The Dark Night
| Company type | Television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Founder | Josh Schwartz, Stephanie Savage |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Television episodes |
The Dark Night stands as the 21st installment of the CW's Gossip Girl and marks the third episode in its second season. Crafted by writer John Stephens and helmed by director Janice Cooke, it premiered on September 15, 2008. This episode holds the distinction of being the series' highest-rated, drawing an average audience of 3.73 million viewers.
Plot
Blair expresses a desire to advance her relationship with Marcus, who prefers to wait for a meaningful occasion before taking that step. Meanwhile, Nate postpones his plans with Vanessa, sparking her worries about where their relationship is headed. Despite lingering uncertainties, Dan and Serena decide to make their romance public. On Catherine’s behalf, Blair plots against Vanessa and Nate. Chuck faces difficulties with erectile dysfunction, which he attributes to his unresolved feelings for Blair. At a party hosted by Blair, she extends invitations to both Vanessa and Nate; however, Nate senses something unusual in Blair’s seemingly kind behavior. Jenny loses her job at Eleanor Waldorf’s company after she voices criticism of a design.
During Blair’s event, Vanessa discovers Nate with Catherine just before a citywide blackout occurs, leaving Serena and Dan trapped together in an elevator. In the darkness, Blair attempts to initiate intimacy with Marcus, but Chuck impersonates him to prevent it. Serena and Dan end their relationship again amidst the blackout; when power is restored, Marcus finds them together. Following a threat from Catherine targeting Nate’s family, Vanessa ends her relationship with Nate. The episode concludes with Eleanor deciding to rehire Jenny.
Reception
"The Dark Night" garnered 3.73 million viewers initially and increased to 4.16 million when including Live + 7 DVR ratings, making it the most-watched episode in the series’ history. It also set new records in key demographics such as women aged 18-34 (4.1 rating) and adults aged 18-34 (2.8 rating), securing the top spot among adults 18-34 for its timeslot and surpassing competitors like Two and a Half Men and The Big Bang Theory.
Critical responses were mixed; however, performances by Leighton Meester, Mädchen Amick, and Blake Lively received commendations for delivering some of the episode’s most memorable dialogue. Isabelle Carreau of TV Squad likened Serena and Dan’s dynamic to the classic Ross and Rachel pairing from Friends, acknowledging a challenging path ahead while finding their scenes somewhat lacking in energy. She described the episode as "enjoyable" with several plot twists and supported Vanessa’s character development toward maturity. Michelle Graham from Film School Rejects noted intriguing parallels among character relationships but criticized certain storylines as forced, although she praised the scene in the park where the girls catch Serena and Dan.
Buzz Sugar appreciated the season’s increasingly "ridiculous" tone, particularly highlighting moments involving Eleanor and Jenny. Kona Gallagher of Television Blend dismissed Catherine’s jealousy subplot as trivial and regarded Serena and Dan’s breakup as predictable, labeling many relationships as contrived and exasperating. Amber Charleville from Firefox News interpreted Dan's reasoning for breaking up as stemming from bitter jealousy rather than legitimate grounds, observing that while some story arcs were resolved, others remained open-ended.
Despite varied critiques, Jennifer Armstrong of Entertainment Weekly ranked this episode seventh among the best television episodes of 2008, with Brian Ford Sullivan from The Futon Critic placing it thirty-third within his top 50 episodes for that year.
Featured Music
- "Lights Out" performed by Santogold
- "Like Knives" by The Fashion
- "Closer" by Ne-Yo
- "I Can Feel A Hot One" by Manchester Orchestra
- "It's A Lot" by The 88