REACTION: Gossip Girl Spinoff Episode 2.04

The fourth episode of the “Gossip Girl” spinoff’s second season dropped on Thursday.

Episode 2.04 is titled, “One Flew Over the Cuck’s Nest.” The official synopsis says, “Julien finds new relevancy with her new social media series, but later catches Grace in a compromising situation. Worried about their relationship, Audrey and Max stalk a secretive Aki. Monet suspects her father of infidelity. Zoya and Julien learn of Nick’s betrayal.”

It was written by Amos Mac and directed by Sophia Takal.

Gossip Girl Spinoff Episode 2.04, “One Flew Over the Cuck’s Nest”

• Julien wanting to publicly dissect her relationship with Obie while he’s dating someone else is not okay. But Julien lacks awareness, so it’s not surprising.

• The Kiss on the Lips party is another event from the original show.

• Of course Julien was the one to find out about Grace’s cheating.

• Watching Love Actually on Valentine’s Day? Isn’t that a Christmas thing?

• I’m kind of in love with Luna’s pink, bedazzled glasses.

• The “Charlie Brown”-like music as Shan, Luna, and Julien all used someone else’s phone was amusing.

• A “Cameo from Chris Pratt” — yeah, he’s not on there, but here are the teen drama stars who are… at least as of last year.

• Zoya going off on Shan like that… they’re just making her more unlikable every week, huh?

• I did not see Shan making out with Terrell coming… now that tell-off was deserved.

• Monet’s parents sharing the same mistress doesn’t feel that shocking.

• Grace and her twin brother are hooking up… that’s something I never wanted to know. Everyone’s reaction was kind of muted, though, which was odd.

• Luna’s reference to her parents is setting up their eventual introduction.

• Julien going down a path with a married man… it feels a little been there, done that in terms of storylines, especially when you consider the original show already did it with Serena and Tripp.

I think I took significantly fewer notes about this episode than past ones because I actually may have… maybe… kinda… liked it?? Maybe “like” is too strong a word. It at least held my attention more than usual and I wasn’t as bothered by it as others. Am I just getting used to the show? Or was this a genuinely more palatable episode?

I will say the episode sure didn’t need that incest twist, which I was somewhat spoiled on thanks to a Google Alert for this Daily Beast story. As the Daily Beast has all season, though, the writer nails it (no pun intended):

“What’s most shocking is how casually the bomb was dropped in the last 10 minutes of the episode, with barely any fallout besides a broken-up relationship. In fact, the incest reveal isn’t even portrayed as the most shocking twist of the episode!”

I agree the reveal was strangely understated. In fact, it was so subtle and unclear that I think some viewers may have missed it or not processed it. Grace two-timing Obie and getting exposed felt like enough. If you’re going to raise the stakes with another twist on top of that one, at least execute the landing a little better.

Also, I think I would’ve preferred an episode ending that was a bit more jaw-dropping than Kate discovering Mike is trying to find out Gossip Girl’s identity. I get that the identity of Gossip Girl is central to the show, but Kate’s storylines remain one of the series’ weakest points.

This is also the second week in a row where I didn’t take a single note about the Audrey-Aki-Max storyline. I guess I still find their plots snooze-worthy too.

So, clearly, the show still has issues aplenty. Even so, this episode felt better than the “meh” or annoyed feeling I usually have. I just can’t put my finger on why.