Gossip Girl: The Noble Experiment

Happy Halloween, Upper Eastsiders!  Rufus is designing KISS-themed Jack O Lanterns and Lily’s wondering if Jenny wants to get rid of her old fashion designs.  For whatever reason, Blair and Chuck are speaking again after yet another fight; she apologized and he says he forgave her.  Anyway, he’s more focused on establishing himself as a legitimate businessman.

Nate smuggles Dan Olivia’s vampire movies and Nate, who’s up on the Endless Nights blogs, knows all about Olivia’s paramour co-star at the time of shooting.  He thinks Dan shouldn’t watch the films as it may ruin their impending intimacy (that’s Dan and Olivia, not Dan and Nate).  And then Nate and Dan watch the movie, Olivia’s orgasm and all.  So when Olivia calls, Dan fakes the flu to avoid seeing her.

Anyway, Gossip Girl spots Olivia grabbing a handful of free condoms and her publicist, Casey, wants Serena to fix the situation between Olivia and Dan . . . but first she needs to deliver James Franco a new pair of underwear.  No word on why he needs a new pair.

At the Met, Jenny’s holding her first day at court and, per Eric, looks queentastic.  After sending her minions away for not skinning the almonds on her yogurt, she “reluctantly” asks Eric to move down a few stoops so she can reign supreme.  Of course, Jonathan doesn’t like that and sits above her; Eric joins in and all but tells Jenny to lighten up.  Jenny sics the girls on Eric, which translates to pouring that yogurt all over his head, skinned almonds and all.

Chuck’s planning the opening of his new club and enlists Serena to help with publicity, only she needs to keep Blair away from it all, which is interesting because Blair’s in the room hearing the whole conversation.  Obviously Chuck hasn’t forgiven Blair yet for her deception, but he’s too busy trying to get a liquor license in time for the opening.  With a little unknown help from Blair (and Uncle Jack), the license comes through.

In our Dorota moment of the week, she’s getting a pedicure/foot massage with Blair in the NYU dorm, but Chuck breaks it up (after Dorota gushes over not going out with Vanya the doorman much) and gives Blair a gift to apologize for keeping her out of the loop.  But it all goes sour when Chuck learns that Jack was involved with the deal, at Blair’s initiation.  He still doesn’t trust her, now more than ever.  And she’s no longer invited to his party.

Back at the apartment, Rufus is trying out his Ramones costume and is excited about handing out candy at his new apartment.  Lily breaks the bad news that she just doesn’t get trick-or-treaters and he doubts her.  Eric breaks up the conversation by coming home early and putting the blame on Jenny, which leads Lily to have a talking with Jenny and order to go to the party with Eric and to have her so-called friends apologize to Eric.

And now, it’s party time!  Chuck’s speakeasy is opening with a Prohibition theme, natch.  Dan and Olivia are going together, sort of: he’s going in through the backdoor so she can have her co-star pretend to be her boyfriend (and get some good publicity).  Blair’s stuck in the door, while she plays chess with Dorota (who can also clean the floor at the same time); they’re interrupted by a flower delivery . . . not from Mr. Chuck. She’s heading to the party to apologize to Chuck.  Somehow she learned the license is a fake, but Chuck already knew this and called the cops himself.

Jenny and Eric, who’s dressed like the accountant from The Untouchables, have a heart to heart, but Jenny may have a plan.  Outside, we see her minions throw eggs at Jonathan, reminding us of the famous baptism scene from The Godfather.  She is good because the key is to always have an alibi, but Eric know she’s behind it and doesn’t want to play these duplicitous games anymore.

Back at the club, the police arrive to close down the club.  They’re seizing the alcohol, which seems odd to me.  Serena doesn’t understand but Blair explains that she and Chuck planned this together and she used Serena to get celebrities there.  I guess the feud between these two is back on.

Because deception is king on this show, Olivia comes clean with Dan that her co-star was really her boyfriend but that it’s over between them.  As they’re going in for the makeup kiss, Serena stops them and drags them in front of the paparazzi.  Feeling left out, Serena says she’s the ex’s girlfriend and then they make out.  Happy Halloween!

Chuck and Blair, the Justinian and Theodora of Manhattan, are thrilled at the increased reservations at his club.  Of course, no one mentions how he’s going to get a real liquor license after having operated without one; the ABC guys don’t look kindly on that, as Horace explains.  But Chuck has an idea, he wants to create a real speakeasy, members only.

We end with Dan and Olivia doing the horizontal Monster Mash and Queen J throwing out her old designs and sewing machine.  God save the Queen.

Next week: Backstabbing, deceit, and mud-slinging.  That’s right, Election Day!

And since we’re a quarter way through the season, already, I must say I’m really enjoying the renewed energy and interesting storylines and character development on the show.  We’re almost back to the quality of the first season and with the impending return of the Serena-Blair feud, we’re on track for an awesome pool fight scene in the spring.

Listen to The J Factor with J.B. and Jaimie here or on iTunes.

Season 3, Episode 7: How to Succeed in Business (originally aired October 26, 2009)

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Photographs courtesy of The CW, Giovanni Rufino