Monet de Haan’s ascension to energy has been considered one of Gossip Woman‘s extra irritating gradual burns, however the fandom’s collective persistence is lastly rewarded within the present’s second season premiere, which ends with a fiery declaration of warfare.
Within the first of two episodes now streaming on HBO Max, Julien’s choice to rethink her future as an influencer comes as a slap within the face to Monet, whose tireless efforts had been largely accountable for the success of her private model.
Her try and humiliate Julien on the debutante ball is a colossal failure, one which ends with Camille telling Monet she’s embarrassed to know her (ouch!), however this minor setback solely strengthens her resolve.
“I’ve been losing my skills preserving you on the high if you by no means actually deserved it within the first place,” Monet tells Julien within the premiere’s remaining moments. “It’s time to elevate up a queen who really needs it — me.” Julien affords to give up her throne with no battle, nevertheless it’s a tough cross. “I’m going to make you,” Monet says. “Right here’s the factor about warfare, Julien. It solely takes one facet to begin it. The opposite facet solely has to reply. So prepare, as a result of I’m not stopping at taking your home. I’m taking you right down to the studs, little by little. There will probably be no abdication, solely execution.”
From the assault poodles to the literal hearth in Monet’s eyes, this was a second — one which actress Savannah Lee Smith has been anticipating proper together with the followers.
Wanting again at Monet’s time because the brains behind Julien’s model, Smith tells TVLine, “I used to be sort of like, ‘Woman, she retains messing this up. Why don’t you simply do it your self?’ I believe all of us had been anticipating it to go there, and I used to be in the end very glad that it did.” That rage we see within the premiere is “one thing Monet was harboring all all through Season 1. Taking part in this character was a little bit little bit of a tease, as a result of I in the end knew what was going to occur and I simply wished to get there. So it was actually satisfying.”
Julien and Monet’s energy wrestle has been within the works since Day 1, based on showrunner Joshua Safran, who tells TVLine in no unsure phrases: “We all the time knew that she was going to do that.” Their battle was initially going to extra comical, “like a bee always buzzing,” however that every one modified when Safran noticed Smith’s audition. “I noticed what she was bringing, and I believed, ‘This isn’t a bee. This can be a victor.’ And the place do you’re taking it from there?”
So, inform us: Was Gossip Woman Season 2 well worth the wait? Are you able to swear your allegiance to Queen de Haan? Grade the premiere under, then drop a remark together with your full evaluation.