Episode 1 (101) – Pilot

Posted on Jul 19, 2009 in Season 1 | 1 comment

Serena van der Woodsen’s (Blake Lively) mysterious return to Manhattan after a year-long stint at a boarding school becomes the talk of the town when the news of her homecoming is posted on a popular blog site published by an unknown character by the screen name of “Gossip Girl” (voiced by Kristen Bell). Serena’s best friend, Blair Waldorf (Leighton Meester), however, is less than thrilled to see her again, especially when her plans of losing her virginity to her boyfriend, Nate Archibald (Chace Crawford), are interrupted when Serena arrives unexpectedly at a party.

In spite of their heart-to-heart talk together, Serena and Blair’s re-ignited friendship is short-lived when Nate confesses to her that he and Serena slept together the night before she left, and although Blair forgives Nate, she refuses to forgive Serena.

Outsider Dan Humphrey (Penn Badgley) becomes smitten with Serena as soon as he learns that she has arrived back in town and, after trying to return Serena’s phone to her, she asks him out on a date simply as an excuse not to go to Blair’s “Kiss on the Lips” party. Dan takes Serena to his dad’s band’s concert, but they are forced to leave when his younger sister Jenny (Taylor Momsen) sends him a text message from Blair’s party asking for help. Dan and Serena turn heads as they burst in on the party and search frantically for Jenny. They find her on the roof, where an egotistical sex-addicted Chuck Bass (Ed Westwick) is attempting to take advantage of her. Dan punches Chuck and he and Serena leave in disgust, hand-in-hand with Jenny tagging along.

The apparent reason for Serena’s abrupt return is revealed to be her younger brother Eric (Connor Paolo), who unsuccessfully tried to commit suicide but is now living in a psychiatric institution. Fortunately, not even “Gossip Girl” is aware of this.

In addition, the past affair between Dan and Jenny’s father Rufus (Matthew Settle) and Serena and Eric’s mother is brought to light when Lily (Kelly Rutherford) asks Rufus whether he is using his son to get close to her again.

Directed by Mark Piznarski.
Written by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage.
Originally aired on September 19, 2007.