Season 1 Episode 3
Gossip Girl Episodes :-Poison Ivy
The Upper East Side youth from Constance Billard and St. Jude’s are all bracing up for the Ivy Week as they will be having a chance to meet Ivy League representatives. The tradition states that St. Jude’s boys will provide the ushers for the visiting Ivy League representatives and The Constance Billard’s girls will be in command of the Friday Night Mixer. The Ivy Week isn’t the only thing bothering the junior teen’s minds; they have their own personal and family problems to tackle too. Dan Humphrey is tense that his capability would be of no use since he is not from a very high status background. Bair Waldorf is concerned about her absent mother .Nate Archibald is feeling the pressure because of his father’s tendency to control him and his life too much and always reminding him of his future goals which he has set for his son; Dartmouth, law school and Blair Waldorf. It doesn’t matter to the Captain Archibald that his son could be having his own aspirations too.
Dan Humphrey appears for the interview to bag the usher position for the Dartmouth rep. In the interview he confirms that Dartmouth is his dream and that he incorporates the Dartmouth’s main principles of integrity, responsibility and consideration. He is also thankful to his school St. Jude’s and his parents who have sacrificed so much to allow him to attend such an esteemed high school. On the other hand, Nate Archibald shows much less vision in his interview where he admits that Dartmouth is never going to be his first choice and it would be a better idea if some one who is more focused be made responsible of the usher position. But it is very obvious that Nate has his family name with him and he is the chosen one. A disappointed Dan informs Serena that it is the legacy that rules.
Life is going hard for Serena as well, as her arguments with her mother, coupled with Dan’s attitude is already proving too much for her and she also has to face the wrath of Blair Waldorf’s anger. They slug out during the physical education and are now at war with each other. Blair even fakes an injury on her leg and holds Serena responsible for it, resulting in the referee’s decision to ask Serena leave the field.
But Blair Waldorf is not done yet and asks Chuck to spy on Serena and get some malicious news about her. Chuck is quite successful as he sees Serena entering Ostroff Treatment Center, when she is visiting her brother there. Blair and Chuck conclude that Serena had definitely gone there for treatment regarding some kind of addiction.
The doctor at the Ostroff Treatment Center allows Serena’s younger brother Eric to stay some time out of the institute and join the others at the Friday Mixer, something, which his mother is definitely not very excited about. Dan Humphrey would also be present at the Mixer courtesy his father Rufus who has kept his ego aside to ask a favor from Lillian, the committee chairwoman. So Dan would be there at the refreshment committee and is not very happy about it, but his dad tells him that it’s the best he could do.
It’s the Friday Mixer time and the duel between Blair and Serena is far from over as Serena is resolute to grab the Yale representative’s interest because Blair wants to attend Yale. Both Blair and Dan are upset about this, especially Dan, who in a rude manner criticizes her manner just like a spoiled kid. His sister Jenny though is getting along well with Serena’s younger brother Eric who confides to her about his suicide attempt.
Nate Archibald has some uncomfortable talks with the Dartmouth representative, and it dawns on him that he has no inclination at all in attending Dartmouth. So Nate asks Dan Humphrey to get the rep some drinks, trying that Dan gets an opportunity to converse with the Dartmouth rep and his efforts bear fruit as the rep is definitely impressed by Dan.
Things twist up a bit as Doctor Donald Ostroff arrives and Blair finds a much wanted opportunity to spice up things at the Mixer. So she calls for everyone’s attention and announces that it was a matter of chance that their prestigious school, which supports one local organization every year, has chosen The Ostroff Center this year. According to her the institution deserved the school’s support, since it had helped treating a student of the school. Saying this, Blair Waldorf asks Serena van der Woodsen to come up to the stage. Each person present is astounded and the van der Woodsens are definitely the most bewildered. Eric tries telling the truth but Serena never allows him and climbs the stage to thank The Ostroff Center for its invaluable support. Dan Humphrey is also surprised to hear all this but his sister, reveals him the truth about Eric. A bad thing for Serena because during the Ivy Week, honesty does not matter much, it is the unwritten law of the Upper East Side world. Serena feels beleaguered and rushes off. Dan follows her and tells her that he knew why she had admitted things on the stage and also makes an apology to Serena for his behavior of late as he couldn’t judge her or her life and environment in which she lived. Maybe he doesn’t have the right to judge her, or her world.
His mother wants to see him back at the Ostroff Center immediately but Eric settles things first with Blair Waldorf leaving her stunned and shocked after hearing the truth.
Father and son bonding happen the next day as Dan Humphrey is all gratitude for his father who arranged for him to join the Mixer. Nate is also spending time with his father as the captain takes him for a special jogging routine accompanying the Dartmouth rep.
Dan’s sister Jenny goes to visit Eric at the Ostroff Center, showing positive signs of the growing proximity between the two.
In a different place, Blair Waldorf meets Serena and shows her the letter she wrote to her when she had gone to the boarding school. Blair’s father had left her mother for another man and her world had completed shattered. Only Serena was the one whom she could talk to, but she too had gone away without even saying a word. Serena explains to Blair that she felt too guilty to talk to her and saying this she apologizes to Blair. Then, Serena claims she is very sorry but Blair in turn asks for forgiveness as she now knew the truth about Serena going to the center when Chuck had seen her. She also tells her that Eric had told her everything and Serena’s family was facing a very tough time as well.
“Spotted in Central Park, two white flags waving. Could the Upper East Side piece of court be far off? So, what would it be? Truth or consequences? We all know one nation can’t have two Queens. What happens next, only time will tell”.
