In true Gossip Girl fashion, we open with a steamy hookup in the Hamptons. We see Nate with a mystery girl…or wait, mystery woman! Yes, Nate’s involved with not just an older woman, a married one at that. Scandalous! We find out that Serena is helping him cover it up by saying that she and Nate are in fact together. And secretly, I wish they were. But more on that later…

Chuck is seen lounging with topless girls (surprise? I think not) on the beach when he gets a text from Gossip Girl about Blair’s whereabouts. We left off last season with Blair and Chuck on the verge of getting together, but in the end, he bailed. Despite his obvious feelings for Blair, Chuck is all about his freedom. He does however, plan to make it up to her with roses and an apology when he sees her get off the bus with another guy. It seems it’s too little, too late. As much as you want to hate Chuck Bass, you can’t. I felt for him. He’s reminiscent of Ryan Phillippe’s character in Cruel Intentions. A bad boy torn between his reputation and his heart. It’s all gold.

Serena reveals to Blair whose in the Hamptons for the “white party” every one is talking about (Is this supposed to be a P. Diddy rip-off?) that she isn’t really with Nate, but that a hot lifeguard has been checking her out all summer. Blair urges her on, “A hot lifeguard is like Kleenex, use once and throw away.” Gotta love the one-liners on this show. The lifeguard romance doesn’t last past the first date. I mean, come on, he drives a Camaro as Serena says.

So where’s Dan? Pining over his breakup with Serena? Nope. Dubbed the new “playboy,” he’s spotted hooking up with multiple girls, an obvious and failed attempt at forgetting his ex. He gets fired from his internship for not turning in a story–a story that basically mirrors his relationship with Serena.

Chuck gives James, Blair’s new guy, the third degree and catches him in a lie. While at dinner, Chuck sees the little gold heart on James’ sleeve, something Blair gave Nate when she told him she loved him. In a moment of sincerity, Chuck painfully asks her if she loves James like she did Nate, to which she replies yes but later admits to lying. We see a hurt Chuck walk away to a crying Blair. Who knew that the two coldest characters on the show would have the best chemistry and most heart-wrenching scenes?

Nate and Serena still have an obvious attraction to one another which is played out at the party. They makeout to try and get Nate’s older fling Katherine jealous. And, it works. Next thing we know, he’s with Catherine hooking up and hiding from her husband. Oh Nate, we all know you are still into Serena.

That little makeout session did more than make Katherine green. Dan sees. He shows up at the party after talking to the changed Grandma Van Der Woodsen (since when is she nice?). After witnessing the kiss and getting caught in a lie with his multiple hookup buddies, the duo realize they still have feelings for each other and reconcile on the beach. As much as I love them, it’s all a little boring. They are one of those couples who are more exciting to watch when they aren’t together. Besides, I still want to see a little more Nate and Serena action!

As for Jenny, she apologizes to Erik for being a “total bitch” last year. She’s having trouble with her boss at her internship and Erik helps her make the evil boss lady feel like a jerk.

Now, for the best scene of the night. Chuck admits he made a mistake for not going after Blair. “I’m scared,” he says in a rare moment of vulnerability. She tells him she will end it with Marcus (his name isn’t James–he randomly turns out to be a lord with a hot accent) if he just says those three simple words. “Just eight letters,” she says. Although it’s obvious he wants to say it and he although he has told Nate he loves her, he can’t say it to her and he is left in the dust. Blair drives away with her prince charming (literally!).

Missing from the episode was Vanessa and I’m certainly not complaining. I never really got her role in it all. That, and the fact that she and Nate were horrible together. Oh and no Georgina in sight either, for now.

Oh, the drama. It looks like in next week’s episode, the roles will be reversed. Blair gets jealous and bitchy with Chuck’s new love interest (aka pawn). The claws are coming out. Stay tuned!

Sharon is a freelance writer who has contributed to a variety of publications including HotIndieNews.com and the Web sites of both Marie Claire and CosmoGIRL! magazines.

Sir Linksalot: Gossip Girl