Dair Watch S04E18: I No Longer Dare to Dair

Admittedly, a rather late recap given that the proceeding episode has already aired. But such is my feeling of malaise induced by the non-dairing writers of GG. It appears, ‘Dair Watch’ has lost it’s raison detre .

Does ‘Dair’ still exist? It would appear not, owing to Blair’s admission that the kiss was a mere reminder of her love for Chuck. On the other hand, it aroused in Dan feelings he would rather not canvass to the wider public. Yet, it takes two to tango right?

Did Dair ever exist? Or was it just a concept we engineered in our collective minds, desperate for Gossip Girl to avoid the failings of similar soap-dramas which become stale with the constant on-off romantic duos?

I believe there was certainly something. I never believed it was permanent, but it was a fun ride. It reinvigorated not only the story, but the characters and also resulted in some fine scenes between Meester and Badgley.

The impact on Blair is probably the most profound, at least in the short term. Dan seemed to help her uncover who she really was, beyond the shrill and skilled Machiavellian manipulator of the social scene.

But alas, the status quo is slowly returning, as the Chair freaks whip themslves into a lather over a truly despicable romantic concept, built on the worst aspects of human nature.

An Artist's impression of The Blair-Chuck Relationship

I guess this is what Alexis De Tocqueville meant by the ‘Tyranny of the Majority’. This, or something far more relevant.

Keep watching your screens

Misanthropic Ficus

PS. It was this.

Dair Watch: Poll

Dair Watch: Not much to watch…

Damn you hiatus!

Damn you CW!

Anyway, I have created the first and only facebook page dedicated to honouring our favourite GG couple:

FB Group: Dair- Our Favourite Inter-borough Couple

Dair Watch: Gossip Girl S04E17

…So I have succumbed to pop-cultural pressure and reverted to the ‘Dair’ moniker to describe our favourite inter-borough couple. Blan is dead. It really did kind of suck anyway.

Wow. What to make of tonight’s episode? It was perhaps the biggest cliffhanger known to man-kind, as the instant Dan and Blair kissed and morphed into Dair, Gossip Girl whispered xoxo and that was that.

I enjoyed the episode. I liked the fact it demonstrated how good Dan is for Blair. She is no longer the shrill, hyper-active, vindictive classist cut-throat bitch. Well, she is…but she has definitely mellowed. Moreover, it finally addressed the question of whether Dair even exists. Was it all in the Ficus’s mind? It’s a resolute NO!

Dair recognise they may indeed have feelings for each other that extend beyond a common appreciation of the arts. Sure, it’s a friendship which is built on shared interests and their mutual intellectualism. But it has grown into something on an emotional level partly inspired by their loneliness.

I guess we want know what the kiss will reveal until… April!!!! (NOOOO!)

I still have concerns that a relationship between the two can’t endure. I sure hope it does. The specter of Blair and Chuck (Buck?…Chair?) still hangs over Dair like the ‘Dark Mark’.  But Chuck and Serena are caught up in their own melodrama and I hope this continues.

Dair is the centre of Gossip Girl romance. Dair is the centre of Gossip Girl fandom.

Viva la Dair!

Until next time

XOXO Ficus

Dan-Blair Watch: Gossip Girl S04E16

There was no progression in their relationship this episode. Sure, Blair admitted she ‘needed Dan’, but it really didn’t appear to have any deeper meaning. They watched a film together, this time actually together…but I really didn’t feel any spark, Dan could have very well been a wells-spoken Labrador.

This episode convinced me, more than any other, that the ‘Blan’ romance may not in fact emerge from our favourite duo. It seems like the relationship has hit its highpoint, a friendship built upon the prospect of solitude forged in the fire of Mout doom…I mean  from the ashes of of lost soulmates.

It’s a momentary reprieve for viewers from what appears to be the inevitable reconnection of the now stale Blair-Chuck and Dan-Serena combos.

In a way, I have found peace with this. A friendship between the two seems far more sustainable, in terms of the show’s future, than what could only be a fleeting romance….Or could it be?

Until next time

XOXO

Ficus

Dan-Blair Watch: Gossip Girl Season 4 Episode 15

Just when I think I‘m out…they pull me back in!

Good Morning upper-east siders, brooklynians, citizens of the world.

I was truly captivated by this episode. The Dan-Blair duo re-emerged from the abyss of episode 14 to feature heavily in this rather wonderful Valentine’s episode.

What better way for our favourite couple which isn’t a couple to become a couple then on the most romantic day of the year?

Well, it wasn’t to be and in the end  and I’m glad. If they do end up together the emotional pay-off is going to be even greater. Sure, the love (?) is now only in its infancy…But it is ALIVE!…(?)

First a brief recap of events.

Blair discovers Chuck has real feelings for Rena. Dan is there. He comforts her. He touches her hand. She pulls her hand away. They watch Rosemary’s Baby together (via phone).

It was very touching to see Dan’s affection for Blair following her realisation that Chuck may have feelings for someone else. The feelings are evidently mutual. Blair did something un-Blair like in submitting Dan’s article. The scene in which they bonded over Rosemary’s Baby was quite poignant in its portrayal of two lonely figures, growing closer…ever closer.

I think there are two ways this could go down. I see a scenario in which Serena’s words about Blair’s ‘Secret Valentine’ come to fruition. The writers are doing their best to really build their relationship in a nuanced and totally Un-Gossip Girl like manner. On the other hand, the narration at the end of the episode about Dan and Blair finding solace together as two lonely figures may belie the fact this is merely a transitional relationship. Serena and Chuck are busy so they become friends.

Whatever the case, their on-screen chemistry is undeniable. It’s awesome. Yippee!

Until next time

XOXO Ficus

Dan-Blair Watch: Gossip Girl Season 4 Episode 13

This week’s episode provided some more juicy scenes featuring our favourite tandem. Tonight was an interesting episode for the two. From the moment they met early in the piece and failed to disclose the location of their internships it was fairly obvious where the episode was heading. But maybe I’m just a sucker because I found it a fun ride nonetheless. They both had the same internship, fought and in the end who prevailed? I think the viewer prevailed. Blair showed a glimpse of humanity and loyalty, Dan revealed his inner ‘Waldorf’ and in the end the Dan-Blair friendship remained intact. Am I still convinced that their friendship is heading towards a romance to rival Buffy and Angel, Seth and Summer or John Locke and the Island? No, but to be honest I have been and always will be satisfied with more Meester-Badgley ‘isolation’ scenes’, if you will.

Saying that I was a little disappointed that they didn’t kiss when they were fighting on the floor…perfect moment in my opinion.

Anywho, without further a do here is my prediction this week:

The relationship will continue to simmer…and then sizzle. I expect Dan to perform another valiant and self-sacrificing deed in coming weeks which may lead to…

XOXO Ficus

Dan-Blair Watch: Gossip Girl Season 4 Episode 12

OMG! It’s happening! It’s really happening! By that I mean the unholy union of Dan and Blair is in the works. See my previous post for why this is a positive move by the writers. Last night’s episode confirmed my belief that Dan and Blair must have more air-time together. Serena continues to be  her incredibly self-obsessed, directionless self. Dan summed it up best when he said she continues to have opportunities which normal people just wouldn’t have. It seems Serena may have finally stood lonely boy up one too many times. This opened the door for two lonely souls, Blair (the dictator of taste) and Dan to becoming at least good friends. Not only is this great fun for the viewers, as their interactions are truly dynamic, yet it is also a positive for the characters. Dan is good for Blair. He, unlike Chuck, doesn’t play games. He is straight-forward and honest. Meanwhile, Blair is, for all her superficiality, is at least if not more of an intellect than Dan. Unlike Serena or even Vanessa, Blair challenges Dan.

So here is my prediction this week in Dan-Blair Watch:

Dan and Blair will continue to secretly spend time together. In an episode or two, Blair will realise she has feelings for Lonely Boy. She’ll make a move. Will he reciprocate?….

XOXO Ficus