Granted it took a moment to collect myself after that epic Dan/Blair kiss, but was it really necessary for “Gossip Girl” to take a seven week break to let us cool off?!? Thankfully the horrible hiatus ended last night as we returned to the Upper East Side with “The Kid Stays in the Picture.” An episode that not only introduced Serena’s curious cousin Charlie and brought back the Parisian Prince, but featured Vanessa taking things to the next level in her undying quest to be the most annoying character on television.
But first things first, dodging the debris in the fallout from Blair & Dan’s earth shaking (just for me?) kiss. To make sense of it all, PopWrap rang up “GG” executive producer Joshua Safran for a little Q&A session.
PopWrap: When did you guys decide to bring back Prince Louis?
Joshua Safran: He’s always been in our minds when it came to planning out the season – hence Blair leaving the shoe in Paris. The return of Louis opens us up to look at all the different facets to Blair. That’s what this season has been – investigating all her dimensions and sides. What Chuck represents, what Dan represents, what Serena represents, what the Prince represents. It’s our schematic for Blair and been our umbrella since the beginning of the season.
PW: But fans (yours truly included) have really taken to the idea of Dan & Blair as a couple. Did that reaction surprised you?
Joshua: We were definitely nervous but we knew from episode four in season one that there was a connection there. We’ve been clear throughout all the seasons that they have similar interests. It’s been in the back of our minds forever — we had talked at the beginning of season three if that was the time for Dan and Blair to happen since they were both going to NYU, but it didn’t feel right. So by the time we got there in season four, it made logical sense. Like we had kind of earned it over the years.
PW: Last night’s episode seemingly closed the door on a future for Dair but the commercial have made it seem like Dan vs. Chuck vs. Louis will be a driving force up until Blair’s engagement in the season finale. Which is it?
Joshua: All I will say is the Dan/Blair story is not over. And who says the engagement is in the season finale? [laughs] Blair spends the next few episodes looking at all the different facets of her life that these men represent when it comes to making her big choice. I love that each option carries with it logical reasons — there’s no “right” choice, it’s all about her making the smartest decision for herself.
PW: This week also introduced Serena’s cousin Charlie — what was the genesis of that character?
Joshua: Carol was mentioned in the pilot and in the flashback episode from season two, so we always knew there was an aunt, and once you start talking about her life, it was very natural to think about her having a daughter. Charlie is like a new motor – someone who hasn’t seen this world before and has her face pressed up against the glass looking in the window. But the difference here is Charlie actually has a rightful place at the table. So it’s interesting to have someone who not only wants in, but is owed in.
PW: How does she factor into next week’s episode, “Petty in Pink?”
Joshua: As you know, Vanessa has called Serena, so next week Serena gets that message and enlists her cousin’s help in trying to decipher it. Charlie’s in every episode through the finale, including the finale, and has scenes with everybody — but her biggest stories include Serena, first and foremost, and Dan as well because she’s in that house, that’s her world.
PW: Vanessa has been a character who has sort of faded in and out this season while polarizing fans in the process — like with the bold move of calling Serena — have you struggled to find things for her to do?
Joshua: I think Vanessa has always served a very specific purpose for us – she’s Brooklyn, she’s an outsider, she’s been tempted occasionally, but unlike Dan or Jenny, she’s stayed on the outside more often than not. But as you can see, this season she’s gone a little bit further outside because her ways of trying to get people to admit who they are don’t work. I think her actions come from a place of wanting to protect the people she loves. And if you think that phonecall was bold, just keep watching! She’s really going to try to be heard. That’s what you’ll see in the last few episodes.
PW: Let’s talk about these next five episodes — what are you looking forward to fans seeing in them?
Joshua: These last five are great. I’m excited about every one of them – from the introduction of Charlie to the return of the Prince to the Thorpe story coming to a head to Jack Bass & Georgina returning — it’s just a full meal and it just gets better and better. There are multiple cliffhangers that carry lots of weight, but the season finale will give you a big indication of where the show is headed in season five more so than in previous seasons.
“Gossip Girl” airs Mondays at 9pm on The CW
Photo: The CW