5. "The Treasure of Serena Madre" (Season 3, Episode 11)
Writers: Robert Hull & Joshua Safran
Director: Mark Piznarski
As hot as Broadway actor Aaron Tveit is, the character of Tripp Vanderbilt was always a bit of a dud and his affair with Serena was even worse. Paired with the never ending fighting between Jenny and Eric while they pretend they're on the best of terms for their families at Thanksgiving, this rather weak episode probably shouldn't be the first thing you Netflix.
4. "The Magnificent Archibalds" (Season 2, Episode 11)
Writer: Joshua Safran
Director: Jean de Segonzac
Nate is a character that had very little to do after the second season, probably because his father as a Bernie Madoff type of villian usually fell flat. But the episode is worth it for Jenny and Blair defanging for a brief moment to commiserate over their parent drama and Vanessa embracing her inner bitch (as an invited guest at the Humphreys' Thanksgiving dinner, no less) by stealing a letter sent to Jenny from Nate.
3. "It's Really Complicated" (Season 6, Episode 8)
Writer: Jake Coburn
Director: John Stephens
Dan and Serena throw their first Thanksgiving together as a couple, but he's managed to piss off all of his friends (as usual), so I doubt anyone is attending of their dinners in the future. Plus, any episode where Dan Humphrey (mere episodes from the reveal he's the sociopath masquerading as Gossip Girl) gets punched in the face is worth its weight in gold.
2. "Gaslit" (Season 4, Episode 10)
Writers: Robert Hull & Joshua Safran
Director: Tate Donovan
Barely a Thanksgiving episode, this episode briefly touches upon the holiday while also being one of the most thrilling of a pretty epic season. Juliet Sharp, the wicked schemer played by Katie Cassidy, drugged Serena in the previous episode and set her up to make her friends and family think she'd spiraled into addiction again.
Bonus: This episode was directed by Tate Donovan, a.k.a. Marissa Cooper's dad from The O.C.!
1. "Blair Waldorf Must Pie!" (Season 1, Episode 9)
Writers: Jessica Queller & K.J. Steinberg (Teleplay), Lenn K. Rosenfeld (Story)
Director: Mark Piznarski
Don't mess with the original. The series' first Thanksgiving episode is also its best, from its awesome title (a pun on the film John Tucker Must Die), to the flashbacks to Serena's party girl days, and the delving into Blair's eating disorder. The drama subsides by the end of the episode for friends and family to celebrate the holiday together, but it's Gossip Girl, so everyone's claws are back out by the next episode.
