Advance Review: HBO Max’s Gossip Girl Lacks The Snap Of The Original

Gossip Girl returns for the Instagram era in the new revival set to debut on HBO Max tomorrow, July 8. This rebranding is set around a new group of privileged students at Constance Billiard and their exploits. In the first four episodes, the show relies on namedropping characters from the 2007 original series. This is done to catch viewers up on who and what was Gossip Girl. From there, the show takes viewers on a journey of lies, scandal, and deceit.

If there is one thing Gossip Girl has always been good at is flaunting the wealth of their characters. With an even bigger budget to play with, compared to its CW predecessor, the opulence is doubled and the branding takes center stage. From Louis Vuitton bags to the newest in ADIDAS sneakers, the wealth is on display and the characters know how to use it. It’s a constant reminder to viewers that the world these teens live in is a privileged one that most could only dream of.

It is also this privilege that stunts the show. The focus is heavy on trying to make these new characters aware of their privilege, so much so that there is serious lack of drama. The characters are too nice, too aware, and too good to ever bring the type of scintillating scandal necessary to carry the Gossip Girl name. How is it that the teachers are more evil than the students? Where is the messiness that made the original so addictive? The characters are likable, but the drama is stale.

The cast is certainly likeable enough. Jordan Alexander is quite endearing as head It girl, Julien, while Whitney Peak is wonderful as Constance Billard newcomer, Zoya. Thomas Doherty comes in as the seductive Max Wolfe, who is nowhere near as deceptive as Chuck Bass (Ed Westwick), but maybe just as charming. Eli Brown steps in as Julien’s boyfriend and do-gooder activist, Otto “Obie” Bergmann IV, who represents the Dan Humphry (Penn Badgley) of the show, but without the Gossip Girl title attached.

Emily Alyn Lind’s Audrey and Evan Mock’s Aki Menzies represent the top couple of the school while Zión Moreno and Savannah Smith play Julien’s two sidekicks/mean girls, Luna La and Monet de Haan. Tavi Gevinson returns to acting as teacher Kate Keller, and honestly is tasked with playing an adult who is terrified of children. Kristen Bell returns as the voice of Gossip Girl and she is just as delicious as before. Bell continues to have the amazing ability to bring juiciness to the most mundane caption.

Fans of the original Gossip Girl will be disappointed in the latest version. It’s definitely flashier than the original, but lacks the fun the original had to offer. For those who had never seen the original, no matter how likeable the characters are, the story is not enough to compel you to tune in for the next episode. Best to binge watch the original.