"NYC Prep" capped off its season and school year last night with the feeling of uncertainty one gets when crossing the threshold that is high school — or the first season of a new reality show. The fate of our prepsters can go either way in terms of their individual paths as well as their future as reality TV stars. But before we look ahead, one can't help but look back and assess how far they have come in eight episodes.

Jessie: Instead of a graduation ceremony, the episode culminated with the Operation Smile gala, otherwise known as her raison d'etre. She's clearly put a lot of work into planning the event, and her cutthroat attitude toward anyone whose commitment doesn't match hers convinces me she'll be fine in the real world. If anything, Jessie has remained consistent. She's been ambitious, straightforward and unapologetic about her status and goals in life from the beginning. The only crack in her armor has been her relationship with PC. Her behavior went from jealous ex-girlfriend to mother hen in these few episodes, and he's the only person who can ruffle her feathers. I'd be curious to see if their friendship survives college.

PC: As much as people despise his arrogance and obnoxiousness (not to mention his guyliner), PC is the best thing about this show. He embodies all the preconceptions one has about privileged kids: the self-important swagger, the designer wardrobe, the carefree attitude about responsibility. His behavior seemed atrocious at times (the flakiness, the offhanded comments at dinner parties, his Fashion Week meltdown), but he's never failed to keep things interesting. I'm glad we got to see a more mature, genuine PC last night. His apology to Carmen Marc Valvo as well as his conversation with Jessie over the future of their friendship showed he does in fact have manners and the capacity for adult relationships.

There are certain do's and don'ts of dating, and Tuesday night on "NYC Prep," Cole committed two very big don'ts.

At a party to which both prep and public school students were invited, Cole thought it would be a brilliant idea for current girlfriend Taylor to meet and become friends with ex-girlfriend Deniz. We don't get much information about Deniz or her relationship with Cole other than the fact that they remain friends and that Taylor, in a convo with a friend before the party, thinks Deniz is "weird" and still obsessed with him. That last fact is obviously unbeknown to Cole, and the introduction turns into a pretty uncomfortable scene. Deniz and Taylor, identical in hairstyle and in the mortified looks on their faces, sit and listen to Cole long enough for him to finish his spiel before quickly turning as far away from each other as they can.

Guys, don't ever force your ex-girlfriend and current girlfriend into a friendship for your behalf, especially if the ex still carries a torch for you. It's awkward and, frankly, pretty self-centered.

Unfortunately, redemption is nowhere in sight for Cole. Suspicious of PC and Taylor's budding friendship, he learns from a friend that Taylor was invited to PC's penthouse party. Instead of confronting her about why she hadn't mentioned the party to him, he attempts to ambush her and crash it. Taylor, as it turns out, gets grounded and can't make the party, so you can imagine the look on PC's face when Cole shows up at the door. Again, a pretty uncomfortable scene. PC maintained his cool, but Cole's pop-in was very embarrassing for Taylor.

Guys, if you think your otherwise faithful girlfriend is lying to you about going someplace, don't show up to try to catch her in the act. Just ask her about it.

After committing those two big don'ts, it was no surprise that Taylor sent Cole packing. He had acted selfishly and humiliated her in front of her friends. Despite all that, Taylor was fairly nice about breaking his heart (although she did stifle a smile and a sigh of relief after their breakup scene). She still offered her friendship, which can be a do or a don't depending on the circumstances. Taylor's relationship with PC may be strained after her no-show to his party and Sebastian has moved on, so we'll see whether a new prep school boy will step up to the plate.

What are your thoughts? Do you think Cole deserved to get dumped?

-- Enid Portuguez

Photo credit: Bravo

Oh, PC. Why must you be so annoying and awesome at the same time? New York Fashion Week descended upon "NYC Prep" last night, and the 18-year-old senior served up more drama than a model walk-off.

As someone who chastises others for committing the most minor social faux pas, PC should have been embarrassed of himself. Instead of being the seasoned sophisticate he's desperately tried to portray, he looked like an amateur. His overall sense of self-importance was laughable. There is no way he'd ever get to sit at the front row of a fashion show if he weren't starring in a reality TV show. When he threw a public fit over Kat stealing his seat at the Pamela Roland show, it was like watching a small child stomp his feet at not getting his toy.  "He's not even a girl!" his BFF Jessie cried.

Those sentiments were echoed by Kelli, who had been waiting to unleash her wrath on PC since that disastrous dinner party. When PC confronted her to "apologize" for his behavior at the dinner, she held nothing back. "I feel like I'm fighting with a girl," she told him. Oh snap! I'm glad someone put him in his place for once.

Jessie often does to an extent, but she undeniably has a soft spot for him. Even when he brought two friends to her first work event (thus breaking the cardinal rule of "guests of guests don't bring guests"), she chewed him out. But at the end of the night, she was more concerned that he'd choose partying over writing his papers.

The only person amused by PC is Taylor. She finds him so different from anyone she knows that she can't help but enjoy his company. PC's condescension toward her and Cole at the Jill Stuart show didn't even faze her; all she could do was laugh and shake her head. Last night, Taylor represented that part of us that secretly relishes in walking disasters. Although PC mainly incites annoyance and spite, there's also something oddly awesome and entertaining about watching arrogance on display. It's like we get to be in on the joke when the subject clearly is not. All we can do is laugh and shake our heads.

So what are your thoughts on the episode? Do you find PC awesome or abominable?

-- Enid Portuguez

Photo: Bravo

Since we'll probably never catch a glimpse inside the actual school walls of "NYC Prep," we'll have to settle with following the kids to their after-school activities. With the exception of certain moments (Kelli auditioning voice coaches in her living room alone and PC's session at the shrink, namely), last night's episode thankfully showed real, ambitious high schoolers rather than the wannabe grown-ups we're used to seeing.

The most relatable storyline of the night was Taylor's. An aspiring superstar, she fills her after-school schedule with gymnastics and dance classes. On top of that, she's reunited with her ex-boyfriend Cole. This leaves very little time for homework and her grades suffer because of it. After viewing Taylor's dismal report card, her divorced mom suggests she sacrifices one of her activities, and Taylor, holding back tears, insists she can juggle it all. She's the closest thing to normal on the show, and I'm glad the show gave us some down-to-earth scenarios for a change.

While Taylor's situation could have taken place in Anytown, U.S.A., Jessie's aspirations clearly derive from her big-city upbringing. She wants to work in fashion PR, and while she awaits acceptance to the Fashion Institute of Technology, she is determined to get a job in her chosen field. After drafting a resume (which she oddly sends out via snail mail), Jessie scores a group interview with designer Charlotte Ronson's PR rep. Nestled among other stone-faced, self-professed perfectionists, Jessie seemed slightly intimidated and more restrained than usual. She does, however, stand out by having the foresight to wear one of Ronson's dresses to the interview. High-five to Jessie for that detail.

Meanwhile, PC tries his hand at being a photographer's assistant. It's painfully obvious that his interest in photography doesn't lie in the craft (he can barely connect the camera to the tripod) but rather with the job's proximity to hot models and hard-partying stylists. We can see right through you, PC!

Kelli attempts to kick-start her singing career by finding the right voice coach. After meeting with some weirdos, she finds Badiene, a voice teacher who's worked with Natalie Cole and Michael Jackson. Kelli's voice is pretty good, and though I'm skeptical of successful careers stemming from a reality TV show appearance, it will be interesting to see how far she goes to achieve her dream.

What pleased me most about this episode was the presence of Taylor's and Jessie's mothers. They probed and worried like all mothers would, and their brief appearances gave the two girls more context and dimension. We see where Jessie gets her commanding, highly articulate personality, and we begin to understand how Taylor's yearning for independence can be a result of her life in a divorced household. Most important, it reminds us that though certain parts of these teenagers' realities are heightened, they're still someone's children.

What are your thoughts on the episode?

-- Enid Portuguez

Photo credit: Bravo

In high school, everyone attempts to act older than they really are, but the teens on "NYC Prep" take it a step further. Perhaps it's the camera's presence or the blatantly contrived scenes, but last night's episode was more akin to watching kids reenact scenes from their favorite movie or TV show than kids trying their hand at real adult situations. I can almost envision PC or Camille practicing their feigned looks of disgust in the mirror every day.

Camille clearly has watched too many TBS reruns of "Sex and the City." While sipping tea and chatting about boys with her friend Maite, she defends her high standards with the haughtiness of Miranda mixed with Samantha's blase attitude. "Plenty of people have asked me out," she says matter-of-factly. "I've been on plenty of dates before.... I guess I'm going to have to lower my standards." Thank goodness for Maite, whose knowing looks were the most believable I've seen on this show so far. She dispenses some sage advice for Camille: Lose the checklist of standards and try liking a boy for who he is, not what she wants him to be.

So Camille begins her journey toward becoming a "boyfriend girl" with a date with Dan, a boy she met at a party two episodes ago. With his wispy brown hair and wide smile, he's a knockoff of Sebastian - -with much less personality and charm. They dine at Brasserie 8 1/2, a trendy restaurant that also has appeared on "Sex and the City," but instead of looking sophisticated, the two seem very young and out of place. The conversation is as tedious and awkward as can be expected on a first date, and it culminates with an agitated Camille biting Dan's head off for asking the same question multiple times ("Are you enjoying yourself this evening?"). Kudos to her for nipping his annoying habit in the bud, but thumbs down for hooking up with him anyway.

The tension continues at the dinner party that Camille decides to throw. Held in a private room at a fancy (or "bourgeois" as PC calls it) restaurant, this idea was obviously more Bravo's than Camille's. Seeing the cast in a more intimate setting accentuates the fact that they were likely not friends before filming the show and would probably never interact if they weren't bound by contract.

PC is his usual bored, obnoxious self and tries to spice up the snoozefest with inappropriate questions and rude comments. It was amusing to see everyone squirm for a second, but he needs to study a few more '80s movies starring James Spader if he wants to play the smooth upper-class jerk effectively. The most interesting thing to come out of the dinner is PC's sudden fascination with Taylor. "She's either really dumb or really smart," he muses. "But nothing in between." He later suggests to Jessie that Taylor should be their next "charity case" (I suspect PC is a secret Jane Austen fan).   We'll see how far his interest takes him.

What are your thoughts on the episode?

-- Enid Portuguez

(Photo courtesy Bravo)

Who is it going to be, Taylor: Sebastian or Cole? It was the burning question on the sophomore's mind last night on "NYC Prep."

If we thought Sebastian was going to be the one breaking hearts on this show, we may have thought wrong. Even he admits to really liking Taylor and considers their relationship "different" from his others. Is he ready to give up other high school hook-ups to be with her? Probably not, but he definitely seems slightly more smitten and self-conscious when she's around.

Cole, on the other hand, is the kind of guy that prefers to lay it all on the table. He knows what he can offer (support, cool friends, the willingness to compromise) and he isn't afraid of his prep school competition. There's no doubt he's the needy one in the relationship, but Taylor also doesn't need to question his feelings for her. If he were sweeter and less demanding, he'd be a shoo-in.

Now what makes Taylor such a heartbreaker? She's got a cute smile, seems pretty smart and has interesting hobbies, but ultimately her ambivalence is what drives the boys wild. To Sebastian and Cole, Taylor poses a challenge. She gives them equal attention, but they always walk out of their dates not knowing where she stands. It also helps that she staunchly claims to not be a "relationship person" (cynicism is sexy in New York, even at age 15).

Taylor doesn't mean to be a player; she is truly on the fence about these guys. Sebastian feeds her social climbing aspirations ("I wanna marry rich," she admits) while Cole is the safe, comfortable guy who will always be there. Neither has all the qualities she really wants, so I understand her indecision. Next week's preview shows her chastising Sebastian, so she may either go back to the reliable ex or emerge empty-handed.

Meanwhile, PC and Jessie continue to examine their close friendship. Jessie acts as both a possessive girlfriend and a worried mother towards PC, so it's not too far fetched for her friend Kim to presume she's secretly in love with him. I believe deep down Jessie is waiting for the day when PC professes his love for her, but in the meantime, she'll deny they're anything more than best friends. With his increasing fussiness and snobbery, it's becoming difficult to find anything redeeming about PC, so if I were Jessie I'd keep him as a friend and only that.

Who should Taylor choose? Do you think Jessie is secretly in love with PC?

-- Enid Portuguez

Matters of the heart were at the core of last night's "NYC Prep." When we weren't navigating through the awkward yet fascinating Kelli-Sebastian-Taylor love triangle, we were unwilling guests to PC's pity party. It was the perfect balance of abundance and inadequacy and, in my opinion, an improvement from the premiere episode.

Maybe I'm just a sucker for love triangles. Give me chemistry, jealousy and the click-clack of heels angrily storming out of parties and I will watch it. Resident player Sebastian is naturally the man in the middle, courting the virtually indiscernible brunettes Kelli and Taylor (the guy definitely has a type). His interests seem to mainly lie in Taylor, whose vegetarianism and philosopher aspirations clearly trump Kelli's love for cupcakes in the intrigue department.

Another reason to root for Taylor is that she may give Sebastian a run for his money. She may have tried her best to assure Sebastian she's only got eyes for him, but the mere existence of her ex-boyfriend Cole proves the girl's got wiles. For now, Kelli's a long shot. She's too available and too eager to give Sebastian the yearning, "make-me-your-girlfriend" eyes every time she sees him. "I'm not really that into her right now," he says about Kelli at the loft party. "But I don't mind [the attention]." Right on cue, Kelli storms out of the party, leaving Sebastian and Taylor to dance and end the night with a smooch. I hope next time we see Miss K, her schemes will move beyond sicking chatty Camille on potential rivals and onto something smarter and more manipulative.

While the sophomores were busy scheduling dates, uber-mature PC spent his portion of the episode grappling with his relationship issues. One couldn't help but snicker at the scenes of him confiding in his shrink and personal trainer. It was excessive and self-indulgent and even a tad sad — does the boy not have best friends other than Jessie or family members to talk to? If PC lightened up a little and wasn't in such a hurry to grow up (and maybe lost the guyliner and pretentious blazers), he'd have a better chance of meeting a nice girl. Instead he gets stood up on a blind date. Little does he know that the rejection doesn't stop there — he's got plenty more in store for him in his 20s.

What are your thoughts on the episode? Who would you pick for Sebastian: Kelli or Taylor?

—Enid Portuguez

(Photo courtesy Bravo)

Bravo's latest reality offering, "NYC Prep," premiered last night and one thing is for sure: It's no "Gossip Girl." Yes, I realize that one show is fiction while the other is "real," but you can't help but ask that life imitate art this one time. Chuck and Blair may be prone to saying things like "That's what New York is: Money is power" and "I treat my clothing like children," but somehow the charm is lost when it's coming out of real teenagers' mouths.

However, despite its blatant materialism and pithy observations of the have-nots, I'm going to give this show a chance and hope it unveils more honest depictions of the angst and competitiveness involved in those social circles. PC and Jessie's tumultuous relationship bears potential and no doubt Sebastian's player ways will be an unending source of entertainment (one request though, Romeo: Please tone down the hair flipping). Check this space for "NYC Prep" recaps and updates.

What did you think of the premiere episode? Did you love it or hate it?

—Enid Portuguez

Photo: The cast of "NYC Prep." Credit: Bravo