The Debarted (Gossip Girl)
Encyclopedia
"The Debarted" is the 55th episode of the CW
television series, Gossip Girl
. It was also the twelfth episode of the show's third season. The episode was written by executive producer and one of the series' creator Stephanie Savage
and directed by Jason Ensler
. It originally aired on Monday, December 7, 2009 on the CW
.
Meanwhile, Serena had been staying with Tripp (Aaron Tveit
) in a cottage at Long Island
, having left New York and disappointed her mother in the previous episode when their affair had been discovered. Tripp leaves to speak with his grandfather regarding his divorcing Maureen (Holley Fain) but Serena suspects the opposite when she calls Nate and he tells her that Tripp is not with his grandfather, who is in Bermuda. Viewers then see Tripp still maintaining contact with Maureen and is trying to solve his keeping his political career and still have Serena. Serena's suspicions are confirmed when Tripp's wife Maureen arrives on his behalf at the cottage and presents to her an offer: an opportunity to become Tripp's mistress. Realizing her mistake, Serena leaves with Tripp to drive her back home but as they argue along the way, the car swerves Tripp flees unscathed while Serena is left injured and in the driver's seat instead of the passenger seat. Nate arrives and Serena asks for Tripp, revealing that he had been driving.
Back in New York, Dan and Vanessa attempt to navigate their newly complicated friendship when Dan seeks a new potential relationship with one of Vanessa's friends. Dan fails in his attempt but receives a phone call from Lily, telling him about Serena's accident.
At the hospital, Nate threatens Tripp with blackmail and he confronts him. Maureen reveals her plan that would keep him from getting arrested but still finds Tripp distasteful. Despite Tripp's concern for Serena, Nate punches him and leaves. Lily arrives and during a casual conversation, Lily slips that she has not told Rufus about the letter. A disappointed Serena asks her to leaves and Blair arrives. Serena tells her that she was right about the consequences of the affair. By the time Chuck arrives, a flashback shows his inability to cope with his father dying and Blair comforts him, telling him he carries people, including her, further reminding him that he is the man that his father couldn't become.
Maureen arrives at Lily and Rufus' apartment and gives Rufus the letter that Lily had been hiding from him.
An ending montage shows Dan confessing his feelings for Vanessa as she dismisses it as response from Dan feeling upset over the accident, Rufus is then seen with Holland Kemble (Sherri Saum
) at a bar, discussing what viewers assume to be the beginning of an affair between the two of them, Jenny sneaking out of the apartment to meet Damien for a drug deal, and when Chuck arrives to visit his father's grave, he catches a glimpse of a woman who calls him by his first name and she flees, leaving a locket for him to pick up.
was dressed in an Escada
coat, a Valentino
bag, black fleece Brooks Brothers
skirt, black Falke fishnet tights, and Lanvin
pumps. Meester also sported an Alexander McQueen
dogstooth print blouse for the episode. InStyle praised Meester's attire, calling it "an eyeful of style".
, had criticized Dan and Vanessa's storyline, replying that "this plot line felt a bit rushed, like there wasn't much room for it in this episode". However, she had praised the scene where Nate punches his cousin by commenting, "he so deserved that!". When it comes to Chuck's storyline, she said that "it was a refreshing change to see dark Chuck again", and later mentioned that she had "forgot just how cruel Chuck can be".
The actions taken by Serena in this episode, however, were mainly criticized. Enid Portuguez from Los Angeles Times
said that "Her judgment has been more than impaired lately", and that "if it weren't for the wolves that caused Trip's Range Rover to swerve", he was sure that Serena would actually have reconsidered and accepted being Tripp's secret mistress. He gave a negative review to Blake Lively
's performances in the episode, by saying in other words that Serena's accident "was the only head injury I have ever cheered for". He also said that when it comes to Lily and Rufus's problems in their marriage, he would expect "a showdown between Rufus and Dr. Van der Woodsen".
The CW Television Network
The CW Television Network is a television network in the United States launched at the beginning of the 2006–2007 television season. It is a joint venture between CBS Corporation, the former owners of United Paramount Network , and Time Warner's Warner Bros., former majority owner of The WB...
television series, Gossip Girl
Gossip Girl (TV series)
Gossip Girl is an American teen drama television series based on the book series of the same name written by Cecily von Ziegesar. The series was created by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, and premiered on The CW on September 19, 2007...
. It was also the twelfth episode of the show's third season. The episode was written by executive producer and one of the series' creator Stephanie Savage
Stephanie Savage
Stephanie Savage is a Canadian screenwriter and television producer. Savage is best known for developing The CW's teen drama series, Gossip Girl from the novel series, and being an executive producer of the Fox series The O.C....
and directed by Jason Ensler
Jason Ensler
Jason Ensler is an American film & television director and producer. He has directed episodes of The West Wing, Chuck, Gossip Girl, Psych, Ed, Scrubs and My Name Is Earl. He directed and produced all six episodes of the critically acclaimed and short lived TV series Andy Barker, P.I....
. It originally aired on Monday, December 7, 2009 on the CW
The CW Television Network
The CW Television Network is a television network in the United States launched at the beginning of the 2006–2007 television season. It is a joint venture between CBS Corporation, the former owners of United Paramount Network , and Time Warner's Warner Bros., former majority owner of The WB...
.
Plot
On the first anniversary of Bart Bass' death, Chuck wrestles with the dilemma of following his conscience, or that of his father Bart (Robert John Burke), who manifests as hallucinations that periodically taunt him, calling him weak and incapable. Blair follows him and reminds him of his father's death anniversary, telling him to rest and that he is not like his father. Blair turns to Lily to convince him to visit his father's grave. Lily realizes that her letter is missing and rummages through a coat closet to find it, fearing the anyone's discovery of the letter from Serena's father and unknowingly releases her frustrations regarding Serena's affair.Meanwhile, Serena had been staying with Tripp (Aaron Tveit
Aaron Tveit
Aaron Kyle Tveit is an American theatre and film actor originally from Middletown, New York. He is known for originating the roles of Gabe in Next to Normal and Frank Abagnale Jr...
) in a cottage at Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
, having left New York and disappointed her mother in the previous episode when their affair had been discovered. Tripp leaves to speak with his grandfather regarding his divorcing Maureen (Holley Fain) but Serena suspects the opposite when she calls Nate and he tells her that Tripp is not with his grandfather, who is in Bermuda. Viewers then see Tripp still maintaining contact with Maureen and is trying to solve his keeping his political career and still have Serena. Serena's suspicions are confirmed when Tripp's wife Maureen arrives on his behalf at the cottage and presents to her an offer: an opportunity to become Tripp's mistress. Realizing her mistake, Serena leaves with Tripp to drive her back home but as they argue along the way, the car swerves Tripp flees unscathed while Serena is left injured and in the driver's seat instead of the passenger seat. Nate arrives and Serena asks for Tripp, revealing that he had been driving.
Back in New York, Dan and Vanessa attempt to navigate their newly complicated friendship when Dan seeks a new potential relationship with one of Vanessa's friends. Dan fails in his attempt but receives a phone call from Lily, telling him about Serena's accident.
At the hospital, Nate threatens Tripp with blackmail and he confronts him. Maureen reveals her plan that would keep him from getting arrested but still finds Tripp distasteful. Despite Tripp's concern for Serena, Nate punches him and leaves. Lily arrives and during a casual conversation, Lily slips that she has not told Rufus about the letter. A disappointed Serena asks her to leaves and Blair arrives. Serena tells her that she was right about the consequences of the affair. By the time Chuck arrives, a flashback shows his inability to cope with his father dying and Blair comforts him, telling him he carries people, including her, further reminding him that he is the man that his father couldn't become.
Maureen arrives at Lily and Rufus' apartment and gives Rufus the letter that Lily had been hiding from him.
An ending montage shows Dan confessing his feelings for Vanessa as she dismisses it as response from Dan feeling upset over the accident, Rufus is then seen with Holland Kemble (Sherri Saum
Sherri Saum
- Biography :Saum got her start at a Model Search America convention near her home in Kettering, Ohio. She was discovered during high school, modeling mostly during summer breaks until she decided to move to New York and work full time with the New York modeling agency Images Management. Her career...
) at a bar, discussing what viewers assume to be the beginning of an affair between the two of them, Jenny sneaking out of the apartment to meet Damien for a drug deal, and when Chuck arrives to visit his father's grave, he catches a glimpse of a woman who calls him by his first name and she flees, leaving a locket for him to pick up.
Production
For the mid-season finale of the show's third season, Leighton MeesterLeighton Meester
Leighton Marissa Meester is an American actress and singer. Meester first garnered attention for playing Blair Waldorf in the CW television series Gossip Girl...
was dressed in an Escada
Escada
Escada is an international luxury fashion group in women's designer clothing. The company has a presence in about 60 different countries. Its main sales markets are North America, western and eastern Europe and Asia. It filed bankruptcy in August 2009, and was acquired by Megha Mittal, in November...
coat, a Valentino
Valentino
Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani , best known as Valentino, is an Italian fashion designer and founder of the Valentino SpA brand and company. His main lines were Valentino, Valentino Garavani, Valentino Roma, and R.E.D...
bag, black fleece Brooks Brothers
Brooks Brothers
Brooks Brothers is the oldest men's clothier chain in the United States. Founded in 1818 as a family business, the privately owned company is now owned by Retail Brand Alliance, also features clothing for women, and is headquartered on Madison Avenue in Manhattan, New York City.-History:On April 7,...
skirt, black Falke fishnet tights, and Lanvin
Lanvin
Lanvin may refer to:* Gérard Lanvin , French actor* Jeanne Lanvin , French fashion designer* Lanvin , French fashion house founded by Jeanne Lanvin...
pumps. Meester also sported an Alexander McQueen
Alexander McQueen
Lee Alexander McQueen, CBE was a British fashion designer and couturier best known for his in-depth knowledge of bespoke British tailoring, his tendency to juxtapose strength with fragility in his collections, as well as the emotional power and raw energy of his provocative fashion shows...
dogstooth print blouse for the episode. InStyle praised Meester's attire, calling it "an eyeful of style".
Reception
"The Debarted" received mostly positive reviews. Isabelle Carreau of TV Squad said that the episode should have aired in January, given how many cliffhangers the episode had, because it would have a better rating. He also praised the episode's main storylines, involving Chuck dealing with his father's one anniversary of death; Serena and Tripp's relationship; and Dr. Van der Woodsen's mysterious letter. Jennifer Sankowski, from the TV GuideTV Guide
TV Guide is a weekly American magazine with listings of TV shows.In addition to TV listings, the publication features television-related news, celebrity interviews, gossip and film reviews and crossword puzzles...
, had criticized Dan and Vanessa's storyline, replying that "this plot line felt a bit rushed, like there wasn't much room for it in this episode". However, she had praised the scene where Nate punches his cousin by commenting, "he so deserved that!". When it comes to Chuck's storyline, she said that "it was a refreshing change to see dark Chuck again", and later mentioned that she had "forgot just how cruel Chuck can be".
The actions taken by Serena in this episode, however, were mainly criticized. Enid Portuguez from Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
said that "Her judgment has been more than impaired lately", and that "if it weren't for the wolves that caused Trip's Range Rover to swerve", he was sure that Serena would actually have reconsidered and accepted being Tripp's secret mistress. He gave a negative review to Blake Lively
Blake Lively
Blake Christina Lively is an American actress and model who stars as Serena van der Woodsen in the television teen drama series Gossip Girl...
's performances in the episode, by saying in other words that Serena's accident "was the only head injury I have ever cheered for". He also said that when it comes to Lily and Rufus's problems in their marriage, he would expect "a showdown between Rufus and Dr. Van der Woodsen".