Gossip Girl: The Complete Sixth and Final Season

Gossip Girl's final year isn't its best, but this sixth season of the blatantly escapist series about scions of the Upper East Side who plot, scheme, and dress to the nines offers enough highlights and suggestions of satire to make the show's end something to mourn. The central cast remains engaging, but new additions make little impact, starting with Barry Watson's drippy entrepreneur Steven, who fails to register as a viable romantic option for Serena (Blake Lively), and she wisely moves on to someone more dynamic. Steven's daughter, Sage (Sofia Black D'Elia), who attempts to sabotage Serena at every turn, is even more problematic—especially when she sets her sights on Spectator publisher Nate (Chace Crawford); the resulting tryst with a teenager comes across as both sleazy and inconsistent with Nate's character. Novelist Dan (Penn Badgley) is more unsympathetic than necessary, but certain late-breaking revelations help to explain why, while also allowing him to redeem himself. Finally, there's the long-anticipated reuniting of Blair (Leighton Meester), who has found her calling as a fashion designer, and Chuck (Ed Westwick), who has eased up on the Machiavellian machinations, although he continues to wear those ridiculous bow ties. Most significantly, the satisfying finale gives each character an end story and finally reveals the identity of anonymous blogger Gossip Girl. Compiling all 10 episodes of the 2012 final run, DVD extras include behind-the-scenes featurettes, deleted scenes, a gag reel, and a downloadable audiobook prequel. Recommended for those collecting the series. (K. Fennessy)