The last episode had me expecting entirely different outcomes this time around, but I guess I should know better because nothing on Gossip Girl ever turns out the way you think it will.

The show starts out with everyone expressing frustration over their relationships, or lack of. Nate and Vanessa talk about getting together over the phone, Catherine hears parts of the conversation and becomes suspicious. In the meantime, Blair becomes frustrated with Marcus when he insists on taking things slow.

Gossip Girl catches a shot of Serena and Dan making out in public and does them the favor of letting the rest of Manhattan know they are back together. The pair then has the work of answering everyones questions about their renewed relationship, but Blair tells Serena that she doubts that they will be together for long.

When Nate and Vanessa finally get the chance to meet up, Catherine follows the pair and then calls Blair to find out who Nates new interest is. Blair lets Catherine in on Vanessas identity and history, and then hatches a plan with Catherine. Blair takes a trip to Brooklyn to pop in on Vanessa and Nate, inviting them to her party where the couple is bound to run into Catherine.

A whole lot of drama and conniving behavior filled the second episode of Gossip Girl as each of the characters attempted to indulge themselves and satisfy their personal cravings. Now that Blair knows that she is dating royalty, she is doing her best to hold onto Marcus and impress his family with her social status and breeding.

Marcus does what he can to keep Blair from meeting the Duchess, but the more he tries, the more pushy Blair becomes. In an attempt to keep Chuck away from Marcus, Blair recruits the help to put together a last minute Welcome Home party. The party also serves Blairs desire to prove to Marcus that she is worthy of him.

Like most of her conniving schemes, the party ends up backfiring on Blair when no one is enjoying themselves and a bunch of total strangers keep the party from impressing anyone. Just when Blair thinks the party cannot get any worse Chuck shows up, with a guest, and things get very interesting, very fast. Chuck arranges to meet the Duchess and takes her to Blairs party where Blair is quick to insult Chucks supposed date.

Knowing who Blair is, the Duchess introduces herself as Marcus step mom and makes it clear to Blair that she is not good enough for him. Things come to a head Gossip Girl style when Nate ends up walking in on the meeting between girlfriend and step mom, and Serena has the pleasure of introducing Blairs ex to Catherine and the mother of Blairs new love interest to Nate. Awkward!

Still stressing over the impression she made on Catherine, Blair walks in on Nate and Catherine in a very compromising position in her library. Now that the tables have turned, Blair is able to weasel the approval of the Duchess that she so desperately sought, and Marcus is none the wiser.

In Summer, Kind of Wonderful, we found out that the guy Blair was using to make Chuck was actually a British Lord. Moments after Blair finds out that James is actually Marcus, Chuck learns the exact same news from the private investigator he hired to dig up the Lords past.

Last episode left us wondering if Blair would break down and give Chuck another chance, even though she said goodbye and left the White Party with her new boyfriend. It seems like there is no going back for Blair though, at least not right away. Now that she knows all about Marcus true identity, it is her chance to prove herself worthy of him.

Eager to meet the rest of the family, Blair asks Marcus when she will be introduced the Duke and Duchess. To her surprise, she is shot down by Marcus and learns that she will have to wait, but Chuck has taken the situation into his own hands again and has a surprise up his sleeve.

While at a party in Manhattan with Blair, Chuck, Serena and Marcus in attendance, Chuck introduces the Duchess to Blair. Only Blair does not realize that the female Chuck has brought with him is the Duchess and she attempts to put her down. Realizing her mistake, Blair showers the Duchess with compliments, but will it be too late? And will the Duchess tell Marcus about Blairs rudeness? For now, it seems like good old Chuck has come out on top again.

Gossip Girls first episode of the season was filled with denial, lies and then a whole lot of coming clean-- and so was the music. True to the shows musical past, the first episode of the second season, Summer, Kind of Wonderful, was an eclectic mix of indie and pop tracks beginning with Reverse of Shade by The Windupdeads.

Reverse of Shade runs through the recap of last year and plays into scenes of summer with several of the main characters. Just as the new scenes of summer begin with Nate and his new best friend locked together at the jaw, the track Buzzin from Shwayze belts on in the background. The lyrics fit the mood perfectly even as Serena passes Chuck on the beach with a set of topless beach bunnies.

Another catch all song in the show was Fell in Love Without You by Motion City Soundtrack, which does a good job of capturing the strife, heartache and denial that most of the characters are so obviously feeling over each other. The song plays through two of Chuck scenes, including his trip to the airport to welcome Blair home only to see her with another man. The show ends with the song as well when Dan and Serena make up and meet on the beach after the White Party.

The rest of the show takes on an upbeat that is reflected with faster music and more of a poppy beat. At the White Party, Google Me by Teyana Taylor plays in the background as everyone mingles. Later, when Nate needs help making Catherine jealous, Paparazzi by Lady GaGa fills the void.

Two other songs, that have a special meaning of their own, are Crazy and Break it Down. Crazy by Jem plays during Blair and Serenas catch up on summer gossip session and Break it Down by Alana D. goes right on through another one of Nate and Catherines secret rendezvous.

Deceit and deception are nothing new on Gossip Girl, and if the first episode of the season is supposed to be any indication of what's to come, you can be sure there will be plenty of it. With lies, cover ups, and plenty of folks living in denial, "Summer, Kind of Wonderful" gives us an idea of what everyone was up to this summer. Mostly though, it seems like Serena, Nate, Chuck, Dan, Jenny and Blair have all had a lackluster summer just waiting for something to happen or someone to come along.

Serena, Nate and Chuck are summering in the Hamptons, but Serena and Nate's rumored summer romance is just a cover. Instead, Nate is involved with an older woman who happens to be married and Serena seems to be spending her time alone or with the occasional date. Chuck enters the season with a couple topless girls on the beach, but his mind quickly turns to Blair when word spreads about her return.