TV Geek Out 62: Gossip Girl, "In the Realm of the Basses"

Gossip Girl returned from the holidays with "In the Realm of the Basses," one of the best episodes of season two, if only because it dispensed with insufferable hipster Aaron Rose. Even though that meant Serena reunited with the equally insufferable Dan, this episode had a lot going for it: Jenny is no longer 15 going on 35 and Ed Westwick and Leighton Meester got to show off their acting chops. Westwick's turn as a dead-eyed, pot and opium-smoking Chuck was believably creepy, while Meester handled Blair's divided loyalties between a society future and saving Chuck from himself with compassion and humor. TV Geek Out Geeks Dana and Heather geek out about the show's return, wonder if the storylines aren't better suited to characters in their late 20s or early 30s, and rejoice over Aaron Rose's departure.

Check it out here.