Ep 1 Summer in the Hamptons

Summer Kind of Wonderful (actual episode title)

Just when you think it can’t get any better, it does. That’s my opinion thus far of Season 2 after watching just 3 episodes. But I’ll keep it to ep1 in this post, just cos its easier to track the posts by ep.

RECAP So, the first episode of season 2 begins with a recap of what happened last season, and boy, watching that lil recap made me realize how powerpacked last season was, every castmember got fleshed out, there were breakups, makeups, murder, lies (lots of this) and scheming, guerilla fashion shows(awesome move Jenny!) drugs, alcohol and murder, just to name a few highlights.

And after a (school) year of drama, our favourite Upper Eastsiders head out to the Hamptons. Its pretty much the same faces you see in Manhattan, except instead of Manolos and Birkins, its tennis whites and floppy hats. Yep, summer’s here! (cue Sheryl Crow: I’m, I’m gonna soak up the sun…)

Everyone’s basically spending their summer licking their wounds and trying to recover from an eventful year. Dan’s back in Manhattan interning as a writer’s assistant, but mostly sleeping around to keep his mind ofF Serena. Serena is in the Hamptons flying solo without him or BFF Blair. Nate is doing a Jesse Metcalfe in Desperate Housewives having an affair with an older woman – ‘Mrs Robinson’ is played by the gorgeous Madchen Amick  loved her since her Twin Peaks days!)

Jenny is working her tail off interning at Eleanor Waldorf’s Atelier, while her father Rufus tours the country with his rock band over the summer.

(notice how the Humphreys are working in the summer, versus their friends’ ‘vacations’ off the island?)

Chuck Bass is pretending to enjoy the ladies fawning all over him, while inside, he’s actually all torn up about standing Blair up on their supposed trip to Tuscany. And what about Queen B? Well, she’s on her way back from Europe, and we can all bet she has a big score to settle with Mr Bass.

Ok, enough of the 4-11. Here’s what I loved from this episode…

HIGHLIGHTS Blair got the best lines/phrases in this episode. My top choices are… ‘Mother-Chucker’ and ‘Chuck Bass-tard’! Who comes up with these? Two thumbs up! (And she says it with such a straight face!)

Another thing I really enjoyed was seeing the characters outside of New York City, in a different environment. It was all trees and greenery, posh manicured lawns, sun, sea and sand. And of course, the fashion had to match the location. Instead of the usual school uniform and overcoats, it was nice to see the guys in shorts and polos (and sweater vests while playing croquet! I mean, what person not in Alice in Wonderland plays croquet?). It was quite surreal, like they were transported to Dawson’s Creek, only a more expensive version.

The White Party was also a nice touch. Everyone dressed in white added to the surreal feeling.

LOVING CHUCK BASS My favourite character has got to be Chuck Bass. Here’s a guy everyone loves to hate. In my humble opinion, he’s also quite ‘poor thing lah’. He has major daddy issues and he overcompensates for the lack of attention by being all puffed up and suave and nonchalant when actually inside he just wants someone to love and approve of him. All very text book – psych 101.

The guy playing him, is a Brit. Ed Westwick is doing a bang-up job playing Chuck, and as if you didn’t already know, he’s dating Jessica Szohr who plays Vanessa (Dan’s BFF) on the show (she’s totally smokin’ hot too! Can anyone say girl crush?)

BLAIR + CHUCK = BLUCK? The thing I love about Chuck is his faux nonchalance. At 16, he’s trying really hard to radiate the Bass power. (yea, can you believe these people are supposed to be 16??)  Also, the way he manipulates everyone (and vice versa sometimes) is one of the real draws of the show for me. Plus, who doesn’t enjoy watching him and Blair try to get the one thing they cannot have – each other – its sadistic how they play tease and retreat!

Do check out Blair’s new toyboy for the season, he’s not what he seems, and I don’t just mean accents.

Ep 2 in the next post!

XOXO, s.