Chuck and Blair are faced with the most difficult decision they have ever faced as a couple. Serena plans a surprise birthday party for Nate, but Jenny does her best to sabotage Serenas's efforts. Dan and Vanessa's new relationship hits a bump in the road.

When Lily's ex-husband, Dr. William van der Woodsen, shows up unexpectedly in Manhattan, Serena finally gets the reunion she has so desperately wanted with her father, but the circumstances turn out to be far from ideal. When Serena and Nate continue to have relationship issues, a scheming Jenny is more than happy to be a shoulder for Nate to lean on. Meanwhile, Dan finds out that he didn't get accepted into the Tisch writing program and Vanessa admits she may have been somewhat responsible.