I'm in ♥ with Dair; Shall it Matter if they Love Each Other?
So, unless you're holding back on watching Gossip Girl you'd know the writers appear to be ...
... daring to Dair. Dan Humphrey and Blair Waldorf are forming an unlikely friendship equipped with their usual banter and playful flirting. This time we even got a throwback to some of their more emotionally resonate moments from 1.04 and the moment in late season three where Dan tells Blair she deserves to be with someone who makes her happy. And that's just what this pair calls for if we want to consider them as close friends or lovers.
Plus, we had the great 'evil dictator of taste' rearing her beautiful head. But do know Blair that one man's grandpa tie is another woman's headband.
Ironically, the media frenzy we saw as a result of episode 4.11, The Townie, has fizzled out to some extent. This is ironic because 4.12, The Kids are not Alright, provided the greatest case for them becoming a couple, and interestingly provided the greatest case for keeping them just they way they are now. So it still leaves so many viewers at an in-pass.
And while I can understand people pulling the case for either side, my choice remains with both. I'm still taking things as they come. But rest assured I believe either will benefit the show, and both options are workable.
You care to disagree? That's OK. But let's take a look at a few key points.
Viewers are quick to add Serena as the core force in this forming dynamic. And while it's true that if Dan and Blair ever get physical or romantically closer the impact on Serena's character will be at the core. But keep in my mind that I don't see her reactions as a permanent shift in her relationships with both characters. The dynamics between Nate and Chuck, and later Nate and Dan, only altered slightly, and for a brief amount of time. And Serena and Blair have re-bounced to friends after being enemies more times than I can count. Relationships on this show rarely ever alter a fixed change. We'll get a burst of drama, and then a slow resume to Serena and Blair's BFF status.
One might argue that if the writers go there with Dan and Blair, that this wonderful dynamic established will be tarnished or worse never to return. I suppose it's in how the writer's approach this, but I honestly feel that if they do more than tempt fate here, I don't see a problem. Granted if the characters culminate in an awkward one-night-stand of passion and lust fueled sex, that could create a dichotomy, and a negative one at that. They need to be in many ways the opposite juxtaposition to the Chuck and Blair of this early season. But so long as we keep things grounded in as much a emotional connection as a fun and flirty one I see no reason why they can't come out of a relationship respecting each other even more than they do now, and perhaps becoming truly rich and rewarding friends for the rest of the show's history.
There's an interesting flip-side here and it lies in the character of Jenny Humphrey, Dan's sister. A character rarely mentioned to be a factor in Dair's relationship, but perhaps the most vital component. She is, in a lot of ways, the deciding factor to whether Dan and Blair would be able to progress as a romantic pairing.
I'll admit it already takes some suspension of disbelief to believe Dan would consider Blair a true friend consider her relenting negative treatment of his sister. But thankfully the writers have helped ease this by writing their relational progression mainly from Blair's prospective. She's been the one doing the side glances, the advocating for Dan, and even going so far as to consider his altered mood by her joining him for another pretentious French film.
But to think of Dan willingly approaching the idea of having feelings for Blair knowing mere months early she tried to run Jenny out of New York City, and has done countless things to undermine and directly attack her, is something that needs to be addressed here. It's where a good deal of my reservations lie. Should Blair apologize? If she did would it represent an out-of-character moment? Perhaps some deeper understanding and exposing into Blair's true nature will help Dan to see Blair as someone struggling to maintain her self-worth and identity in a world that seeks to hold her down? Perhaps that's the key here, revealing that Blair's tragic flaws are all at the helm of her insecurities and need for self-worth. Sure there's a diabolic nature that can't be squelched, but at her core she's not the queen bitch, but rather a normally flawed woman just trying to make her place in this world. I think if the writers can address this it would be huge, and certainly take Dan and Blair to a whole other level whether it be by way of friendship or love.
So with all this in mind, can you dare to Dair? I know I can, regardless of which of the two main directions they take this. May many be able to join the ride for however long it last too. Besides Chair are end-game right? =:-/
... daring to Dair. Dan Humphrey and Blair Waldorf are forming an unlikely friendship equipped with their usual banter and playful flirting. This time we even got a throwback to some of their more emotionally resonate moments from 1.04 and the moment in late season three where Dan tells Blair she deserves to be with someone who makes her happy. And that's just what this pair calls for if we want to consider them as close friends or lovers.
Plus, we had the great 'evil dictator of taste' rearing her beautiful head. But do know Blair that one man's grandpa tie is another woman's headband.
Ironically, the media frenzy we saw as a result of episode 4.11, The Townie, has fizzled out to some extent. This is ironic because 4.12, The Kids are not Alright, provided the greatest case for them becoming a couple, and interestingly provided the greatest case for keeping them just they way they are now. So it still leaves so many viewers at an in-pass.
And while I can understand people pulling the case for either side, my choice remains with both. I'm still taking things as they come. But rest assured I believe either will benefit the show, and both options are workable.
You care to disagree? That's OK. But let's take a look at a few key points.
Viewers are quick to add Serena as the core force in this forming dynamic. And while it's true that if Dan and Blair ever get physical or romantically closer the impact on Serena's character will be at the core. But keep in my mind that I don't see her reactions as a permanent shift in her relationships with both characters. The dynamics between Nate and Chuck, and later Nate and Dan, only altered slightly, and for a brief amount of time. And Serena and Blair have re-bounced to friends after being enemies more times than I can count. Relationships on this show rarely ever alter a fixed change. We'll get a burst of drama, and then a slow resume to Serena and Blair's BFF status.
One might argue that if the writers go there with Dan and Blair, that this wonderful dynamic established will be tarnished or worse never to return. I suppose it's in how the writer's approach this, but I honestly feel that if they do more than tempt fate here, I don't see a problem. Granted if the characters culminate in an awkward one-night-stand of passion and lust fueled sex, that could create a dichotomy, and a negative one at that. They need to be in many ways the opposite juxtaposition to the Chuck and Blair of this early season. But so long as we keep things grounded in as much a emotional connection as a fun and flirty one I see no reason why they can't come out of a relationship respecting each other even more than they do now, and perhaps becoming truly rich and rewarding friends for the rest of the show's history.
There's an interesting flip-side here and it lies in the character of Jenny Humphrey, Dan's sister. A character rarely mentioned to be a factor in Dair's relationship, but perhaps the most vital component. She is, in a lot of ways, the deciding factor to whether Dan and Blair would be able to progress as a romantic pairing.
I'll admit it already takes some suspension of disbelief to believe Dan would consider Blair a true friend consider her relenting negative treatment of his sister. But thankfully the writers have helped ease this by writing their relational progression mainly from Blair's prospective. She's been the one doing the side glances, the advocating for Dan, and even going so far as to consider his altered mood by her joining him for another pretentious French film.
But to think of Dan willingly approaching the idea of having feelings for Blair knowing mere months early she tried to run Jenny out of New York City, and has done countless things to undermine and directly attack her, is something that needs to be addressed here. It's where a good deal of my reservations lie. Should Blair apologize? If she did would it represent an out-of-character moment? Perhaps some deeper understanding and exposing into Blair's true nature will help Dan to see Blair as someone struggling to maintain her self-worth and identity in a world that seeks to hold her down? Perhaps that's the key here, revealing that Blair's tragic flaws are all at the helm of her insecurities and need for self-worth. Sure there's a diabolic nature that can't be squelched, but at her core she's not the queen bitch, but rather a normally flawed woman just trying to make her place in this world. I think if the writers can address this it would be huge, and certainly take Dan and Blair to a whole other level whether it be by way of friendship or love.
So with all this in mind, can you dare to Dair? I know I can, regardless of which of the two main directions they take this. May many be able to join the ride for however long it last too. Besides Chair are end-game right? =:-/