Lincoln Hawk Fan Club: s01e05, 'Dare Devil'
Do You Care About the Adults on This Show?
Hello, and welcome back to Lincoln Hawk Fan Club, my GOSSIP GIRL recap newsletter. Some housekeeping before we go!
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It has been a rule pretty much since the dawn of time (or, okay, television) that screenwriters must make sure to include plot lines involving the adults or the parents into any teen-oriented TV show. Well, maybe that's not true, but it's definitely a hallmark of the Schwartz-Savage programming that dominated the aughts. But if THE O.C. had Sandy, Kirsten, Julie and Jimmy, GOSSIP GIRL improved upon the formula with Rufus and Lily.
Through the show's early episodes, we learn that Rufus and Lily once operated as a kind of Dan-Serena parallel of the '90s, with the two conducting a love affair that pre-dates Lily's current life as the ex-wife of multiple millionaires. Rufus was the lead singer of Lincoln Hawk, which, judging from jokes made about other lead singers Lily supposedly slept with, is meant to sit in the same space as grunge/rock bands like Nine Inch Nails and Jane's Addiction. Lily was a rich kid in a rebellious phase who turned back to her wealthy roots for reasons not made completely clear. (And we'll get there, don't you worry.)
More important than their shared past, however, is the implication that they still very much have chemistry together, as well as unresolved feelings for one another. Especially in season one, Rufus and Lily spark off of each other in really fun and quippy dialogue, the kinds of burns you can only get in on someone you know very well. That relationship becomes central to this episode, the fifth of the season.
(Which, by the way, I think episodes four, five and six can present kind of a lull if you're just getting into the show; we did all our initial attention-grabbing explosive conflict reveals and resolutions in the first three episodes, and now we're going deeper with characters to build more tension later and lay down groundwork for the rest of the season, which is important, but can mean these episodes don't feel as exciting as the ones that came before or that will come after.)
Rufus still clearly carries a big chip on his shoulder about Lily's wealth and privilege which, imo, doesn't bode particularly well for our girl Serena. Apples, trees, etc, you know. Of course, Lily doesn't exactly help that by making constant cracks about Rufus's lack of success and life of struggle in [checks notes] Williamsburg, Brooklyn circa 2007 a.k.a. basically the cultural center of New York City in the mid-aughts but okay.
But Rufus, like Dan, either fails to realize or actively chooses to be ignorant to the fact that rich people have real problems, too, and like Dan, Rufus gets a big ol' wakeup call in the form of Eric's suicide attempt. When Lily rushes over to try and get Dan's cell number, they end up making dinner together, and over their meal prep, she comes clean about the reason she's so frantic to find him. That softens Rufus — how could it not? — and you can feel some of the ice melt between them.
In a lot of exchanges between Lily and Rufus, they drop details that reveal a level of shared intimacy and familiarity; here, for example, Lily tells Rufus that she'll "pass on that bottle of non-premium liquor you're drinking" but says she's hungry, teasing, "You can still cook, right?" and fussing with his pasta sauce recipe. And later in the episode, we see just how familiar Rufus and Lily have been when his wife, Alison, instantly recognizes Lily's voice on the phone.
We get the best look into what their relationship was, however, while Lily reminisces over a photo of Rufus hanging in his apartment that she took. They squabble over whether Lily was even there or not, to which she responds with the song list from the evening; the first was about her, the second about his motorcycle, and the third was about Sayulita, a surf town where apparently the two of them had some particularly memorable sex. Lily says she even remembers the black dress she wore, to which Rufus says, "Really? I think it might have actually been blue," showing that he, too, remembers that she was there — even if he doesn't want her to know that, even if he doesn't want to remember himself.
When it's at its best, I do very much love the Rufus-Lily dynamic. When it's at its worst — or, more accurately, when it's been wrung out for all its worth — I find it exhausting. The stakes don't feel as high for adults on this show, mainly because they so often serve as B- or C- plots, but there's something about the idea that these two crazy kids could find their way back to each other that is very endearing. Where we are with them this moment in the show, though? It's perfect. So enjoy it while you still can.
Best Lines of the Episode:
Blair: “I’m not a stop along the way, I’m a destination.”
Rufus: “This better not be my wife.”
Lily: “Rufus, do you always answer the phone like that?!”
Rufus: “Hey, I was ju-
Lily: “So I made some calls, but as it turns out, none of my people know your people — shocking, but true! — and either Dan Humphrey is an alias or your son is not very popular. Regardless, I need that number.”
My Favorite Outfit of the Episode:
It can only be the 3.1 Phillip Lim dress Blair wears this episode. With glittery platform sandals and a red coat? Perfection.
Final Stray Observations:
Blair's sleepover has been a tradition since 2000, which, if my math is correct, would mean she started at her 10th birthday? Which begs the question: If Gossip Girl's end-of-episode voiceover is right, and the UES hasn't seen a sleepover debut of Jenny's quality since Blair herself, what did B do at age 10 to impress?!
Dan having a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle piggy bank makes a lot more sense to me than Cedric the Cabbage Patch kid, but I love the Cedric jokes so I'll allow it.
"This is Serena van der Woodsen, you can’t just take her to a movie" except that, didn't you literally just invite her to do that for a date last episode, Dan?
I have...questions about the clown with a llama from Alison's 30th birthday.
Speaking of pre-existing dates, why all the confusion from both Serena and Blair about S being double-booked the night of her sleepover? Didn't Blair "agree to those terms" when Dan asked Serena on another date on Friday at 8 PM, telling him he couldn't wear those shoes or that hair?
And speaking of things people should be banned from wearing on dates, this extremely long, absurdly skinny scarf Serena is wearing has got to go.
It's a nice detail that Lily also goes shopping when she's stressed, just like Serena did in the first episode!
Also a nice detail is that Lily wouldn't let Serena get a drivers' license because "that's what drivers are for." God bless rich people.
Dorota is so nice to Jenny. I love Dorota.
This Jenny makeover scene...I know they were working from racks pulled for other people, but if Blair wanted a clone, why have her try on the "too Beyoncé/Mary Kate/Hannah Montana" outfits to begin with?
However, giving her an Alex Woo initial necklace with just a question mark — that's excellent attention to detail.
Do I drink gin martinis because Blair Waldorf said that's what they should be? Now that's one secret I'll never tell.
Blair's disappointment at Jenny chickening out of "dare" after seeing Kati and Iz make out is palpable and I'm adding it to my pile of evidence that Blair is bi.
This scene where Blair pretends to have a prescription drug problem to jailbreak Eric from the Ostroff Center is really fun and I don't think Leighton Meester gets enough credit for her comedic acting.
I understand this is a plot device and I love a good bag swap incident as much as the next girl, but even in 2007, I don't believe a teenager would've left the house without making sure she had her cell phone on her.
"I dare you to make out with that guy — and mean it" is the most teenage thing anyone on this show has said.
How does Lily know where Rufus lives if she couldn't find anyone with Dan's cell phone?
God, no wonder Visconti closed down, it let in a literal parade of teenagers.
When Eric walks up after a fist fight almost breaks out over an adult man making out with Blair and says, "Hey Serena, I told you everything was okay," that's A-plus comedy writing and delivery right there.
I miss this moment of Lily's style where she was going for a much more laid-back rich lady situation with expensive denim and basic tees with an Hermès bag. (Fun fact: The Hermès bags Lily carries in the show belonged to actress Kelly Rutherford! She loves the brand so much she named her son after it.)
It is...extremely rich of Serena to lecture Eric about getting into trouble.
"I know who Blair and those girls are, but I know who I am and I’m not gonna forget that just ‘cause I hang out with them." Oh Jenny, you beautiful fool.
Between "This is perfect: You want in, and he wants out" and "It's just a shame, 'cause you've come so far," Blair is incredible at peer pressure.
Okay, so let me get this right: Dan takes Serena to a French restaurant on the Upper East Side, then down to a pool hall in (presumably) Dumbo, then up to Visconti in midtown, then to the Upper East Side to take Eric back to the Ostroff Center, then to...Meatpacking? To make out? The subway travel time alone...the mind reels.
We're finally hearing a Lincoln Hawk song! I think. It's actually "Something Like That" from the band Tim, but it plays over a montage that includes Rufus putting on his own band's vinyl (complete with parental advisory sticker! What a bad boy!) so I feel we're meant to think it's from Lincoln Hawk.
First of all, the swiftness with which Jenny came up with that lie for the police, phew! Second, telling Blair she was going to go home is an incredible power move. But I am a little confused, because their exchange at the end — "Monday? Lunch on the steps?" "Done and done." — definitely does feel like they've hit equal ground....but more on that next week, I suppose.
And Now, Your 'Dan Is a Psycho for This' Moment of the Episode:
Dan actually isn't too bad in this episode, except for two points: The first is that if Dan has been following Serena for years, he should know that she doesn't frequent the kind of hoity-toity restaurants he booked for their date. It makes no sense! Neither the Serena of old or new would be caught dead in such an uptight spot.
The second, and more egregious, is him lecturing Jenny about wanting to be a part of this world. Um, hello, you're the one running an entire anonymous blog about these people! Serena correctly and gently points out that, had Dan made "half the effort" that Jenny did at the sleepover, maybe they'd run in the same circles by now. Instead, Dan, what you did is start an anonymous blog ripping all these people apart. Psycho!
And that's it! Thank you for signing up for Lincoln Hawk Fan Club; if you have any thoughts, questions or comments, I'd love to hear them. XOXO!
1st !