Gossip Girl is a guilty pleasure like Torchwood and Robin Hood. These series have their fair share of shallow characters and plenty of WTFery though the series makes you want to watch constantly (TW season 2 is a huge improvement to the previous season nonetheless). I did not intend to watch Gossip Girl by any means but beneath the typical teen angst in most dramas there seemed to be something that caught my eye. I think it was the main idea of gossip that surrounded the high class students rather than a "this is the life of so and so" storyline. Not that I mind the latter so long as I'm interested.

Naturally with the dark powers of fandom Serena[1] gets pitted as something evil and annoying etc etc because she's seemingly the protagonist. This is where my head starts to painfully focus. That's quite a swift assumption to make just because adverts on TV have quick shots of her to promote the series. Honestly I see Gossip Girl as a series that focuses on everyone from Serena down to all the parents. The Gossip Girl website and the character of the same name are our eyes so there's really no specific protagonist among the cast. She's checking out everyone.

I'm still trying to get my head around the original books to make a deeper comparison (Cecily's writing is tough to take seriously TBH) and so far from reading book 1 there are some major differences when you place it next to the TV series. Of course those who began with the book would prefer that sort of canon to the TV counterpart. I can definitely understand this. Harry Potter films VS the original books have some differences. I tend to head towards the books more and the same applies with Rurouni Kenshin. The RK Manga is more of how I perceive the direction for the characters and the story flow is a million times better. The Anime filler arcs are separate. But with Gossip Girl, the TV series has some interesting quirks I can't help liking. Vanessa is almost a skinhead in the book. Jenny is actually a brunette rather than a blonde as the TV series shows. TV!Serena is an older sister whereas in the book she's the Imouto. The switch of sibling age somehow plays with said character's traits by a teeny bit.

I like her Onee-chan behaviour around TV!Erik. It's kind of sweet. Her book self is something I've noticed gets the outcry of Mary Sue. Right before the TV series came out Serena as a book character landed on canon_sues. She is described as pretty, popular among the boys, seemingly sluttish and "perfect" even with her wild lifestyle. TV!Serena just seems more redeemable to me. Yes she's had a wild lifestyle. Yes she shagged Nate when she shouldn't have. But she sure as hell proves she wants to be a better person in terms of a friend, older sister, girlfriend and student.

I'm puzzled with why people think Blake Lively* isn't pretty enough to be Serena Van der Woodsen. I don't know her filmography well enough but I feel her acting makes Serena more forgiving though not in the Mary Sue sense that fandom accuses Gwen Cooper of. She whines, does she? Of course she does. She's a teenager. She has never had a proper relationship with a boy because of her wild past thus doesn't know how to make do with her relationship with Dan Humphrey. Why the smeg is Serena a Sue if she wants to be a better person and forget her errors? Wouldn't that put Faith as a Sue too, hmm?

However accusing only Serena of whining is quite honestly bollocks because for heaven's sake EVERYONE on the show whines or moans (even the parents). EVERYONE is selfish. EVERYONE makes mistakes. EVERYONE can be a pillock or bitch *points to Chuck, Georgina, Jenny and Blair*. Stop putting every single fault on Serena like you do with Meredith Grey. All those doctors muck up hugely. Since when has GA and GG only ever been about Serena and Meredith? What's up with the Izzie/George/Callie triangle? What about Alex and his feelings for a Jane Doe patient who couldn't remember who she was? Season 3 of GA showed one huge downfall in Izzie's character. Sure I understood she was upset over Denny's death and didn't want to get close to Alex again but then BOOM she's suddenly saying she likes George unless I missed out the so-called shipping moments in season 2 for Gizzie someone tell me George and Izzie were close friends. I thought it was touching and yes I am totally aware Katherine and TR are BFF IRL hence the ZOMG chemistry. The idea of romance was simply rushed for these two. Meredith gets thrown too much in angst and I have had these urges to sue the GA writers for always wrecking her character. Plus the fact Shonda was too focused on Private Practice during season 3 doesn't make things any better. I felt so bad for Callie because her marriage was doomed from the start. I like Katherine Heigl and think she's a very good actress though season 3!Izzie had me wondering whether or not Katherine deserved the Emmy award for best supporting actress last year.

As I mentioned for GA, Gossip Girl focuses on many characters who have their predicaments rather than just Serena. Nate's family or the Humphreys to name examples. Blair has lots of fans. Yes I can see she has her personal issues with her father and eating disorder. I really sympathise. The one thing that often makes me turn away is her bitchiness, vanity and typical I'm rich and you poorer person suck attitude but that's what most of the Upper East Siders pull off anyway so I think that can be applicable to many. On the one hand her treatment towards Vanessa about the latter's feelings towards Dan was unacceptable and if I was in Vanessa's position I'd be furious. Blair's almost a tie between Lila Fowler and Jessica Wakefield of Sweet Valley High. I'm also aware she can be a good friend when she has to be and her bitchy queen B-ness can be put into good use where necessary. The Georgina storyline proves all. I mean Chuck is a slimy ladykiller who finds he falls for Blair after they go at it after Blair's break-up with Nate. You'd think he's become a better person but the finale shows he's not going to change. Though one can't help wondering what will happen between him and Blair in season 2. Are they going to conveniently boink on a daily basis or have a real relationship if Chuck commits? I admit Chuck is probably the most complicated guy among the characters from what I have watched. I have trouble observing him more than Dan or Nate who I think is walking angst.

Jenny Humphrey - I didn't realise the same author of Gossip Girl wrote It Girl which follows on from the character's life at Constance. It would be interesting to see how she does at a new school considering her determination (or should it be desperation?) to fit in with the upper class girls at Constance made her do drastic things. I can see why a few were ticked with her characterisation in the series where Jenny turns super bitchy and even rebels against Rufus. Fandom was annoyed with her, some were ashamed because she made their age look bad. Jenny was pretty much doing what any teenage girl would do and that was to fit in. However as Blair warned there was a price and Jenny took it. Hopefully she will have learnt her lesson. Focusing on making dresses is a good sign the old Jenny has returned. She's quite the Serena fangirl in the book and her idolizing for some strange reason reminds me of Shinohara Wakaba whenever she glomps Tenjou Utena ^_^;;



Muses for many series keep haunting me and as I was reading book 1 of Gossip Girl and watching the series I had this crack idea of Makoto joining Constance. But I think it would be like any cliche crossover unfortunately if not have the huge accusations of Mary Sue-ness by fandom. Senshi goes to school, tries to blend with the crowd though has trouble. Though to be frank the reason I am disturbingly intrigued by inserting Mako is that she's got a more opposite edge when put against the rich kids. She's got her own reasons for changing schools while not related to drugs or being a slut - fighting, having no parents whilst the rich kids have one or two parents to care. Can you imagine a scene where Serena and Mako are in the headmaster's office having a conversation on why they're there? Plus both these girls are trying to be better people. Then again a Skins/Gossip Girl crossover would be interesting as all the characters simply want to shag or do drugs yet their status differences would clash. Of course we wouldn't forget their own personal problems. Also season 1 and 2!Cordelia Chase would give these girls and guys quite a runner if there were verbal battles.

[1] As irritated as I was to begin with because of the overrated blonde chick syndrome and more I've started to accept this character.
* If I was a director I'd pick her to be The Girl in My Sassy Girl. She's got the height, prettiness and can be a funny drunken person. Dan makes the perfect guy to help "The Girl" out XD

Obviously this is going to be edited like crazy as I read more of the original GG novels but I had to get some thoughts down before I explode.