Nate Archibald (Chace Crawford) uses his fake relationship with Serena to conceal his affair with an older, married woman named Catherine Mason (Mädchen Amick) while Jenny Humphrey (Taylor Momsen) finds herself interning at Eleanor Waldorf Designs, subsequently reconciling with Eric van der Woodsen (Connor Paolo) to impress her boss.

Serena helps Nate make her jealous by kissing him in public but is shocked to find a displeased Dan witnessing the entire scene.

Chuck is seen spending his summer with other women and prepares to impress Blair by meeting her at the bus stop of the Hamptons jitney, fresh from her travels.

Jenny's summer internship under Eleanor Waldorf grows more difficult as Laurel (Michelle Hurd), her supervisor, subjects her to unreasonable amount of work.

Dan travels to the Hamptons and is surprised to see CeCe (Caroline Lagerfelt) whose recent illness has given her a change of heart and encourages him to resume his relationship with Serena.

[5] For the scene at a garden dinner party, Daman fitted Ed Westwick with a light green suit with hydrangea and cabbage rose tones in his shirt and tie selection.

[9] Isabelle Carreau, from TV Squad, had praised Mädchen Amick's performance in the episode, saying she "was a good choice to play Catherine", and compared Chuck Bass with Christian Troy, a plastic surgeon portrayed by Julian McMahon in Nip/Tuck stating "he is a ladies' man who likes the idea of being with someone but can't commit".

Graham had high hopes for the premiere and considered the episode a "good start to the season, with plenty of threads to weave into a new storyline but sadly none of them are as scandalous as last year’s… Yet."

[13] In contrast to positive criticism, Amber Charleville of Firefox News considered that "despite the fresh locale and the ever snappy voiceover of Gossip Girl", she found that "most of the characters were up to their same, stale tricks" but praised Blake Lively's performances, saying that she knows that Serena isn't perfect, "but she does try to be a good person".

Further praise went to Leighton Meester and Ed Westwick's performances as Blair Waldorf and Chuck Bass had "handedly saved the episode from total ruination".