“You know you love me,” the intro whispers ominously, “XOXO, Gossip Girl.” Ever since I first heard those words and saw the New York skyline flash across my screen, I was hooked.
Although the show first aired in the fall of 2007, Netflix making the series available again helped experience a surge in popularity. It only took me one episode to become obsessed. Once you are locked into the world of the Upper East Side, with the drama and excitement of Serena, Blair, Chuck, and Nate, there is no going back.
The show follows two wealthy New York socialites and all of the people around them. Both of us are at different points in the series, so below, we’re going to review all of the main characters and our opinions. Sophia is in the middle of season 3, and Sadie is at the end of season 1.
Serena Van Der Woodsen:
Sophia: Even though Serena makes a lot of bad decisions and never really thinks anything through, she is always trying to help other people and be a better person. I think that she’s annoying when it comes to her relationship with Dan, and she always runs away from the problem. However, deep down she usually has good motivations and isn’t a terrible character.
Sadie: Hmm. I also have mixed opinions on Serena. She hasn’t done anything majorly wrong yet, but I wouldn’t necessarily say I like her as much as other characters. Sometimes Serena really annoys me, but most of the time she’s just there. Although she’s deemed nicer than her counterpart Blair, she’s still not as likable, she doesn’t have that character depth.
Blair Waldorf:
Sophia: Blair is an icon. Every time she walks into the screen in one of her perfect, New York outfits, the show gets more entertaining. Although she can be a bit of a bully, she has had a lot of hard experiences that have made her the person she is. Her relationship with Chuck shows that all she wants is to be loved. I love Blair and think she is one of the best characters in the show.
Sadie: I like Blair. Yes, she’s a stereotypical mean girl, BUT she has depth which I think characters like Serena lack. Blair also represents exactly what the show is about—she is a symbol of elite status in an upper-class society. She’s the queen of revenge and fashion, I don’t really have any negatives. However, I do NOT like her and Chuck. I know everyone claims he’ll have his character development and whatever, but I don’t care. No.
Chuck Bass:
Sophia: Despite some of my friends being in love with Chuck, I do not think he is a good person. His devotion to Blair somewhat redeems his character, but I can’t get past some of the things he did in the first season. I feel bad for the family situation Chuck was born into, but that doesn’t make up for some of his actions. Although by season three he’s starting to have a little more motivation, he’s still the slimy, disgusting person that was introduced to in season 1.
Sadie: I don’t like Chuck. He’s just gross. His haircut is gross. His scarf is gross. His purple and orange suit is gross. He doesn’t have many redeeming qualities, I don’t care if he has daddy issues and SOMETIMES helps Serena with her many problems. He’s gross. Will I change my mind in later seasons? Maybe. But for now, I strongly dislike Chuck Bass.
Nate Archibald
Sophia: Since the moment Nate walked in, I knew he was my future husband! But then he started to talk. I don’t think he is the worst character in the series, but he tends to annoy me. His affair with the random married woman was so dramatic, and I think he is a little bit pointless to the plot. I hope he finds happiness, but at the end of the day, I don’t care.
Sadie: Nate is kinda like Serena, I don’t have much of an opinion on him. He’s a nice guy, and he hasn’t done anything that makes me hate him. I don’t know, no comment?
Vanessa Abrams:
Sophia: The worst character to ever be written into a TV show. Since the moment Vanessa swung through Dan’s window, crying about how he was “her Dan” I hated her. Every time she comes onto the screen I want to throw something at her. She’s so annoying and I hate her with all my heart. She gets even worse when she goes to college. She is the perfect example of a pick-me girl who is in love with her boy best friend. She should stay out of NYU, Dan’s life, and stop worrying about stupid speeches and proving her worth to her parents. No one cares.
Sadie: Despite everyone’s hatred for Vanessa, which I understand, I don’t find her that annoying YET. When she first arrived she was, yes, quite a bother but throughout the rest of season one she hasn’t done anything that dramatically bad. So, I guess I’ll just wait and see how I end up feeling about her.
Overall, Gossip Girl is a magical show that we would recommend to anyone looking for a show to watch. It has a million twists and turns that will keep you on your toes, and both the characters you love and hate will captivate your attention.