Here's my wonky attempt at photo-capping the awesomeness that was 5x15. I've (obviously) focused mainly on dair scenes. Anyway, let me know what you think.
Awesome recap, I think you make some great points. Like the build up thing. As far as I'm concerned, the build up between them started all the way back in "Bad News Blair". Its so frustrating to see the haters who say, "Oh, the writers have run out of ideas, they're just trying to throw anyone together now!" Do they even watch the show or know the characters? From an objective, non-shipping point of view, the two are very similar. They're both romantics, they have similar tastes, not just in art and literature- they never seem to protest when one imposes a wardrobe change on the other (Blair on Dan mostly, but I'm trying to remember if Blair still wears headbands as often as she used to after he tossed hers during their first college party). When they forget about the perceived class differences, they actually get along pretty well. And even when they do bicker its like an old married couple.
Its like some of these people are stuck with this idea that Dan and Serena like each other and Chuck and Blair like each other, and there's no room at all in their minds for the characters to change and grow. I've always been a fan of show, not tell when it comes to romantic relationships and TV and movies, and a lot of times I end up shipping the main couple with other people because they have more chemistry with those people than with each other. And Dan and Blair have a ton of chemistry with each other.
I also like your comment about Dan's confidence building the more he realized how much more affectionate she's gotten towards him. I compare Dan and Blair to Pacey and Joey on Dawson's Creek a lot, because there's a lot of similar elements there. And to me, these past couple of eps have been like a stretched out version of one of the key moments in P/J's story, the end of "Cinderella Story". Like Blair calling Dan to rescue her from the wedding because she's the first person he thought of. Although unlike the DC scene, Dan doesn't outright ask Blair "what does that mean?" It seems he wanted to, but I think Blair wasn't the only one in denial, I think Dan felt that there's no way she could feel that way about him. But in this ep, she kinda answers that question when she gushes to him about how could Serena not like him? So with those doubts finally fading (and hey, I think Georgina actually did kinda gave him a confidence boost as well, calling him a fool for not seeing Blair was indeed interested in him, because now that another observer is seeing those things, he can't chicken out anymore and say he's just imagining it), when she asks him what would make him happy, he's confident enough to show her.
(Heh, sorry for the long reply, but you made so many good points I wanted to follow up on)
NO need to apologize for the review length. As evidenced by the length of my recap, I love to chat (especially about GG related things).
And, I completely agree about how people tend to get "stuck" in ships (heck, I've been guilty of it myself in the past). People change and HOPEFULLY grow. And, yes, I think the reason a lot of once non-canon pairings have so much chemistry is because often they are more organic progressions in the show--and not just constantly thrown together because of "fate" or "destiny" etc. I once used to be a (casual) Derena and Chair fan myself and was even a little skeptical of DB at first. But they won me over :)
Oh, yeah, I forgot to give Georgina Shipper Props lol.
Its like some of these people are stuck with this idea that Dan and Serena like each other and Chuck and Blair like each other, and there's no room at all in their minds for the characters to change and grow. I've always been a fan of show, not tell when it comes to romantic relationships and TV and movies, and a lot of times I end up shipping the main couple with other people because they have more chemistry with those people than with each other. And Dan and Blair have a ton of chemistry with each other.
I also like your comment about Dan's confidence building the more he realized how much more affectionate she's gotten towards him. I compare Dan and Blair to Pacey and Joey on Dawson's Creek a lot, because there's a lot of similar elements there. And to me, these past couple of eps have been like a stretched out version of one of the key moments in P/J's story, the end of "Cinderella Story". Like Blair calling Dan to rescue her from the wedding because she's the first person he thought of. Although unlike the DC scene, Dan doesn't outright ask Blair "what does that mean?" It seems he wanted to, but I think Blair wasn't the only one in denial, I think Dan felt that there's no way she could feel that way about him. But in this ep, she kinda answers that question when she gushes to him about how could Serena not like him? So with those doubts finally fading (and hey, I think Georgina actually did kinda gave him a confidence boost as well, calling him a fool for not seeing Blair was indeed interested in him, because now that another observer is seeing those things, he can't chicken out anymore and say he's just imagining it), when she asks him what would make him happy, he's confident enough to show her.
(Heh, sorry for the long reply, but you made so many good points I wanted to follow up on)
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And, I completely agree about how people tend to get "stuck" in ships (heck, I've been guilty of it myself in the past). People change and HOPEFULLY grow. And, yes, I think the reason a lot of once non-canon pairings have so much chemistry is because often they are more organic progressions in the show--and not just constantly thrown together because of "fate" or "destiny" etc. I once used to be a (casual) Derena and Chair fan myself and was even a little skeptical of DB at first. But they won me over :)
Oh, yeah, I forgot to give Georgina Shipper Props lol.
Thanks for the thoughtful comments.
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