Gossip Girl: 9 Things That Would Be Different For Blair Today

Teen dramas are always a product of their time, and Gossip Girl is no different. The show ran from 2007—2012, and its portrayal of young adults and their relationships are drastically different than shows produced today. Gossip Girl focuses on a group of Upper East Siders who bask in their extreme wealth.

At the beginning of the series, it seemed as if Serena was meant to be the protagonist, but her best friend, Blair quickly outshined her. Blair’s arrogance and determination made for an interesting mix, and her character was unique to others on TV at the time. But if the series aired in 2021, there are plenty of things about Blair that would never fly.

9 Her Gossip Girl Blasts

The concept of Gossip Girl alone would never fly today. While tabloids and paparazzi still exist, people on social media have started to look down upon those who are invasive of peoples’ personal life. An anonymous blogger hiding behind a screen and spreading private information isn’t someone to encourage.

In one instance, Chuck and Blair almost died because of a Gossip Girl blast. Blair revealing her best friend’s secrets to the entire city is a betrayal of trust. But, in Blair’s defense, everyone in Blair’s friend group turned on each other at one point or another.

8 Her Hazing Of Jenny

Jenny’s character may have gone downhill throughout her time on the show, but anyone who crossed paths with Blair Waldorf would have trouble recovering. Blair went out of her way to make Jenny’s life miserable, despite having nothing against her.

She took advantage of Jenny’s innocence and treated her like her own personal assistant. All Jenny wanted was to be Blair’s friend, but Blair was never going to let her join her group of minions. Today, Blair wouldn’t be seen as a queen, she’d be seen as a bully.

7 Her Relationship With Chuck

Chuck and Blair’s relationship goes beyond toxic and can be categorized as abusive. The other characters likely wouldn’t encourage Blair to be with someone like Chuck and would help her realize she deserves better. Blair said that she wanted pure and simple love, but it’s not what she got.

Healthy and equal relationships are being portrayed on TV more and more, and fans have begun to dislike fictional couples who are wrongfully glorified. Those who watched Gossip Girl during its time seem to have a different opinion of the relationship than those who watch it today.

6 Her Treatment Of Others

Blair’s attitude, as a whole, would be looked down upon. Although viewers love a complicated female character, Blair crossed the line on more than one occasion. Her character got better as the show went on, but during the early seasons of the series, she would bully the people around her.

Blair’s name-calling and insults were more offensive than funny, and it was difficult to connect to her. Today, Blair wouldn’t have to manipulate others in order to be a fun and layered character.

5 Her Sense Of Style

Fashion trends change with the seasons, and given how long it’s been since Gossip Girl ended, Blair’s outfits would need a serious update. Because of her interest in fashion, Blair always stayed on top of current trends.

Blair’s style began to change the older she got, and soon her headbands were ancient history. Blair’s entire wardrobe would be different in 2021, and the show would have to reflect the changes that took place in the fashion industry over the past ten years.

4 Her Group Of Minions

While it was popular in earlier teen dramas, it’s rare for a character to have a group of minions. Characters are portrayed as their own people, and television has begun to write healthier friendships and a more positive portrayal of teenagers in high school.

While there is still plenty of drama that goes on between the students, the stereotypes and the bullying have been toned down drastically. Teenagers have begun to mingle with everyone and care less about wealth and social status when forming friendships.

3 Her Internship At W Magazine

One of the biggest aspects of Gossip Girl that has changed is the world of publishing. E-readers were in the beginning stages of development, and people read physical magazines as opposed to online articles.

Blair’s internship at W Magazine would have to have a heavier focus on its online audience, and the company would likely be similar to Scarlet in The Bold Type. Blair’s responsibilities would be drastically different, and she would probably have fewer in-person meetups.

2 Her Relationship With Dan

As Ed Westwick even stated himself, Dan always loved Blair more than Chuck did. Their relationship was equal, healthy, and sprouted from their similar interests. Dan and Blair transitioned from enemies to best friends, and it was the foundation of their romance.

Dan believed in the powerful woman Blair had become and knew that she didn’t need him, or anyone else, to be successful. There’s no doubt Dan and Blair would have and should have ended up together, especially because of the popularity of the enemies to friends to lovers trope.

1 Her Circle Of Friends

The things Blair and her friends did to each other weren’t normal by any means. Serena and Jenny hung out with Chuck, who assaulted both of them, and Blair was in a romantic relationship with him. Not everyone within the friend group were actual friends, and there was drama at every party thrown.

The friendships in Gossip Girl are ones that people are warned to stay away from. They were mentally and physically draining, and Blair’s relationship with her best friends would hopefully be better written in the newer age.

About The Author

Rachel Foertsch
(358 Articles Published)

Rachel Foertsch is a production intern and lover of all things television. Her TV reviews are featured on Rotten Tomatoes and she is currently a Staff Writer at ScreenRant. Additionally, Rachel has written for TV Fanatic, where she conducted onscreen celebrity interviews. You can follow her Twitter: @realrayrays for more content.

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