15 Reasons Gossip Girl Is Better Than You Remembered
Gossip Girl was one of the best shows of the mid-to-late 2000s. It aired from 2007-2012 and followed the lives of privileged teenagers and their families on New York's Upper East Side… while an anonymous source posts online about all of the teens' hidden secrets and dramas. We were introduced to legendary characters like Chuck Bass, Blair Waldorf, and Serena Van der Woodsen and began living vicariously through their crazy adventures. From not-so-tragic car accidents to royal weddings to love triangles galore, a lot went on during the few seasons of GG. We watched the characters grow up, go to University and then simultaneously quit, and get married and even have babies. We became (a little too much) emotionally invested in the T.V. show, which is why it's one of the best shows around, even if we're binge watching it on Netflix for the millionth time. Here are some reasons you may have forgotten about that makes Gossip Girl so amazing.
15 Blair And Chuck's Classic Romance
Most fans would agree that Blair and Chuck's romance was the best thing about Gossip Girl. The drama between the two managed to keep us on the edge of our seats, while the romance always kept us coming back for more. There's definitely no denying that Chuck did some pretty horrible things to Blair on the show, including trying to sell her to his uncle as part of a business deal. But that never stopped fans for rooting for the two to end up together. Their endless banter was one of the highlights of their relationship. Plus, there's that fact that they didn't compromise their goals or lifestyle for each other. We're so happy these two ended up sealing the deal in the series finale, or else we don't know if we could forgive the writers. Chuck and Blair are a classic love story that is totally going down in history if we have any say in it!
14 Unrealistic Plot Lines (In The Best Way Possible)
We have never said that Gossip Girl was realistic! If anything, it was the complete opposite… and that is why we love it! Everyone dated everyone (even if they are your best friend's ex). High school students routinely went to red carpet events and were served alcohol in bars. Twentysomethings could afford designer duds and always looked like they were dressed to the nines. You never knew what to expect with this show. If it were not for the drama, we are sure this show would have been a lot less exciting. We love living vicariously through the characters. Plus every little girl's dream came true when Blair got engaged to a prince and even when Serena hooked up with a celebrity like it was the norm. We do not mind that this show was unrealistic at times because it just made it more fun to picture ourselves in the characters' shoes.
13 Serena And Blair: #BFFGoals
Serena and Blair taught us what best friends should look like. Sure, the two girls did some pretty mean things to each other during the show (dating each other's exes being only the very beginning). But we love how these friends never let anything get in the way of their friendship. It may be difficult to keep a friendship strong, especially if you live on the Upper East Side, but Serena and Blair prove its possible. For the most part, these ladies were always supportive and encouraging of each other. They were always there to listen to the other when they had boy problems or other drama… or if they needed some retail therapy. Especially that last one! What's more, they were always down to take part in each other's crazy plans and schemes, whatever they may be… especially if it had to do with taking down Gossip Girl. Serena and Blair are total #BFFGoals.
12 Important Social Media Lessons
One thing all Gossip Girl fans can agree on is that we're so glad Gossip Girl isn't a real blogger! The last thing we need is some anonymous online figure posting about all of our deep, dark secrets… especially if the poster turns out to be one of our close friends. We can't even imagine how horrible and awkward AF that would be in real life. But that didn't mean the show didn't teach us important lessons about how to use social media responsibly. Unless you want to be in the middle of tabloid gossip, GG taught us to be careful about what we do and say, especially when it comes to what we're posting online. Even if you delete that scandalous photo from the night before, there may still be a way for it to come creeping up on you. Being careful about what you do online is a necessary life skill!
11 To-Die-For Fashion
Why did every single character on this show wear the best clothes?! One of the main reasons you definitely watched GG was to ogle at the fashion. Serena and Blair always had fashion-forward outfits, often sporting designer name brands and the season's latest trends. Likewise, Nate, Chuck, and Dan always looked exceptionally dapper in their outfits, and you definitely didn't mind the eye candy. The characters often attended red carpet events, like New York Fashion Week and fashion shows, making their lives even more enviable. Blair's mom was a fashion designer and Jenny wanted to be one, so this show always had a plot line or two to do with the fashion industry. Gossip Girl is pure fashion dreams and that's not something that you see on many TV shows. It definitely proves that this show is so much better than you might remember and now you know where to go if you need some fashion inspo!
10 You Loved New York City
If you didn't want to live in NYC before watching Gossip Girl, then this dramatic series definitely convinced you. The show makes living in the Big Apple seem SO glamorous. From the tall buildings and crowds of people to the plethora of fancy events to attend and places to shop and dine at, it always seems like there's something to do in the city of lights. You probably imagined sitting on the famous museum steps with your besties after class because that's a totally normal thing for NYC teens to do. Unfortunately, you probably now realize how ridiculously expensive it would be to live in New York. All the characters had elaborate apartments… but they would probably cost thousands of dollars just to rent every month, let alone own. While your dreams of living in NYC may not come true, at least you can re-watch GG to fall in love with this beautiful city all over again.
9 Hating Jenny
Fans have strong feelings about Jenny Humphrey! The character started off as the innocent younger sister of Dan but quickly transformed into an edgy, fashion-forward rocker with dreams of getting into the fashion industry. Jenny went from wearing floral dresses and minimal makeup to rocking heavy eyeliner and edgy outfits. It was entertaining to see the character go through such a dramatic transformation. We have to admit that Jenny got very annoying towards the later seasons, which may have explained why the character was written off. We wish we got to see more of her cut-up fishnet tights and leather jackets, but we sure didn't want her ruining our favorite couples anymore (remember when she slept with Chuck, and ruined his relationship with Blair- for the time being, at least). Whether you loved her or loved to hate her, Jenny was one of the most unique characters GG gave us.
8 Motivation By Blair
Blair was undoubtedly a Boss Queen and she gave us countless inspiring quotes during the show's run. She was feisty, fashion-forward, and unapologetically bold, which made her one of your favorite characters (if not, your MOST favorite). She always knew what she wanted and how to get it, never compromising her aspirations for anything or anyone. Her confidence and boldness always motivated you to be the best you could be- and to never take 'no' for an answer. Aside from her driven personality, Blair was also relentlessly loyal and loving towards her friends. She always had her friends' backs and was always ready for a bit of revenge. Yet she never let anyone treat her less than she deserves, especially when it came to Chuck. Plus, she always had perfect hair. Blair was #goals in so many ways that she deserves an article all to herself!
7 Your Drama Seemed Like NO Big Deal
There was always so much happening on GG that it was hard to keep track of everything. From the webs of lies to the love triangles to the unexpected plot twists, there was always something exciting and even kind of off-putting happening on the show. No matter how unrealistic or exaggerated it got, at least Gossip Girl always made the drama in your own life seem less significant! It seriously helped. If you were going through a breakup, just think of all the craziness that happened between Chuck and Blair or Serena and Dan (ok yes, even though this was just a show). If you thought your family was complicated, think about how Serena's mom married Dan's dad, making these lovers step siblings. And, if you thought you did something bad, just think of every douche thing Chuck did. This show could make you feel ten times better about your life.
6 A Drop-Dead Gorgeous Cast
Since this is a TV show, it is pretty obvious that all of the characters are totally beautiful. But there is something about the actors hired for Gossip Girl that are absolutely striking. Whether you had a crush on one of the guys or girls, we bet you loved ogling at your television screen wondering how people could be so gorgeous (and wondering what you would have to do to look that way). GG used actors that were relatively unknown at the time, but who have since had awesome careers. Probably the best example of this is how they discovered Blake Lively. They hired a relatively unknown Blake Lively as Serena Van der Woodsen, and she is now a hugely successful actress and wife to Ryan Reynolds. Other actors like Leighton Meester, Taylor Momsen, Ed Westwick, and Penn Badgley have also had success career-wise after GG ended. Not a bad time for them after this show.
5 Quotes And Wisdom About Life
Whether you are scrolling through Pinterest, Twitter, or Tumblr, you are bound to come across some words of wisdom from Gossip Girl. The characters were known for having epic one-liners and offering sage advice to each other when times were tough. GG gave us tons of words to live by, which we totally take seriously and have incorporated into our daily mantras. Seriously think about all the awesome quotes you have thanks to this show! Perhaps Blair was the Queen of Quotes on the show, as her bold tough-love approach was adored by fans everywhere. After all, she is the woman who said, “Anyone who says money can't buy you happiness just did not know where to shop” line. Other characters like Dan, Serena, and Chuck also had some memorable quotes. If you need advice on anything from relationships to school to friendships, it might be time to re-watch GG.
4 The BEST Guest Stars
It was always fun seeing what famous actors would make a guest appearance on Gossip Girl. Whether they were playing themselves or a fictional character, guest celebrities were always a good surprise that kept you watching for more, adding to the long list of reasons why we love the show so much. Gossip Girl has had a string of prominent celebrities guest star on it, especially a lot of designers and models popular in the fashion industry. Does it really get any better than that?Some memorable musical guests include Lady Gaga, Robyn, and Cyndi Lauper. Other noticeable featured are Tyra Banks, Karlie Kloss, Krysten Ritter, Vera Wang, Tory Burch, and Rachel Zoe. And do not forget when Hilary Duff starred as Dan's girlfriend for a couple of episodes (you totally loved that), until the couple had a weird group bedroom activity with Vanessa and thus made things seriously awkward.
3 The Couples
You would totally be lying if you said you were not emotionally invested in a Gossip Girl couple at one point or another. While we sometimes got tired of our favorite pairings or accepted that they were not right for each other, the romances on GG were definitely pretty epic. You were able to live vicariously through the characters, even if you did not start dating until long after the show ended. Blair and Chuck are an obvious fan favorite couple, and we are just so glad they had such a happy ending. For many seasons, Dan and Serena were also a couple, and they also ended up together, too. However, you may have shipped Dan and Vanessa, Blair and Dan, Nate and Blair, or even Jenny and Nate. There were so many couples on the show that you were bound to find one you loved and rooted for.
2 One Word: Dorota
Dorota wasn't a main character, but she was definitely one of the most memorable! As Blair's maid, she helped keep her schedule and home in order. But beyond that, it was clear that the two were friends. Blair was able to confide in Dorota, who offered her own advice and didn't go gossiping to the other East Siders. It made us realize we want (read: need) a friend like Dorota, too. From her lovable Polish accent to charming personal life to solid advice, it's clear that Dorota is a leading lady! She was a mother figure to Blair and it was always super sweet to see them in scenes together. We would love if the producers decided Dorota needed her own spinoff show, so we could get an even better look into the lives of the upper east siders. Dorota definitely didn't get nearly enough air time, and we need to see more of her and Blair's awesome dynamic.
1 The Cool New Music
Of course, an awesome show needs an equally amazing soundtrack! Luckily, Gossip Girl always featured good music, which helped to introduce you to new bands you had never heard of. It had the perfect balance of music you had never heard of as well as mainstream hits, so we bet you were dancing around your living room any time the show featured a musical montage. It is also worth noting that the show had its fair share of musical guests, which we have already covered. One of the highlights was Lady Gaga's epic performance! Yes, the pop singer was on the show at the height of her career (how epic?). Imagine dancing to Gaga's music as she performs during an upscale event in the Upper East Side. Gossip Girl was what television dreams are made of! And now you have to go back and re-watch every single episode, right?!