Xoxo, Gossip Girl. Sounds familiar? Well, probably you have already ousted the infamous words ending all the episodes of the 2007 launched TV show Gossip Girl. In 2012, the final season of Gossip Girl was aired and we were relieved of the Upper East Side drama between the Waldorfs, the Van der Woodsens, Archibalds, etc. It's been a long time ever since and I cannot say I've missed them, as I didn't like the show too much back then. However, I have been re-watching parts of the show and issues which I considered to be quite odd back when I was a teenager, I can now condemn as utterly stupid and wrong, wishing TV shows like that would stop airing as they do more harm than anything else. Here are 5 Things Considerably Wrong with the show and let me know what you think about it. 1) The Age Gap Admittedly, I have no clue how life on the Upper East Side actually works and if these people are as sick as presented in the show; still, there is something considerably wrong with the timeline in GG. Remember, when the show starts, the main characters are 16 years old and disregarding their choice of clothes (to which I will dedicate a point of its own), their behaviour according to their age is not only outrageous, but simply illogical. They sit in bars and drink champagne, they attend parties all the time without anyone chaperoning, make out with people and whatnot else; however, this is not even what I am referring to, as the show starts with the main character Serena van der Woodsen returning to New York after a year of scandal, drugs and wreaking havoc. Later on in the first season (where she is still sixteen), she tells Dan on Thanksgiving that "this will be her first Thanksgiving in a long time I'll remember." Honestly? When did she start slutting around and taking drugs? With eleven? Consider that BEFORE she left (so when she was fourteen or fifteen), she hooked up with Nate. Or even think of Chuck...he runs around in a suit aged sixteen (and doesn't get beat up, what kind of world is this?), drinks scotch and sleeps with prostitutes. Admittedly, his father really sucks in his role, but this is really hard-core. Aged sixteen he buys a Burlesque club and, even worse, when he shows the club to Blair, she comments "the years of whoring around and abusing alcohol have finally paid off." What the ****??? The YEARS? When did HE start? Honestly, I was on the late side with developing my sexual interactions, but still, I consider ten or eleven quite young to be abusing alcohol and sex - call me a prude if you must... 2) The Clothes Stupidity I daresay GG kicked off the trend that teenagers dress like hookers or grown-up business women in TV shows and I consider it to convey a very dangerous and wrong image to young girls. I know I am repeating myself here, but please remember these kids are supposed to be 16 and younger. Blair Waldorf is dressed like the editor of Vogue, Serena van der Woodsen considers anything else than heels beneath her standards and Chuck Bass runs around in velvet suits. Even more relatable characters like Dan Humphrey or Vanessa Abrahams sport outfits considered quite uncommon for teenagers including Dan's long black coat and Vanessa's high heels and (horrible!) colour combinations. We see a recurring problem in TV shows like Pretty Little Liars, 90210 or Riverdale. Think back of the previous GG show equivalent The O.C.. Even though the characters came from similar backgrounds as in GG, they were definitely not dressed as over-the-top as the people in GG. 3) Serena's RBF Upon re-watching GG, I can say without any further doubt that I cannot stand Serena. She is a spoilt, rich, stupid child who thinks she is now better than most other people, until someone crosses her path and she acts as selfishly and manipulative as the next girl in this world. Secondly, she is permanently described as impulsive but she is only stupid and I hate how Blake Lively speaks as her. Please speak up Blake, no one can understand your terrible mumbling. Also, Serena permanently sports RBF (resting bitch face) and I literally had to switch off the TV in between episodes because I couldn't stand seeing her stupid face with the opened lips one more second (at least now we know where Bella Swan got the idea from). And finally, Serena please comb your hair, it's always messy. 4) Dan's Hypocrisy Dan is the underdog who then is also revealed to be Gossip Girl (which, surprisingly, everyone easily forgives even though he made everybody's life hell for years). He lives in Brooklyn and is in love with Serena, even though she just treats him like shit most of the time. However, what is really annoying about Dan apart from his pouty lips is his hypocrisy towards the world of Serena and Co. He condemns them for scheming and their superficiality but is one of the worst often enough when it comes to the mentioned topics. Additionally, when you consider he is GG, he is the master of scheming and superficiality and shouldn't criticise anyone from the Upper East Side. 5) The Love Triangle Admittedly, love triangles are a common thing in TV shows but GG takes it to a complete new level. Just consider Nate, the smurf (editor's note: a smurf is a male slut) who made out first with Blair, Serena, Blair again, Vanessa, Serena (again!), Juliet Sharp, Raina Thorpe, Jenny, Ivy, Lola - in short, he banged anyone remotely interesting to the show. Chuck only nurtures his completely unhealthy and twisted relationship with Blair, which is so annoying come the third breakup that you wish for them to stay broken up. Serena goes through everybody pretty much too including Nate (when he cheats on Blair), Dan (numerous times), the teacher she got into jail (Juliet Sharp's brother), her university teacher, Nate's married older cousin and so on and so forth... The only one actually never hooking up in a real relationship is Jenny, but, hey, look at her...no one likes to date a raccoon. The most dangerous issue about these topics is what they convey to the people watching them. GG is a show for teenagers and adolescents and it conveys the message of gossiping, consumerism and a healthy sex life aged fifteen or younger. Think of shows like Gilmore Girls where Rory is a 16-year-old as it should be who wears jeans and shirts, dates (innocently) and wears high heels when the occasion suggests it. Please let's return to role models like that instead of having 16-year-old running around as if they were top managers of high profile firms. xoxo, oh no wait, that wasn't me...see you soon, Angie
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Here you find book reviews, and sometimes also things about films. Enjoy reading. Archives
January 2022
|