The reasons why this show is one of our faves:
1) The attention to detail is impeccable. Between wardrobe and accurate NYC details, it’s almost a teen Sex and the City—which is impressive seeing as it’s not even on cable.
2) The catty, frenemy dynamic between Blair and Serena gives even 90210’s Brenda and Kelly a run for their money.
3) It continues the tradition of introducing viewers to great new music.
4) The dialogue is smart without being overdone the way it was on Dawson’s Creek or how it got towards the end on The OC.
5) Finally, a teen show set in New York City! The coolest city in the world. No other show has attempted the challenge—and Gossip Girl does it well.
The reasons why we can never call it the best:
1) The guys suck. Dan is a wannabe Seth Cohen who’s more boring and with totally drab style we don’t dig. Chuck is loathsome and IMO, completely unattractive. Nate has potential to be the show’s heartthrob, but his utter lack of substance makes us yawn.
2) Their private school may be an accurate portrayal of preparatory life, but how about showing an actual classroom! There’s at least 7 hours a day in their lives which are completely unaccounted for.
3) The relationships are stale. We already have our fingers crossed for a Dan and Serena breakup--it’s worse than The OC’s Marissa and Ryan snooze factor and we’re still on Season 1.
4) They’re not mixing things up enough. The best moments are when Blair shows she’s human and Serena reveals her inner badgirl. Dan’s old flame, Vanessa, has potential to ignite more drama, as does newcomer Michelle Trachtenberg.
5) Since there have in fact been so many teen dramas before, many elements are unavoidably clichéd. When one of the girls has an eating disorder, gets her heart broken, tries drugs, shoplifts, loses her virginity, it will never be a new thing. At least not to us.
