Thanksgiving
All ‘Gossip Girl’ Thanksgiving Episodes, Ranked
Thanksgiving is all about four things: giving thanks, food, political discussions with family, and the Gossip Girl Thanksgiving episodes.
With plenty of drama, Gossip Girl brings you along to a world that’s so dysfunctional that it almost makes you believe that your family has it all together. That’s why the fictional world of the most entertaining Upper East Siders is so captivating to follow.
So, grab some pumpkin pie, a glass of champagne (we’re heading into the lives of Manhattan’s elite, right?), and a cozy blanket to prepare for your Thanksgiving marathon.
Scroll down below to read our ranking of all the Gossip Girl Thanksgiving episodes the series had to offer. Do you agree with our ranking? Let us know in the comments down below.
5. "Gaslit" (Season 4)
Okay, “Gaslit” is good, but then again, so is every other Gossip Girl Thanksgiving episode. It just isn’t up to par compared to the others, but there’s plenty of drama. I mean, Serena van der Woodsen (Blake Lively) is being blamed for relapsing and gets put into rehab all because of Juliet Sharp’s (Katie Cassidy) sabotaging moves. Come on, that’s just cruel.
Juliet is one of Gossip Girl’s ultimate villains. She’s rotten to the core, but she doesn’t have the innate watchability that other antagonists possess. To be honest, there’s probably no one who could compete against Georgina Sparks (Michelle Trachtenberg). Certainly not Juliet.
With less chaos than what we’re accustomed to in a Gossip Girl Thanksgiving episode, this episode lacks pizzazz. It’s kind of entertaining to see Vanessa Abrams (Jessica Szohr) and Jenny Humphrey (Taylor Momsen) scramble, though.
4. "The Magnificent Archibalds" (Season 2)
Sure, some would say that “The Magnificent Archibalds” deserves the last spot. However, since it’s from the second season, that preserves its spot in the line-up.
I’m a firm believer that Season 2 is one the best seasons of television ever — don’t question me. The episode is a little on the slow side, but it’s still so good.
To see the dynamic between Nate Archibald’s (Chace Crawford) family play out makes us weep for the privileged soft boy. Meanwhile, Serena is once again worrying about her past actions. Blair Waldorf (Leighton Meester), for the second time in a row, hates the way her family traditions have changed.
More of a filler episode than a classic, “The Magnificent Archibalds” is still not one to skip.
3. "It's Really Complicated" Season 6
In what should’ve been a wholesome day, Dan Humphrey’s (Penn Badgley) book messes it all up and stirs up tension. The wannabe literary genius forgets to tell his “one true love” Serena about the book. When she finds out that he has written a scathing tale about her, it’s safe to say that she’s not going to recommend it.
In the least surprising turn of events, their first Thanksgiving party doesn’t go as well as originally planned — but that’s not all that goes wrong in this episode. Chuck Bass (Ed Westwick) is on a downward spiral and trying to shut everyone out after his dad disappoints him (again), and Blair (once again) has to pick up the pieces. Nate also has problems of his own as he previously forged the finances of The Spectator, as well as Lily van der Woodsen (Kelly Rutherford) and Bart Bass (Robert John Burke).
If “It’s Really Complicated” had leaned into the nostalgia factor of the earlier seasons, it might’ve been placed even higher, but nothing will ever match our top two picks.
2. "Blair Waldorf Must Pie" (Season 1)
“Blair Waldorf Must Pie” is the definition of iconic. You never forget your first Gossip Girl Thanksgiving episode.
Every minute is dripping with drama. With the right touch of jaw-dropping turns, sad segments, and a great throwback storyline, it gives you everything and more. In short, “Blair Waldorf Must Pie” is a Thanksgiving classic.
Baby-faced Blair really makes you feel for her, allowing fans of the show to see what’s beneath all that wicked scheming. There’s also the backstory on why Eleanor Waldorf (Margaret Colin) became bitter and distant.
Luckily, Blair’s maid, Dorota (Zuzanna Szadkowski) is always there to support Blair. Oh, do we love her for that.
1. "The Treasure of Serena Madre" (Season 3)
The Thanksgiving scene in Season 3’s “The Treasure of Serena Madre,” complete with the legendary use of Jason Derulo’s “Whatcha Say,” is one of the most incredible scenes in television history.
Many secrets are cracked wide open, with Serena’s affair with Tripp Vanderbilt (Aaron Tveit) being the main attraction. In between Jenny (Taylor Momsen) and Eric van der Woodsen’s (Connor Paolo) drama (“Your sweet potatoes are bland.”), Blair’s quest to prove that her mom is pregnant, Dorota’s secret, Vanessa’s tension with her mom, and Nate’s pining, there’s still more drama to dig into. Lily is also hiding something from Rufus, but her mom, Cece Rhodes (Caroline Lagerfelt), is also there to stir up some drama between the two. All of this gets unraveled in the midst of the meal, and many characters get up and leave Thanksgiving altogether.
Taking all of this into account, there’s just nothing else to do than crown “The Treasure of Serena Madre” the best Gossip Girl Thanksgiving episode. It’s pure camp! Nothing can top it.
