Back from holiday break, Gossip Girl kept things in high gear for the Upper East Siders in its winter return. Not only was the aftermath of Blair and Chuck's explosive car crash finally revealed, but the fate of Blair's baby (gone), her impending wedding to Louis (still on), Chuck's death (and subsequent resurrection) and the identity of the accident's true target, Nate, all came to a boil -- the latter prompting a potential team-up with Gossip Girl of past.

The episode, "The End of the Affair?," also introduced the real Charlotte Rhodes into the picture, something Gossip Girl executive producer Josh Safran teased to The Hollywood Reporter in October would happen eventually, saw Dan working on a second book and thrust Serena as New York City's new Gossip Girl. Also, Dan and Serena -- and heck, Dan and Blair -- found themselves in familiar territory.

Safran gave THR the lowdown on what Blair, Serena, Chuck, Nate, Dan and the rest of the gang should expect in the coming weeks after Monday's tide-turning episode.

The Hollywood Reporter: Blair seems to be entering into a new phase, especially with her spirituality. How long will that last?

Josh Safran: Blair very much believes that this pact she has made with the powers responsible for saving Chuck, she will move forward with that belief undeterred. When we started the season, we talked very much about works that were meaningful to us and inspired us and some of the works that came out of that conservation were The Talented Mr. Ripley and The End of the Affair. We knew from the very beginning we were going to tell a story much like the Charlie/Ivy story has been inspired by The Talented Mr. Ripley. Blair's always had faith, in all different ways, whether it's faith that someday my prince will come or faith that she went to confession in season 1. The sacrifice she's making is for the greater good of the man that she loves.


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