On a trip to Sun Valley, Erik and Serena's best friend Blair Waldorf dated briefly.

Very close to his sister, Erik threw her a giant sweet sixteenth birthday bash and drove her up to Hanover on her first day of school there.

Alessandra Stanley of The New York Times mentions his character's deviation from the novels from "an object of female lust" to one of "...psychotherapy", but notes his strong bond with Serena, stating how he "is misunderstood by all but his caring, if troubled, sister.

"[2] Despite his mature persona, Eric is no stranger to the problems that most teens face as his stay at the Ostroff Center, a rehabilitation facility, is a result of his constant loneliness and his mother's many unstable marriages.

Connor Paolo notes that Eric's lack of a father figure contributed to his suicide attempt.

He is present during Thanksgiving dinner at the Humphrey's apartment when Lily and Rufus reveal they had a previous relationship years ago.

The news becomes public on Gossip Girl, and Jenny denies the rumor by saying she lost her virginity to Asher, which Eric knows is untrue.

Eric lodges Jenny secretly in the Bass-van der Woodsen penthouse and goes with her to make the paperwork to divorce her parents.

Eric then discovers that Bart hired his private detective, Andrew Tyler, to do research about his, Lily's, and Serena's past.

Chuck and Eric officially go from close friends to brothers after Lily adopts her late husband's son.

Jenny soon endures public humiliation but manages to gain their respect by taking Nate as her escort for Cotillion.

Eric teams up with Kira and attempts to ruin Jenny by buying one of his accomplices the same bag as her and have the girls turn against her.

It is revealed in "Inglourious Bassterds" that Eric was in Japan and ends up meeting a potential love-interest named Elliot (Luke Kleintank) during a game of assassin on Nate's birthday.

In "The Undergraduates", Chuck tries to make amends with Rufus and Eric, by coming to Fashion Week with his new girlfriend, Eva.

Eric, however, informs Rufus of Chuck's season 1 assault on Jenny and says that his brother has been given too many chances to redeem himself, signaling the end of their once-close bond.

When Jenny returns to the Upper East Side briefly for an interview with Tim Gunn, Eric attempts to help her make a good impression and keep her away from both Chuck and Blair.

Rufus reveals in the season 5 premiere "Yes, Then Zero" that Jenny has moved to London to attend Saint Martins.

TVLine's Michael Ausiello had reported that Paolo had originally been offered to become a series regular for the show's second season but declined.

"I'm very happy with my position on the show and I have no interest in changing it", and that he may not be ready to face the same challenges as his other castmates, stating, "Watching Blake [Lively] and Penn [Badgley] and the things they have to deal with as [a full-time cast members]... because they are on the posters and they are the face of the show, is not something I'm totally ready for right now."