Ep 24. Valley Girls

Valley Girls is the 24th episode in season 2 of Gossip Girl. This episode is unique as it is a flashback episode, taking us back to the 1980s when a young Lily Rhodes is trying to make a name for herself in Los Angeles.

The episode starts with Blair and Serena waiting for their college acceptance letters while reminiscing about their high school days. This prompts a storytelling session by Lily, who begins to share her story from when she was a teenager.

Lily's story starts with her attending a wild party in the Hollywood Hills with her parents, who are trying to hide their financial problems. The next day, Lily is sent to live with her sister Carol in the San Fernando Valley, where she struggles to fit in with the typical Valley Girl crowd.

Carol, who is played by Krysten Ritter, is the complete opposite of Lily. She's loud, confident, and loves to party. Lily is introduced to her sister's group of friends, including Ella, played by the talented Elizabeth Hurley, and Owen, her love interest, played by Armie Hammer.

As the story unfolds, we see Lily's transformation into a Valley Girl. She starts dressing like them, talking like them, and even starts dating Owen. But as she gets sucked into the Valley Girl lifestyle, Lily realizes it's not all it's cracked up to be. She starts to see the darker side of her friends' lives, including drugs and partying.

In one scene, Lily is at a party with her friends, and she sees Owen high on drugs. She tries to convince him to stop, but he doesn't listen. This moment is a turning point for Lily, as she realizes she doesn't want to be associated with this lifestyle anymore.

From there, Lily begins to distance herself from her friends and starts to focus on her music. She starts singing at a neighborhood club and catches the eye of her future husband, Rufus Humphrey. Rufus is the lead singer of a band, and he sees something special in Lily's music.

Throughout the episode, we see the development of Lily and Rufus's relationship, from their first meeting to their first kiss. Their chemistry is undeniable, and it's clear that they are meant to be together.

The episode ends with Lily returning home to her mother and stepfather, who are proud of her for finally finding her own path. Lily realizes that she doesn't need to try to fit in with any crowd, she just needs to be true to herself.

Valley Girls is a departure from the typical Gossip Girl format, but it's a great episode nonetheless. The 1980s setting is fun, and we get to see a different side of Lily's story. The guest stars are fantastic, especially Krysten Ritter and Elizabeth Hurley. The episode is a great reminder that sometimes, we just need to be ourselves.