Ep 5. Goodbye, Columbia

As the fifth episode of the fourth season of Gossip Girl opens, Blair is still grappling with her unexpected rejection from Columbia University. Despite the fact that she has always been a top student and leader in her high school, she has been turned down from the Ivy League school she has had her heart set on. Feeling lost and unsure about what her future holds, she spends much of the episode trying to pick up the pieces and find a way forward.

Meanwhile, Dan is still trying to navigate the complexities of his new role as a student at Columbia. Although he is grateful to be attending such a prestigious university - particularly since his father never finished college - he is finding it difficult to fit in with the other students. As he struggles to make friends and find his place, he begins to question whether Columbia is really the right school for him after all.

As the episode progresses, Blair and Dan both experience some unexpected setbacks. For Blair, this comes in the form of a confrontation with her mother, who is disappointed in her daughter's failure to get into Columbia. Despite Blair's attempts to explain the situation - and the fact that she has other options, including NYU - her mother remains deeply unsatisfied. In the face of this pressure, Blair begins to feel as though she has let down not just herself, but her entire family.

For Dan, the setback comes when he is mistaken for a paparazzo while trying to snap some photos for his journalism class. Despite his protestations that he is just a student like everyone else, the other students begin to view him with suspicion and resentment. Feeling like an outsider once again, Dan begins to wonder whether the world of elite universities and high society is really for him.

Throughout the course of the episode, Blair and Dan both grapple with questions of identity, ambition, and belonging. Although they come from very different backgrounds, they are both struggling to find their place in a world that can be cruel and unforgiving. By the end of the episode, it becomes clear that they may need each other more than ever as they navigate the challenges ahead.

Overall, "Goodbye, Columbia" is a thought-provoking and engaging episode that delves into some of the show's core themes. From identity to ambition to the price of admission to the upper echelons of society, it offers a glimpse into the complex worlds of Blair Waldorf and Dan Humphrey - and reminds us that even the most privileged among us can struggle to find our footing.