Touch of Eva
Encyclopedia
"Touch of Eva" is the 69th episode of the CW
television series, Gossip Girl
, as well as the fourth episode of the show's
fourth season
. The episode was written by Leila Gerstein
and directed by Andrew McCarthy
. It aired on Monday, October 4, 2010 on the CW
.
Touch of Eva deals with the transformation of Chuck Bass
(Ed Westwick
) since the arrival of his new love, Eva Coupeau (Clemence Posey), to New York. The episode also delves into the resurging feelings that Blair Waldorf
(Leighton Meester
) may or may not have for Chuck, Dan Humphrey
(Penn Badgley
) facing the aftermath of losing his son that slowly drives him into the arms of Serena van der Woodsen
(Blake Lively
), and the growing relationship between Nate Archibald
(Chace Crawford
) and the mysterious Juliet Sharp (Katie Cassidy
). The episode is currently the second highest-rated episode of the fourth season.
Unable to withstand not meddling, Blair follows Eva selling the watch that Chuck gave her and hatches a scheme to expose her as a gold digger. Blair tries to expose her but fails when Eva explains that she was selling the watch to pay the mortgage of Chuck's valet, displaying her altruistic personality and making Chuck have Eva decide to which charity he will donate to. Dan and Serena's conversation moves towards having fun instead of facing his loss. Blair calls on Serena's aid to uncover dirt regarding Eva's past and Serena recruits Dan to help her. Eva slowly reveals her past to Blair but finds nothing worthy of ruining her. Nate later sees that Juliet has been lying about her whereabouts and is determined to find the truth. Returning to her apartment, Dan and Serena explain that Eva was a prostitute. Blair kicks out Dan and finds Serena reluctant to see him go, not only finding dirt that she could use to ruin Eva but the revelation that Serena chose Dan when she intended to make a choice after Paris. Blair encourages Serena to attend Chuck's party and look for Dan.
At the party, Blair finds out that Chuck is already aware of Eva's past and shrugs off Blair's attempt, Dan and Serena meet but are disturbed by Vanessa, who confronts Dan over his avoiding his loss over Milo and reveals that Serena was making a choice between him and Nate, and Nate confronts Juliet over her lying about her whereabouts. Chuck makes his announcement, stating that he will be setting up a new charity, one that Eva will be heading. Making a last ditch effort to ruin Eva, Blair takes Chuck's passport from his valet in Eva's luggage to frame her for gold-digging and succeeds. Chuck asks Eva to leave but discovers from Lily that his passport was with her. Realizing his mistake, Chuck asks Eva not to leave but Eva tells him that he will always feelings for Blair and encourages to be himself. When Nate turns to Serena, a jealous Dan confronts her stating that he knows about her decision between him and Nate, leaving Serena upset. Juliet then reveals that her brother is in jail and Nate gladly accepts her apology and her invitation into her apartment.
The closing montage shows Dan opening his heart regarding Milo and his love for Vanessa, Juliet paying a concierge for pretending that she owns her expensive apartment and fooling Nate, Chuck declaring war on Blair for making Eva leave and stating that he's returned to his worst self and firing his valet. Blair and Serena comfort each other in their loss.
's fourth episode in the series and the final appearance of Clémence Posey as Eva Coupeau. A scene involving Eva and Blair was filmed at an Adopt-a-Pet in Queens. Blake Lively and Penn Badgley filmed a scene at Central Park.
shirtdress and Posey wore a chic navy and white flowered skirt and a classic tan bag. Blake Lively and Penn Badgley were clothed in denim pieces for their Central Park scene. Lively's Nanette Lepore
denim blazer was paired with a mini dress and Chanel bag while Badgely was dressed in a classic chambray button down with dark ink-blue jeans.
Many designer gowns were featured prominently throughout the episode. Katie Cassidy was dressed Bibhu Mohapatra
printed gown from the Fall 2009 collection, Brian Atwood shoes, MCL statement necklace and Nancy Gonzalez clutch. Leighton Meester was dressed in a blue Jenny Packham
gown coupled with Swarovski earrings. Blake Lively wore a red J Mendel dress with Brian Atwood heels.
Chris Rovzar and Jessica Pressler of New York Magazine praised Eva's positive influence on Chuck and Chuck's mature confrontation of Eva's past but found that the episode has accomplished "two important things: the dismissal of Eva, who we knew wasn't going to stick around that long, and the reinstatement of the Blair/Chuck tension". The LA Times Judy Berman however, had grown weary of Chuck the Philanthropist" and preferred the more sinister and womanizing persona of Chuck Bass. Mark O. Estes of Tv Overmind described the episode as "the latest in a string of solid episodes this season.".
The CW Television Network
The CW Television Network is a television network in the United States launched at the beginning of the 2006–2007 television season. It is a joint venture between CBS Corporation, the former owners of United Paramount Network , and Time Warner's Warner Bros., former majority owner of The WB...
television series, Gossip Girl
Gossip Girl (TV series)
Gossip Girl is an American teen drama television series based on the book series of the same name written by Cecily von Ziegesar. The series was created by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, and premiered on The CW on September 19, 2007...
, as well as the fourth episode of the show's
Gossip Girl (TV series)
Gossip Girl is an American teen drama television series based on the book series of the same name written by Cecily von Ziegesar. The series was created by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, and premiered on The CW on September 19, 2007...
fourth season
Gossip Girl (season 4)
The fourth season of Gossip Girl, an American teen drama based upon the book series by Cecily von Ziegesar. Developed for television by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage. The CW officially renewed the series for a full fourth season on February 16, 2010...
. The episode was written by Leila Gerstein
Leila Gerstein
Leila Gerstein is an American television producer and screenwriter.Gerstein has written for television shows, including The O.C. and Life As We Know It, and written and produced episodes of Eli Stone. She was praised for her use of "sharp dialogue" in The O.C. episode "The Metamorphosis"...
and directed by Andrew McCarthy
Andrew McCarthy
Andrew Thomas McCarthy is an American actor. He is known for his roles in the 1980s films St. Elmo's Fire, Mannequin, Weekend at Bernie's, Pretty in Pink, and Less Than Zero, and more recently for his role in the television shows Lipstick Jungle, White Collar and Royal Pains.-Career:McCarthy...
. It aired on Monday, October 4, 2010 on the CW
The CW Television Network
The CW Television Network is a television network in the United States launched at the beginning of the 2006–2007 television season. It is a joint venture between CBS Corporation, the former owners of United Paramount Network , and Time Warner's Warner Bros., former majority owner of The WB...
.
Touch of Eva deals with the transformation of Chuck Bass
Chuck Bass
Charles Bartholomew "Chuck" Bass is a fictional character in the Gossip Girl series of teen novels and the television series of the same name. He is portrayed by English actor Ed Westwick. Although he is a secondary, antagonistic character in the original book series, in the television series Chuck...
(Ed Westwick
Ed Westwick
Edward Jack P. "Ed" Westwick is an English actor and musician, best known for his role as Chuck Bass in the main cast on the American television series Gossip Girl.-Early life and career:...
) since the arrival of his new love, Eva Coupeau (Clemence Posey), to New York. The episode also delves into the resurging feelings that Blair Waldorf
Blair Waldorf
Blair Cornelia Waldorf is the main character of Gossip Girl, introduced in the original series of novels and also appearing in their television and manga adaptations. Described as "a girl of extremes" by creator Cecily von Ziegesar, she is a comical overachiever who possesses both snobbish and...
(Leighton Meester
Leighton Meester
Leighton Marissa Meester is an American actress and singer. Meester first garnered attention for playing Blair Waldorf in the CW television series Gossip Girl...
) may or may not have for Chuck, Dan Humphrey
Dan Humphrey
Daniel Randolph "Dan" Humphrey is a fictional character in the best selling Gossip Girl book series. He is the main male character in the television series of the same name and is portrayed by Penn Badgley. Daniel Humphrey is the son of Rufus Humphrey and has a younger sister, Jenny Humphrey. His...
(Penn Badgley
Penn Badgley
Penn Dayton Badgley is an American actor. He is best known for his role as Dan Humphrey on the CW television series Gossip Girl. He has also starred in the movies John Tucker Must Die, The Stepfather, and Easy A....
) facing the aftermath of losing his son that slowly drives him into the arms of Serena van der Woodsen
Serena van der Woodsen
Serena Celia van der Woodsen is a fictional character in the young adult novel series Gossip Girl and its television adaptation. Serena is featured on the blog of the novel series' mysterious "Gossip Girl" narrator...
(Blake Lively
Blake Lively
Blake Christina Lively is an American actress and model who stars as Serena van der Woodsen in the television teen drama series Gossip Girl...
), and the growing relationship between Nate Archibald
Nate Archibald (Gossip Girl)
Nathaniel Fitzwilliam "Nate" Archibald is a character in the best selling Gossip Girl book series. He is portrayed by Chace Crawford in the television series of the same name...
(Chace Crawford
Chace Crawford
Christopher Chace Crawford , better known as Chace Crawford, is an American actor. He currently portrays Nate Archibald on the CW television drama Gossip Girl.-Early life:...
) and the mysterious Juliet Sharp (Katie Cassidy
Katie Cassidy
Katherine Evelyn Anita "Katie" Cassidy is an American actress who has performed in The CW TV series Melrose Place, Supernatural, Harper's Island, and Gossip Girl, and on the films When a Stranger Calls, Black Christmas, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Taken, Monte Carlo, and has roles in the upcoming...
). The episode is currently the second highest-rated episode of the fourth season.
Plot
The episode opens with Blair receiving news of Chuck Bass donating to charities with Eva at his side. Gossip Girl further irks Blair when she shows an image of Chuck giving Eva an expensive jeweled Cartier Baignoire watch after a charity event. With Serena still wondering who to choose between Nate and Dan and Blair's growing jealousy against Eva, both girls agree not meddle in their respective affairs. Dan wakes up to find Vanessa staging an intervention to persuade to express his hurt over losing his son, Milo. Choosing to avoid expressing his hurt feelings, Dan proceeds to Blair's apartment to find Serena and hangout. At the Empire Hotel, Chuck and Eva announce a donation of $500,000 to a charity but has not made up his mind as to which charity it will go. Nate and Chuck converse over his transformation and Nate's concerns over Juliet's hectic schedule.Unable to withstand not meddling, Blair follows Eva selling the watch that Chuck gave her and hatches a scheme to expose her as a gold digger. Blair tries to expose her but fails when Eva explains that she was selling the watch to pay the mortgage of Chuck's valet, displaying her altruistic personality and making Chuck have Eva decide to which charity he will donate to. Dan and Serena's conversation moves towards having fun instead of facing his loss. Blair calls on Serena's aid to uncover dirt regarding Eva's past and Serena recruits Dan to help her. Eva slowly reveals her past to Blair but finds nothing worthy of ruining her. Nate later sees that Juliet has been lying about her whereabouts and is determined to find the truth. Returning to her apartment, Dan and Serena explain that Eva was a prostitute. Blair kicks out Dan and finds Serena reluctant to see him go, not only finding dirt that she could use to ruin Eva but the revelation that Serena chose Dan when she intended to make a choice after Paris. Blair encourages Serena to attend Chuck's party and look for Dan.
At the party, Blair finds out that Chuck is already aware of Eva's past and shrugs off Blair's attempt, Dan and Serena meet but are disturbed by Vanessa, who confronts Dan over his avoiding his loss over Milo and reveals that Serena was making a choice between him and Nate, and Nate confronts Juliet over her lying about her whereabouts. Chuck makes his announcement, stating that he will be setting up a new charity, one that Eva will be heading. Making a last ditch effort to ruin Eva, Blair takes Chuck's passport from his valet in Eva's luggage to frame her for gold-digging and succeeds. Chuck asks Eva to leave but discovers from Lily that his passport was with her. Realizing his mistake, Chuck asks Eva not to leave but Eva tells him that he will always feelings for Blair and encourages to be himself. When Nate turns to Serena, a jealous Dan confronts her stating that he knows about her decision between him and Nate, leaving Serena upset. Juliet then reveals that her brother is in jail and Nate gladly accepts her apology and her invitation into her apartment.
The closing montage shows Dan opening his heart regarding Milo and his love for Vanessa, Juliet paying a concierge for pretending that she owns her expensive apartment and fooling Nate, Chuck declaring war on Blair for making Eva leave and stating that he's returned to his worst self and firing his valet. Blair and Serena comfort each other in their loss.
Production
This episode marks Katie CassidyKatie Cassidy
Katherine Evelyn Anita "Katie" Cassidy is an American actress who has performed in The CW TV series Melrose Place, Supernatural, Harper's Island, and Gossip Girl, and on the films When a Stranger Calls, Black Christmas, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Taken, Monte Carlo, and has roles in the upcoming...
's fourth episode in the series and the final appearance of Clémence Posey as Eva Coupeau. A scene involving Eva and Blair was filmed at an Adopt-a-Pet in Queens. Blake Lively and Penn Badgley filmed a scene at Central Park.
Fashion
For the scene involving Blair helping Eva choose a charity, Meester was dressed in a bright belted Reem AcraReem Acra
Reem Acra is an internationally known Lebanese fashion designer. She studied in Paris, as well as New York. She is known for her bridal designs. Her designs are sold in famous clothing boutiques such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus. She has been on several popular magazines including In...
shirtdress and Posey wore a chic navy and white flowered skirt and a classic tan bag. Blake Lively and Penn Badgley were clothed in denim pieces for their Central Park scene. Lively's Nanette Lepore
Nanette Lepore
Nanette Lepore is a well known fashion designer based in New York City. New York magazine has said that she is "Known for her feminine style and fine detailing, Nanette Lepore makes ultra-chic clothes that are at the same time easy to wear."-Biography:Lepore's father, James, was a professor of art...
denim blazer was paired with a mini dress and Chanel bag while Badgely was dressed in a classic chambray button down with dark ink-blue jeans.
Many designer gowns were featured prominently throughout the episode. Katie Cassidy was dressed Bibhu Mohapatra
Bibhu Mohapatra
Fashion designer Bibhu Mohapatra was born in Rourkela,Orissa on June 7, 1972. He earned a masters in economics from Utah State University 1996, then moved to New York City in 1996 to enroll in the Fashion Institute of Technology...
printed gown from the Fall 2009 collection, Brian Atwood shoes, MCL statement necklace and Nancy Gonzalez clutch. Leighton Meester was dressed in a blue Jenny Packham
Jenny Packham
Jenny Packham is a British fashion designer known primarily for her bridal gowns and ready-to-wear collections. She is the sister of the naturalist Chris Packham....
gown coupled with Swarovski earrings. Blake Lively wore a red J Mendel dress with Brian Atwood heels.
Reception
"Touch of Eva" was watched by 2.00 million viewers and achieved a 1.1 Adults 18-49 demo.Chris Rovzar and Jessica Pressler of New York Magazine praised Eva's positive influence on Chuck and Chuck's mature confrontation of Eva's past but found that the episode has accomplished "two important things: the dismissal of Eva, who we knew wasn't going to stick around that long, and the reinstatement of the Blair/Chuck tension". The LA Times Judy Berman however, had grown weary of Chuck the Philanthropist" and preferred the more sinister and womanizing persona of Chuck Bass. Mark O. Estes of Tv Overmind described the episode as "the latest in a string of solid episodes this season.".