GG: 1-6 “The Handmaiden’s Tale” Review

This was a good episode. The best parts however were Dan and his sister Jenny.
Jenny is at a jewelry store picking up jewelry up for Blair. The jeweler lends Jenny a beautiful diamond bracelet to show off at the party. He says he’ll put it on Blair’s tab. Jenny agrees.

It appears that Blair is hosting yet another shindig. This time in honor of Halloween, it’s a masquerade ball. She plans a scavenger hunt with Nate - the prize is a night with her. Nate will be given clues by Blair's "ladies" during the party. He must find Blair by midnight to claim his prize. Blair asks Serena to be one of her ladies and insists she (Serena) invite Dan. Is this summer break? Why don’t we ever see them in school?

At the Humphrey home, Jenny is still doing odd jobs for Blair. She hopes to get to borrow a dress and get an invite to the party. Jenny is surprised that Dan hasn’t been invited yet. Dan says he’s not sure he’s the masquerade ball type. Ah Dan, playing hard to get – smooth.

Meanwhile Blair convinces Serena to call Dan.

At the Humphrey’s, Dan takes a call. It’s not Serena. It’s Vanessa, Dan’s ex-girlfriend(?). She asks if he still has a book. Dan walks over to his room only to find Vanessa sitting there. Did she just let herself in (oh, she came in through the window)? Vanessa says she’s back for good. Dan blathers on; he seems unsure how he feels about this. Just then Serena calls. She’s about to mention the party when Vanessa says something to Dan. Serena asks who Dan is talking to. Dan lies – he says it’s his sister. Oh, Dan.

At Blair’s Jenny walks in with a ton of packages. Seeing Jenny, Serena decides not to invite Dan after all. Blair points Jenny to another list of duties. Okay, why doesn’t Serena ask Dan why he’s lying? Serena decides to find another date. Vanessa asks Dan what they’re doing tonight.

At the Archibald home, Nate comes down to find his father is a tad on edge. His mom says that nothing's wrong.

Dan and Vanessa discuss plans for the evening. Dan is distracted. They talk about their last conversation. Apparently Dan said something that Vanessa told him to take back.

At Nate’s, Nate looks for evidence about his trust fund. Chuck asks whether Nate spoke to his father. Nate replies that his dad said that he moved stuff around. Nate’s trust fund was restored the next day. Nate finds a plastic bag with what looks like drugs. Chuck is shocked – Nate says it’s not his.

At Blair’s, Blair is intent on "healing Serena’s heart" and finding the perfect guy to take her (Serena) to the party. Her lackeys point out that all “the good ones” are taken; it’s the last minute. Blair orders them to make it happen anyway.

Just then Blair’s mom comes in with a dahooka. She says it’ll go well with her Moroccan-themed party. Now I know where Blair gets her party obsession from.

Nate calls Blair to talk about his dad – but he gets her voicemail.

At Blair’s, Jenny comes in with the last of her duties completed. When Blair notices the bracelet, Jenny explains that the guy at the store lent it to her. Blair asks why… then she asks if Jenny really thought she’d be invited. When Jenny mentions the five dresses she picked up for Blair, Blair says that they are backups. Jenny is disappointed.

At the Van Der Woodsen home, Lily asks if Serena is taking Dan to the party. Serena says no. Lily appears relieved. Lily prepares to go to Eleanor’s party.
Serena chats with Edward Aboot IV online. She asks him to the party.

Back at his house, Dan comes across the Gossip Girl website. An entry asks why Serena’s friends have to find her a suitor for the masquerade ball. It concludes that “sometimes the Fairy Tale ending requires the Knight to get off his ass and saddle up his steed.” Ha! Dan takes the hint.

There’s a knock at Serena’s door. It’s Nate. He wants to talk about the drugs he found at his house. Serena tries to laugh it off; she says that it’s probably old left over from the nineties. Nate says no. He believes that his dad is having money problems. He continues that his parents made some secret pack to act like robots around him. He feels shut out. Serena says that Nate should talk to his dad again. She tells him not to give up and puts her hand on his knee. Nate takes her hand. She tells him he should probably go.

Vanessa shows up at the house to go to the movies with Dan. Dan is not there and Rufus takes that opportunity to tell her that when she left she broke Dan’s heart. Vanessa admits that she still has feelings for Dan. Rufus asks whether she’d told Dan that. Vanessa says that she’s planning to say something that night. Rufus leaves to go to a party.

Dan calls Vanessa to cancel their movie night. He says he’s got an American history paper due.

At the Moroccan party, Lily tries to get Rufus to schmooze to revitalize his flagging career. Just then Bart Bass (Chuck’s dad) comes in and Lily looks upset. Bart introduces his date but it’s really awkward. Rufus figures out that Lily invited him to make Bart jealous. Lily denies it at first – but then admits it. Why in heck would Bart bring a date knowing that Lily is there?

At the Humphrey home, Jenny tells Vanessa about the being Blair’s “handmaiden”. Vanessa replies that Blair used Jenny then didn’t invite her to the ball. Vanessa says Jenny is entitled to go. She plays the part of the fairy god mother so Cinderella… er, Jenny can go to the ball.

Outside the party, a drunken guy wearing a mask comes up to Dan to ask for directions. Dan points him in the right direction and takes his mask. The party has just started, yet this guy is already drunk? Dan uses the guy’s name to get into the party.

Vanessa sneaks Jenny into the party. Jenny is very pretty. Vanessa leaves but comes back to the party when she realizes that Jenny forgot her keys. Inside couples dance.

Chuck spies Jenny and goes to ask her to dance. Jenny replies she’d rather go somewhere private to talk. Chuck can't believe his ears.

At the Moroccan party, Howard (Nate’s dad) tries to convince Eleanor to use his company to take Eleanor’s company public. Eleanor isn’t convinced. Howard’s wife interrupts to talk about an old family engagement ring.

Rufus teases Lily about spying on Bart. He says that if she wants to make Bart jealous there is only one thing to do – he kisses her. They both look flustered afterwards. Bart notices.

On the dance floor, a bored Serena listens to her date blather on. Dan shows up to rescue her.

Nate doesn’t seem too interested in the scavenger hunt. One of Blair’s lackeys hints that he should find Serena because she knows where Blair is. Nate perks up.

Chuck returns with a drink for Jenny. Jenny suggests they play hide and seek. When Nate says he doesn’t have any breadcrumbs, Jenny suggests he leaves his clothes behind.

Serena is really cold towards Dan. She tells him that he lied earlier. Dan comes clean. He says that his relationship with Vanessa is complicated but he’s not into Vanessa. They kiss. Vanessa sees them. She’s hurt.

She starts to leave but Dan goes after her. He rambles on about not lying but refraining from sharing the truth. He says that he wasn’t sure how to tell Vanessa about going to a masked ball without a mask or invitation to see a girl who’s there with a date. Vanessa says that Dan said he loved her. Dan says that it’s past tense; things are different. Vanessa leaves.

Chuck is standing in his boxes on the roof. Jenny sneaks over, grabs his clothes and leaves him stuck there. Ha – serves you right, Chuck. Chuck yells that he doesn’t even have his cell with him.

Dan tries to find Vanessa. He’s is really very funny. All his thoughts come out of his mouth. It’s really cute.

At the Moroccan party, Rufus and Lily talk about the kiss. Rufus appears quite taken with Lily. He compliments her and says that he wanted Bart to feel what it’s like to lose her; it’s not fun. Hmm, sounds like he talking from experience. Bart interrupts to talk to Lily. Rufus leaves the party.

Serena and Jenny meet in the ladies room. Serena's lipstick is extremely distracting. Serena mentions Vanessa. Jenny assures her that V. is just Dan’s friend. She says that Dan really likes Serena and the proof is that he’s wearing a mask at a masquerade ball. They trade masks and Serena gives Jenny her fur wrap.

As Jenny goes to leave, Nate comes up behind her (thinking she’s Serena). He says that he’s not over her. He kisses her and Jenny runs away. Just then Serena comes up to Nate to tell him that it’s almost midnight and he must find Blair. She points him in Blair’s direction.

Blair asks Jenny (thinking she is Serena) if she’s seen Nate. Jenny doesn’t answer. Blair grabs at Jenny as she’s trying to make her escape. Blair is left holding a bracelet which she immediately recognizes as Jenny’s.

Chuck is rescued from the roof and Blair tells him that his mystery lady was Jenny. Ooh, Jenny’s playing a very dangerous game. She's going to have to be very careful.

Blair brushes off Nate because he didn’t find her by midnight. Nate apologizes. Why doesn’t he just break up with her?

Dan goes back to find Serena. They finally admit they like each other and kiss.

Nate gets home from the party. His parents are waiting up for him. His mom found the drugs and thinks their Nate’s. Howard keeps silent (but looks guilty).

Dan comes home to find Vanessa in his room. They apologize to each other and agree to be friends. Vanessa asks that Dan tells her what she missed while she was away. Dan’s verbal diarrhea kicks in again as he mentions Serena, Blair, Lily,...