THE GOSSIP GIRL REBOOT COULD BE SO MUCH MORE

by Kristin Merrilees

If there’s one TV show that fits the definition of “iconic,” it’s Gossip Girl. With the original show, which ran from 2007 to 2012, we got drama, partying, glamour, and fashion as we watched “the scandalous lives of Manhattan’s elite” unfold on screen. The legacy of Serena, Blair, Chuck, Nate, Dan, and Jenny remains well-remembered today. 

So when a reboot was announced, of course, we were all intrigued, to say the least. And now that the new Gossip Girl has begun, with two episodes having dropped on HBO Max, the internet has been abuzz with reactions and commentary. 

From what I’ve seen online, the reboot seems to be relatively well-received overall. There’s a diverse cast (a stark contrast to the original, which featured six main characters that were white, straight, and cis), a genuine attempt at social commentary and exploring current issues, and characters who are at least [somewhat] aware of their immense privilege and wealth. It also has nostalgic nods to the original series, without leaning on it too much. 

The show is entertaining and creates a great mood through the soundtrack, fashion, and settings. Still, while watching (of course, I’m basing this on only two episodes), I couldn’t help but feel like something was missing. 

When the reboot was announced, one of the main curiosities people had was how it was going to adapt the concept of “Gossip Girl” to the new internet landscape. One in which having social media is almost a necessity, and rumors and gossip can be spread anywhere by anyone, not just through one blog like the original Gossip Girl. Students at Constance Billard/St. Jude’s now want status not only on the Met steps, but also on social media, primarily Instagram. 

Although I think the reboot attempts to capture the current social media and influencer culture (and does so a lot better than some other shows/movies), it doesn’t feel quite there yet. There are a few things that stand out to me as a little unnatural. Yes, I already know I’m being nitpicky with these, but stay with me. For example, in the first episode, Julien explains to her younger half-sister Zoya, who just moved to the city from Buffalo, “We use IG for stories, Signals for sexts, Whatsapp for abroad, Messenger to chat…” When I heard this line, I was like umm, okay? Does social media only exist in Manhattan in this world? This narration of how the characters use social media is present in other moments too, and it just seems forced to me (like the show is trying too hard to prove to us that it knows how teens act). Julien plans things and people to be on her story, she talks about how she is “influential,” and at one point talks with Luna and Monet about her plans for using hashtags on posts — wait, people still use those?! 

There are references to the pandemic, TikTok, and even Olivia Jade and the college admissions scandal — so this is definitely our world, right now. But if Julien is as influential as we’re led to believe (if I remember correctly we don’t actually know her follower count), wouldn’t she be doing things such as collabs with other influencers or even breaking into singing or acting? Current fashion trends, music, etc. aren’t really discussed amongst characters, which is a bit surprising to me given how important being on-trend is to gaining a following online these days. It just seems like the new Gossip Girl characters are in a Constance bubble, removed from the rest of the world, which just isn’t how social media works these days.

I’m not convinced there’s even a need for Gossip Girl herself. Besides the whole teacher storyline thing (which is an entirely different issue that I’m not even going to talk about), I have to imagine there are some drama accounts already covering the happenings of the Constance/St. Jude’s crowd. Drama doesn’t seem like something influencers these days are necessarily afraid of. Rather, it’s something that can be capitalized on to gain attention and a following, and I wish this was explored more with the updated Gossip Girl format. 

Finally, I think that the reboot just takes itself a little bit too seriously. The original is outlandish and unrealistic, and that’s kind of the point — with Chuck and Blair’s scheming, the endless partying, the ostentatious displays of wealth that often show up in really weird ways, like Serena throwing her phone out in a garbage can on the street. It satirizes the problems of the immensely privileged, yet infuses the characters with personality — through Blair and Dorota’s relationship, Serena’s “I have to go” moments, the evil genius of Georgina Sparks, etc., etc., etc.

The reboot doesn’t have this same spontaneity and ridiculousness. It has moments here and there that personalize the characters, but overall, I think it falls a little flat. There’s a huge opportunity here to explore the influence of social media on popularity and the dynamics between young people. The show is good, but I don’t think it even begins to scratch the surface of what it could be. I’m still planning to watch the rest of the season and see how it is...until then, xoxo...

*thumbnail image sourced from Seventeen