Gossip Girl

Serena van der Woodsen, known as an "it girl," returns to Manhattan after a period of self-imposed exile at a boarding school. Her best friend, Blair Waldorf, experiences mixed emotions about Serena's return, as she has grown accustomed to being the dominant social figure in Serena's absence and may not be ready to cede her position. Additionally, Blair harbors suspicions that there may be unspoken feelings between Serena and Blair's longtime boyfriend, Nate.

The day after the Kiss on the Lips party, Serena faces a cold reception from her former best friend Blair, who reveals she knows that Serena and Nate had slept together before Serena's sudden departure to boarding school. Determined to move forward, Serena takes Dan to Chuck's fundraiser brunch at The Palace. At the same time, Jenny approaches Blair for advice, and Blair begins to consider the potential benefits of letting Jenny into her inner circle.

It's Ivy Week for the Upper East Side teens attending Constance Billard and St. Jude's, as the arrival of college representatives brings more than just applications. Rivalries intensify as students compete for prestigious positions. Blair uncovers a shocking and potentially damaging secret about Serena and plans to reveal it at the most opportune moment. Dan is determined that securing the coveted usher position with the Dartmouth representative will be crucial to his future at the school. Unfortunately, Nate ends up getting the position despite having no real interest in attending Dartmouth. Meanwhile, Jenny grows closer to Serena's younger brother, Eric, and Rufus asks Lily to do him a favor.

Blair is thrilled when her mother, Eleanor, selects her to be the new face of her clothing line. However, her excitement quickly turns to betrayal and jealousy when Serena steals the spotlight, pushing Blair back into Serena's shadow. At the same time, Serena and Dan are reminded once again of the stark differences between their social worlds. Meanwhile, Nate and Chuck take a boys' weekend to unwind after Ivy Week concludes.

It's their first official date, and Dan attempts to impress Serena with an elaborate plan, though he fails to recognize that Serena prefers beer to champagne. That same night, Jenny is invited to Blair Waldorf's infamous sleepover, where she ends up participating in a high-stakes game of "Truth or Dare." Meanwhile, Lily discovers that Erik is missing from the treatment center and turns to her ex-boyfriend, Rufus, for help.

Dan is caught between two girls when his childhood friend, Vanessa, returns to New York and confesses her feelings for him, just as he and Serena are trying to understand their relationship. At the masked ball, Blair organizes a scavenger hunt for Nate, but he is distracted by his feelings for Serena. Despite Blair's statement that outsiders are not allowed at the party, a disguised Jenny and Dan manage to sneak in. Meanwhile, Lily asks Rufus to accompany her to an Eleanor Waldorf event, with the intention of making Bart Bass jealous.

In this episode, Serena and Dan come to terms with their feelings for each other, despite their differing backgrounds. Chuck considers investing in a club in an effort to gain approval from his father, Bart Bass. Nate confronts his father regarding drugs found in their home, but his father denies having an issue. Meanwhile, Jenny uncovers a secret that her parents have been hiding from her. Finally, Blair is deeply upset by Nate's actions after Jenny reveals that Nate kissed her, mistakenly thinking she was Serena.

Blair is struggling with feelings of heartbreak and guilt over the current state of her relationship with Nate and her recent infidelity. Despite this, she puts on a happy face for her 17th birthday party, trying to conceal her emotions from her friends. Dan brings Vanessa to Blair's party in the hope that Serena and Vanessa might bond. Meanwhile, Jenny surprises everyone by bringing her mother home, but Rufus is not yet ready to forgive and forget. At the same time, Nate is asked by his parents to make a significant personal sacrifice in order to save his father's business.

Dan invites Serena and her family to spend the holiday with his family, creating an uncomfortable situation for Rufus and Lily. The children are unaware of their complicated romantic past. Meanwhile, Blair freaks out when she learns that her father isn't coming home for Thanksgiving. Nate spends the holiday with his family, but their awkward dinner quickly goes from bad to worse.

Serena's grandmother informs her that she is expected to attend the Debutante Ball. Dan, however, is not the escort CeCe wants for Serena, and she expresses her disapproval strongly, leading to a conflict between Serena and Dan. Despite their breakup, Nate invites Blair to accompany him to the ball. Meanwhile, Nate becomes suspicious that Blair may be seeing someone else, which fuels his jealousy. Jenny faces a difficult choice between attending her mother's art opening and pursuing her own aspirations by going to the Debutante Ball, despite her parents' objections.

Blair's father, Harold, returns home for the holidays with an unexpected guest. Blair is unable to conceal her disappointment and devises a plan to get rid of Roman for good. With the help of Jenny and Vanessa, Serena sets out to get Dan the best Christmas present ever, while Dan has a surprise of his own for Serena. Rufus decides he can no longer remain the understanding husband after Alison's former lover sends a letter to the house.

Serena, Blair, Nate, Chuck, and their classmates sneak into the school swimming pool for a night of fun, but the event turns dangerous when someone nearly drowns. The school threatens to expel the person responsible for the break-in. The group agrees to keep the incident a secret, but the decision causes significant tension between Serena and Dan. Meanwhile, Vanessa, while working on a documentary about private schools, unintentionally records Blair and Chuck discussing their affair. At the same time, Lily attempts to confess her true feelings for Rufus.

Gossip Girl reports that Serena van der Woodsen was seen purchasing pregnancy tests. On the Upper East Side, the truth is often even more scandalous than the gossip. Nate discovers Blair and Chuck's affair, and when the truth becomes public, Blair's life begins to fall apart. Meanwhile, Dan struggles to tell Serena three special words.

After being dethroned as Queen Bee, Blair returns to school with Serena's support, only to find that she remains estranged from her former friends. Dan spends spring break with his mother, and upon his return, Jenny is on the verge of becoming a full-fledged member of the A-List. To achieve this, she resorts to dangerous and even illegal measures. Meanwhile, Serena struggles to adjust to living with Chuck, and begins receiving unsettling packages from an unknown sender.

When Georgina Sparks, a former friend turned antagonist, returns to town, Serena's world spirals into chaos. Nate forms an unexpected connection with Vanessa. Blair devises a scheme to undermine her main competitor, Nelly Yuki. At the same time, Serena dates Georgina, and the situation deteriorates to the point where Serena suspects her non-alcoholic drink may have been tampered with. Jenny develops a crush on a dog-walker named Asher Hornsby, whom she sees as a potential gateway to lasting popularity.

Georgina tells Serena she is about to reveal a dark secret from Serena's past, but the situation takes an unexpected turn when Georgina acts in a way no one anticipates. Meanwhile, Blair and Jenny's ongoing power struggle intensifies as they begin spreading scandalous rumors about each other on Gossip Girl. Dan witnesses Jenny's new boyfriend, Asher, cheating on her, but Jenny refuses to believe him. Rufus seeks advice from Lily on how to manage Jenny's increasingly problematic behavior. Serena attempts to confront Georgina, but Georgina leaves before Serena can speak with her, prompting Serena to declare that she and Georgina are no longer friends.

After Georgina reveals the true reason Serena left Manhattan, Serena falls back into her old habits. To help her, her friends Blair, Nate, and Chuck set aside their differences. Meanwhile, Rufus becomes excited when his band is invited to perform at a Rolling Stone-sponsored concert, though he is surprised to see Lily in attendance, particularly since her wedding rehearsal dinner is scheduled for the same night.

Blair takes matters into her own hands to assist Serena in dealing with the manipulative and dangerous Georgina Sparks. Meanwhile, Lily, keeping Rufus in her thoughts, prepares for her wedding to Bart Bass, which is intended to be the most prominent social event of the year on the Upper East Side. Serena finally reveals the complete truth about her past to Dan, and the two attempt to mend their relationship after Dan's infidelity, though it remains uncertain if they can move past it. An unexpected guest appears at Lily and Bart's wedding. Georgina is sent to a place where she can no longer cause harm. Blair makes plans to go somewhere with Chuck.