S2E03 - The Dark Night - Non Judging Breakfast Pod

Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Leif (00:00):
Now captain is dressing Nate like he is her son.
Last week I wondered whether this relationship could get any worse. This
week's writer, John Stevens says, hold my beer.

Steve (00:08):
Hold his fucking beer.
Dressing him up like a, boy
toy. Like a, fucking head doll.

Leif (00:17):
So gross.

Steve (00:18):
Oh my God.

Leif (01:09):
Hey, Upper East siders and all you scandal loving listeners out
there, you just tuned into the non judging breakfast
pod where the coffee is strong, the waffles
are fresh, and the gossip is hotter than ever.
My name is Leif and I'm your seasoned gossip girl
veteran.

Steve (01:23):
And I'm Steve, your newbie, your
greenhorn. You're, I don't know, Leif. What do we call
the season two gossip girl newbies?

Leif (01:32):
I'm not really sure, but can you tell the difference between
an american actor faking a british accent and a british
actor playing an american faking a british accent?

Steve (01:41):
As a matter of fact, I can pick up on
it here and there and I will. And I actually have quite a bit to
say on that. I have quite a bit
to say on that.

Leif (01:51):
Okay, let's go.

Steve (01:53):
So here's the deal, folks. Leap has been a fan of
Gossip Girl since the beginning and I'm watching for the very
first time. And together we're your dynamic duo, bringing
you all the drama, romance, and
sometimes questionable fashion choices of this
iconic 2007 series.

Leif (02:11):
That's right. Each week we're going to take a deep dive into the
series one episode at a time. We're going to analyze all
the obscure references, parallels, and
of course the couture catastrophes. We're also going to talk
about behind the scenes gossip and fandom stories
along the way.

Steve (02:27):
And since we're all about inclusivity here at, ah, the
non judging breakfast podesthe, there's always room for
you at the non judging breakfast table. So go ahead
and grab your mimosa, a cup of coffee, or
some of Chuck and Nate's special medicine if it's that kind
of morning. And let's go ahead and get right into
this episode first.

Leif (02:46):
actually, we got a little cast news to talk about.
Won't be exactly news by the time you guys are listening to
this, but it was just a couple days ago that the
new Ariana Grande video came out of
featuring our own and Badgley.

Steve (03:00):
I didn't actually realize how new
that was. You had mentioned it to me just today.

Leif (03:06):
Yeah, they came out four days ago as of this recording. Oh,
okay, so it's a sort of COVID but
not a cover of the boy is mine by Monica and
Brandi, who are in the video as well. And
it's, I like, the music's not exactly
for me, but I did enjoy the video
because it was, you know, kind of a throwback. It told a
whole story and went through, like, all

(03:28):
scenario.

Steve (03:29):
It really reminded me of the old MTV days
where, where you would have, like a bit
of a movie that goes along with
the video. You, you saw it, like, with a lot of Michael
Jackson videos and a lot of the hip hop videos,
especially, like, even with, like, the break in the middle, that
was no music and just a cut scene.

(03:49):
Yeah, it really reminded me of some
classic MTV when, when
artists were really starting to try to play
with the format and, yeah, like you said, the
song wasn't really, the song wasn't for
me. You know, it's, I
wish no shade towards Ariana Grande.

(04:10):
my niece is a huge fan.

Leif (04:13):
We don't, we don't, we don't want to be killed by the grande fans.
And she got a great voice. But I had to bet I did
go back and watch the other, the Monica and
brandy version again, and
it just. Not necessarily them, but
the, the beat just had a little more junk in the trunk.

Steve (04:30):
Yeah. And that song also is one. It's going to take me
back, you know, it's always going to put me back in
college and, and I, it's always going to take me
back there. And whereas this song that I heard for
the. And I also have to be completely fair and
say it is rare for a song, the first time
I hear it, for me to be like, that's, that's
something I love. But, yeah, no shade

(04:52):
towards Ariana Grandpa. And the video
was fun. Yeah, I had a lot of
fun with that video.

Leif (04:59):
You know, after listening to the Monica brandy one
again, I was like, yeah, that is a thick beat.
And so I had to go down a little rabbit hole.

Steve (05:08):
Yeah.

Leif (05:08):
So it was actually produced by Dallas
Austin, who has worked with, who's who
of the music business. Yeah. Lionel Richie,
Madonna, MJ,
TLC, Duran Durang, West Stefani,
Pink, George Clint and George
Michael.

Steve (05:24):
Yeah, yeah.

Leif (05:25):
So admit many others. So,
yeah, he did what he was doing.

Steve (05:30):
It's, it's also interesting that
this video was, came
out right before we are
shooting this particular episode because
it did have all of the Batman,
themed.
You know, no Batman, but it was a
very Gotham themed. Yeah.

Leif (05:51):
So definitely a catwoman.

Steve (05:52):
Yeah, definitely a catwoman.

Leif (05:54):
Was Penn playing
Christopher Walken's character from,
bat Mary terence.

Steve (06:01):
Oh, I mean, I just.
Oh, maybe I was seeing it more
as the more recent, like.
Yeah, but maybe.

Leif (06:11):
Maybe I kind of felt he was
channeling that kind of character.

Steve (06:16):
I see it now that you mention it.

Leif (06:18):
So enough, about Ariana Grande,
the lovely woman she is. Happy 30th
birthday. But we are here to talk about Gossip
Girl, and we're.

Steve (06:28):
Indeed.

Leif (06:28):
Yeah, we're going to talk about season two, episode three. Yeah, the
Dark Knight.

Steve (06:32):
The Dark Knight. A reference I definitely
get.

Leif (06:36):
it's the Christopher Nolan's Batman movie, the second in his trilogy.

Steve (06:39):
Yeah, yeah. And also just, you
know, at which this would have been around that time,
but also the dark knight just being a
Batman reference. anyway, I have
a tattoo of Gotham.

Leif (06:52):
The original air date was September 15,
2008, and the
tv.com episode description reads,
serena and Dan are trapped in an elevator during
citywide blackouthenne making them work out their
differences. Marcus and Blair have problems of
their own, which is passion. While Chuck problem is
having no passion with women other than Blair.

(07:14):
Nate struggles with his feelings for Vanessa and Katherine.

Steve (07:17):
Yeah, I don't think he
really does, but I don't think it's that he's struggling
with his feelings. I think he's
struggling with a situation.

Leif (07:27):
As, the episode was written by John
Stevens. This is his first episode of Gossip
Girl. Also, has written for Gilmore
Girls, the OC, Gotham, and
Pennyworth.

Steve (07:39):
Yeah. I actually have been meaning to watch Pennyworth
just because I like the concept of it.

Leif (07:44):
Yeah.

Steve (07:45):
Have, you seen it?

Leif (07:46):
No. Janice Cook is back. She
previously directed all about my brother in season one, which
we both gave a b minus.

Steve (07:53):
Yeah, that was. That was when Georgina
outed Eric.

Leif (07:57):
Right. And Ashere and all
that.

Steve (08:00):
Yeah.

Leif (08:01):
Jenny's party.

Steve (08:02):
Yeah. Not a terrible episode, but also
not. Yeah, I mean, b minus episode.

Leif (08:07):
I thought this was definitely a big improvement from the last
few weeks.

Steve (08:11):
Yes. Oh, yeah. From the m. From the last
two weeks. Yes. Over season one. No, but,
like.

Leif (08:17):
Yeah, this. This episode, I think,
could have fit just as well.
Many episodes in season one.

Steve (08:24):
Yeah. Yeah. I I. Like, I thought this was the first
one that felt like they were.
It felt like they were trying again.

Leif (08:33):
So I was thinking about it today after I rewatched
it in season one of the
OC. They had this whole mini season
before, like. Cause they. They ran seven episodes
in this during the summer, right?

Steve (08:48):
Yes.

Leif (08:48):
And then. And then they came. They came back, like, two, like a month and a
half later.

Steve (08:52):
Yeah.

Leif (08:52):
For the rest of the season.
And that was. It was like a whole mini arc before they got to school.

Steve (08:57):
Yeah.

Leif (08:57):
And it's like, a lot happened in that arc.

Steve (09:00):
I remember this. I remember.

Leif (09:02):
I kind of feel like they're trying to recreate that with the
Hamptons, but it was just too short. It was only two
episodes. So, like, you had dance Serena get
together and break up, like.

Steve (09:13):
Right.

Leif (09:13):
Like, there's, like, all these mini arcs that.

Steve (09:16):
Yeah.

Leif (09:16):
Over two episodes.

Steve (09:17):
Yeah. And. Yeah.

Leif (09:18):
It just didn't work right.

Steve (09:20):
Yes.

Leif (09:21):
And now they're back to the city, and I.
Yeah, I will talk about the grade when we get there, but, yeah, I definitely thought
this episode was better.

Steve (09:28):
I agree that I liked this episode.

Leif (09:31):
Yeah. The heat wave was funny. You know, those days in the city
are all those.

Steve (09:35):
Oh, yeah.

Leif (09:36):
The dog days of summer.

Steve (09:37):
The makeup. Kudos to the makeup department.
And maybe they were just out in the city sweating it up
like that. But the way that they had, like,
that, that you. You looked at them, and it's
like they were glistening. Like they were out
in this city in the summer.
Yeah. I really thought.

Leif (09:56):
I thought it was always in specific
areas that they were glistening. I
mean, sweat gathers, and it was
cheeks and boobs. And I thought to
myself, someone had the job that week of making
sure Serena's tits were always glistening.

Steve (10:11):
the. Where I really noticed at first, though, was
Dan's neck was the back of his neck.
But the. The close ups were definitely,
like. I mean, you know, moisture
gathers in
crevices. Right. That's the most.
That's the most disgusting thing I've said on this show, I think,
but, yeah.

Leif (10:31):
Like, because, you know, shooting for an episode usually lasts,
like, ten days or so.

Steve (10:36):
Yeah.

Leif (10:36):
So someone for those ten days had the job of
making sure that she was glistening. Jessica and Blake were
glistening at all times.

Steve (10:43):
Yeah. the other time I noticed it, though,
was Blair. When she comes in
from outside and she's trying to. She's trying to hit
that, and I also noticed
it. I just really thought that stood out to
me. Yeah. I felt the heat in that
episode.

Leif (11:01):
So moving into act one
in the last hazy days of summer, a few simple
tips to beat the heat. One, drink plenty
of fluids. Two, stay out of the sun.
Three, limit all physical activity.
That is, within reason. Gossip girl
narrates a montage. Chuck is drinking

(11:21):
alone, Jenny is running errands, and Dan and
Serena are making out.

Steve (11:26):
Yep. Yeah. I mean, that sums it
up.

Leif (11:30):
Blair is trying to get busy with Marcus, but the
old limey doesn't have what it takes to come out
and.

Steve (11:36):
Play Robin right off the bat
with this one to end it with the forehead
kiss. Like, to have this really sweet, like, you know, you're
more to me than that, and I don't want to rush things, and I want to think
of you as this delicate flower, which also is kind of,
but like, to go through all of that, but then
to end it with the creepy forehead kiss

(11:57):
from this, you know, 32 year
old. Yeah.

Leif (12:02):
We see Jenny struggling under all the stuff she is
carrying while talking on the phone with Vanessa. They
are discussing whether Vanessa should call Nate or not.

Steve (12:10):
I love Jenny's advice here. I love
how she's just like, will it. Will it
sound creepy?

Leif (12:17):
Yeah.

Steve (12:17):
Yeah, it will. It will you. Yes.
But that's what you do. Like, you're. You're fucking Vanessa.
Go be Vanessa and stop being this. And I
thought that was great.

Leif (12:27):
Now Katherine is dressing Nate like he is her son.
Last week, I wondered whether this relationship getting worse.
This week's writer, John Stevens, says, hold my beer.

Steve (12:36):
Hold his fucking beer.
Dressing him up like a, boy
toy. Like a, fucking head doll.

Leif (12:44):
So gross.

Steve (12:45):
Oh, my God. And, yeah.
Oh, my. And. And it's funny because, like, when I mentioned that to
Robin, her first response was like, oh, well, you
know, well, she's dressing him the way that she wants him to
look for, like, the man she wants. But I was
also like, but she's taking him shopping the
way a, mom takes their kids shopping for the first

(13:05):
day of school to do it. Like, it was
so gross. Weird.
Yeah.

Leif (13:11):
Nate gets a call from Vanessa and makes plans to hang
out with her. Sure this will go great.

Steve (13:17):
Yeah, we've. We've seen Nate lie
before and kind of
drown in his lies before,
and this time he turns around. Like,
you can tell. It's like that disdain that he actually has
is building for Catherine or already has, where he just turns like, oh,
it's my mom. Doesn't blink an eye,
doesn't have any hesitation, and

(13:39):
just lies straight out and
is just cool with it.

Leif (13:44):
And, well, in this case, I don't blame him.

Steve (13:45):
No, not at all. Not at all. It's just
that he never thinks through his lies. And this
one was like he didn't need to, but, like,
no hesitation.

Leif (13:56):
Dan and Serena are walking down the street and discussing
announcing their relationship status. However, it looks
like their secret is going to get out as a random
person snaps a photo of the pair kissing on the
sidewalk.

Steve (14:09):
Yeah, I'll start now by saying
that this whole Dan and
Serena episode annoyed the
shit out of me. Like. Like, all of it.
And. And it started here, where it's
like, Serena lives in the fucking spotlight.
She. She has. The reason you know

(14:29):
her is because you saw her at a party and
recognized her out of everybody else because she's always in the
fucking spotlight. And you've been watching her in the spotlight
creepily for a year.

Leif (14:40):
That was before Gossip Girl.

Steve (14:42):
Yeah. I I'm. But I'm saying.

Leif (14:43):
Well, but that was before the entity of Gossip
Girl.

Steve (14:46):
When was the entity of Gossip girl?

Leif (14:49):
Pretty soon after that.

Steve (14:50):
Interesting. But my point still being that,
like, prior to this relationship,
Serena had lived a very public life.
Yeah. And. And that's how he knew
so much about her to begin with. Like, he had
doeb because.

Leif (15:07):
But apparently he did not know anything about her.

Steve (15:10):
Yeah. I guess it's the
whole thing with.

Leif (15:14):
The relationship is he put her on a pedestal, and then
once when he got to actually know her, he realized
he really.

Steve (15:20):
She was a human fucking be.

Leif (15:21):
Yeah.

Steve (15:22):
And. And a human being that is. That. That
has mean, you know,
means well beyond
his. And. Yeah, I
was with the one girl.

Leif (15:34):
Another week, and we get another cameo. This time it's
former America's Next Top model contestant and
Mark Lee. Chuck is walking her out of the
penthouse and promises to call her later when he's feeling
better. Chuck gets the blast about DNS
kissing.

Steve (15:50):
But it's like, why is Chuck irritated by this? Like, what?
What? Chuck seems irritated by the.
By the gossip girl blast, but, like, what stake do
you have in dan and Serena?

Leif (16:00):
Oh, he just doesn't like Dan.

Steve (16:02):
Yeah, but, like, it was. I.
Like, I felt like the jenny and blair reactions
made more sense. I thought Chuck. It's like, what does Chuck
care? Nate. I think nate could have cared, but
he.

Leif (16:14):
Well, he just cares about serena, and he thinks that Dan's bad
for. Yeah,
that's what the show's trying to tell you, is chuck cares
about serena as a sister, and he thinks this is the
wrong decision.

Steve (16:29):
Yeah.

Leif (16:29):
Which it is.

Steve (16:30):
Yeah.

Leif (16:32):
As we find out.

Steve (16:33):
Yeah.

Leif (16:35):
Maybe, that's what the show is trying
to.

Steve (16:38):
I know. Yeah. I'm just.

Leif (16:40):
Blair also gets the blast and is.

Steve (16:42):
Disgusted, and that made sense to me,
especially when she explains herself later
on. I love the best friend. Tough love later
on.

Leif (16:51):
Yeah. She had good advice.

Steve (16:53):
Yeah.

Leif (16:54):
Jay runs back into the loft to hug and congratulate
Dan. Rufus asks Dan if he worked out his issues
with Serena yet, and Dan.

Steve (17:01):
Lies that he has, and Rufus seems
to see through that, too. Yeah, Rufus can tell.
Like, oh, yeah, great son.

Leif (17:09):
yeah, he does his son, likes to avoid those conversations.
Vanessa and Nate are being cute walking down the
street. However, Catherine is spying from her limo.

Steve (17:19):
Yeah, venates. they're cute.
I just coined that one. I don't know if someone else did.
One eight, sir.
Yeah, I think.

Leif (17:28):
I think their official ship name is Natesa.

Steve (17:31):
Natesa.

Leif (17:32):
Let's see.

Steve (17:33):
See, like. But, like, she is
already, like, bossy of his time. And, like,
you know, like, oh, you have family stuff again.
It's like, I do have family stuff.

Leif (17:44):
This. This is, like, now Lex Luthor status, though.

Steve (17:47):
Yeah, yeah.

Leif (17:49):
Hailing in the limo.

Steve (17:50):
Yeah, yeah. Jesus Christ.

Leif (17:53):
Blair and serena, are prepping for the party. They
discuss eleanor meeting Marcus for the first time.
Serena tries to get blair to ask serena about
serena and dan getting back together. Blair finally
relents and asks serena the same question. Ruth as dan,
serena is a little more honest.

Steve (18:10):
Yeah, a ah.

Leif (18:10):
Little more.

Steve (18:11):
Yeah. And like I said, blair's response.
Okay, you guys talk through all of your stuff, and if you're
still happy, then I will be happy for
you. And fair.

Leif (18:22):
Yeah. Blair gets a call from katherine asking
about who nate was with. These. These
ladies are scheming.

Steve (18:30):
She lives in
brooklyn. The way
she says, that is so
great.

Leif (18:38):
Nate comes over to the penthouse to. And finds
Chuck in a robe, smoking a joint. Nate
changed his mind about Chuck's money, but it's too late. Chuck
has reinvested. Chuck once again
mentions some kind of ailment. Whatever it is,
japanese takeout seems to be the cure.

Steve (18:55):
Yeah, I, called right then and
there. I was like, chuck can't get enough.
I like when he. Yeah, like,
Chuck can't get it up.

Leif (19:08):
Oh. Back at
the atelier, Jenny is busting her butt trying to get
ahead in the fashion world. Jenny notices something off
about the dress she is fitting to the model, but Laurel
just slaps her down. Lie away, little
J. Lie away?

Steve (19:24):
Yeah, right here. This scene. You
see the plotline of this
play out? You know, it. It is
a very obvious take. I end up
liking it a lot.

Leif (19:37):
Anyway, cliches are cliche for a reason.

Steve (19:40):
Yeah, well, I was having this conversation earlier.
They're familiar, and they feel good.
And the. But, like, Laurel
is such an asshole.
Yeah, like, all the time. And I was like, jenny,
like, lil J, you chose this.
This was your decision. You were like, oh, I could
go work for the cameo from

(20:03):
two weeks ago, but no, I'm going to choose to work
under these conditions instead. And Laurel
didn't change at all. She's like, oh,
thank you for staying. Now know your fucking place.

Leif (20:16):
Dan and Serena are walking in the park, but Serena gets a
call. Dan is taken to task by a trio of middle
school girls dressed in PW uniforms.
This scene was Joshua absolutely reading the
message boards and turning those posts into dialogue on the
show, and Dan and Serena are still avoiding the real
conversation.

Steve (20:34):
I loved it. I absolutely.
I loved it. I loved these little junior
Upper east siders. And honestly, if Josh
Schwartz wants to throw in the forum
comments into his show
regularly by throwing those girls
in, I am here for it. I
am totally here for it. I loved

(20:56):
it.

Leif (20:56):
It was.

Steve (20:57):
I was also with. When they're like, we're
all on your side, it's, like, not me. And I
was like, yeah, little girl. Cause, like, he's a
fucking dumbass.

Leif (21:08):
But it's kind of interesting. Who was on his side?

Steve (21:11):
The little girl that looked like. That looked like the
blair? Yeah. Oh, yeah. Was she? I
thought she had, like, blue eyes, but she had the headband.

Leif (21:19):
Yeah, she had the head.

Steve (21:20):
She had the headband. Yep. I've come to
realize the headband. The
significance of the headband now.

Leif (21:28):
That's why I said they were there. BW uniforms.

Steve (21:30):
Yeah.

Leif (21:31):
Yeah, the Blair waldroph uniform. Nate and
Vanessa are about to kiss, but are interrupted by multiple texts from
Katherine. Blair walks in flowers and
sunshine. However, Nate and Vanessa see through Blair
immediately. When Vanessa walks away, Blair easily
maneuvers Nate into bringing Vanessa to the party. Classic
divide and conquer. Nathan, you are
the weakest leak.

Steve (21:52):
It was. I loved this scene. I
loved how they were both like, wait, you came down here
to invite me to a party? Like, how they both saw through it,
but I loved how when Vanessa walks away and
Nate, And they start, like, whisper
arguing, and he's like, and what? Your plan is to
distract me with Vanessa? Yes. Well, that just

(22:12):
seems really nice for one of your plans. Hey,
let's. What is she? And she says, don't be offensive.
As far as your plans go, it's kind of nice.
Don't be offensive.

Leif (22:26):
Yeah, that's pretty good. I waited to get it. look at a little shot
of vitamin water.

Steve (22:30):
Yeah.

Leif (22:31):
Blair calls Katherine to let her know that the plan
is on, but her bedroom floor is off limits.
Blair, does that mean she's free to fucking your bed?

Steve (22:41):
Yeah. And Blair, would it. Would it.

Leif (22:42):
Why would you say my. My room is off limits?

Steve (22:45):
Yeah. Yeah. Why is it just the floor?
You also have, like, a couch in there. Yeah, I'm pretty
sure that stuff started.

Leif (22:52):
Yeah.

Steve (22:53):
Which I would personally. I'd rather them fuck on
my floor.

Leif (22:57):
Yeah.

Steve (22:58):
Any other place in my room. And. Yeah,
and it was also, like, Blair, what did you do? Like,
what? Like, now Nate is the
casualty and.

Leif (23:08):
Like, that Larry doesn't care.

Steve (23:10):
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Sometimes she has an inkling of who's gonna be
a casualty. Right. Like, she. She cared when
Eric was the. Was the accidental casualt.

Leif (23:21):
He's a civilian.

Steve (23:22):
Right. Well, yeah. All right,
facts. Fair. Fair.

Leif (23:28):
Nate's in the game.

Steve (23:29):
Yeah, he is. I mean, I can't argue that.

Leif (23:32):
And, that is the end of the first act. We move into act
two. Serena rise back at the penthouse to
see the flight attendant having. Leaving while
Chuck pours himself a glass of whiskey,
neat. Chuck admits that he is having a problem in
the bedroom. Chuck glass used Blair as
sexual drain out.

Steve (23:49):
he's tried everything from the erotic to the
pharmaceutical. Yeah.

Leif (23:54):
And he doesn't have a romantic bone in his body.
Especially that one.

Steve (23:58):
Yeah, especially that one. And,
man, Chuck, you're so fucking
gross. Like, you're so gross.
Yeah.

Leif (24:07):
So, yeah, we. We get the. The best and the worst of
Chuck in this episode.

Steve (24:10):
Yeah, we really do.

Leif (24:12):
You get the super quippy, hilarious line
one liners, but then you also get the creepy Batman
rapist.

Steve (24:18):
Yeah, yeah, we get, like, the fucking.
Yeah.

Leif (24:23):
Eleanor walks into the atelier just as
Jenny was questioning Eleanor's design. didn't see that one
coming. Jenny tries to apologize, but it's too
late. Eleanor, already grumpy from her
transatlantic flight, promptly fires
Jenny.

Steve (24:37):
I love Margaret Collins in this whole
episode. She is.

Leif (24:41):
And I love all their seas together.

Steve (24:43):
Yeah, I want more of that. They are
two powerhouses just really
acting up a storm together. They're
amazing.

Leif (24:52):
I love that we got some more layers to Ella this
episode. She opened up the jetty in a way we haven't seen
before.

Steve (24:59):
Yeah, and that scene where it's like
this intern is shitting on my stuff,
like that.

Leif (25:06):
Biggest fear.

Steve (25:07):
Yeah, exactly. And like, to fire her. She's
completely in her right, and she acted like a. Like
a strong boss. And when she
comes in and she fires her and she even says, I'll give
you the letter of recommendation, you still get the
letter of recommendation from me. Your job here is
done.

Leif (25:25):
Yeah.

Steve (25:25):
Like, she.

Leif (25:27):
People around here I can trust.

Steve (25:28):
Yeah. I had so much respect for
her in that scene as a
boss. She showed me, like,
CEO boss, you know?
And whereas Laurel has just
shown, like, just asshole.
Yeah. Just. Just. I'm going to stomp you in the dirt, and
I'm going to just bully you. Whereas,

(25:51):
like, Margaret Collins was more
brutal on Jenny by firing
her but just didn't do it with any kind
of anything other than just business.

Leif (26:01):
There's no vindictiveness, like, with Laurel.

Steve (26:04):
Yeah, it wasn't, Yeah, I loved it.
Yeah, I thought she just. She sold me on that.

Leif (26:11):
Nate runs it to Marcus. Out on the streets. Nate discovers
that Catherine is coming. Nate quickly leaves a
voicemail for Vanessa. I'd inviting her to.

Steve (26:19):
Goddamn it, Nate. Oh,
I promise I won't do this thing. And then he does it, and it's
like. And Vanessa's response when
she's talking to Rufus in the next scene where she says,
like, I can handle this. Like, I can take it. Like,
vanessa's seen shit. Like, Vanessa knows
and shit.

Leif (26:37):
Vanessa gets the voice valve just in time for Rufus to enter the
lock with an air conditioner. Vanessa opens up to Rufus,
battle frauds with Rufus, or, sorry, with Nate.
Dan walks in on Vanessa, says
she will meet him at the party. So
more weird scenes with, Rufus and Vanessa.

Steve (26:55):
Yeah. Yeah.

Leif (26:56):
I was really worried he was gonna say, vanessa is
gonna be my date. We could double date
Dan.

Steve (27:02):
Yeah. Yeah. yeah, I'll go with Vanessa.
Yeah. Yeah.

Leif (27:06):
And the woman that he did end up dating looked a
little like Vanessa.

Steve (27:11):
A little bit. I can see it. I
did like his advice to her, though, when he's, like, when
she. When he said, well, you can do x, y, and z, and she's like, that
is the mature, grown up response.
Well, if you want to do the immature thing, you can just
pretend you never got that message and show up anyway.
And it was like, I liked

(27:31):
it. Yeah.

Leif (27:33):
We have arrived at the party of the week.
All the principals are arriving. Chuck and Blair trade
barbs. Chuck goes full into full
Batman mode and starts grinding on Blair right
in the middle of the party.

Steve (27:45):
Subtle.

Leif (27:48):
So creepy.

Steve (27:49):
Like, it's so creepy, but also, like,
you're. She's just, like, letting this happen.
Yeah. And, like, letting him, like,
whisper things into her ear that are just
so erotic. And
it's like. Like, guys,
you're, like, at the middle of a fucking party you're throwing.

(28:09):
Yeah.

Leif (28:10):
Dan picks up Serena at the pass, but things seem off
between these two lovebirds.

Steve (28:15):
Yeah. They clearly
just have nothing left to talk about other than their
issues, which they're avoiding talking about.

Leif (28:23):
Back at the party, Nate confronts Blair, who
doesn't deny helping Catherine to set him and Vanessa
up.

Steve (28:30):
I don't like sharing my toys,
especially when I've paid for
them.
She is so disgusting.
Yeah. oh.

Leif (28:41):
So bad.

Steve (28:42):
Oh, my God.

Leif (28:43):
Can this story end?

Steve (28:44):
Please, like. And, like, I don't even care if she
doesn't go to jail. I would love for her to just end it, just
like, with her losing fucking everything. Like, I feel like
that, but I feel like it's gonna end with her just going
away and, probably coming back at some
point.

Leif (28:59):
Then Katherine comes and gets way too handsy
with Nate. He threatens to break up with her
and he her. And Katherine instantly
plays the victim and starts apologizing. She is just
pulling right from the abusers handbook now.
Vanessa walks in and sees Dane, Catherine holding hands.
And then Howard goes out and all of manhattan.

Steve (29:19):
Yeah, she's so gross. Vanessa sees it
and he's like, fuck. But, like, she's so
gross. She's so, like, the whole,
like, trying to turn the tables and making it Nate's
fault and like, oh, it was just.

Leif (29:33):
We move into act three. Blair
brings out the candles and tells everyone to remain
calm.

Steve (29:39):
No one goes outside in a blackout.
Well, at which, actually, Robin was like, what? No one can go out? And I
was like, yeah, but it's a New York blackout. Like, there's no street
light.

Leif (29:49):
Yeah, it'd be scary.

Steve (29:50):
It would be pitch fucking black
out there. Except for headlights. Headlights would be the only thing
you would see. That sounds terrifying. Yeah.
I mean, maybe not in the Upper east side as much.

Leif (30:02):
Nate pulls Vanessa aside and explains what's.

Steve (30:04):
Been going on when Vanessa
stops and just says, tell me
everything.
Vanessa, just, in my
opinion, like, she just skyrocketed
for me. Like, that she
is as much as she, like, she's such an

(30:25):
asshole on so many occasions. She really is the
person who I feel like is the
most understanding of people
go through shit.

Leif (30:35):
And Vanessa should be a good
character.

Steve (30:39):
Yeah.

Leif (30:39):
But they just never give her a reason to exist.

Steve (30:42):
Right? Yeah. And. And I
really felt that,
like, my heart just for
Vanessa just. It was the first time that I
was really like, wow. Like, wowed
by her.

Leif (30:57):
Yeah.

Steve (30:58):
Just to stop and be like, okay,
this is super fucked up.
Tell me. And like, wow, that's.
That is a good person.

Leif (31:09):
Katherine confronts Blair about her lack of
sex life with Marcus and how it will always be that
way.

Steve (31:16):
Oh, why do you know this?
Why do you know about his sex life?

Leif (31:22):
Yeah. Well, I mean, presumably because the dad's the
same way.

Steve (31:26):
Maybe, but, like.
But why are you talking about it? Why are
you bringing. Why is.
Ew. Yeah.

Leif (31:38):
Where are they going with this?

Steve (31:39):
Yeah, you're talking to a
teenager. Yeah. Hey, you know, you're dating my
son, but I bet he doesn't plow you, does
he? Like, that's so fucked
up.
No boundaries.

Leif (31:53):
Oh, yeah, she. I mean, she. She wants to pretend she's still a teenager.

Steve (31:56):
She does. She really does.

Leif (31:57):
She's treating Blair like an equal.

Steve (31:59):
Yeah, one. One last hurrah. Before the book,
before the surgery.

Leif (32:04):
Dad and Serena are stuck in an elevator. Dan
uses the emergency phone and is pretty much told to just
hang tight. Serena points out that he should have
mentioned her name. They argue momentarily before
Dan gives in and calls. And of course, now someone
is coming right away.

Steve (32:19):
She was right. Because. Because she, for
one. Okay, Daniel,
she lives in the building like she's a tenant.
They know her like, so even aside from
the whole, like, the world stops for Serena Vanderwitson,
which. Yeah, you know what? It fucking does. And you
could love that about her. You could. You could
love that about her, but instead, you just let it bother you.

(32:42):
Fuck off, Dan. Fuck off.

Leif (32:45):
it does bother pretty much everyone,
and that's. That's where Blair big
problem, too.

Steve (32:52):
Yeah, but Serena doesn't
necessarily ask for it. Right.
I feel like Serena just goes about her life doing
Surina.

Leif (33:01):
I'm not blaming, sir.

Steve (33:02):
Yeah, no, no, I. And I. But I'm saying, like, the
people that do have a problem with it, and
Blair. Blair doesn't like it because, of course, there
is the whole. Blair's always working to be
what Serena is naturally.

Leif (33:15):
Yeah.

Steve (33:16):
Whereas. And I guess Dan kind of is, too.
But at least Blair is able to see
through that and remain best
friends with her, you know, most of the time.
Most of the time?

Leif (33:29):
Some of the time?
About, a third of the time, sure.

Steve (33:34):
But I mean, like you said from the start, like, they are the core
friendship. You know, they are the core ship.

Leif (33:40):
They were in season one. It's that. It's now the Chuck and
Blair show.

Steve (33:44):
Oh, okay. I thought that was an
ongoing thing.

Leif (33:48):
It should have been.

Steve (33:51):
Yeah, agreed.

Leif (33:52):
Jenny, broken and defeated, is about to leave her job for
the last time and presumably walk back to
Brooklyn in the middle of a blackout. However, even
Eleanor isn't that cruel and tells Jenny to stay until the
blackout is over. Oh, and as long as you're here, make yourself
useful.

Steve (34:08):
Yeah. and again, like, every scene
with.

Leif (34:11):
The two great binding, this. Yeah, this is where, you know,
they. She reveals, you know, their
insecurities to Jenny, and then Jenny, you know, comes back, you
know, gives her a little pep talk.

Steve (34:23):
What was that? This one? Yeah.
and and they just. They have great
chemistry together. They both are just
really vulnerable and
very, you know,
just. Just the communication is so
good, and just. They just play off each other so well. I loved
it.

Leif (34:43):
Back to Nate and Vanessa. Nate is begging her to
save him from his to catch a predator scenario gone
wrong. She tells him he needs to do it himself,
but she will be here when he gets back.

Steve (34:55):
again, Vanessa was great in this. Vanessa was just
understanding and loving and
caring and was just a very
empathetic person in this
episode. And I loved it.

Leif (35:08):
Blair attempts to seduce Marcus. She tells him
to meet in her bedroom, but chuck
overhears.

Steve (35:14):
Yeah. And so then we have the revenge of the nerds
setup, which. Great. Chuck
back. We're. We're inching back
to episode one. Chuck.

Leif (35:25):
Yeah. not good. Even though flair clearly knew
who it was.

Steve (35:28):
Yeah. Yeah.

Leif (35:30):
Back from commercial. We get a run in between Vanessa
and Catherine. Yes, Catherine. We do try to
forgive children when they're victims of sex crimes.

Steve (35:38):
She's so fucking dumb. She is so
dumb.

Leif (35:42):
Yes, we forgive them.

Steve (35:43):
Yeah. Oh, you just. You're just okay with
him paying or being paid by me
for sex so he can save his family?
You're okay with that?

Leif (35:54):
What is wrong with this lady?

Steve (35:56):
Ugh.

Leif (35:58):
No.

Steve (35:58):
one told her no as a kid.

Leif (36:01):
Blair is waiting in her room when Chuck enters and
imitates Marcus Saxon telling Blair to blow out her
candle. Chuck and Blair begin to get
steamy in the dark.

Steve (36:12):
The brit doing the
american doing the brit. My one note is
it must have been really difficult for him to do a
shitty british accent to try to sound
like Marcus. Yeah. My other thing about this,
and this is a, buffy thing, I went to a
panel, for. At a. At a comic book
convention years ago, and there was a buffy panel, and James

(36:34):
Marsters.

Leif (36:35):
You didn't realize he was american, did you?

Steve (36:37):
No, I did. I did know. So Spike was
on this panel, and I got in line, and I
said one of my favorite Buffy
moments was when the american guy was
pretending to be, who was acting as a british
guy pretending to be an american guy. And he's
like, I'm a friend of Xander.

(36:58):
I love that scene so much. And I got to
actually tell him that to his face.
I also asked Amber Benson what it was like to have her name
on the credits on her last episode,
but I've always wondered. That is such
a. Like, I've always been like, what a dick move of
Joss Whedon to, like, not give her an

(37:20):
opening credit until.

Leif (37:22):
Your shirt at the atelier Eleanor is
really opening up with Jenny about her
insecurities. Jenny returns the favor by opening up to the
Eleanor. She talks about how one of Eleanor's dresses
inspired Jenny to take up fashion in the first place.

Steve (37:36):
Yeah. And, yeah, this was the one that I was thinking of where. Where
they really. Where she. Where she lays that
out. That, like, And she's like, you don't have to, like,
tell me these things. She's like, no, like, you're. You're the reason I'm
here. Yeah. Like, which also,
if you think about it, really explains
we didn't know that beforehand. And it really gives a lot of

(37:57):
background as to why she turned down,
what was her name in the other episode?

Leif (38:02):
Tinsley Mortimer.

Steve (38:03):
Tinsley Mortimer. Why she turned down Tinsley
Mortimer's internship. Yeah.

Leif (38:09):
In the elevator, things are heating up with Dan, but not
in the sexy way. Like, last week, they finally admit
that they forgive each other for their sins, but Dan's issues are
going to prevent them from working as a couple.

Steve (38:20):
They had the time to sit and
discuss. Yeah.

Leif (38:24):
They were forced to finally, finally work it out.

Steve (38:26):
Yeah. And they. And that was my thing is
that, like, for one, I felt like the catalyst was kind
of dumb. Like, the. Tell the people
that the name of the person in the
elevator because she lives there, but, like, they could
have worked it out and they decided to
just not talk and just,
like, ignore it. And that bothered me because there was.

Leif (38:49):
That period of they both knew is not
right.

Steve (38:52):
And that's why.

Leif (38:53):
That's why they didn't want to talk.

Steve (38:54):
Yeah. I don't know. I feel like there was.
I feel. I feel like if Dan wasn't such a pretentious
dick, there was anything.

Leif (39:02):
They're both who they are, so it's just, they are not right at this.
At least at this time.

Steve (39:07):
Yeah, I get that. But also, like, I think Dan's an idiot.

Leif (39:10):
Oh, yeah, he's definitely an idiot. He's
judgmental.

Steve (39:13):
Yeah. If Dan could get over his shit, like you
said in. In. In your.
In your scene by scene, like, if Dan could get
over his shit, then they could work
it out.

Leif (39:25):
Yeah.

Steve (39:26):
It's Dan just being too wrapped up
in his own judgmental shit.

Leif (39:31):
Nate is looking for Vanessa, but finds Katherine
instead. The lights come back on and it
looks like Nate is still trapped.

Steve (39:39):
Yeah. I don't think I even had a note for this
because they just. Yeah, yeah.

Leif (39:44):
Just end the story already, please.
Marcus enters players river to fight. Find, her getting hot
and heavy with Chucky boy.

Steve (39:52):
I mean, she looks guilty. Yeah.
And it also makes me realize Chuck doesn't get punched
enough.

Leif (39:58):
Yeah, he should get punched more.

Steve (39:59):
Yeah, like. Like, it should be, like, an episode
activity, like the weekly punching of Chuck,
but. But, it was nice to see him get punched.

Leif (40:08):
Although Marcus looked like deranged.

Steve (40:11):
Marcus look like what?

Leif (40:12):
You look deranged.

Steve (40:13):
Oh, yeah. Yeah. Well, I I believe that
that was because the guy playing Marcus is not
a very good actor. Yeah, but that.
That could be me.

Leif (40:25):
But, yeah, he looked, like, super sweaty, and his eyes were, like, all
sucking in and, like.

Steve (40:29):
Yeah.

Leif (40:29):
Just looking sickly almost.

Steve (40:31):
Yeah.

Leif (40:32):
So that is the end of act three. We move into the epilogue.
Blair tells Marcus that she thought Chuck was
him. Chuck claims Blair knew exactly who
it was. And then Marcus steps in and punches
Chuck and storms out.

Steve (40:46):
Well, my bad. That's where you get punched.
Yeah, but it doesn't get punched enough.

Leif (40:51):
Blair follows after him, and Marcus demands
the truth in front of all the guests. Blair admits that
she did know his chuck, that it was Marcus just wasn't
making shit happen. Marcus is
having his manhunt challenge immediately rises to the bait
and plants a big, fat smooch on Blair.
Chuck is forced to look on in defeat.

Steve (41:12):
So, I mean, it's another Chuck scheme
backfiring. Yeah, because it only pushed
them closer together. But also, like, couple of
things that just. First of all, the fact that Blair
was like, you need to have sex with me now at this
party. And he was like, let's not
at this party right now. And she's like, no.

(41:32):
And then, like, well, I get the.

Leif (41:34):
Sense that this has been building up, but, yeah, it
kind of showed that it's, you know, she's been antsy for, like, a week
or two now.

Steve (41:40):
Yeah, we do get that impression. And, like, you know,
the whole, like, chuck pushing it over the edge thing
by their whole encounter, the whispering,
but for it to end with him being like,
okay, I'll show you. And I'm going to just make out with you right here
in front of all these people. And it's like, it was
such a.

Leif (41:58):
Nineties, early 2000 macho type thing.

Steve (42:01):
It really was.

Leif (42:02):
And you're gonna challenge my manhood?

Steve (42:04):
Yeah. And, like, okay, I'll show
you how passionate I am. And it was like,
yeah, yeah, I didn't buy it. Like,
Chuck. It didn't look like it. It looked like
you're backfired. But, just give it a week.

Leif (42:21):
Nate catches Vanessa just as she is leaving.
Vanessa tearfully tells Nate that he should be with
katherine. Katherine slips Nate a hotel
card and tells him to meet her tomorrow.

Steve (42:34):
I really felt for Vanessa and Nate in this scene,
too. Like, vanessa really looks
upset and really looks hurt, and I
felt for her and all, but, like, with Nate, like,
really? You want me to be with her?
Okay, I
guess. Vanessa says I should keep being with you for
the money. Like, come on. Come on,

(42:55):
chase. You're better than that.

Leif (42:57):
Jenny is getting ready to leave now that the power is
back. Good dad. Rufus shows up, date in tow,
to pick up jenny. Eleanor reinstates jenny
and immediately puts Jenny, Rufus, and Rufus date
to work.

Steve (43:11):
Robin even pointed out I wasn't supposed to mention her name
again. I told her I'll give her a second shout out when she starts watching the
show.
but, she pointed out that, like,
everyone is Eleanor's gopher too.
Like, can your dad just go pick us up some takeout?
And, his friend here, if she can get the drinks and if, just,

(43:31):
like, sending people out for food that you just
met.

Leif (43:34):
Yes. Ah, it extends to other people later in later
seasons, too.

Steve (43:38):
I thought it was so great, and I felt like,
again, it felt. She
sells it, though. And if Eleanor Waldorf
turned to me and said, hey, I need you
to go get me chinese food, I don't think I could say
no.

Leif (43:53):
The power is back on, and Dan and Serena
are saying goodbye. It looks like the OG
golden couple is not meant to be.
Dan just needs to get over his issues, because as we see
the door close, Serena declares that she loves
Daniel.

Steve (44:09):
Yeah. And, like, Dan, you're just
as fucking dumb as the end of season one. And,
like. And really, it was like, what was
the purpose of this little three episode
epilogue? Why did you put us all through this
again?

Leif (44:23):
Yeah, it should have just moved on.

Steve (44:25):
And honestly, I'm not. I I'm
not completely sold that this is done,
because I feel like it sometimes takes them
three episodes to break up in this show.

Leif (44:37):
Yeah. Well, of course. The next episode is called the x
Files. Chuck has Ann Markley in the back
of his limo, eager, for round two. She seems
ready to go, but Chuck rises. He only wants to be with
Blair. Oh, Chuck.
Now stop being a sex pass and be a decent
person.

Steve (44:57):
Yeah, and also fucking rude.
My note there is fucking rude.

Leif (45:03):
Yeah, she was just trying to get her not.

Steve (45:06):
Yeah. And he's like. And he's like, oh, I am all
better, just not for you. Like, oh, you
dick.

Leif (45:13):
You, can at least go down on her.

Steve (45:14):
Yeah, like, make it worth her while.

Leif (45:19):
Back in Brooklyn. Dan investor. Bemoaning their
respective failed relationships, Vanessa reveals
Catherine threatened to reveal the captain's locations of the
FBI if Nate leaves her. Is Nate's dick
actually the fountain of youth? Surely there are other.
There are other attractive young men in New York that would be all too
happy to sleep with Katherine. Why is she so
thirsty that she has to resort to

(45:41):
bribing and blackmailing
teenagers? Note the pluralization of
teenagers now.

Steve (45:47):
Yeah. Yes. She's now
blackmailing multiple teenagers. And,
like, yeah, you know, she might
turn in Nate's dad, but what about, like, the
sex trafficking and soliciting of a minor
that she's doing? Like, she. You've got stuff on
her, too, Vanessa. And also, please don't do
the damn Vanessa. I, keep seeing it coming

(46:10):
like this fucking freight train.

Leif (46:13):
I like this scene, though. I thought it was a good friendship scene.

Steve (46:15):
I, thought it was a great friendship scene. I'm worried about it getting
romantic. I just feel like they were definitely.

Leif (46:20):
Hot and sweaty together.

Steve (46:21):
Yeah. And they're all gonna fuck.

Leif (46:22):
And why wouldn't they? They all look great.

Steve (46:24):
Like, why wouldn't any of them? Why don't they all
just have a big cess tuple? Yeah. And just
call it a day.

Leif (46:31):
Yep.

Steve (46:31):
Just. Just live in a, big fucking
beach house together and make the most
beautiful babies. All of them. Yeah.

Leif (46:40):
But that is our episode. So, any
predictions?

Steve (46:43):
I guess that's a little more small.
It's a little more Chloe from small
bill.
Anyway, predictions? the Dan Vanessa
ship seems like it's coming closer. I keep
feeling like they're trying to set that up.

Leif (47:02):
So, any guesses on what's
going on with Marcus? Why he doesn't. Why
he doesn't like to have sex with his girlfriend?

Steve (47:11):
the fact that you had brought up. Did
you bring up his dad? Like, maybe that she knows it? Cause
his dad's like that.
but, you know, I. There's the.
The thought of, is this. Is he an asexual
character? Like, is that a thing that they're going to bring
into the show and discuss? That would be
cool, but I feel like it's probably some kind of

(47:33):
royal snobbery or some kind of stuff like
that. Or maybe he doesn't want to go to jail
as, like, a 32 year old sleeping
with a 17 year old.

Leif (47:45):
It's New York. It's all good.

Steve (47:47):
It's New York.

Leif (47:50):
It's even. I think it's 16 in
Pennsylvania.

Steve (47:54):
It is. Well, it is,
but there are certain like, other
caveats to that, like police and,
like, teachers and certain, like,
professions that it is actually still, like,
illegal lords.
That's why I brought it up, because it is
typically things where it is positions of

(48:16):
power that make it
illegal. But this also doesn't seem like that's, like, a
profession. Like, he's in a position of
power, but I feel like it's one of
those positions of power that would make it
disgustingly easy to get
away with doing this, which,
like, unity. Yeah. Yeah.

Leif (48:44):
Let's go ahead and get into some segments
we're gonna go to this week in fandom. jumped into the
wayback machine to check out the television without pity
forums, and I'm here with my boy Steve. Say hello,
Steve.

Steve (48:56):
Hey, what's up, everybody?

Leif (49:01):
Not. Not a rocky aboical fan.

Steve (49:04):
Not a what?

Leif (49:05):
Rocky aboical fan.

Steve (49:06):
Not really. Like, a little bit, but, like,
not. Not much.

Leif (49:10):
Yeah, that's the line from the, Peabody.
Hello, there. Peabody here.

Steve (49:16):
And this is the wayback machine for traveling through time.
And this is my boy Sherman. Speak.
Sherman. Hello. Good boy.

Leif (49:24):
Oh.

Steve (49:25):
Oh, bye. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Leif (49:27):
So in the forums, chuck and
Blair are fire. Like.
Yeah, they were, they were wet in their panties
on the forums for Chuck and Blair.

Steve (49:37):
Yeah, I get it.

Leif (49:39):
I mean, like, the scenes were sexy.

Steve (49:41):
Yeah. And he sure can whisper.

Leif (49:44):
Yes.

Steve (49:44):
Very inevitably.

Leif (49:45):
Very talented. Whisper that.

Steve (49:47):
Very odd, talented, inaudible whisperer.

Leif (49:50):
Get good with his mouth.

Steve (49:52):
Honestly, it is such a great. It is such
a cliche, but such a great, like,
where you have the guy whisper
into the ear and the woman, like,
visually note, like. Like it because, like.
Because the thing is, is that no man actually knows what they're
saying when they're doing.

Leif (50:11):
Like.

Steve (50:12):
Like, we're all like, whoa, that guy pulled it all.

Leif (50:14):
More vibes from Rufus of Vanessa.
Yeah, we noted that. Yeah, well,
Marcus has a bad accent and no chemistry with Layton.

Steve (50:23):
Yep. Zero chemistry. Terrible accent.
Yeah. I think that the no chemistry was by design,
though. I feel like it is because
they're trying to make this
non passionate, this passion
free relationship. I'm. That that might
have been by design.

Leif (50:44):
Majority of the people were happy about Stanis arena breaking
up.

Steve (50:47):
Dumb. Majority of the people are dumb.

Leif (50:52):
They're clearly not working.

Steve (50:54):
I know, I know, I know. But I feel like. But I'm
mad.

Leif (50:57):
And they were never work. They were never going to work.

Steve (51:00):
I know, but I still. I'm mad that
Dan can't grow up. Let me have
that. Let me have that.

Leif (51:07):
The problem started before they even started dating, though.

Steve (51:10):
Yeah.

Leif (51:11):
It's because he put her on a pedestal
and then couldn't make sure that she was not that person.

Steve (51:17):
Yeah. Yep.

Leif (51:18):
But, you know, he's a teenager. He'll learn. Hopefully.

Steve (51:21):
Yeah. Yeah.

Leif (51:22):
People actually like Vanessa for once.

Steve (51:24):
Yeah. She was. She. She was great in this
episode as a human being and as a
person. Her acting was
on par for Vanessa, but, like,
which, not to shit on her acting, I think that she
just always plays Vanessa, you know? But, like,
I thought that her. She was really well written this
episode.

Leif (51:44):
They were definitely all swooning over
Chuck, and no one was really buying the
nervous penis storyline.

Steve (51:51):
Oh. You know, I mean,
I think that makes so much sense for a Chuck
storyline. Like, I think that, And,
yeah, I find it to be completely believable.

Leif (52:02):
He's 17.

Steve (52:04):
Yeah. But they also don't really portray them as
teenagers all the time. Right. Like, they make
them have grown up problems
a lot.

Leif (52:13):
Yeah. I don't really buy it.
When I was 17, a slight breeze got me
there.

Steve (52:20):
Yes. I mean, you're not
wrong.

Leif (52:23):
I just move it around that. Those silk boxes
I'm sure he wears.

Steve (52:27):
Yeah, I know. Yeah.

Leif (52:28):
I'd be hard constantly.

Steve (52:29):
Yeah. Yeah.

Leif (52:31):
And then also much more positive about
Jenny's storyline this season compared with last season.
Yeah, I agree.

Steve (52:38):
Yeah.

Leif (52:38):
I like her being ambitious in a
career oriented rather than being. Trying to be a mean
girl.

Steve (52:44):
Yeah. Yeah.

Leif (52:45):
Dan stock continues to plummet.

Steve (52:48):
Yeah.

Leif (52:49):
But they were impressed with Penn's acting.

Steve (52:51):
Yeah. Yeah.

Leif (52:52):
I did think the season with him and Serena were really,
really good.

Steve (52:56):
Yeah. No, yeah. No, both did a really good job.

Leif (52:59):
More positive than negative for chair. But a few people are
already anticipating it, dragging out, like, Seth and
summer from the OC and becoming stale.

Steve (53:07):
That's fair.

Leif (53:09):
A few people were negative towards and even
slut shaming Blair.

Steve (53:14):
I I can see it. I can see
it. Especially. Especially then. Especially, you
know, twelve years ago.

Leif (53:22):
And so it's kind of interesting.
This is the same kind of thing. They got her
dethroned in season one, getting caught hooking
up with two guys.

Steve (53:31):
Yeah. Yeah. But this time she was very
public about it. Yeah.

Leif (53:35):
You know, it doesn't seem to be any repercussions either.

Steve (53:38):
Yeah. I mean, we. Although we have not seen
anything after that.

Leif (53:43):
Yeah.

Steve (53:43):
So. But, yeah, it did seem
very much like everyone, it seemed like
everyone was like. Yeah, we get it. Blair, he's a dud.

Leif (53:52):
Now, a couple people seem to think something's
going on between Marcus and Katherine.

Steve (53:57):
I've had that suspicion in the
previous episode, the fact that she always chases
away the girlfriends. Right. And the fact that she always,
like, gets in the way and that he doesn't
like how she is around them, the fact that she is a child
predator. Those things both kind of lead
me to say, like, maybe she made a pass at him

(54:18):
at some point, and he was like, no,
because why does she know that he
doesn't have sex? I
feel like.

Leif (54:27):
Is there any chance that he's gay?

Steve (54:29):
I think that's possible, too. I just feel
like they already did that. You know? I.
That was one of my thoughts, especially a
couple minutes ago when you asked.

Leif (54:40):
Like, but they did with Jenny.

Steve (54:42):
Yeah.

Leif (54:42):
And this show loves to parallel itself.

Steve (54:44):
Oh, it does? Yeah. I mean, because I
also had that thought, too. I just wouldn't think that
they would want to go back to that well already.
That was the only reason I didn't. But then again, I think maybe I.
Sometimes I give this show too much.

Leif (54:59):
We do. We do know, like, Eric likes those, older
looking, taller guys.

Steve (55:03):
Yeah. Yeah, the. Eric likes those 30 year
olds.

Leif (55:11):
That is it for the forums for this week, so let's go
ahead and move into some episode grades.

Steve (55:17):
All right. I think I go first.

Leif (55:20):
Yes, you are first.

Steve (55:21):
All right. Yeah. Let's do some episode grades.
First of all, I gave this one a, solid b.
I thought it was a good, solid episode.
I enjoyed it a lot more. It was my favorite
of season two so far. I, like you said,
I feel like it had its place among
season one episodes, except for the.

(55:41):
The only thing that's out of place is
the soap opera storyline that we didn't
have quite that level of soap opera in.
In season one, but, like, I found the
Dan and Serena stuff annoyed me. Like I said,
the. The little j. And I Eleanor
seems predictable but amazing,

(56:02):
like, cliche, but so well done. This
show can work a cliche that is something that it has
done a m few times. The whole
Nate, Vanessa Catherine thing is gross, but it's
still intriguing and
engaging. and chair. Being chair.
I don't like it when Catherine gets the best of Blair. I don't like

(56:22):
it when she gets Blair on her back heels.

Leif (56:26):
This is Blair now.

Steve (56:27):
what?

Leif (56:27):
This is Blair now?

Steve (56:28):
Yeah. Just on her back heels.

Leif (56:30):
Well, not necessarily that, but she's. She's all. She's always
feeding on insecurities that they really are going to play that
up going forward. She's. She has these
insecurities, and she. She's clever,
but she's not the smartest person in the room.

Steve (56:44):
Yeah.

Leif (56:46):
She's. She does not. She's vicious and
she'll go to any lengths.
And she's definitely clever and she is smart, but she's
not the smartest.

Steve (56:55):
Yeah, that's fair. But, yeah,
overall, solid b.

Leif (57:00):
So I thought this episode, great directing, the use
of the blackout as a set piece was great. I think it
worked really well.

Steve (57:07):
Yeah.

Leif (57:08):
Then we also had great acting. Both the
sarita and Dan scenes and Eleanor and Jenny
scenes were both standouts.
And I thought the writing was, you know,
outside of the Catherine and Nate
stuff, that that's the only thing. It really brought it down, so I actually gave it an
a minus.

Steve (57:26):
That's fair. I don't think that's a. I, think that is a
fair grade. Yeah.

Leif (57:32):
Let's go ahead and move the stock watch.
What do you got going up?

Steve (57:36):
All right. Going up. for one, I was really torn
on Vanessa because she kind of loses out in the
end. But I felt like she was just such
a good, empathetic person that I had
Vanessa going up. I had
Jenny and Eleanor both going up because
they both, in both
performance wise and as characters, they

(57:59):
both had growth, like
visible growth in one episode. So
both of them, I had Rufus going up. Rufus
got. Rufus is dating. Good job, Rufus.
Get way to get back out there. But that's all that I had going
up.

Leif (58:14):
for me, I definitely had Jenny. she, you know, started
off looked like she was going to get fired, but, you know, obviously pulled
through in the end and had some good bonding with
Eleanor. Eleanor, also, she. She
got good bonding with Jenny. And we got some more
layers to her. Like we got roman holiday. So I like
that Rufus, like you said, he's
dating. And, I by far the best parent because he's the only parent

(58:37):
that actually cared about his kids at the blackout.

Steve (58:39):
Yeah.

Leif (58:39):
The only one to actually check on this child.

Steve (58:41):
Yeah. Who went out in the blackout to find his
kid.

Leif (58:45):
Yes. and then I also had dance
Renee going up because I think
they needed to have this happen. And they just,
you know, they were treading water for the past two
episodes and now they're finally out of
this and they can move on to, hopefully they could be
friends and, you know, still remain in the same orbit
because otherwise we got the two shows. Yeah, we

(59:07):
got. So we gotta kind of figure out a way for them to
still interact.

Steve (59:11):
Which they've been really good at so far with every other
ex relationship.

Leif (59:15):
But that. That's it for going up for me and you got going
down.

Steve (59:19):
I have both of them going down, and I feel like the
breakup sends them down, and they got to go down
before they go up. I feel like they've kind of hit a rock
bottom here, too, which is much better than, like, a Chuck
rock bottom. I have Laurel going down because.
Fuck you, Laurel. Yeah.

Leif (59:35):
I didn't even care enough about her to.

Steve (59:38):
I just. I actually had her more as an
afterthought, but I wanted to make sure to
knock her down because. For being so shitty to
little j. And then I had Nate and Katherine, both
of them both going down because, God,
she's important. Eight.

Leif (59:54):
Poor fucking for me. Chuck,
he loses this episode big.
Blair because she. She's humiliated
and acts a fool. Marcus because
he got cuck. Nate obviously is still
getting raped.

Steve (01:00:09):
Yeah. Yeah.

Leif (01:00:11):
Catherine being a rape.
And I gave Vanessa because even though I
liked her performance and I liked. I understood, I felt
bad for her. She clearly lost this episode.

Steve (01:00:23):
yeah. And it's funny, I think that I really
like that she got an up and a down because I
really felt like both things happened
to her. Yeah. That there was character growth and
some great stuff, but also, she lost in the
end. And I also am glad that you
gave Blair, Chuck,
and Marcus the down because I didn't think

(01:00:46):
it was quite enough to send them down, but I
got it. And, like, I think they. Yeah. So I
think that I, like. I'm actually really happy with today's
stock watch.

Leif (01:00:56):
Well, that is it for stock watch. who do you have for best
outfit?

Steve (01:00:59):
But here's the best outfits from the last
episode we seen,
Chuck's pajamas. I thought those were just
fucking dope, and I want to wear them.

Leif (01:01:12):
So I felt bad for Vanessa voting you're down,
so I'm going to give her the best outfit. I thought overall, she had
a couple of good outfits, but the one I gave it to
was the flower print maxi dress, from the
Jovic Hawk
2007 collection. And she also had,
like, the necklace with, like, the hoop, and I had two red
stones that kind of, like cranberries that kind of worked well

(01:01:35):
with the flowers.

Steve (01:01:36):
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Very cool.

Leif (01:01:38):
That is it for segments. Let's go ahead and move
into plugs. Anything plug recommend this
week?

Steve (01:01:44):
I. Would recommend watching. I think
I brought it up before, but I would definitely recommend watching the
sympathizer on, on Max.
It's a show about a, north
vietnamese spy
during the fall of Saigon and the
end of the Vietnam war, and it's just a
really cool spy

(01:02:06):
show intrigue. Fun
watch for me.

Leif (01:02:10):
I am going to go ahead and recommend book
smart. I know I'm a little late on this one. It came out in
2019. It is a, teen
coming of age movie. I think it's best
described as super bad for Gen Z.
so yeah, it's very funny. Good to see that they are still
making like broad sheet teeny comedies.

(01:02:30):
So I really enjoyed that. So if you're a fan of super, I definitely
recommend it.

Steve (01:02:34):
Yeah, I'll check that out.

Leif (01:02:36):
And you can follow me on social media at
ah, hot capicola on Instagram. You can
follow the podcast at ah, nonjudging breakfast
pod on Instagram and TikTok and threads
and on Twitter. We are at NJB pod.
We also now have a website. You can find us at
nonjudging breakfast pod.com. nonjudging
breakfastpod.com and there you can find links to our

(01:02:58):
Reddit and discord servers.

Steve (01:03:00):
Yeah, and you can feel free to follow me on
Instagram and TikTok at Steve
Dot Marshan Marchion.
And also if you want
to get in touch with us and send us an email, we'd love
to hear your thoughts. We'd love to hear your suggestions and read them
on the air. Our email address is
nonjudgingbreakfastpodmail.com.

(01:03:22):
and also please hit that little like
follow subscribe button. and
also tell your friends what you're listening to and get them
to listen to the non judging breakfast pod with
you.

Leif (01:03:34):
Yeah, give us a review on iTunes. It
definitely helps with visibility a lot. We will
be back next week to talk about season two,
episode four, the X Files. The
max episode preview reads, vanessa learns
a scandalous secret and enlistsenhe Blair's
help.

Steve (01:03:53):
Yeah, I love
the idea of a Blair
Vanessa team up. I'm here for
that because, like, for
Vanessa to go to Blair, it says a
lot, but also the fact that, like,
blair loves the challenge and Blair loves the
scheme.

Leif (01:04:13):
So, I mean, the secret has to be what's going on with Marcus,
right?

Steve (01:04:16):
Yeah, yeah, I mean, I figure it has to be.
And yeah, I, think it has to be
the, the katherine Marcus
thing. I'm really excited for this
episode.

Leif (01:04:28):
we will be back next week. Until next time. You know you
love us. Xoxo.

Steve (01:04:33):
Take care.
Every time you walk away run away you take a
piece of me with you there
every time you walk away run away run away you take a
every time you walk away run away you take a

(01:04:53):
oh it seems I'm walking right.
To your door.
My heart's still resting looking for
something more
are you ever gonna see everything thing you mean to
me I'm trying really hard to believe
every time you walk away or run away you take a

(01:05:16):
never feels right when I'm out here on
my own

(01:05:38):
I left last night and it feels like
way too long
are you ever gonna see everything you mean
to me? I'm trying really hard to believe
every time you walk away, run away you take a piece
of me with you there

(01:06:00):
piece of me with you.
There.
Come back to me
smile and you'll make my life
complete

(01:06:23):
every time you walk away I run away you take a
every time you walk away, run away take a

(01:06:45):
every time you walk away, run away you take a
every time you walk away and run away you take a

(01:07:08):
piece of me with you there.

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S2E03 - The Dark Night

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.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}S2E03 - The Dark Night