Despite the fact that Obie is actually still in a long-term relationship with Julien, and her sister is just 14 when the show begins, the two immediately connected on Zoya's first day at Constance Billard. After they shared their first kiss outside of Zoya's apartment, some viewers hoped that the pair would have the potential to be a gender-swapped version of Dan Humphrey and Serena in the reboot.
After all, like Serena, Obie is incredibly wealthy and well-known throughout New York City (though he feels much more guilty about his privilege, and he, therefore, prefers to volunteer his time and money to causes he's passionate about).
Meanwhile, Zoya is an outsider in her new school, just as Dan was in the original Gossip Girl. While Dan's Brooklyn digs were the subject of ridicule in The CW series (which truly dates the show now), Zoya is living in her grandmother's rent-controlled apartment. Like Dan, Zoya doesn't fully fit in with her classmates who are wearing designer labels and who reside in Manhattan penthouses.
Obie initially bonds with Zoya over their shared activism, and the two spend time together giving back before their friendship turns romantic. Like Derena, Zobie gets together quickly.
However, as Season 1 progresses, Obie begins to resent Zoya's growing concern over the Gossip Girl Instagram account. He also doesn't exactly approve of her reconciling her relationship with her influencer sister.
Meanwhile, Zoya is wondering if her beau's activism is performative, and whether the two really have anything in common.
Though viewers are feeling more lukewarm about Zobie than they were earlier on in Season 1, it's important to remember that Dan and Serena were sometimes a controversial pairing as well.
Dan had a tendency to put down Serena's interests, and to question her reasons for remaining friends with Blair (who he, let's not forget, later dated as well). Serena, on the other hand, often didn't want to see situations from her boyfriend's perspective.
Who can also forget that Dan continuously invaded his girlfriend's privacy by posting about her as Gossip Girl?
The two had an oftentimes-frustrating on-and-off relationship before they wed in the series finale, which could be how things play out between Zoya and Obie.
