Gossip Girl recap: The Magnificent Archibalds

Gossip Girl: Episode 2.11

“The Magnificent Archibalds”

Airdate: November 17

Thanksgiving on the Upper East Side: Nate’s dad returns home with a surprising offer; Lily tries to mediate between Rufus and Jenny; and Dan drops information about Serena’s past to Aaron.  No Chuck-Blair drama in this episode.  Let’s get on with it:

It’s almost turkey day on the Upper East Side and Blair (Leighton Meester) just knows her mother’s new boyfriend Cyrus (guest star Wallace Shawn) is going to ruin her favorite holiday, she tells Serena (Blake Lively) at school. She’s had to deal with his relatives and she’s not impressed. But of course, only one thing is on Serena’s mind: Aaron.

She’s planning to introduce him to her family before Thanksgiving. In my all-time favorite quote of the episode, Blair wonders how she’s going to introduce Aaron to her family:

“Mom, you DVR Big Love? This is Aaron. And he’s just like Bill Paxton, only younger and with scruff.”

Aaron hasn’t been seeing Serena exclusively, which is why Blair made the comment about the polygamist TV show. I’m a Big Love fan, so maybe that’s why I think it’s funny.

Serena says it’s been hard, but she can’t get the prize if she doesn’t compete.

Dan (Penn Badgley) comes up to ask if either of them have seen Jenny (Taylor Momsen). Serena says she’s been hanging out with Eric (Connor Paolo). Dan wants the Jenny-Rufus “Cold War” to end before Thanksgiving.

Then Nate (Chace Crawford) accidently bumps into Dan and apologizes, but Dan lets it be known he’s still ticked at him.

Then Nate runs into Chuck, who thinks it’s funny that he’s not friends with Dan anymore, though he liked watching him “slum it.”

Jenny and Eric are talking to someone (a lawyer?) about the emancipation process to divorce her parents (so she can get her career going without their approval). Eric has been forced to watch Drew Barrymore’s early movie Irreconcilable Differences like 11 times as research. But Jenny panics when the woman tells her that in order to get things started, the state will have to open an investigation into the family and find proof of parental neglect. She has to sign papers authorizing the investigation, and then her parents have to be notified. Jenny freaks. Yes, the woman tells her they have to know they no longer want to be her child.

While at the loft, Dan invites Vanessa (Jessica Szohr) to Thanksgiving, but she only accepts when she hears that Nate and Jenny haven’t been spending time together, and Jenny probably won’t be around.

Rufus (Matthew Settle) shows up ticked after talking to Agnes’s (Willa Holland) mom. It seems that Agnes has been in Tokyo on a photo shoot and hasn’t seen  Jenny in a week. Rufus is ready to call the police, but Dan calms him down telling him she’s been seen with Eric.

Lily (Kelly Rutherford) and Bart (Robert John Burke) arrive home early from their trip, with Rufus calling just as they walk in. He wants to know if she’s seen Jenny and if she’s been staying there. Lily is about to say no when she sees Jenny’s bags, telling him she will call him back.

Nate and his mom are staying at a friend’s place while they are in Aspen, but Nate’s mom says things might be changing for the better. When they walk in, Nate sees his dad in the flesh, who says life in the Dominic Republic (running from the law) has been great, but would be better if they would come home with him so they can be a big, happy (on-the-run) family. He somehow managed to have enough money for a house on the beach. Nate’s not happy with this since he and his mom have been scrambling for the last few months.

Lily and Rufus meet to discuss Jenny. She tells Rufus that Eric must have been sneaking her in at night. Rufus is ready to see her, but Lily says she wants to talk to her first. She’s learned that teenage girls sometimes need to talk to someone outside of their family. When Rufus calms down, she will arrange a meeting. Rufus thinks she should be with her family for Thanksgiving and Lily assures him she will be — with her family. Rufus (who deserves a hug) says Jenny likes marshmallows on her sweet potatoes. He’s so missing his daughter.

While Blair is a home baking a pie to get her perfect Thanksgiving going, Serena is waiting for Aaron to make dinner. Blair’s not happy that Cyrus is planning to take the family to a restaurant for Thanksgiving. Serena can’t stop thinking about the other women Aaron has been seeing. Blair tells Serena not to share. Serena tells Blair to learn to (share).

Eric arrives at the apartment, surprised to find Bart and Lily. He secretly texts Jenny a message not to come up, but her phone is on a nearby table. Bart asks how it’s going withhis boyfriend Jonathan, and Eric says not good. Bart tells him he needs to ask Jonathan about a fellow student that he was spending time with.

This raises flags to Eric. How would Bart know who his boyfriend is spending time with? He goes to see Chuck, who tells him Barrt has a private investigator on retainer, just as he does. And he investigates everyone, even family. He tells Eric if he wants to, he will show Eric what Bart has on him.

Over a cozy dinner for two, Aaron tells Serena he’s now a one-woman man, though she can date other people if she wants to. Serena wishes she brought a bottle of champagne to celebrate, but Aaron says he doesn’t drink and doesn’t want to hang with people who do. Serena downplays her alcoholic past, telling him she hasn’t partied in a long time.

As Bart reprimands Lily for the way she’s handling the Eric-Jenny situation, Eric comes in. Lily says she knows and wants to talk to Jenny

Blair’s attempt at her Thanksgiving tradition is completely ruined when she sees Cyrus eating the pie she and Deroda made. And he critiques it!

Blair goes ballistic to her mother Eleanor (Margaret Colin), who tells Blair to get with the program. This is their family now and she needs to deal with it. Cyrus is planning to take everyone to Blair’s favorite restaurant where the chef will make all of Blair’s favorite recipes.

Blair catches Deroda on the stairs, who doesn’t try very hard not to tell Blair a secret: Cyrus has proposed to Eleanor and plans to tell everyone at Thanksgiving dinner. Blair is livid.

Lily tries to intervene by talking to Jenny, saying she convinced Rufus she could stay at their house for a while. And when she’s ready, she wants to help. But Jenny says Lily doesn’t know how he’s been. Lily reminds Jenny that her father loves her very  much and she belongs at home with him. Jenny says she’s tired (of the conversation), and heads to bed, but forgets her bag, which Lily picks up to give to Jenny, grabbing her emancipation papers in the process (purely accidental).

Dan and Rufus are picking up last-minute items at the grocery store as they discuss Jenny. Rufus admits he’s depressed over it and he misses her. Dan tells him in all of their arguments, he hasn’t heard Rufus tell her that. Rufus says, “OMG, you are right.”

And then, surprise, surprise, they run into Aaron, who lives nearby. He’s trying to pick up a gift to take to Serena’s house. Dan relives his last Thanksgiving with Serena, telling Aaron that it’s always complicated with Serena. Aaron doesn’t think she’s complicated, for one, because he really doesn’t know much about her past. He’s been too busy dating other girls, I guess. Aaron asks what kind of cheese she would prefer, but Dan points him to the wine. Aaron says Serena doesn’t drink anymore, which Dan scoffs at, telling him not in a few months, bringing up Georgina’s name. But he figures Aaron knows all about it. 

Blair confronts Eleanor — not happy that she is being lumped in with all the other relatives to hear the big news about the engagement. Eleanor tries to brush her off, which makes Blair force poor Deroda into leaving with her. Deroda says “But it’s your favorite holiday!” Not anymore, Blair says.

Nate runs into Vanessa on the street near Dan’s loft, saying he wanted to return something to Rufus. He asks Vanessa to take it up to him, because Dan feels about the same way she does about him. Nate admits that he’s managed to alienate Chuck, Dan and Vanessa.

Serena asks Chuck to promise not to bring up her sordid past in front of Aaron when he stops by to meet the family. Now that she has Aaron to herself, she doesn’t want to lose him because of her past. She wants to let out her past slowly through their conversations over time.

When Aaron arrives, he’s confused by the information Dan dropped about Serena. Especially the Georgina part. Serena tries to do damage control by saying Dan is probably jealous, and just not over her yet.

Lily calls Rufus as he and Dan are at the loft working on mashed potatoes. Lily tells him he needs to get there soon. Rufus tells Dan to tell Vanessa Thanksgiving dinner has been canceled.

Vanessa is heading to the Thanksgiving dinner that she doesn’t know has been canceled when an FBI agent approaches her to discuss Nate.

Chuck gives Eric the combination to open Bart’s safe. When he opens it, Eric eyes are in shock over all that he finds — gold bars and more. “It’s like the end of every heist movie ever made,” he says.

Inside are files with the names of Eric, Serena and Lily.

Chuck gets a call from Vanessa.“I knew you’d come back for more,” Chuck tells her. Vanessa says she didn’t want to call him, but the FBI came to see her and Nate is in trouble. At first Chuck acts as if he doesn’t care, but eventually agrees to meet her.

Blair and Deroda are walking the streets of the Upper East Side in no apparent direction. Blair tells her not to answer the Blackberry, because she doesn’t want to talk to her mom.

Aaron meets Lily, who offers both Aaron and Serena an alcoholic beverage. Aaron says no thank you and Serena says she’s only 17. Lily says, “That’s never stopped you.” Serena changes the subject to Lily’s art collection.

Eric tells Jenny he can’t believe what he found in Bart’s folder about him — photographs, emails and even notes from his psychiatrist. Jenny asks him if he’s seen her missing emancipation papers. Just then Lily tells them to come downstairs.

Bart’s already in a grumpy mood (isn’t he always?) but gets even grumpier when Rufus and Dan show up. Lily tells him she invited them.

Aaron isn’t thrilled to see Dan and calls him a liar. Both file into Serena’s bedroom so Dan can defend himself and for Aaron to tattletale. Dan asks Serena if he lied, knowing he didn’t. Serena tries to play off the comment, so Dan decides to back down and says he lied. Aaron says it’s not cool — and that if he has a problem with him dating Serena, he should just be honest about it. Aaron heads out to the Waldorf Thanksgiving dinner.

With Aaron gone, Serena apologizes to Dan for panicking. Dan says he should have kept his mouth shut, but tells her what she should have learned from their time together is that the truth always comes out.

About that time, Eric pops in and says — it just did (the truth, that is). He’s holding the folders in his hands.

Nate arrives at Vanessa’s gallery thinking there’s an emergency, but instead it’s an intervention with Vanessa, Chuck and the FBI agent. They tell him the FBI is on to his dad and that he’s planning another crime — extortion and kidnapping. The FBI agent explains that his dad is planning to get money from Nate’s grandparents The Vanderbilts by “kidnapping” Nate and his mom. The FBI guy says there is no house on the beach, he’s ran through all the money he had. Chuck and Vanessa can’t believe Nate was considering leaving New York without saying goodbye. When the FBI agent leaves them alone, they say Nate can help the Captain escape or he can end it by turning his father in.

Rufus faces Jenny, who apologizes defensively for not returning her dad’s calls, explaining what happened between her and Agnes. Rufus says he’s not angry — he’s “out of angry.” Dan made him realize that he hadn’t told her something important: That he loves her. And he’s willing to let her go if that’s what it takes to get her back. When the time comes for the court hearing, he won’t stand in her way. But, he tells her there’s nothing she can do to make him stop loving her. The tearful reunion doesn’t happen. Jenny seems overwhelmed and heads for the elevator, taking the emancipation paper from Rufus. (Virtual hug for Rufus!)

Lily, Serena and Eric walk down the stairs carrying the secret files. Bart says Dan and Rufus just left to look for Jenny, so would she tell him what the hell’s been going on.

Lily, says “You first,” showing him the files. Bart wants to know how they got them. Lily says she knew he had a file on her (to Serena’s surprise), but she didn’t know she had one on her kids. There’s a difference between looking out for them and treating them like criminals in their own home, she tells him. He says he was just trying to protect them because she lets them come and go as they please. Lily heads out with the kids. Bart asks where they are going. She says the day is all about family, and if he’s not for family, then she’s going to take hers and spend it with them. Way to go Lily!

Nate confronts his dad, who admits that yes, he was gong to hold his own son and wife for extortion. Nate tells him they can’t live this way. He can do the right thing and turn himself in — or he can escape again and ruin their relationship. He’s tired of living in the mess he creates.

Lily and Eric eat at a diner while waiting for Serena to run an errand. Eric admits that he read Lily’s file and wants to know why she never told him that when she was 19 she was institutionalized. Lily doesn’t deny it but says she wasn’t ready to talk about it. She promises that she will when the time is right. Lily comes up with a way for them to have a real Thanksgiving.

Serena shows up at the Waldorfs, but Eleanor was hoping it was Blair returning. Serena texts Blair to get her location. She drops off her file to Aaron and tells him Dan didn’t lie and if he wants to know everything about her, to read the file. If he still likes her after that, come see her. Serena gives Eleanor Blair’s location.

Blair and Deroda run into a very upset Jenny on the street. Jenny says she had a fight with her dad. Blair says she’s lucky that her family fights for her while her doesn’t even care where she is. Jenny tells her Eleanor loves her in her own special way. But Blair says she’s never had a father like Rufus who would go anywhere for her. “I know, sometimes I’ve even made it happen,” Blair admits (the fashion show).

When Jenny sees Eleanor get out of a cab, she tells Blair she’s wrong about her mom. Eleanor runs up to Blair, but first has to put a coat around Jenny (a little weird, right). She tells Blair she made her point but that she thinks she will feel differently when she sees what she’s been waiting to show her. Blair agrees to go with her if Jenny goes home. Eleanor tells Jenny they will drop her off at home — as everyone should be where they belong at Thanksgiving — with their families.

Nate’s mom is all packed up and surprised when her husband is ready to turn himself in. He kisses his wife and hugs Nate, who says he is proud of him. When the FBI knocks on the door, the dad answers and let’s the FBI arrest him. Nate’s mom breaks down.

Chuck and Vanessa find Nate by his old house, where his mom is signing papers in the dark. They have their house back. Nate thanks both of them. In private, Vanessa says she still has something (but doesn’t spell it out) for Nate, but doesn’t want to interfere with what’s going on with Jenny. Nate says he hasn’t seen her in weeks and wants to get together with Vanessa. Then it’s Chuck’s turn. He wants to spend Thanksgiving in the limo drinking with his old pal.

I just wish I could be a fly on the wall to see the conversations that took place between Chuck and Vanessa while they did this whole Nate intervention thing. But nothing between them aired.

Blair arrives home to a very happy Thanksgiving to see her father as a surprise guest. That was her mother’s surprise. She didn’t want to accept Cyrus’ proposal until Blair’s father gave his approval of Blair’s future stepdad. During this, Blair accidentally lets the cat out of the bag about the engagement. Blair’s dad even brought her favorite pie.

Rufus and Dan return home to the loft with a sad Rufus hoping Jenny would be there. And then, Jenny appears in the doorway with the emancipation papers in her hand. She tells him she loves him too as she tears the paper in half because “I don’t want to not be your daughter,” she says. They all hug. Very sweet, emotional scene.

The best part: Jenny has cried off all of her eye makeup! No seriously, when she tears up the papers, you really want to cry.

Aaron comes to Serena’s bedroom again, telling her he doesn’t want to read her file. Anything she wants him to know, she can tell him. They kiss.

Lily and Eric surprise Rufus, wanting to celebrate Thanksgiving with them. Lily is very happy to see Jenny at home too. She tells Rufus she couldn’t think of anywhere else that felt quite like home. Bart will not be attending, she says. Eric lets Serena know and Vanessa shows up.

When Vanessa and Jenny are forced to deal with each other, Jenny apologizes for the Nate situation. She says if it’s any consolation, Nate doesn’t seem to like her anyway. She hasn’t heard from him in weeks. Vanessa says their friendship is more important than some guy.

Dan encourages Jenny to rummage through her giant mail pile, but before she does, Rufus asks her to find the marshmallows.

Vanessa catches a glimpse of a letter from Nate to Jenny and sticks it in her purse.

While everyone else is happily getting along, Vanessa ducks into another room to read the letter from Nate, who says he still has feelings for Jenny. Vanessa sticks the envelope in her purse again.

Bart calls his private investigator and tells him that he’s changed his mind. He does want to know why his wife was in a sanitarium. He wants to know EVERYTHING, as he watches the happy Thanksgiving scene at the loft from his limo.

New episodes of Gossip Girl air on Mondays at 7 p.m.  on The CW. The next episode, “It’s a Wonderful Lie,” will not air for two weeks — Monday, December 1.

Gossip Girl cast photo courtesy CTV.