Gossip Girl

Eight years after the original blog went silent, Gossip Girl returns as an anonymous online presence that watches and talks about a new set of privileged New York City teenagers. The series follows stylish influencer Julien Calloway and scholarship student Zoya Lott as their worlds collide at elite schools, where friendships, romances, and rivalries are all vulnerable to public exposure. Secrets, ambition, and the pressure to perform for an audience shape decisions and alliances, while older figures and the city itself exert influence on the younger characters. The show tracks how reputation and access work in an era of relentless social media scrutiny, without giving away the ways individual fates twist along the way.

Developed by Joshua Safran and based on Cecily von Ziegesar's Gossip Girl books, the 2021 revival premiered with a diverse young ensemble including Jordan Alexander, Whitney Peak, Tavi Gevinson, Eli Brown, and Thomas Doherty.

The series didn’t sweep the major awards circuits, and it wasn’t a prize magnet like some prestige dramas. It did, however, attract attention from critics and fans, appearing in various year-end conversations and earning recognition for performances and costume work in industry roundups.

The revival reignited interest in the Gossip Girl brand, prompting discussions about how gossip, class, and fame operate online today. Its fashion moments and viral scenes became fodder for social media, and the show sparked commentary about privilege, representation, and how teen dramas reflect current tech-driven culture.

Critics offered mixed to generally positive reviews, reflected in a solid average user vote of about 7.3 out of 10. Reviewers praised the cast chemistry, visual style, and timely themes, while some noted uneven plotting and tonal shifts. Major themes include the influence of surveillance culture, social hierarchy, identity performance, and the intersections of race and wealth in elite spaces.