First off, I love this episode for tackling something most of us go through, being in an abusive relationship. Blair is madly in love with her new boyfriend, Chad, whom to her is a prince among men, even though he treats her badly; criticising her wardrobe, telling her to cut all her hair off, talking down to her in front of others and cheating on her. But while Blair appears to be blinded by what she feels is "true love", her friends are all concerned that this "studly charmer" is mentally abusing her. Suddenly, her self-esteem is out the window, and she becomes paralized at the meer thought of losing him. This is something all of us do at one point or another - women AND men - we fall hard for someone whom we think is the greatest human being on the planet, only to finally realize he/she ain't all that great. So, this was a great episode that deals with abusive relationships...and, while he never laid a hand on her or forced her to go to bed with him, this was indeed a very abusive relationship. The other thing I loved about this episode was how Blair and Jo, after years of trading insults and being downright hostile towards one another - this was the first episode where we saw them actually being friends. From Jo telling Blair to get rid of this guy, to the two of them talking on the couch, to the two of them falling asleep on the couch. Of course, Jo and Blair would still have their tiffs, but rather than just being catty females, they were now becoming close friends.
**SPOILER ALERT** And I loved at the end when the two of them are laughing hysterically when Chad calls, and then after laughing, Blair takes the phone...and hangs up.
**SPOILER ALERT** And I loved at the end when the two of them are laughing hysterically when Chad calls, and then after laughing, Blair takes the phone...and hangs up.
