Ep 8. The Grandfather: Part II

In Gossip Girl season 3 episode 8, entitled "The Grandfather: Part II," viewers are reunited with the upper echelon of Manhattan's elite as new alliances are forged and old grudges are reignited.

The episode opens with Blair Waldorf (Leighton Meester) preparing for her visit to the Van der Woodsen estate. She is still unhappy with Serena (Blake Lively) after she left her alone during her dinner party with Eleanor Waldorf (Margaret Colin), but Blair's focus is on impressing her newly-discovered grandfather, William Van der Woodsen (William Baldwin). At the mansion, she meets her stepbrother, Eric (Connor Paolo), who seems to have a strained relationship with his recovering father. Together, they plan to help Serena smooth things over with Blair.

Meanwhile, Chuck Bass (Ed Westwick) is trying to move forward after his breakup with Blair. He has delved into his businesses and takes on a new project: opening a burlesque club inspired by his late mother's performances. He enlists the help of his friend, Nate Archibald (Chace Crawford), who is struggling with his own relationship problems.

Nate's girlfriend, Bree Buckley (Joanna Garcia), has been revealed to be a member of a rival family's business and their romance is further complicated by his growing attraction to Vanessa Abrams (Jessica Szohr). However, Vanessa isn't interested in Nate as anything more than friends, and she is more focused on her documentary project about college life.

As the episode progresses, viewers are shown the dynamic between William and his children, Lily van der Woodsen (Kelly Rutherford) and Serena. It's clear that the three of them have a lot of baggage to sort through and that William isn't the perfect father he wants to appear to be. As tensions mount, Blair and Serena enlist their own grandparents to help them navigate the Van der Woodsen family drama and uncover the truth about William's intentions.

The episode reaches its climax during the opening of Chuck's new club, where the characters' various plotlines intersect. The tension between Lily and William comes to a head, and secrets are revealed that threaten to upend the entire social order of Manhattan.

Overall, "The Grandfather: Part II" is a thrilling episode that moves the show's overarching plot forward while introducing new developments in the characters' individual storylines. It's a testament to the show's ability to balance melodrama with sharp wit and nuanced characterizations.