Why Chuck Bass?
Discussed: Mumblecore Tween Brainwashing; Nabokov’s ‘Lolita’; Foul-Mouthed Line Flubs; She-Tears; Love Shenanigans; Bertolucci’s Late-’70s Aesthetics; The Ascension of the Chuck Bass as Everyman
Now, I’m sure it didn’t take you long to realize the reason to watch and real moral centerpiece of this whole deal was, and is, Chuck Bass.
No one really makes this clear up front. Least of not Chuck Bass himself.
While we’re initially met with the bumbling (and ultimately charming) histrionics of Mumblecore ambassador to the tween set Dan Humphrey, and the king of corrupt crippling family baggage with the blindingly white smile of inimitable charm, Nate Archibald (a.k.a. Broody Mc Brooderson), for Chuck Bass, we basically get him as a dapper dressed date rapist, after his underage aggressive rooftop escapades with little Jenny Humphrey. Basically, a regular Humbert Humbert in a pin striped suit with a devilishly wry grin and a trust fund.
So, it’s actually rather miraculous that, as the season progresses, he manages to win you over. And win you over he does. Whether this is merely a testament to the consistently strong writing of the show, or the thespian talents of Ed Westwick is up for debate, but I suspect the glaring lack of Chuck Bass bloopers on the “LOL Reel” of Disc 5 may indicate the answer here…Penn Badgley: we’re looking at you and your flub-happy, truck driver mouth. You kiss Blake Lively with that filthy thing?
Chuck ends up being the most grown up, morally sound and richly complex character on the show. And while countless she-tears were surely shed over the frustrating on again off again stop/startings of the (admittedly involving) Dan and Serena love shenanigans, our money was, and remains, on the scintillatingly über-hot courtship, coupling and pairing of Chuck and Blair. Those episodes of their electric exchanges are priceless.
It’s especially nice to also have a male counterpart to the OCD overload style of Blair in Chuck. The producers and stylist seem awfully proud of the personal style they’ve crafted for him, the scarf and all that, surely betting on his ascending to some role as style icon.
And we will admit, his multicolored arsenal of trench coats and pastel suits are indeed a marvel to behold, though his penchant for late 70s Bertolucci turtlenecks is a bit troublesome and retro.
So, yes, basically Chuck Bass is the boy anchor for this show, and keeps bringing us back week after week. His tag line, “I’m Chuck Bass” a clarion call for boys everywhere, a shining example of a complex, dapper, witty and just man, causing us to also proudly proclaim can “I am Chuck Bass.”
