gossip girl Just re-released on Netflix, the 2000s teen drama is nothing short of iconic. From his New York City background to his fashion and his BlackBerry mobile, this is one of his shows we all know and love. Well, except for me.
Of course, I’m well aware of the hype surrounding this series, but I’ve never actually sat down and watched the show. I’m old enough to call Penn Badgley Joe. you not dan gossip girl. Sorry, Millennials!
So, now that the series is back on Netflix, I, a self-proclaimed member of Generation Z (I’m 23 years old and born in 1999, and I’m definitely counting, okay?), sat down and watched the first season. I decided to watch it all at once. . Here are all my thoughts, from the positive to “how on earth did they manage to air this?” gossip girl.
The first time I saw the original Gossip Girl
First of all, I love the aesthetics. This show will make anyone want to book a flight to New York and have lunch on the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I love the escapism from the glitz and glamor of the super-rich lifestyle (especially now that I’m living a cozy life!), and characters like Dan add a much-needed element of realism. He’s right. A 16-year-old doesn’t need all that attitude or tons of designer clothes (yes, Blair Waldorf, I’m looking at you).
Speaking of ages, I’m baffled that these kids are meant to be around 16 or 17 years old, like so many teen dramas are. No one can convince me that Nate isn’t in his 20s and how do they even let them into the club? And is it sexually active? I just hope they get proper sex education in good schools.
I was also surprised to find that there were more variations in the series than I expected. There are some women of color, but so far they’re just reliable sidekicks or background characters. As usual. Considering the show is set in one of the most diverse cities in the world, you might have hoped that they would have considered adding more people of color to the cast. While there have been improvements in recent years when it comes to diversity on television, there is still a long way to go.
My biggest and most burning thought is why on earth do people like Chuck Bass! The scenes in which he assaults two different women in two episodes are so creepy and sexist? , I cringe every time he appears on screen. Seriously, how did he say “there’s something wrong with that level of perfection, it needs to be violated” about women who are allowed on the air? I’m confused as to how they salvaged his character and made him and Blair the pop culture icons they are now (yes, even I know that).
As well as that, it’s interesting to see other elements of the show that are now considered more problematic. We wouldn’t be in the 2000s without a toxic diet culture, like Blair’s mother telling her in her first few episodes that she’ll never be this thin again. Plus Serena’s slut-shaming, Blair’s bullying and peer pressure towards people like Jenny, and the overall meanness between the female characters. Women are at odds with each other, So 2007.
On the positive side, I love Selenas, played by Blake Lively, and I think her and Dan are my favorites of the series so far. You can see how this character jump-started Blake’s career, and it’s no surprise. And I love Dan’s one-liners, his dry sarcasm and sarcasm.
So, will I be watching the next 5 seasons? gossip girl? perhaps! Honestly, I’ve always wanted to be able to understand what people are referring to about this show, and how it has now achieved legendary status as one of the ultimate teen dramas. You can now understand what you have achieved. But today’s shows are more diverse and try their best to talk about real life issues, so you might just binge watch them in your spare time instead.
However, one thing I’ve been trying to incorporate into my daily vocabulary since watching this movie is “XOXO, Gossip Girl.”
“Gossip Girl” is now available on Netflix.
