Girl season 1
List of episodes

"The Wild Brunch" is the second episode of the CW television series Gossip Girl . Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage wrote the episode; it was directed by Mark Piznarski. It premiered on CTV on September 25, 2007, a day before The CW's premiere.

Contents

The episode relates the story a day after Blair's "Kiss on the Lips" party where Dan Humphrey discovers Serena van der Woodsen's past affair with Nate Archibald while his sister Jenny becomes one of Blair Waldorf's acquaintances. The relationship of Dan and Jenny's father Rufus and Serena's mother Lily is also brought into light.

The episode title is a play from the film The Wild Bunch .

Plot

Jenny and Dan wake up from the events of last night where Jenny mocks Dan for doing "the wave". Dan figures that he should explain to Serena what "the wave" meant, while Jenny goes to Blair for help with Chuck. Serena on the other hand thought that Dan hated her when he did "the wave" and goes to Blair's place to ask what the staredown meant at the party. Blair for her part does not want anything to do with Serena, and hopes she doesn't show up at Chuck's father Bart's annual brunch.

After telling Serena that she knows what transpired between her and Nate the night Serena left, Blair orders Serena to leave her and her group alone. Meanwhile, at the Palace, Nate and Dan encounter each other waiting for Serena. Chuck sees Dan and it almost comes to blows; Nate restrains Chuck and leads him off to Bart's brunch.

At the Waldorf penthouse, Jenny confides to Blair about Chuck, and the junior assures her that Chuck hasn't said anything yet. Jenny then helps Blair dress up for the brunch, and as a reward, Blair gives her one of her mother Eleanor's old dresses. Meanwhile, Rufus meets Lily in Brooklyn, and tells her that Dan "might be the guy Serena needs."

Dan and Serena meet outside the Palace, and after explaining about "the wave," he invites her to eat, just as Lily arrives and orders Serena to proceed to the brunch.

Dragging Dan along, Serena goes to the brunch, infuriating Blair with her presence. Nate surreptitiously gives Serena a key to Chuck's suite so that the two can talk out from under the watchful eyes of Blair; Chuck gives Blair an identical key, telling her to grab Nate and "seal the deal." Blair and Nate, already in action, tumble into the suite only to be greeted by Serena. Blair flips out, and runs to find Dan to tell him about Serena's past. Meanwhile, as Dan steps outside, he sees Lily and Bart discussing their relationship; Lily catches sight of Dan and admonishes him, demanding that he tell no one what he overheard.

Blair finally catches up with Dan, which led to Serena coming clean to her date. A disappointed Dan is further enraged when Chuck insults Jenny, and throws a second punch at the would-be rapist. Serena tries to explain herself to Dan, but he leaves the brunch without her.

Back at the Humphrey apartment, Dan relates to Rufus and Jenny that he "...found Serena, but then [he] lost her." Blair and Nate make up yet again, and Jenny tries out her new dress as Serena throws away her cellphone that contained pictures of her, Blair, Chuck and Nate.

Reception

The episode received significantly lower ratings as compared to "Pilot" due to strong competition from other networks for the night. It garnered a 1.8/3 rating/share, with a total of 2.55 million watching it. [1]

The episode was criticized for having a less-than believable storyline (such as there were no waiters during the brunch), but was seen as trying to be "responsible" when it did not show teenagers smoking, although it showed alcohol and sex. [2] People also noticed that the series is "giving you major dramarama payoff in only its second week on the air" and that wasn't even "the episode's biggest angst–y moment." [3]

New York magazine approved that "there's no such thing as 'lunch' on the weekends", "that kids actually do venture outside of their neighborhoods" (since The New York Palace Hotel is in Midtown Manhattan), and "saying you live in Williamsburg makes much more sense... for real-estate emotional conflict", plus the fact Rihanna is played "in every situation." However, things such as Blair's unreal wardrobe choices while at home, the high number of trees, and teens, in Williamsburg, and "every single thing that happened involving the plot" are disapproved. [4]

In the United Kingdom, where the show is also aired on ITV2, the show was met with good feedback, being dubbed "the new O.C. ". Tabloid critics said that the show was "scandalous." and "...perfect for those lovers of The O.C.".[ citation needed ]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Serena van der Woodsen</span> Character in the Gossip Girl novel series and its TV adaptation

Serena Celia van der Woodsen Humphrey is a fictional character and the protagonist in the Gossip Girl novel series and in its TV adaptation, in which she is portrayed by Blake Lively. Serena is featured on the blog of the series' mysterious narrator, "Gossip Girl". Serena is known as the 'it girl of Manhattan' and is a character that appears to easily get whatever she wants because of her captivating beauty and charismatic personality. She is the daughter of a successful doctor, and a well known socialite/heiress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jenny Humphrey</span> Fictional character

Jennifer Tallulah Humphrey is one of the characters in both the Gossip Girl and The It Girl series of novels by Cecily von Ziegesar. She is portrayed by Taylor Momsen in the Gossip Girl television adaptation on The CW.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chuck Bass</span> Fictional character

Charles Bartholomew Bass is a fictional character in the novel and television series Gossip Girl. In the TV series, he is portrayed by British actor Ed Westwick. Although he is a secondary antagonist in the original book series, the TV series elevates him to an antiheroic main character, and the male lead of the show, where he is noted for his financial ambition, hedonism and personal style.

Pilot (<i>Gossip Girl</i>) 1st episode of the 1st season of Gossip Girl

"Pilot" is the pilot episode of the American teen drama television series Gossip Girl. The episode was written by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage and directed by Mark Piznarski. It was made available as a free download on iTunes on September 14, 2007, prior to its official television debut on CTV in Canada on September 18, 2007, and on The CW in the United States the following day.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eric van der Woodsen</span> Fictional character

Eric van der Woodsen is a fictional character from the book series Gossip Girl and the television series of the same name, in which he is portrayed by Connor Paolo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vanessa Abrams</span> Fictional character

Vanessa Marigold Abrams is a fictional character in the Gossip Girl novel series. She is portrayed by Jessica Szohr in the television adaptation. Vanessa was introduced on the first season as a recurring character, but became a series regular after a successful run due to the popularity of her character. She left the series at the end of the fourth season.

<i>Gossip Girl</i> season 1 Season of television series

The first season of the American teen drama television series Gossip Girl premiered on The CW on September 19, 2007, and concluded on May 19, 2008, consisting of 18 episodes. Based on the novel series of the same name by Cecily von Ziegesar, the series was developed for television by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage. It tells the story of Serena van der Woodsen's return to Manhattan's Upper East Side in New York City following her mysterious disappearance to boarding school in Connecticut, while being watched by the anonymous and omniscient blogger Gossip Girl.

The Debarted (<i>Gossip Girl</i>) 12th episode of the 3rd season of Gossip Girl

"The Debarted" is the 55th episode of the CW television series, Gossip Girl. It was also the twelfth episode of the show's third season. The episode was written by executive producer and one of the series' creator Stephanie Savage and directed by Jason Ensler. It originally aired on Monday, December 7, 2009 on the CW.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hi, Society</span> 10th episode of the 1st season of Gossip Girl

"Hi, Society" is the tenth episode of the first season of the CW television series, Gossip Girl. The episode was written by Joshua Safran and directed by Patrick Norris. It originally aired on Tuesday, December 5, 2007 on the CW. The episode received positive reviews from reviewers and critics. The character of CeCe Rhodes received critical praise throughout the episode.

"Desperately Seeking Serena" is the 15th episode of the CW television series, Gossip Girl. The episode was written by Felicia D. Henderson and directed by Michael Fields. It originally aired on Monday, April 28, 2008 on the CW. It is the first episode to feature the recurring character of Georgina Sparks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Serena Also Rises</span> 5th episode of the 2nd season of Gossip Girl

"The Serena Also Rises" is the fifth episode of the second season of the American teen drama television series Gossip Girl, which originally aired on The CW on September 29, 2008. The episode was written by Jessica Queller and directed by Patrick Norris.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reversals of Fortune</span> 1st episode of the 3rd season of Gossip Girl

"Reversals of Fortune" is the 44th episode of the CW television series, Gossip Girl and the third season premiere. The episode was written by Joshua Safran and directed by J. Miller Tobin. It originally aired on Monday, September 14, 2009 on the CW.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Hurt Locket</span> 13th episode of the 3rd season of Gossip Girl

"The Hurt Locket" is the 56th episode of The CW television series, Gossip Girl. It is also the thirteenth episode of the show's third season. The episode was written by Sara Goodman and directed by Tony Wharmby. It originally aired on Monday, March 8, 2010 on the CW.

Double Identity (<i>Gossip Girl</i>) 2nd episode of the 4th season of Gossip Girl

"Double Identity" is the 67th episode of the CW television series, Gossip Girl, as well as the second episode of the show's fourth season. The episode was written by Joshua Safran and Stephanie Savage and directed by Mark Piznarski. It originally aired on Monday, September 20, 2010 on the CW.

Gaslit (<i>Gossip Girl</i> episode) 10th episode of the 4th season of Gossip Girl

"Gaslit" is the 75th episode of the CW television series Gossip Girl, and the tenth episode of the show fourth season. The episode was written by Robert Hull and Joshua Safran, and directed by Tate Donovan. It aired on Monday, November 29, 2010, on The CW.

"Petty in Pink" is the 84th episode of the CW television series, Gossip Girl and the 19th episode of the show's fourth season. The episode was written by Amanda Lasher and directed by Liz Friedlander. It originally aired on Monday, April 25, 2011 on the CW.

"Gone Maybe Gone" is the first episode of the sixth and final season of the American teen drama television series Gossip Girl, and the 112th episode overall. Written by series developers Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage and directed by Mark Piznarski, the episode originally aired on The CW on October 8, 2012.

"New York, I Love You XOXO" is the series finale of the American teen drama television series Gossip Girl. The episode serves as the tenth episode of the sixth season and the show's 121st episode overall. Written by Stephanie Savage, and directed by Mark Piznarski, the episode originally aired on The CW in the United States on December 17, 2012.

"The End of the Affair?" is the eleventh episode of season 5 on the show, Gossip Girl. The episode was directed by Michael Grossman and written by Sara Goodman. It was aired on January 16, 2012 on the CW. This episode continues the fifth season after a winter break.

References

  1. ↑ "Broadcast TV Ratings for Wednesday, September 26, 2007" . Retrieved 2008-03-27.
  2. ↑ "Bornstein: Thank you for at least not smoking, Alas, 'Gossip' stars are no strangers to the other vices". Rocky Mountain News. Archived from the original on 2007-07-29. Retrieved 2008-03-31.
  3. ↑ "Gossip Girl: That Girl Is Poison". People . Retrieved 2008-04-10.
  4. ↑ "'Gossip Girl' Goes Straight to the 'O.C.' Place". New York . Retrieved 2008-04-10.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.