DVD Review: Gossip Girl: The Complete Second Season

You may think that TV teen drama series are cliché-dated-bad-acting hotbeds filled with predictable love triangles scripted by a two year old. But, if you think that, then you’ve never seen “Gossip Girl.” The TV series, based on the novels by Cecily von Ziegesar, is anything but cliché and dated. While, the premise, about an anonymous blogger, who stalks the teens of New York City’s upper east side, provides enough nuance to keep you glued to your couch, anxiously anticipating when the elusive Gossip Girl will strike next.

“Gossip Girl: The Complete Second Season” takes a bold step and begins where every great school year begins – in the summer. Season 2 begins with most of our cast enjoying a summer of bliss in the Hamptons. Nate Archibald must deal with the disappearance of his father, on the run for fraud and white-collar crimes, while finding comfort in the arms of an older woman. Blair Waldorf is up to her old games. Since playboy Chuck Bass has chosen not to say those three magic words with eight letters (“I Love You), Blair decides to go out of her way to make him jealous. But, no Blair scheme is without repercussions, especially when it comes to games of the heart. Blair’s plans lead her into a Lordly affair that the infamous blogger Gossip Girl just can’t get enough of. As for our star Serena van der Woodsen, she’s once again exploring relations with the Brooklyn-bound-lower-class Dan Humphrey.

Each moment is season 2 is filled with anticipation as Blair and Chuck match wits in their ongoing battle of the heart. Also, Serena and Dan battle with their own demons as they try to figure out the future of their relationship. In Gossip Girl Season 1, Serena and Dan were unable to fully explore their relationship due to the Serena in-crowd hierarchy – not to mention that their parents, Lily Bass and Rufus Humphrey, were exploring a relationship that would make Serena and Dan brother and sister.

Although, Serena is the lead player in “Gossip Girl,” Blair’s constant scheming makes her steal the show with every episode. Blair can turn a simple thing like asking for salt and pepper into a vindictive attack, and you’ll see her do just that to spite Chuck. There is a great moment in Season 2 where Serena returns to her “mean girl” roots, post-Humphrey, and Blake Lively delivers an amazing performance that makes you think she was two completely different actors.

Gossip Girl Season 2 is filled with enough twists, turns, breakups and shut downs to make you dizzy. Plus, fans of Season 1 will see the return of the notorious Georgina and Gossip Girl’s final hurrah before the end of high school.

Of course, there are some cliché moments that viewers will be able to quickly telegraph. But, the series still wins out with richly developed character arcs, exposed secrets, engaging acting performances and of course the mysterious Gossip Girl’s witty and all-too sadistic narration.

The Complete Second Season features all 25 episodes. Bonus features include the 6-episode webisode series of the unknown exploits of Blaire’s housekeeper Dorota. If you’re unfamiliar with Dorota, she’s the Bean of Gossip Girl. Her subtle reactions to Blair’s scheming make her a joy to watch. In the web series, you’ll see housekeepers hitting on doormen in foreign accents with job-related-wild sexual innuendos. Yes, even the “help” has secrets. It’s great fun, packed into this awesome collection that deserves a place in your DVD library.

Special Features:
- 5th Ave. Meets Gossip Girl: Tour the Gossip Girl Crowd’s Favorite Haunts
- Faces behind the Design: Creative Forces Behind the Show’s Art and Fashion
- Unaired Scenes
- Chasing Dorota Webisodes
- Gag Reel
- Downloadable Audiobook of the Best-selling Novel “Gossip Girl: You Know You Love Me” by Cecily von Ziegesar, read by Christina Ricci