The Beginning of the Gossip Girl End

            If you’re like me, then you are in no way emotionally prepared for this to be the last season of Gossip Girl. There are only 10 episodes this season and then we have to say goodbye to our favorite upper east siders forever. The sixth and final season premiere contained classic Gossip Girl elements: party crashing, scheming, romance, and a plot twist that made us all scream “NO NO NO” at our televisions. It’s true that the show isn’t as good as it once was, but for some reason us loyal fans can’t seem to pull ourselves away. Instead of boring you with mundane details, here is what you need to know:

1) Serena’s not dead.
            When we last saw Serena Van Der Woodsen she had passed out on a train to upstate New York after doing a plethora of drugs. But never fear; our leading lady is fine. At the beginning of the episode, no one had any idea where she was. Not even Lily, who was too busy vacationing with her recently come back from the dead husband Bart Bass, checked in with her daughter. But in classic “Gossip Girl” fashion, the whole gang sets out to find her. Blair, Chuck, Nate, Dan and Georgina find Serena living in Poughkeepsie as “Sabrina” with her new boyfriend Stephen. By the end of the episode Blair and Georgina have successfully let Stephen and everyone at the party they crashed know who “Sabrina” really is. Serena doesn’t go back to New York with them though, claiming she wants a fresh start. By the end of the episode, she’s back in the Upper West Side and she brings Stephen with her.

2) Chuck and Blair are together...sort of.
            At the end of last season Blair joined Chuck in Monte Carlo to let him know that she was “all in, ” having just ended things with Dan. After spending three passionate days together, the two realize that they just can’t get anything done when they're together and agree to put their relationship on hold until they have things straightened out. Blair has just taken over her mother's fashion line and Chuck needs to regain control of Bass Industries from his father. But don’t despair Chuck and Blair fans, these two are finally in it for the long hall. In their final scene of the episode, we get a glimpse of a giant engagement ring that Blair is currently wearing on a necklace until her and Chuck can be together for good. A Chuck and Blair wedding would be a dream come true ending to the series. Hopefully we get our wish.

Ivy is still around and causing all sorts of trouble.
            Yes, Ivy. Remember her? She’s been staying with Rufus in Brooklyn. Rufus, having recently divorced Lily, is working to open another art gallery and Ivy is helping him out. While she acts all innocent, Ivy clearly has ulterior motives, especially since we know how much she hates Lily. By the end of the episode, she seduces Rufus and Dan comes home after a summer in Italy to find his father in bed with her. This is by far the biggest shocker, especially because throughout the series Rufus has always been the central father figure and voice of reason. Hopefully this nonsense does not continue for long.

            There are only nine episodes left until the end of Gossip Girl and it does not seem like enough. It feels too soon to wrap up the series, especially with so many unanswered questions. Will Chuck and Blair make it? Is this fresh start for Serena actually going to work out or fall apart like all the other times she’s tried? Most importantly: who is Gossip Girl?