Eric van der Woodsen
Eric van der Woodsen | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Fictional character |
| Known for | Gossip Girl (novel series and TV series) |
| Notable work | Gossip Girl novels and television adaptation |
Eric van der Woodsen (named Erik in the novels) is a fictional persona featured in both the Gossip Girl literary works and the television adaptation, with Connor Paolo portraying him on screen.
Novel series
In the books, Erik shares the typical van der Woodsen traits of being slender and blonde. He is Serena van der Woodsen’s older brother, though his appearances in the novels are limited. As a Brown University junior, Serena mentions he has "at least six or seven different girlfriends he sleeps with routinely." During a visit to Sun Valley, Erik briefly dated Serena’s close friend Blair Waldorf.
Erik maintains a strong connection with his sister, having arranged her extravagant sweet sixteen celebration and driven her to Hanover for school. While his role in the main series is minor, he assumes greater prominence in the Gossip Girl prequel, Gossip Girl: It Had to Be You.
Characterization
The television portrayal of Eric presents a more complex character than in the novels, demonstrating emotional maturity regarding family dynamics and relationships while navigating adolescent challenges. Alessandra Stanley of The New York Times notes his evolution from "an object of female lust" to someone in need of "psychotherapy," underscoring his close relationship with Serena as he remains "misunderstood by all but his caring, if troubled, sister." Despite this growth, Eric’s stay at the Ostroff Center—a rehabilitation clinic—results from feelings of isolation and instability caused by his mother’s multiple marriages. Actor Connor Paolo comments that Eric’s absence of a father figure played a role in his suicide attempt.
Season 1
At the beginning of the season, Eric is living at the high-end Ostroff Center. Serena frequently visits him and campaigns for his release, which is temporarily granted during the Ivy League Mixer event, where Eric forms a friendship with Jenny Humphrey. After Blair Waldorf humiliates Serena by revealing her time at the center, Eric intervenes to clarify that he was the patient and reveals scars on his wrist from his suicide attempt to Blair.
During Blair’s traditional sleepover party, Jenny and Blair sneak into the Ostroff Center to take Eric out for an evening at a downtown bar. When Lily discovers Eric is missing, she contacts Rufus Humphrey—whose son Dan is with Serena—and together they ensure Eric’s safety and return. Seeing that Eric is ready to leave treatment, Lily brings him back home. At Thanksgiving dinner with the Humphreys—where Lily and Rufus disclose their past romantic involvement—Eric develops a close friendship with Chuck Bass amid Lily’s engagement to billionaire Bart Bass.
Eric cautions Jenny about her boyfriend Asher Hornsby, though she misreads this as romantic attention. Dan and Georgina Sparks witness Asher kissing someone outside school; Gossip Girl then spreads false rumors claiming Jenny lost her virginity to Asher, which Eric knows is untrue. Georgina exposes Eric’s sexuality during a family dinner to hurt Serena, upsetting Lily who blames herself for Eric’s institutionalization. Serena supports Eric and learns he had already come out to Chuck Bass due to Chuck’s acceptance. Eric reveals he had a relationship while at Ostroff but believes it has ended.
At Asher and Jenny’s party, Eric assists Blair in sabotaging Jenny by unveiling Asher’s homosexuality and their secret relationship. Although Asher denies it, Blair posts their email correspondence on Gossip Girl. Following these events, Eric reconciles with Lily.
Season 2
During the summer of 2008, Eric resides with his sister and grandmother in The Hamptons. Jenny reaches out to him for assistance in gaining access to the Vitamin White Party, leading to their reconciliation after she apologizes for the situation involving Asher. To help Jenny broaden her connections within the fashion world, Eric introduces her to Tinsley Mortimer.
As the academic year commences, despite Serena’s objections to Lily’s recent marriage and new household rules, Eric advocates for giving the union a chance. He presents Jonathan Whitney (Matt Doyle) as his boyfriend; however, their relationship ends when Bart exposes Jonathan’s unfaithfulness. Secretly, Eric provides Jenny with lodging at the Bass-van der Woodsen penthouse and supports her efforts to initiate a divorce from her parents.
Eric discovers that Bart has hired private investigator Andrew Tyler to delve into the histories of himself, Lily, and Serena. This investigation uncovers Lily’s concealed past institutionalization in a French sanatorium—a secret she maintained to project strength. As a result of Bart’s behavior, Lily chooses to celebrate Thanksgiving with the Humphreys.
After Bart’s passing, Eric returns accompanied by Jonathan and convinces Chuck to reclaim their shared penthouse. Their bond officially deepens into brotherhood when Lily adopts her late husband’s son.
Season 3
In the summer of 2009, Eric stays at his grandmother’s residence alongside Jenny, Dan, and Rufus while Lily tends to CeCe in Montecito. He observes Jenny delivering a speech that disrupts Constance’s established social order.
As Jenny ascends to prominence as an Upper East Side Queen, Eric becomes a target during a confrontation that ends with him being doused in yogurt. Following an incident at a Halloween party where Jonathan is pelted with eggs, Eric distances himself from Jenny. He undermines Jenny’s Cotillion by sending a deceptive text message to Graham Collins, sabotaging her plans for a date. Aligning himself with Blair, Eric orchestrates Kira Abernathy’s rise as a rival queen by arranging a makeover and coercing Graham into escorting Kira instead of Jenny. Despite enduring public embarrassment, Jenny restores her status by choosing Nate as her escort. Jonathan ends his relationship with Eric, accusing him of conspiring with Blair. Unaware of Eric’s involvement in her humiliation, Jenny departs alongside the other Queen Bees.
At Thanksgiving, upon discovering Eric’s interference, Jenny seeks retaliation. Eric collaborates with Kira to discredit Jenny by replicating her designer handbag among several accomplices in an attempt to alienate her peers. The scheme backfires when Jenny exposes the deception and claims one accomplice spoiled the surprise. They reach a ceasefire following Serena’s car accident.
In "Inglourious Bassterds," it is revealed that Eric has been in Japan where he meets Elliot (Luke Kleintank) during Nate’s birthday game of assassin. At Dorota’s wedding, Eric learns that Elliot is bisexual and recently single, suggesting potential for a romantic connection.
Tensions with his father William come to light when Eric rejects him due to past neglect and reveals both his sexual orientation and history of institutionalization.
Eric’s friendship with Jenny faces strain when she confesses to helping William evade police capture; Eric tells her she is free to leave. He is also the first person informed that Jenny lost her virginity to Chuck and offers her support before she is sent away to complete high school in Hudson.
Season 4
In the episode "The Undergraduates", Chuck makes an effort to mend his relationship with Rufus and Eric by attending Fashion Week accompanied by his new partner, Eva. Eric informs Rufus about Chuck’s previous assault on Jenny, signaling that their friendship has suffered irreparable damage.
When Jenny briefly returns for an interview with Tim Gunn, Eric assists her in creating a favorable impression while steering clear of Chuck and Blair. Later, he teams up with Dan to try to bring Jenny back for their parents’ anniversary celebration, but their plan fails as Blair and Chuck reconcile. After Dan steals a treaty from Nate, Eric distances himself from the plot but unintentionally leads his parents to Blair’s party where the scheme unfolds.
Eric is present during Serena’s admission to the Ostroff Center; he offers support yet remains skeptical of her denial regarding an overdose. He also observes a confrontation between Serena and Lily.
Pepe expresses frustration concerning Ben Donovan and Bass Industries. When an Empire representative references the judge involved in Ben’s case, Eric reaches out to Serena, strengthening her determination to oppose Lily.
In "Damien Darko," it is revealed that Eric has ended his relationship with Elliot and has been secretly involved with Damien. After Ben discovers Eric with Damien and confronts him, Eric promises to cease contact with Damien. Rufus questions Eric about purchasing drugs from Damien; Eric admits to buying pills but pledges to stop. Nevertheless, following a warning from Ben, he agrees to meet Damien once more.
Season 5
In "Yes, Then Zero", Rufus shares that Jenny has relocated to London to attend Saint Martins, while Eric is enrolled at Sarah Lawrence College. In "Memoirs of an Invisible Dan," it is mentioned that Dan’s novel Inside combines characteristics of Nate and Eric’s literary counterparts.
Season 6
Eric makes a brief return in the series finale, continuing his close connections with Lily and Jenny.
Reception
Michael Ausiello of TVLine reported that Paolo declined an offer to become a series regular in season two, expressing contentment with his existing role and reluctance to endure the pressures faced by lead actors such as Blake Lively and Penn Badgley.