Gossip Girl: Complete Season 2 (7 Discs)

I've seen the entire season now, but I'll keep this as spoiler free as possible. In a nutshell, Gossip Girl is set in the glamorous upper east side of New York City, and depicts the lives of Manhattans 'elite'. These teenagers are dogged by Gossip Girl; a mysterious blogger who basically enjoys exposing these rich inhabitants secrets. This season sees the group facing their final year of school which means: exams, graduation, the prom, and lots of general sluttiness.

Gossip Girl is based on a series of books of the same name -- I don't think it's a good idea to come into the TV version of GG expecting an adaption of the books because that's most certainly not what one will get -- indeed, they are at this point two disparate entities.

The show focuses on Blair Waldorf, Serena Van der Woodsen, Chuck Bass, Dan Humphrey and Nate Archibald. We rejoin the group as they spend their last few days of the summer holidays in the Hamptons. 'Summer Kind of Wonderful' makes for an excellent opener and gives the viewer a good taste of things to come. This season we're treated to the same mixture of humour, romance, friendship and drama. There's everything from British Lords (bad bad accent there!), Graduation, creepy uncles, Georgina Sparks, death and mayhem to the usual scheming! Blair and Serena's friendship is tested and grows stronger over the course of the year. Chuck and Nate also find themselves at something of an impasse as an old rivalry re-emerges between them.

This is very much a season of two halfs. The first is far more consistent that the latter half, and the episode to episode continuity is better handled. Things fall apart a little after episode sixteen ('You've Got Yale') and there's a huge gaping hole of horridness there for a while but it's not that bad... really. I think in context of the whole season, some things (read: relationships) needed to happen again in order to allow the characters emotional closure. Some arcs were just plain stupid and seemed to serve no real purpose, other than filler -- the arc with Chucks nanny prostitute was just bizarre and I found it quite out of character for him.

There are many many different plots that occur over the course of the season, and some were better handled than others. GG has a tendancy to rush through numerous story arcs and as a result, often misses important emotional beats. But mostly, I found this season to be very satisfying -- it did lack some of the polish of season one in places, but it generally delivered a fast-paced, funny and emotionally touching ride. There's a nice classic movie feel to the final scenes of the season finale and it provided a welcome happy ending -- one rounding off a very angsty season.

Lucky for me my favourite characters Chuck and Blair were focused on a great deal more this season compared with the last. This was due to their break out popularity amongst fans and critics -- it's no coincidence that they happen to be the best acted and most compelling characters in the programme. Chuck goes through a very difficult time midway through the season with family issues, and we get to meet his Uncle Jack Bass as a result too! There was some truly excellent acting from Ed Westwick in 'O' Brother Where Bart Thou' and 'In the Realm of the Basses' during Chucks self-destructive period. Leighton Meester also provides nothing less than stellar performances as Blair attempts to deal with Chucks downward spiral -- the season finale, ('The Goodbye Gossip Girl') in particular had some very subtle and well acted scenes from the two of them.

The wonderful Kristen Bell continues her catty rendition as the silky voiced Gossip Girl. Dan surprised me by actually being wonderfully enjoyable this season; he wasn't without fault and suffered a silly storyline with his teacher but, in general he really matured and worked on his judgemental issues. His stepping out of his comfort zone (thanks to his editor) with Chuck was highly amusing and I hope the two characters can have more scenes together. Penn Badgley plays well off Ed Westwick. I was also impressed with Serena who continued to be a vibrant good girl. I was less impressed with Nate who I could have strangled for his sheer idiocy; this season demonstrated how much of a flighty person he is. It certainly doesn't help that the guy hasn't got two brain cells to rub together. There's also some great antics between Jenny and Eric too who make up after their fight last season.

Highlight episodes include: 'O' Brother Where Bart Thou', 'Summer Kind of Wonderful', 'The Goodbye Gossip Girl', and 'Pret-a-Poor-J'.

Before I became a fan of the show, I thought Gossip Girl was just another dumb, trashy TV drama about spoiled, wealthy, dumb teenagers and their 'complicated' lives, and if the writing had gone another way, maybe that's what GG could have become, but fortunately thanks to the quality of the writing, the cast and the array of believable characters, GG succeeds to be much much more than your run-of-the-mill trendy teen drama. Yes, it's so fashionable it makes your eyes hurt. Yes, it's shot in some of New York's most glamorous locations, and yes, there is lots of scandal, lots of gossip, betrayal and revenge, but the most striking thing about the Second Season of 'Gossip Girl' is not the lying, manipulation, hook-ups and revenge scheme; it's whenever the characters do something you don't expect them to do, like Vanessa stealing Jenny's unopened letter from Nate, Blair admitting that betrayal is in her nature, or Chuck letting his guard down and confiding to Dan that he thinks his dad blames him for his mother's death. Perhaps the most surprising thing about the Second Season is how much anguish, emotion and heartbreak permeates the characters cool exteriors.

The first part of Season 2 consists of parties in the Hamptons, black-outs, Fashion Week, punch-outs and a prison cell for Dan and Chuck, trips to Yale, seduction and intrigue, but then around episode 13, everything dramatically changes when Chuck's father and Lilly's fourth husband Bart suddenly dies in an accident, sending Chuck in a downward spiral of self-destruction. I think some of the acting in the following episodes is as good as anything you'll see in 'serious' dramas, particularly from Ed Westwick and Leighton Meester. I just love them together, they are arguably the best characters on the show, and I have to say that they feature in some of the best moments of this season, especially in 'O Brother, Where Bart Thou?' 'In The Realm Of The Basses,' 'The Wrath Of Con' (when Chuck lies about his love for Blair because he believes he can't make her happy); but really every scene they have together is mesmerising. None more so than the finale, 'The Goodbye Gossip Girl'. I could go on and on about how amazing this scene is, but I'll let the script speak for itself: "Chuck Bass, I love you. I love you so much, it consumes me...I know you love me too. Tell me you love me. That everything we've done - all the gossip, all the lies and the hurt will have been for something." Take away the scandals, malicious gossip, back-stabbing and game-playing, and what you have at the heart of the show is love in all its forms. That's why the show works, that's why you care so much about the characters and that's what makes the world of GG so believable, appealing, watchable, and darn-right addictive. But don't take my word for it: see for yourself. Go on, I dare you.

Gossip girl is an awesome TV show. Especially in its second season!

But, what the hell? Where are the special features in this box set? The DVD cover says "Special features: blah blah" but I can't find any features on any of the discs!!! Are you kidding me?

Am I the only customer who feels kind of betrayed?!?

I recieved series 2 for my Christmas, and I have no complaints!! I do notice that many people are writing in reviews that they do not see the extras and special features anywhere in the dvd's. However I have not had this problem. All special features are on the final disc - including the audio book, a gag reel, "Chasing Darota" mini episodes aswell as much more. Im unsure wether ive just been lucky to recieve a dvd which does contain these extras or whether people have just not noticed these extras.
Overall- I would highly reccomend this boxset! However, if your anything like me it doesnt last long!

Fab series, even better than the first. Good looking rich people behaving badly, what's wrong with that!? They can get away with a lot more than your regular Joe. Gossip girl is an escapism I love to indulge and also remain envious of the girls stunning clothes. It has you wishing you were one of the characters, it can be a different one each week! An escape from reality us Brit chicks need!! :) XOXO