I truly enjoyed "The Ex-Files," and I loved that they actually utilized their namesake, Gossip Girl. I know she narrates the whole shebang (and it was, as ever, delightfully debauched), but sometimes it doesn't feel like she's an actual part of the story. This episode she was sending everyone's phones a'ringing in synchronized sweeps of ill-gotten gossip. And oh what gossip there was to be had...

I have been waiting for Serena to step up and do JUST THAT since the pilot. No more wishy-washy Serena, no more lame excuses and allowing things to happen to her and around her. Nope. The Queen B is back, and by B I mean bitch. Welcome home, Miss van der Woodsen. We've been waiting.

My only real problem with Serena's coming out, as it were, is that she was manipulated into it by Chuck. Still, the fact that she wasn't going to let Dan guilt trip her and cow her into being half of who she is makes me a happy duck. I'm sure she'll put Chuck in his place soon enough.

Not that Chuck didn't do it out of the noblest of intentions. While he is a scheming bastard, Chuck tends to protect his own (Serena, Blair, and Nate), even if he's not above tripping them up to get what he wants. In the long run, he doesn't do anything he doesn't think they can handle, and usually even his evilest of schemes have a good heart at their center. Just don't tell him I told you so, okay?

And holy purple suits Batman! Was Chuck on form tonight or what? I didn't see it coming until it was rounded up, wrapped up, and ridiculed with a jaunty sneer. (Can you even have a jaunty sneer? If anyone can, it's Chuck.) He's brutally brilliant, and a whole lot of other witty alliterations I just don't have the patience for. I absolutely adore that he's part of the van der Woodsen clan now, or rather that they're part of his. He and Eric are only capable of magical things, and now that Serena is on top, I look forward to seeing the two of them do business.

Especially if it involves keeping Dan down. Because here's where I think Dan will get interesting (perhaps for the first time ever): in the face of social adversity. Make him work for it. Give him that snappy, snarky dialogue that isn't afraid to cut where it actually hurts. Make him public enemy number one and let him run with it. I'll watch with glee (the wicked sort, of course).

As for his sister, Little J just may become a person of interest yet. She's teetering on the cusp of an engaging plot. I just can't decide if she'll ruin it by default, or if it'll manage the seemingly impossible feat of making her likeable. It's too early in the game to call it, but the odds are not in Jenny's favor. Though she can feel free to beat her brother about the head and shoulders with pillows anytime she likes. That's was kind of funny.

At any rate, Jenny might have been able to semi-successfully tangle with Blair, but she's no match for Serena, especially not now. Jenny's only hope is that Serena may use her to get at Dan, but I can't decide in what way. For now, we'll mark the littlest Humphrey down as a person of potential, but we're taking it slow.

Speaking of Blair. My dear, vengeful, plotting Blair, I do love you ever so much. You are one tough cookie and though Serena is back in business, I have no doubt you'll give her a good run for her money. No one patronizes Blair Waldorf and gets away with it. No one. I wouldn't doubt that part of Chuck's plan is to make Blair come to him for help reclaiming her thrown, but I wonder if Blair's a little too saavy to fall into that. Methinks she can tangle with Serena all on her own, if it comes to that.

Now, if only certain people had the same faith in Blair that I have. That's right, I've got my eyes on none other than Vanessa. Why in the world did she have to go and do that? I have to admire her gumption, I suppose, but give it at least twenty four hours. Way to jump the gun and keep Nate's daddy issues going for just a little while longer. (They are going to get every inch out of that plot they can, aren't they? I thought they'd have solved it two episodes ago.)

I usually quite like Vanessa, but she sort of grated on my nerves this episode. Also, if she and Nate are no longer an item and they were never really friends, and now that Dan and Serena are splitsville, how in the world do they plan to keep her connected to the central storyline? That's the fastest way to ruin a good character - maker her completely superfluous. I may cry a little if I start to really dislike her. There will be a mourning period and everything.

But let's not think about that. Next week has infinite amounts of promise, and I can't wait to see it all combust in a conflagration of awesome.