Why is Almost Everyone Obsessed with Gossip Girl?

In honor of the Gossip Girl reboot, we can’t help but reminisce about the original Gossip Girl and the phenomena that surrounded the show. Gossip Girl isn't an extremely old show; it only ended 9 years ago, so why release a reboot? Well in the series finale of the show, we were left with a cliffhanger in which the audience was told that just because Gossip Girl’s identity was revealed didn’t mean that Gossip Girl was dead. Since then there’s been lots of speculation on whether the show would return or not because fans of the show could not deal with the fact the show was over. The obsession with Gossip Girl is ultimately why there is now a reboot, but what was the obsession all about? Here’s what we think.

The Allure of New York City

Some of the most famous TV shows and movies were filmed in New York including, Sex and the City, The Mindy Project, and movies like Confessions of a Shopaholic and 13 Going on 30. After seeing so many characters have their dreams come true in NYC, it’s hard not to wonder what it would be like to live in the city that never sleeps. We saw the characters on the show in some of New York’s most well-loved spots like The Met, Central Park, Eric McKenna’s Bakery, Dylan’s Candy bar, Lincoln Center and more. Watching the characters hang out in these places definitely fueled the desire to visit those places as well. It could be that fans of the show were just trying to live out their New York City dreams simultaneously through the characters on the show. Oh, and let’s not forget that New York is a fashion capital.

The Luxurious Lifestyle of the Characters

For those of us who aren’t filthy rich, of course, a part of the appeal was watching the lavish lifestyle of teenagers with no credit card limit. Most people in NYC don’t go to school in limos, or live in hotels and penthouses –– nor do they have their own maids or have the ability to just jet off to Paris on a whim. We all wonder what life would be like if money wasn’t an obstacle and the characters on the show gave us a glimpse into what it looks like to be born into a rich family that lives on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. So, even if the majority of the fans can’t spend like Blair Waldorf or Serena Van Der Woodsen, it sure was entertaining to watch them indulge in their wealth.

The Characters

There’s no doubt that the characters on Gossip Girl were one-of-a-kind. Almost all the characters on the show had very dynamic and distinct personalities; Blair Waldorf being one of the most unique characters that always wanted to be seen as this polished and powerful woman but secretly held many insecurities, and Chuck Bass was the character nobody liked in the beginning but later redeemed himself and became a man worthy of love. Then there was Georgina Sparks, a con-woman who loved using manipulation any chance she got. Serena Van Der Woodsen was the beautiful blond bombshell all the guys wanted including the ever so handsome Nate Archibald. Of course, people wouldn’t have loved the show if they couldn’t relate to the characters. Dan and Jenny Humphrey felt like outsiders and we all know what it feels like to be an outsider.

The Fashion

The costume designer of the show Eric Daman said that he wanted the show to look like a living magazine and he certainly accomplished that. There was no excuse for the majority of the characters to not show up in the most glamorous outfits they own because money was not an issue for them. Each character's style was not only a depiction of their socio-economic status but their personalities, too; Serena always looked effortlessly cool while Blair’s wardrobe was more preppy and put together, and Chuck’s style was more European influenced while Nate dressed like your average preppy American boy. The girls were spotted wearing handbags from Chanel and Dior and dresses from designers like Jenny Packham, J.Mendel, and Zuhair Murad. Chuck’s style consisted of Armani and Bottega Veneta while Nate wore a plethora of Brooks Brothers and Ralph Lauren.

Connection to Social Media & Gossip

As soon as Serena was spotted at Grand Central Terminal everyone knew she had returned to New York; Living in this digital age, we are used to getting news instantaneously and sharing it if we think it’s important enough, which is exactly what the characters on Gossip Girl did. Whenever Gossip Girl released a new piece of juicy information, everybody stopped what they were doing to read and to share with their friends. Of course, it wouldn’t be newsworthy information if it was about just anybody, being a part of Manhattan’s elite pretty much meant you were a celebrity. As the viewer, you were always intrigued to see what drama was about to play out after the character’s secrets were revealed.