Today I (re)watch: Gilmore girls, 5.01

This episode starts right where the season 4 finale left off. Lorelai and Rory aren’t speaking much because of the sex-with-Dean thing. Rory and Dean aren’t speaking much because they keep, uh, having sex instead of talking.

SPOILER ALERT. I have seen all the seasons before, so I am reviewing with future events in mind. SPOILER ALERT.

Post-sex Dean and Rory
I just want to get this part over with. It grosses me out.I want to understand but I don’t, how you can mentally block off that this is your first time (and to Rory, this was important, not to say that it should), and that he is married, and that you haven’t been together – or in love – for 2 years? And then pick a song? Especially since first times are famous for being awkward, not THE most pleasurable, etc. I mean, I am glad if it was nice and pleasant for people. I just don’t know how you block that out of your brain, especially being an overthinker like Rory. Maybe it is because I am super cerebral to a point where it fucks up my sex life. Anyway. I do understand Rory closing off and not wanting to talk to Lorelai. I wouldn’t talk to her either.

Dean and Rory agree to meet and Miss Patty’s to… have sex. AGAIN. I mean, they meant to talk but then apparently Dean is too hot for Rory to resist (eeeek, sorry, I can’t). I mean, I understand sometimes (esp when you’re younger) it’s harder to control impulses and stuff. It is also a hard conversation that they may be wanting to avoid. But, dude(s), YOU NEED TO TALK THAT SHIT OUT.

Emily and Richard continue separated

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But like, what does that mean, that sex workers supposedly have two glasses of wine at lunch? That they’re classless? Alcoholics? It can’t be anything kind or good about sex workers. I would also love for people to stop using the p word for sex workers. *sigh*

Emily is in the attic, and the door gets stuck, and so she climbs out the window as a, uh, challenge? I know it’s not great but Emily and Richard get especially funny when they’re bickering.
“I knew the mental illness in your family would catch up with you eventually.” Richard is making me very upset right now. Taking a stab/joke about possible mental illness is terrible. Well, the writers are. They keep making casual jokes about Kirk’s night terrors, anxiety, mental illness in general.

Richard: If nothing else, this display tonight demonstrates clearly that you are no longer the woman I married.
Emily: The woman you married was your partner. You listened to her, you consulted with her, you respected her. So you are right, Richard, I am definitely not the woman you married.

You tell him, Emily.

Emily: Fine. You go to bed. I’ll go to France.

Kirk has a pain in the butt
As a result of his night terrors, he runs into a rose bush and gets a lot of spines on his butt. Ouch. As he explains what happened, he accidentally tells Sookie that Luke and Lorelai were kissing.
Sookie’s reaction is basically our collective reaction to the kiss. Which is squealing and jumping little jumps of joy. She ships them hard.

Dean continues being the fucking worst
Lindsey is trying to connect with Dean, offering brownies, to cook, etc. What does he do? Shout at Lindsey for answering his phone because it woke her up and she wasn’t paying attention. The way she pacifies him at the end just so he will stop yelling? ugh. UGHHH.

We then see Rory running into Lindsey as she tells a butcher that she wants that night’s dinner to be perfect, and to teach her again how to make roast beef.
Oh man. I feel for Lindsey. But also I feel for Rory. She must feel like a dick.

I like how Lane reacts when Rory tells her about the Dean sex. 

xxx

Mostly because she doesn’t jump to judging, or making Rory feel bad, but to ask her how she felt and how she feels. It is the easiest and most common thing, to react in judgment – especially given these circumstances (look at me! I judged a million times before I wondered how I would have felt in Rory’s position, with Rory’s feelings and context) – but it is not the most supportive, loving response. It is also a response that will get you nowhere. (Not to say I don’t understand where Lor is coming from. I do. It’s hard not to jump to *concerned* when something like this happens, especially if it is your daughter. Especially if you’re not used to her doing anything remotely outside the goody-goody box.)

Lane *to the bandmates*: Hey! Shut up, all of you. That is my friend. And she is here in desperate need of some girl talk and in case you haven’t noticed, I am a girl, and this right here is what it is like to have a girl in the band. So all of you — DEAL!

Emily and Rory go to Europe
As a result of her now official separation, Emily decides to go to Europe. Since she had invited Rory, and Lorelai urged her daughter to go, they are off together. Uhhh. I really hate it when the Gilmore girls fight. I can feel Rory’s feels and I can feel Lorelai’s and it just breaks my heart.

Luke and Lorelai sittin’ in a tree..!
So, last time we saw them, they kissed. Then they were awkward with each other. But then Lorelai calls Luke (good going! communication!) to let him know she liked the kiss and is looking forward to more happenings in the same direction. And they’re going on a date. Although then it happens that Liz needs Luke’s help so he has to leave town right away. He leaves her like 5 cute, clumsy messages. Then Lor calls Luke, on his new cellphone. Which I am pretty sure he got almost exclusively because he was leaving and he wanted to be able to communicate with her.

Luke: That was a hell of a test-run.
Lorelai: You mean for the inn, of course.
Luke: Of course.
Lorelai: Yes, it was.

I am beyond biased. Sorry, readers.

PS: Here is an awesome piece in defense of Rory’s bad decisions.

Today I (re)watch: Gilmore girls, 4.12

A Family Matter. I like this one.
Enter Liz, Luke’s sister and Jess’ mom. We finally meet her and she makes Luke nervous, which is fun! Lor is still on the “let’s not tell my parents about my relationship with Jason” train. Paris finally breaks up with Jamie, and Lane is living with Rory for the moment.

SPOILER ALERT. I have seen all the seasons before, so I am reviewing with future events in mind. SPOILER ALERT

Liz is in Stars Hollow
I love Liz. She is such a treasure.
I think Luke being skeptical about Liz’ boyfriend is kind of fair. But his dismissal of her new job is not. If she likes it, and she is making ends meet, and she feels good and confident about it, why is he being such a grumpypuss? Because he is too square to approve of anything Liz does. She is like that, though, and Luke should know that by now.

What I am not fond of at all and you can call me out on it probably but, Liz gave up on Jess pretty badly. Jess wrote a letter telling her that he was going off to live with the asshole who abandoned them both, though. I bet that must have been harsh, even if she was not too present or brilliant of a mother. Like I read on an ask at Our Little Corner in the World, the Liz we are introduced to here is not the same Liz that Jess and Luke have known for quite some time: the one that bails, that doesn’t care what her son thinks or feels, that gives up on him, that was never sober for her multiple weddings. She clearly has changed, but we have to remember that Jess and Luke don’t necessarily know this yet.

Then Luke slut-shames Carrie Duncan – a friend of Liz’. Great going, Luke. You make out with her and then you call her crazy. Psssht. Men.

Lane is living at Yale

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Jason is also in Stars Hollow
I find it troubling that Lorelai wants to avoid Luke meeting Jason. If he is a friend, like he says he is, he will fucking behave. If not he is just a caveman doucheface. #SorryNotSorry
But then Jason tailgates Luke and so that’s not an excellent first impression. It makes me giggle, that Jason is such a big city boy.
Emily calls Jason and Lorelai starts yelling next to him and they talk again about telling the parents or not. Lor tells Jason she will that night, at the friday night dinner.

Paris is the fucking worst to Jamie
I am not sorry, I love Paris, but she treats Jamie like absolute damn trash. Paris should have broken up with him the minute she started banging the creepy professor. And when Jamie comes to visit for two days, moving a million things to do so, on his birthday, the least Paris could do is spend some time with him, if not for her or the relationship, for him. Would it kill her to spend some time with him, seriously?! ugh.
Rory calls Paris out on how she’s been an asshole and how creepy her relationship with Asher is. Although I don’t think Rory thinks it’s creepy for the same reason I do, which is that the power dynamics are way off. Rory is just like “ewwww old person” which is not cool.
After that conversation, Paris just calls Jamie – on HIS BIRTHDAY – and tells him that Rory showed Paris how there is no point in continuing that relationship. WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL, PARIS?! I mean, I agree that Jamie would be an idiot to think that’s what Rory told Paris, but still.

However harsh and mean and horrible that break-up was, it was a good thing to do. Poor Jamie. I hope he is happy. And it is true that Paris doesn’t know how to do relationships and conflict well, because she is 20. No one knows what they’re doing when they’re 20, basically. And yet she is dating a grandpa.
Rory: I just want you to be happy. You know that, right?

Someone steals Jess’ car
I mean, besides Luke, who had stolen it from Jess some time ago, in season 3. Now someone appears to have stolen it from the garage where Luke kept it. And that someone is… *drumroll*…. JESS, of course. A family matter. Liz told Jess that Luke had his car and so Jess comes back to get it.
Jess is right, you know? That the car is wrecked because of Luke, and that it wasn’t okay for him to steal it.
Oh, man, they break my heart. I understand both their feelings. And they break my heart.

Friday Night Dinner comes a-knocking
This entire episode happens in one day, which is rare. I think.

Lorelai: Were you supposed to meet me here (at home)?
Rory: No. I’m a surprise.
Lorelai: As was your conception.
Rory: I’ll just be two minutes.
Lorelai: As was your conception.

Lorelai is planning on talking about her relationship over dinner with the parents.

Lorelai: I’m telling mom tonight, about us.
Rory: I think grandma knows you’re my mother.

Their humor never stops making me giggle. I also hate the word hocho for hot chocolate and froyo for frozen yogurt. So annoying.

Oh no. Lorelai makes a joke about Disney having all “prostitutes” killed around Times Square. Totally not okay. And then chickens out on telling Emily because she makes a joke about Lor and Jason dating and says it would be ridiculous.

I just noticed that this episode is basically a long set-up that resolves itself for the most part over the next episode, and that is not usually what Gilmore girls does. It’s interesting. The festival, Liz’ high school reunion, Jess’ car, the function that Emily invited both Jason and Lorelai (separately) to. It all goes on in the next episode.

Today I (re)watch: Gilmore girls, 3.15

This is a hilarious episode.

Rory and Lane go to a hockey game, where they run into Dean. Emily catches Trix with a man. Jess has little clue how to boyfriend.

SPOILER ALERT. I have seen all the seasons before, so I am reviewing with future events in mind. SPOILER ALERT.

Jess didn’t call
Honestly, it’s not super cool not to call, but it’s rather sad that she can’t just call him, or make other plans, or just chill. I guess it’s what she did, chill. He could have called on a break at work, but there are a million things that could have prevented him. If it is such a big deal for Rory, she should use her words. One time of him not calling is not that big a deal. And instead of talking she gets all passive-aggressive. Good going. But I mean, good for Rory for going out anyway. Even if it is a hockey game.

It is true, though, that Jess assumed Rory was going to stay home waiting for him or something. “I’m not the kind of guy who lives by a schedule”? Psssht. Get a grip, James Dean. Like, I don’t know. They both need to talk, because she is expecting something that she isn’t talking about, and he doesn’t know how to boyfriend. While it is cool that Jess showed up after the game with concert tickets, that doesn’t solve the clearly different expectations and communication that they both have. I hope Jess did listen to his answering machine. Because “grand” gestures do not make up for shitty everyday things. Or they shouldn’t, at least.

Lane and Rory (and Lane’s fake boyfriend, Young Chui) are sportsing!

Why do people keep saying jealousy is cute? Jealousy is not cute. Adam Brody is, but his jealousy isn’t. He ran I don’t know how long just to check up on Lane? That’s creepy.
Dean has a girlfriend now, her name is Lindsay. That’s all I have to say about that, because I personally could not care less.
It has just occurred to me, that I have no clue how old Kirk is. He says at the end that by the next time the team gets into the semi-finals, he will be 70 years old. It had been 43 years since the hockey team had reached semi-finals. So he is 27? Huh.

Emily catches Gran (Trix) kissing a dude

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x  x
The third gif is everything to me.

I can understand why Emily wanted to get back at Trix, even though it was not right. Honestly, Gran was always super abusive and condescending and mean to Emily for no reason (well, some ridiculous reason, which we find out about later, in episode 16 of season 4).
I am glad that Gran and Emily sort of talk at the end.

The episode ends with Rory lying to her mom about hanging out with Jess, because she did end up being the girl who gets all angry in her head and then says nothing once the boy deigns to show up. Ah, Rory. I’ve been that girl multiple times too.

Next episode, we find out if Rory got into Harvard (and Princeton, and Yale.)

Today I (re)watch: Gilmore girls, 3.12

Rory attends a Kims family wedding with Lane. Lorelai goes on dates with Alex, who is an outdoors-y person. The hostility between Paris and Rory escalates. Lane is trying to get her mother to approve of Dave. Hep Alien (Lane’s band) begins practicing at the Gilmore’s garage. Luke meets Taylor’s lawyer.

SPOILER ALERT. I have seen all the seasons before, so I am reviewing with future events in mind. SPOILER ALERT.

Hep Alien start really rehearsing
The way their garage is packed with useless junk, the Gilmore girls also make me feel good about the mess in my room. That is terrifying.

What is also terrifying (although actually hilarious) is Zack, Lane’s bandmate, hitting on Lorelai. Zack cannot be older than 20? And he is hitting on Lorelai, who is like 34? He is confident though, I will give him that. Ah, to be white, male and delusionally confident.

Okay, remember how I said Dave was the worthiest dude in this show? Scratch that. He needs to be a jerk to Lane in front of his dude friends? Like, I know it’s played as a way to “distract from the fact that they’re dating”, but that’s bullshit. There are other ways, and also, who cares. That’s just weak.

Lorelai goes out with Alex
I kind of like Alex. He is cool enough. And he takes Lorelai coffee-tasting, which is perfect and I want someone to do that with me.

Oh, Lorelai, you glorious dork. Lying to a boy to impress him. And now you’re stuck with an outdoors-y fishing date.

Rory: We are going to fish.
Lorelai: With these [fishing books]?
Rory: Yes.
Lorelai: So we… throw them in and try to knock the fish out?

Luke teaches Lorelai how to fish! That is nice. And awkward, because it is for a date. But nice. Her outfit is ridiculous.

Rory and Lane prepare for a Kim wedding
WHERE DID SHANE GO? She was working at the Beauty Supply store! I want to know more about her. I am sad she is gone.

I admire Lane’s determination in bending Mrs Kim’s rules, or bending her strong will on things. Reminds me of my own high school years. But I mean, did she expect Mrs Kim to allow Dave to take her to prom? He is not Korean. I mean, hate to say it, but I know about square parenting.

They met in elementary school, Lane and Rory. I would have loved flashbacks of that. They probably would be super cute. I mean, they are super cute today, but more so.

The Paris drama continues
Madeline and Louise are my soul sisters. Discussing about switching dates and stuff.
Honestly, Paris needs to take a chill pill. But then again, this *is* high school, and I met some pretty melodramatic girls in my time. But I mean, Paris talks about how serious student council is and how professional she is, and she takes a very personal issue such as “my bff was talking about my bf” and blows it up at a meeting?

Rory: I didn’t snitch.
Paris: Said the weak-kneed turncoat!
Rory: Nixon’s bad seed!
Paris: Daughter of Judas!

I love them so much. Even when they fight.

x x
xx

Luke meets Nicole Leahy
Taylor is doing his soda shop in Luke’s property, so they’re in business together. Enter the lawyer, Nicole. She looks at Luke with sex eyes.

Jess: She laughed at your jokes. We both know there must be some ulterior motive to people who laugh at your jokes.

Jess is trying to get Luke to go on dates. Jess should totally wingman for Luke. Can you imagine that? That’d be hilarious.

Aaaaand he asks Nicole out. Go Luke! Although I don’t like her much, but whatever. Go Luke.

Today I (re)watch: Gilmore girls, 3.04

I swear, I love this season so much. And I like this review a lot.

Lorelai agrees to go speak at Stars Hollow High School about being a businessperson, but it goes hilariously wrong. Lane decides to step up against her conservative mother, and makes a bold fashion choice. 

SPOILER ALERT. I have seen all the seasons before, so I am reviewing with future events in mind. SPOILER ALERT.

Gilmore girls opening scenes are so good. Damn. Lorelai’s ‘dark premonitions’ are too silly. A recap:
– In one, she slips on a banana peel and lands on a vat of whipped cream, and dies.
– In another one, a turtle eats her by slowly chewing on her, after injecting her with immobilizing poison of course.
– In another, she is out hunting, her shotgun backfires and her head spins around a bunch and ends up on the back of her head, like Daffy Duck.
They’re even sillier than my dreams in which I date Jimmy Fallon, set Chris Pratt on fire, and learn how to be a lesbian (which consists of knowing how to rock a tuxedo, and breakdancing, FYI) from characters of Orange is the New Black.

Lane has a band! Huzzah!
Adam Brody is really cute. And I really love their band, I am glad they’re in the picture now. They’re all adorable, rockstar babies.

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Mama Kim has Lane applying to a bunch of horrible-sounding colleges, though. And, applying to 21 schools in one afternoon?! That’s intense. I would be angry too.

I love that Lane’s anger leads her to a Beauty Supply store. And into the color purple!

“The smell of bleach is the smell of freedom!” Oh, Lane. You beautiful baby pumpkin (I am becoming Leslie Knope with my compliments.)

Lane’s hair looks so cool! “This is the most radical thing a Kim has done since my cousin Nam got caught reading Maxim at summer camp.”

Which I mean, of course she changes back, but still. This image lives on. And so do her feelings for Dave.

Lorelai is invited to speak at SH High
And she annoys Luke into speaking with her. Of course she would.

Lorelai is so awesome with Luke. She pushes him to be a bit more social and he constantly helps keep her grounded and feel supported. I love them, in any type of relationship.

Lorelai: You need something better than this (to wear).
Luke: The whole point of this stupid class talk is for us to talk about our work and our success. This flannel shirt is my most successful outfit. I’ve closed many a deal in this outfit. It’s my power outfit.

I had not noticed this, but when Lor comes upstairs to get Luke to change, Jess tries to follow along in Lor and Luke’s jokes. He is getting into a conversation when he didn’t have to. And still Lorelai treats him like the idea of even talking to him is gross or something. [Yes I am overly sensitive about Jess, but I am also right.]

Anyway, she speaks, and everyone wants her to talk about her pregnancy. I think she handled it well. Both the questions and the clone ladies smack down. Shying away from topics doesn’t make them go away. Preparing kids for different options and scenarios does. Go Lor! Go comprehensive sex ed! Wooot.

Rory is such an immature, jealous baby when it comes to Jess
She was a jerk to Shane at the beauty shop. Yes, Shane was talking on the phone, but I mean, how many times do other people in that town get distracted from their jobs to do chit chat and no one feels the need to be a rude jerk to one another. Then Shane is just doing the register thingie and Rory keeps barking at her. She claims to be more educated and composed and mature but, umm, I don’t see it.

I find it interesting that first Jess was a jerk to Shane on the phone by pointing out that ‘bloaty’ isn’t a word (and, um, Shane is right, that that’s how words get created: someone uses it, then a lot of people) like that matters, and then Rory is a jerk to her about it too. Excuse her for not going to your fancy school to learn big words. Jess and Rory are compatible: they’re even compatible when they’re being jackasses.

This brings me to the following post within a post:

 

All the women who aren’t Rory are treated like trash in this show..?
Spoilers ahead. I am speaking about future pairings and situations.

I mean, the women who date the guys that Rory dates – they’re treated pretty badly by the writers. Shane is made out to be this unrealistically flat character. She is slut-shamed, mocked, stared at, etc by the Gilmore girls – both Rory (who one might say is just being a jealous teen, fine) AND Lorelai, who is apparently not content with shitting on Jess, but has to shit on a girl Lor knows nothing about, except that she is a better kisser than Rory (no, I will not get over that.) She is also treated like crap by Jess – and I never, not once, saw Shane treat Jess like he treated her. And the show tries to conflate Jess not caring about Shane with him treating her like shit.
Being emotionally involved isn’t a requirement to ‘hang out’ or hook up with people. But you don’t have to be emotionally involved to treat someone with basic respect. A lot to expect from an 18yo? Maybe. But I mean, Luke’s speech kind of falls short, because it isn’t about feelings, it is about basic human decency. If he wants to just hook up with Shane in closets, never learn her last name and leave it at that, that’s okay, but to talk to her like she could fall off a cliff and no one would care isn’t about feelings. It is once again this all-or-nothing mentality a lot of shows and movies work with: either you are a dumb, easy disposable or you are wife material and never do anything wrong.

The writers did the same with (SPOILER) Lindsay later on: she is an unrealistically flat character, a trophy wife who tries her best, but we know nothing about, and who Rory feels free to step on and criticize. And also with the girls Logan sleeps with before and after Rory – they’re made to be interchangeable and worthless to Logan, and he very likely treats them like crap as well.

It disappoints me now that I think about it, because it seems to me like super weak writing..? Do the writers need to make every “competing” (gross concept in itself) woman to be a dumb, superficial, submissive idiot to land the point that the guys are ‘better off’ with Rory than with any other girl? NO. Rory is awesome, and the audience already roots for her. It is a stupid thing that many writers do, though. Put down other women to make “their main woman” stand out. Like people tell us in real life, actually: that the only way to get ahead is by putting other ladies down, which is untrue, and totally uncool.

After Jess, I hope Shane finds someone equally hot and awesome to make out with, who respects her and does not feel the need to correct her grammar to feel less insecure about themselves.

Today I (re)watch: Gilmore girls, 2.11

This episode is actually funnier than I remember. I want to fill this review with quotes and clips.

The summary: The Crap Shack (that’s how they named their own house, don’t blame me) has termites, and Rory asks her grandparents for help, and then Lorelai and her fight over that. Lane and Rory also get into a bit of a fight because Lane has a life of her own. Paris is obsessed with knowing Rory’s PSAT scores. Because that’s how youngsters flirt these days.

SPOILER ALERT. I have seen all the seasons before, so I am reviewing retrospectively. SPOILER ALERT.

Lorelai: I am Magenta, Rory usually opts for Janet. And I had a thought.
Luke: Yeah?
Lorelai: Yeah. I was thinking that you could put on some fishnet stockings, a leather teddy, some platform boots, and go with us as Doctor Frank-n-furter.
Luke: Wow, that is a thought.

OMG I NEED THIS TO HAPPEN. Imagine. Just, imagine: Lauren Graham as Magenta, Rory as Janet (of course she would), and Luke as Frank-n-furter. The joy!

The initial scene when they realize their house is falling apart makes me happy. It is pretty funny and so so Gilmore girls.

Lorelai: So what do I have to do to fix this?
Kirk: You’d have to jack the house up, rebuild the jousts, and repair the weakened parts of the foundation.
Lorelai: All for the low, low price of…
Kirk: I haven’t done the exact extimate but I’d say somewhere in the neighborhood of $15,000.
Lorelai: Tell it to move to another neighborhood.

Oh Lor. You and me and our humor when we should actually be crying.

Paris is hot for Rory’s score
Honestly since I started making the joke about Paris and Rory belonging together, I have a lot more fun watching Gilmore girls. I don’t think they could actually date, but they should have at least hooked up. Their academic one-upping is basically foreplay at some points. And in this episode, with Rory taunting Paris and not telling her her PSAT scores is one of those times. I am only half-joking.

Quick question: What time do the Gilmore girls go to sleep? 10pm? It is such a foreign concept to me. Especially with all the coffee they drink.

In any case, there they were, wandering around the streets of Stars Hollow and into Sookie’s place. Is it just me that thinks it is super selfish to call your friend 30 times when she is already asleep just cause you think you hear termites (when really you probably don’t)? I know it’s a show, so it’s just a quirky thing Lorelai does, but seriously… get a grip, woman.

Lorelai: Hey Sookie, sorry to call so late.
Rory: And so incessantly.
Lorelai: I’m sorry. They were getting organized. I heard one of them yelling, “Charge!”

Jackson’s picture pijamas do make it all worth it.

Mrs Kim is so underrated. Her chasing Rory down the street with a hose is one of the images that will remain in my memory forever.

Rory brings the termites problem with Emily, and Lorelai gets mad.
Honestly I never know what to think when they fight. Which I guess is a sign of good writing because fights usually take two people, usually two people being at least slightly right, or well-intentioned. I know Rory was trying to help, and it is her house too, but Rory is honestly often very selfish and she acts like all the baggage that her mom has is just her being stubborn when it has taken years of tension to build that baggage up. She had no right to go over her mom like that. Like, I know they act like best friends often but that doesn’t mean Lorelai is not her mom. When they make up at the end, Lorelai tells Rory that Lor has never left Rory without a house or food or books or anything, and that Rory should trust her mom. That is essential. Rory is incredibly spoiled.

On the other hand, though, Lor was being stubborn. And there seemed to be no other way, as the resolution of that particular problem showed. Honestly, Lorelai acts like a child sometimes. Accepting that appointment is going to get you, what, to have to see your mother one other time? In exchange for not letting your house fall apart? I understand the concept of not wanting to owe your parents money, or anyone for that matter, but she is ridiculous at times.

I saw an article some time ago about money relations in Gilmore girls, and how they are all negotiated by the women, and it was a way for Emily to negotiate contact with a daughter who would otherwise never hang out with her. I love and appreciate Emily a lot because even if she is manipulative at times and I disagree with her on so so many levels, she just wants to keep contact with her loved ones, whatever way she can.

It is also interesting that while Lorelai manages an inn and technically should know more about money, Emily seemed to know more about how a loan would work – with her co-signing it, which is not that hard to figure out. The way Lorelai behaved towards her mother in that bank appointment was totally not okay, unprofessional and makes her look extremely immature which is not great if you are looking to be seen as an adult.

Rory is mad because Lane has a life that does not revolve around her
Honestly I know they are 17 and they are of an age where it seems cool to diss other girls for being cheerleaders but, c’mon, Rory. So what if Lane wanted to become a cheerleader? It might seem weird to Rory because she never bothers to talk about anything that isn’t Dean or Lorelai or whatever but, seriously, Lane doing whatever she wants is something that Rory should be happy about, not be all like “you didn’t tell me” when we all know Rory would have been judgmental and mocking of Lane’s decision. Lane doesn’t have to apologize or justify shit to Rory, honestly. Rory is so self-involved sometimes. UGH.

Duh, Rory. Srsly.

I am glad she apologizes because honestly, WTF, Rory. You are better than that.

Next episode is also intense with the family drama. Oy.

Today I (re)watch: Gilmore girls, 1.12

Ahhh, Double Date. Fun times.

The summary: As the title hints at, there are double dates. Lorelai agrees to a double date with Sookie & Jackson (adorable alert!) and Jackson’s awful cousin, Rune. Rory agrees to help out Lane and goes on a double date with Dean and her incredibly boring friend Todd. Hilarity, awkwardness, and gorgeous-ladies-with-mediocre-boys are all key elements in this episode.

SPOILER ALERT. I have seen all the seasons before, so I am reviewing retrospectively. SPOILER ALERT.

I have never heard of a double/blind date (that you decide to label as such) that was not at best boring and cheesy, at worst awkward and horrifying. This episode is super entertaining but also makes me wonder how all the ladies in this show are straight when most men surrounding them are so mediocre. I know that’s not how sexual orientation works but oh-my-god. Todd is the worst. Rune is the worst. Dean is the worst. Jackson is alright I guess. Luke is amazing but takes too fucking long to realize that he is amazing so, also the worst.

Back to the episode. Sookie is super nervous about her date with Jackson and cannot think of another way but to make it a double date with Lorelai, since Rune, Jackson’s cousin, is in town at the moment. Now, I only forgive Sookie because (a) her nervousness is adorable, and (b) she had no way of knowing just how much of an asshole Rune is. Seriously, such a sleazy doucheface.

I like that this episode is not about the Gilmore girls’ dating lives (which is essentially the rest of the show). It’s about their friends. But boy are the men terrible. Rune is a jackass! Lorelai is gorgeous, and smart, and independent, and fashionable, and funny. Rune is ugly, dumb, boring, rude, sleazy, a bad cousin, unfunny (except when he beheads the fancy candle swans, that’s golden) and annoying. He should be so lucky, and he is so so unpleasant to Lorelai and such a ridiculously immature, entitled manchild. I would have punched him.

Poor Sookie is so awkward and nervous and she clearly has not dated in a while and really likes Jackson. This episode perfectly illustrates why I think going to fancy restaurants for first dates is terrible, though. It’s too much pressure and it’s stuffy and you are almost invariable stuck in front of each other and food is expensive and, urgh. Just, no, don’t do it, ever. Once they get to Luke’s they are much more relaxed and feel at ease with each other. Greasy diner > fancy restaurant, any day.

Lane: How do I look?
Rory: Too good for him.
Lane: Just what I was going for.

I had kind of forgotten (not really, but I don’t think of him that often) how uninteresting and annoying Todd was. He also makes zero effort to even seem interesting or fun which makes me think he is also a sleazebag who thinks – like white boys tend to – that just by showing up they are doing the world a favor. Lane is also super smart and pretty and awesome and Todd is just a blob.

Initially when Dean is not too convinced about the double date I think he knew that Todd was completely without appeal. That’s my theory.

Now for tonight’s edition of Luke x Lorelai Sexual Tension (TM), DAMN YOU MRS KIM! Luke was going to ask Lorelai out! I know it, my best friend knows it, Buzzfeed knows it. Mrs Kim could have saved us years of waiting, and could have saved Lorelai those same years of dead ends. They are too sexy and OMG my hormones. Anyway.

Now Sookie and Jackson are dating, Lane knows for sure that Todd is not for her, we know for sure that Luke needs to have sex with Lorelai ASAP. All is good in the world.

Today I (re)watch: Gilmore girls, 1.08

Today I am watching Love & War & Snow, one of my season 1 favorites.

As always, my summary first: There is snow, which means people are left stranded places (but with pretty pretty snow!). Max is left stranded in Stars Hollow, Lorelai is kept away from Friday night dinner, Rory must stay the night at her grandparents’. Lane touches a boy’s hair.

SPOILER ALERT. I have seen all the seasons before, so I am reviewing with future events in mind. SPOILER ALERT.

First of all, have I told you guys about how much I love town meetings? And in this episode we see our very first one! They are so so so wonderful, and this one is no exception. In this one, the Gilmore girls watch Luke be his usual grumpy-but-actually-honest about town traditions, which we saw a bit of in the previous episode – with Luke refusing to decorate his diner in a ‘fall’ theme.

After that, enter Max Medina’s sexy voice. They chose the perfect actor to teach English literature: I could listen to him all day. Once again, I have a thing for teachers. I love that Lorelai gets all giddy and listens to the voice mail message again and again.

This episode kickstarts another beautiful Gilmore girls tradition: Lorelai’s love affair with snow. Now that I think about it, Lorelai may have influenced me in favor of winter and snow since before I came to Canada. I should send Amy Sherman-Palladino a thank-you note.

xxx

Lorelai’s story about being sick and seeing the snow outside is just the most adorable thing. She also brings that joy and glow to Luke’s grumpy life and that’s beautiful. The chemistry Scott Paterson has with Lauren Graham is incredible, the way they light up around each other. It is cheesy but in a way I can handle, for some reason.

And right after that, Lorelai runs into Max, who she also has a wonderful, sexy, smart chemistry with. And here I am, biting my lips, thinking, why can’t Lorelai be poly?! To be honest she has the best chemistry with everyone so her being monogamous is just being cruel and unfair. Imagine a triad of her, Rachel and Luke? OMG.  I love the scene where Max and Lor are making out on their way to Lor’s bedroom because it’s not racey at all, perfectly okay for a family show, and yet very very sexy. So well done.

I feel Lane’s pain a lot. Growing up with many of my friends jumping from boyfriend to boyfriend, girlfriend to girlfriend, usually prioritizing their lovers and not their friends, I felt left out a lot of the time. Also, Dean and Rory are nauseating. No I will never not complain about them. Ever. “Don’t be sorry, be here.” We all have moments in which our friends seem to have it all and we feel like we have nothing and it’s tough and it’s sad and it’s infuriating. And then when she touches the boy’s hair and she flips and thinks its the end of her world! Boy, do I remember that feeling. Sometimes I think of every embarassing thing I have ever done and a feeling of overwhelming shame showers over me, even today. “Look at it from a different perspective. You have so many years of screw-ups ahead of you: view this as a trial-run for real grown-up humilliation.” At the same time, with Lane feeling jealous, I feel like communication is super important and I am glad she talks it out a bit with Rory afterwards. Negotiating boundaries and scheduling and priorities. Here I am, talking about poly again.

In the meantime, Rory has some alone time with her grandparents, one of the first times we see in the show. I love it because you can see all the love, the good intentions, the Lorelai-free, tension-free naturally flowing conversation.

Richard: Rory, are you in any way malnourished or in need of some international relief organization to recruit a celebrity to raise money on your account?
Rory: I’m good.
Richard: She’s good, Emily.
Emily: Your sense of humor rears its ugly head in the oddest of times, Richard.

And Rory daring to give her grandparents reheated pizza with parmesan cheese for dinner: Glorious. They are endearing in their privileged ways. My heart melts when Rory brings out that old photo album and shows it to Emily and Richard. Rory really wants them to get along, but there is so much history and failed expectations and heartache that happened before she even came into the picture, some of which came precisely because she came into the picture. I kind of want to hug Rory in this episode. It is definitely not the same, but there are things in my extended family that happened before I was born or when I was really young that I still don’t understand fully and don’t know the depths of, nor can I fix them. There is a disconnect in being the youngest and seeing just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to family issues. You feel like it is unfair and like you are your own person and they should treat you as separate from the history behind you. Sigh. And then when she looks at Max with Lorelai and then at her parents’ old picture..! I do not know how that feels. But my heart breaks just the same. OOOhhh ohh we will be meeting said dad person soon. And boy do I have things to say about that adorable manchild.

Next episode, we dance!