Season 1, Episode 8: “Seventeen Candles”

Originally aired: November 14, 2007
Writer: Felicia D. Henderson
Director: Lee Shallat-Chemel

Although Blair is devastated by the state of her relationship with Nate, she manages to put on a happy face for her 17th birthday party and attempts to hide her feeling from her friends. Hoping to ease the tension between Serena and Vanessa, Dan takes Vanessa to Blair’s party so the girls can “bond” together, but this ends up making Serena more uncomfortable, but they end up finding common ground. Jenny brings Allison home for a surprise visit, but neither Dan or Rufus is ready to forgive and forget. Nate’s parents ask him to make a huge sacrifice to save his father’s business as he faces charges of embezzlement and fraud. Thinking that Nate is giving her a diamond necklace for her birthday, Blair couldn’t be happier. Until, she finds out at the party, that Nate doesn’t show up and the present turns out to be from Chuck, who reveals that he has a crush on her.