Nothing is a secret when Gossip Girl is around. With all her little pre-teen minions running around Manhattan snapping photos, she definitely has all the help she can get in delving into the secrets of New York's elite. This, of course, includes favorite 'it' couple, lonely boy Dan (Penn Badgley) and Serena (Blake Lively) who still haven't seemed to make their relationship official, again.

Gossip Girl keeps nothing to herself for long and posts a picture of the two lip-locked, letting everyone know that they are, in fact, together. This leads to nothing but scrutiny from family and friends including Blair Waldorf (Leighton Meester) and Dan's father Rufus (Matthew Settle). All these concerned citizens seem to scrutinize Dan and Serena for not talking about their problems that went down last year. I, on the other hand, thought we covered this in the first two episodes of the season. They obviously forgave each other. They broke up for not-so-intelligible reasons. They didn't communicate well enough. Serena lied and Dan got manipulated by Georgina (Michelle Trachtenberg). Check. Got it. They still have issues? It seems like a pathetic television ploy; but we are talking about the same Josh Schwartz who was the writer/creator of The O.C. If Ryan (Ben McKenzie) and Marissa (Mischa Barton) never got together, perhaps Serena and Dan will have to face the same ill-fated future.

Nevertheless, regardless of how many times the past discretions have been previously mentioned, or vaguely mentioned as the case may be, viewers got to hear a mouthful of the public opinion in this episode. A wonderfully idiotic side track occurred where three young girls out of nowhere claiming to be avid Gossip Girl fans came and chastised Dan and Serena out of the blue for their relationship. This little outburst just makes me question what the show is coming to.

But, as always, Dan and Serena aren't the only ones with problems; others just aren't pointed out on the sidewalk by young teeny-boppers. Nate Archibald (Chace Crawford) doesn't really like Duchess Catherine (Madchen Amick) anymore, but still seems to be whoring himself out to get money to help support his mom while his dad is off hiding in the Dominican. Nate, needing a break from his cougar, decided to make-up with Vanessa (Jessica Szohr) after standing her up last week. Like any over-the-top soap opera, Catherine went snooping after Nate on his outing with Vanessa and then called Blair to get the dirt on this new chick stealing her thunder. Blair, still blackmailing the woman to keep in good graces with her Lord, decided to cause problems of her own and invite Vanessa to this week's party so the Duchess could confront her herself.

Meanwhile, Jenny Humphrey (Taylor Momsen) is still stuck interning at Waldorf Designs, but can't seem to stay in anyone's good graces. This time she is caught red-handed insulting and trying to change one of Eleanor Waldorf's personal designs when Eleanor Waldorf (Margaret Colin) walks in and fires her on the spot. But, she is saved by the bell, or the blackout at least, when she then gets to spend quality time with Eleanor. This Waldorf seems to regret jumping to conclusions about Jenny and lets her help with the design process even after the lights come back on.

Not everyone can be necessarily saved by the totally unbelievable entire New York City blackout; however, Chuck Bass' (Ed Westwick) sexual appetite can be quenched at such a time. After throwing himself at numerous, meaningless girls, Chuck still only wants one woman - Blair Waldorf. With Blair's needs not being fulfilled by Marcus (Patrick Heusinger) she takes refuge in Chuck after he turned her on by whispering sweet-nothings in her ears earlier at the party. With exact precision, the lights come back on just as Marcus enters Blair's room and finds her and Chuck deep in the throws of passion. Marcus punches Chuck and leaves the room. Blair chases after him, claiming she thought it was Marcus she was with the whole time. But, unlike Dan and Serena's problems, Blair tries to right her wrong by demanding that the Lord just show her that he wants her. Marcus and Blair then passionately kiss, leaving Chuck in the dark on where Blair's head is truly at. The Lord and Blair live to fight another day.

Not left in the dark, however, was Vanessa. She decided to show up to the party only to find Nate holding Catherine's hand. Vanessa then prompts him to tell her "everything" about his secret love affair. But Vanessa got more of an earful from Catherine rather than Nate and sadly had to leave Nate to his gigolo ways or else Catherine would go to the FBI and tell them where Nate's father is hiding. Looks like Blair isn't the only one good at blackmailing; perhaps that's why they are getting along so fantastically.

And lastly, Serena and Dan never made it to the party due to the unlikely blackout. The two got caught in an elevator and were forced to talk about their problems. While we didn't necessarily hear all the details, the conclusion was the same as before - Dan and Serena shouldn't be together. It's almost like they have broken up and gotten back together every episode so far this season...oh wait, they have. I'm not even curious if it will happen again next week because I'm sure it will.

Story by Beth Wickman

Starpulse contributing writer