The Gossip Girl reboot had been both anticipated and dreaded in equal measure when it was announced and received mixed reactions when it finally did premiere in 2021. While the show was engrossing with great, diverse new characters, it did have to lean heavily on references and players from the original series to keep the momentum going.

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These included subtle callbacks, as well as full-blown character cameos from the likes of the senior Waldorfs, Nelly Yuki, and others. In fact, many of the highlights of the Gossip Girl reboot were tied to nods at the OG show.

Kate's Opening Shot And Outfit

Kate holds a coffee and looks surprised in Gossip Girl.

The original Gossip Girl had great outfits in every season, but Serena's opening ensemble of tan leather jacket, Breton stripe t-shirt, neck scarf, and jeans is perhaps the most iconic. The first shot of the pilot showed her in a train back to Grand Central, where the saga begins.

The 2021 iteration paid homage to this by opening with Kate, also riding the train and looking out the window wistfully. She donned an outfit that was basically the same as Serena's debut one, except the Gen-Z teens dissed the look, calling it outdated and unfashionable. Ouch.

Zoya's Headband Moment

Zoya and Julien excitedly meet each other int he bathroom in Gossip GIrl.

Blair Waldorf's headbands were a trademark of Gossip Girl fashion, and they made an appearance in the first episode of the reboot too, albeit in the same vein as Serena's outfit — that the accessory was done and dusted, and it was time to do away with it.

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As Zoya crossed the street to the Met Steps, she wore a green plaid headband, which Julien sweetly took off and fashioned into a scarf instead, stating that she was new and would learn about what was trending and what wasn't.

Milo The Mastermind

Milo Sparks and Zoya Lott on the steps of the Met

One of the best twists in the Gossip Girl reboot was the appearance of wily little Milo, who was young but every bit as devious as his mother. Georgina's son was a great addition to the show and the first big Easter egg to one of the OG main characters.

The pictures of Georgina on Milo's study walls, the mentions of Russian embassies and scandals brought back old memories of Georgina getting banished, getting pregnant in Russia, and claiming Milo was Dan's son before the truth emerged.

The OGs Halloween Costumes

Julien and Zoya dressed as Dan and Chuck in Gossip Girl

One of the reasons why the OG Gossip Girl reigns supreme is because of its unforgettable characters. For Halloween, Zoya and Julien initially dressed up as Beyoncé and Solange, but when their costume was leaked, they decided to outdo Pippa and Bianca at their own game.

The other two girls had dressed as Serena and Blair at their prom, so Julien and Zoya crashed by dressing like Dan and Chuck and foiling their plans. The show also used this costume callback to intrigue audiences in the trailers for the episode.

Nelly Yuki The Editor

Nelly Yuki at Blair's penthouse in Gossip Girl

Clever and ambitious, Nelly had managed to steal Yale away from Blair and was last seen working as a correspondent for Women's Wear Daily. She reviewed Blair's debut collections for her mother's label and generally had the upper hand against Queen B.

In the reboot, fans got to see the fan-favorite character again but Nelly had progressed a lot further than her last appearance. She was the editor of a large fashion magazine, leading her own team and running in the same hallowed circles as her peers did in the OG series.

Eleanor, Cyrus, and Monaco

Cyrus Rose and Eleanor Waldorf welcoming guests

Fans would love to see more cameos in the Gossip Girl reboot's second season. In season 1, the king of all callbacks was the appearance of the senior Waldorfs and Dorota, along with Vanya and her daughter. This was the closest GG fans could get to seeing Blair Waldorf in action, and they loved to hear that Eleanor was now the chair of the FDCA, while Blair was living in Paris with Chuck and Henry, designing clothes.

Another cheeky Easter egg was when Audrey prepped her mother for the meeting, and specifically told her to not mention Monaco since Blair had unpleasant history with its monarchy.

The Baldwins

William van der Woodsen looks stony in Gossip Girl.

This was a very convoluted reference, but it alluded to the original cast nonetheless. As the new-age teachers of Constance complained about how they were at the mercy of the rich and famous parents of their students, one of them mentioned how Alec Baldwin had confiscated their phone and never returned it.

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Eagle-eyed fans would have caught on to this sneaky reference immediately, since Serena's father was played by William Baldwin, Alec's brother, in the original show.

Rebecca Sherman, Class Of '09

Nelly Yuki and Rebecca Sherman opposite each other in Gossip Girl 2021

Another early Easter egg was the inclusion of Rebecca Sherman in the school faculty. Rebecca had been a student at Constance in 2009, along with Blair and Serena. She was the one who sparked a modern-day revival of the blog by telling the other teachers about how Nate, Chuck, and the girls lived in constant terror of the ubiquitous Gossip Girl.

In season 2, while Blair tried to figure out the identity of GG, Rebecca Sherman was mentioned as a contender, and quickly forgotten too. She never appeared in the series but was mentioned.

The Met Steps

Gossip Girl 2021 characters on the MET steps

Nothing is as iconic or as quintessentially Gossip Girl as the Met steps. The essence of the show lies in this one spot, where feuds have happened, major coups for the school monarchy have occurred, yogurts have been consumed, and friendships have been cemented.

It's only natural that the new gang also chose the Met steps as one of their haunts, besides the schoolyard and Dumbo Hall. A group hang usually happens in this spot, with everyone lounging and just doing their own thing.

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