Keep in mind during this next part that Serena is wearing possibly her worst outfit of all time. It's like a sequin-covered black bandage bondage sheer dress that is fine from the boobs down, maybe a weird length but I would assume those legs are hard to dress in that way, but everything north of there is just like, Big Top Trapeze Icecapades. I don't even have words.

Blair: "You know, really this is your success too. The line was inspired by both of us, ruling Constance together. Actually, mostly by you, because you actually did cool stuff with your uniform instead of just tailoring it and jacking up a headband on top."
Serena: "That's so sweet of yo..."
Blair: "Anyway, enough about us. Let's get back to what's really important, which is how my entire life depends on my relationship with a man who treats me like shit most of the time. What is personal success or self-worth even for, without someone else providing you with a mind and personality and purpose?"
Serena: "You're right. It's all I've ever wanted for you, too. I'm so happy you may one day be worthy of his attention in any way."
Blair: "And I hope one day you have a boyfriend."
Serena: "Hee hee! Me too! It's a secret!"

PRADA

Chuck: "Lily, just give me that 'microfilm' and stop protecting him."
Lily: "He's my husband! He's the only one that ever looks out for me..."
Chuck: "Lady, all I do is look out for you. Literally that is what I am doing right now."
Lily: "I don't think you're hearing me. If you send him to jail, I won't have a rich husband anymore. It's kind of my main thing."
Chuck: "Fine. I just saw him half-naked with Ivy Dickens. Deal with that!"

Lily's response is to throw the 'microfilm' into the fireplace, which makes just as much sense as anything else. But it's in her words, what really matters here, as we swing back around to what the story should always have been about: "I'm not gonna let you, or anyone else, threaten our family ever again!"

"Our." It's that "our" that breaks him. "Our" family. There has not been a moment on this show, in six years, where the only safe place on the Upper East Side was anywhere but in the affection between Lily and her Charles. It started so early, I was thinking about this the other day, there was that early episode where she found him drunk in the courtyard of her building and was just like, "You're a funny drunk just like my daughter, you old so-and-so! You're like a little grownup!" and hauled him back inside, and it was like, "Of course they are the only people who can trust each other. They don't owe each other anything, and everybody else gets on their nerves." And this was before all the stuff about Chuck's moms, which is when the Lily thing really started to matter.