Post by Meg on Nov 13, 2008 14:24:16 GMT
Every week on Gossip Girl, we bear witness to such lies, manipulations and schemes that would make Machiavelli himself blush. In the real world, we probably don't come across anything quite so tawdry or malicious as some of the shenanigans that we see on Gossip Girl, but maybe that's why it's so entertaining and addictive to watch.
However, underneath its decadently polished veneer, Gossip Girl tells a universal tale about basic people with the kind of relationships that you and I all have. We may not all have trust funds or Cindi Lauper-smitten maids who wait on us hand and foot, but we all have best friends we sometimes bicker with and lovers we quarrel with. Above all, we all have parents.
Whether we want to admit it or not, parents play a huge part in how we turn out. They feed us, provide for us, play catch with us, and teach us about morals. Or, if we're like Chuck Bass (Ed Westwick), our parents largely ignore us, but that is a story that I'll leave for another day.
Case in point: The Humphreys. Rufus Humphrey (Matthew Settle) may seem like a “cool” dad – he was in a band! – but that doesn't stop him from being a judgmental asswipe. I'm sorry, but I fail to see what exactly Little J (Taylor Momsen) did that was so egregious that it warranted handing her over to the cops last week. No matter what kind of lesson you are trying to teach your child, you do not voluntarily want her to spend the night in jail. No wonder the Humphrey kids are so insufferable to be around. With Rufus' self-righteous ass as a role model, these kids have no chance.
We learned of a new father-son set last night on Gossip Girl, that of Cyrus Rose (played by the inimitable Wallace Shawn) and his pretentious artiste of an offspring, Aaron. Cyrus proved himself to be an unexpectedly sly character, and I mean that in the best possible way. I'm not sure whether Cyrus is the kind of man who would put poison into his own goblet or his enemy's, but he certainly knows how to gain the upper hand against the Queen B of trickery, beating Blair (Leighton Meester) at her own game and winning her heart at the same time. He has certainly won me over, and I'm hoping that since he's moving into the Waldorf manse, we'll be seeing a lot more of him on Gossip Girl this season.
Now, if only Aaron could follow in his father's footsteps! He and Serena (Blake Lively) are involved in quite possibly the most boring storyline ever. Ooh, Aaron's a free spirit! He doesn't want to be tied down to one relationship! What an iconoclast! Please, give me a break. I don't know quite what Serena sees in him; he's sleazy but boring and he could seriously use a good shampooing and a haircut. And what is with that little pre-pubescent mustache he's sporting? News flash: the Chad Michael Murray ‘stache is nobody's friend.
However, underneath its decadently polished veneer, Gossip Girl tells a universal tale about basic people with the kind of relationships that you and I all have. We may not all have trust funds or Cindi Lauper-smitten maids who wait on us hand and foot, but we all have best friends we sometimes bicker with and lovers we quarrel with. Above all, we all have parents.
Whether we want to admit it or not, parents play a huge part in how we turn out. They feed us, provide for us, play catch with us, and teach us about morals. Or, if we're like Chuck Bass (Ed Westwick), our parents largely ignore us, but that is a story that I'll leave for another day.
Case in point: The Humphreys. Rufus Humphrey (Matthew Settle) may seem like a “cool” dad – he was in a band! – but that doesn't stop him from being a judgmental asswipe. I'm sorry, but I fail to see what exactly Little J (Taylor Momsen) did that was so egregious that it warranted handing her over to the cops last week. No matter what kind of lesson you are trying to teach your child, you do not voluntarily want her to spend the night in jail. No wonder the Humphrey kids are so insufferable to be around. With Rufus' self-righteous ass as a role model, these kids have no chance.
We learned of a new father-son set last night on Gossip Girl, that of Cyrus Rose (played by the inimitable Wallace Shawn) and his pretentious artiste of an offspring, Aaron. Cyrus proved himself to be an unexpectedly sly character, and I mean that in the best possible way. I'm not sure whether Cyrus is the kind of man who would put poison into his own goblet or his enemy's, but he certainly knows how to gain the upper hand against the Queen B of trickery, beating Blair (Leighton Meester) at her own game and winning her heart at the same time. He has certainly won me over, and I'm hoping that since he's moving into the Waldorf manse, we'll be seeing a lot more of him on Gossip Girl this season.
Now, if only Aaron could follow in his father's footsteps! He and Serena (Blake Lively) are involved in quite possibly the most boring storyline ever. Ooh, Aaron's a free spirit! He doesn't want to be tied down to one relationship! What an iconoclast! Please, give me a break. I don't know quite what Serena sees in him; he's sleazy but boring and he could seriously use a good shampooing and a haircut. And what is with that little pre-pubescent mustache he's sporting? News flash: the Chad Michael Murray ‘stache is nobody's friend.
