Gossip Girl revealed! Were there clues along the way?

Did you see it coming, Gossip Girl fans? For all who haven’t yet watched last night’s 100th episode of The CW’s UEStravaganza, read no further, as there will be SPOILERS aplenty. Obviously, there was a major sea change in Blair’s emotional and romantic life, but the big headline was the reveal of Gossip Girl herself. The scandal blogger’s identity has been hotly debated and speculated on for more than four years now, but it took a landmark episode for producers Joshua Safran and Stephanie Savage (who spoke with EW’s own Shaunna Murphy about last night’s ep) to finally relent and unmask the person behind all the texts, blasts, and video revelations. And it was…

Georgina Sparks! Yes, she of the fake baby-making with Dan and of the random preppy killing with Serena. Were you shocked? Pleased? Disappointed? Are you still processing it? It seems at least a fair few people aren’t too pleased about the development. Not only have many taken to calling her the “new” Gossip Girl (noting GG’s recent drop off the radar since her e-mail was hacked back in November), they have also predicted-slash-hoped-out-loud that Georgina will magically disappear in a few episodes’ time.

That doesn’t seem to be what Safran has in mind. He plans to take viewers behind the curtain on “how Gossip Girl gets her tips” and to show that “Georgina will set her sights on everybody, always … Maximum damage makes her laugh.”

For this Gossip Girl fan, the reveal was a head-scratcher. I suppose it’s logistically possible. Georgina has enough connection to the action without being a part of it that she could fulfill this role. And yet… the 24-hour cycle of society soirees and scandals isn’t exactly conducive to Georgina’s life as the mom of a toddler. Also, when was the last time we legitimately cared about Georgina Sparks? I have fonder memories of Hilary “Threesome” Duff’s character and Vanessa “Worst Character on Television” Abrams than Georgina.

In that light, Georgina’s reveal is kind of appropriate. Since at least season 3 (if not earlier), Gossip Girl has not been the point of the show. She has been merely a vehicle for moving along the plot and tossing out cynical bon mots before the commercial break. In that light, Georgina is perfect. She pops up intermittently and stirs up trouble, all while wearing fabulous fashions and being much more self-aware than all the navel-gazers in the center of the action. If nothing else, Georgina has always had an end game in mind and a resourceful spirit when her plan A didn’t work out. Unlike the others, she doesn’t need her life to be wrapped in a pretty bow (and boy, it hasn’t been). As shown in last night’s ep, she seeks chaos and chaos alone. In that way, the reveal that she is Gossip Girl makes perfect sense.

What did you think, PopWatchers? Did you have an inkling that Georgina might be Gossip Girl? Or were you surprised? Was it a satisfying reveal? Are you happy that there’s an expanded role for Michelle Trachtenberg coming down the pipeline? Share your rage, exhilaration, or conspiracy theories below!

Read more:

‘Gossip Girl’ 100th episode shocker: Producers Stephanie Savage and Josh Safran tease what’s next

In honor of ‘Gossip Girl’ Day, bosses tease 100th episode’s ‘gasp’ moment

‘Gossip Girl’ boss Josh Safran on Blair’s future, ‘heated’ moments in the writer’s room