Some Notes on Episodes 7-21, 7-22
Michael Ikeda
1) Just rewatched the extra (Season 2 disc) on some of the
translated versions of Gilmore Girls. The versions covered often
leave the pop culture references untranslated, apparently with the
idea that viewers will either get individual references or not,
just as in the original version. Also, Michel is Italian in the
French version.
2) Gilmore Girls got on a list of "Top Ten Shows killed by
college". (The entire list was posted to the Yale section of
www.collegeotr.com on July 30). The explanation for the show's
inclusion is unintentionally amusing:
"This show was smart and sassy so it was fitting for resident good-
girl Rory to go to Yale. Once there though, there was nothing to
blabber about and the show was taken off the air."
Somehow they neglected to mention that the "taken off the air" part
happened at the end of Season 7. Which meant that Rory was in
college for basically four entire seasons.
(Buffy the Vampire Slayer was also on the list. With a similarly
unintentionally amusing reasoning.)
7-21 Unto the Breach
Lorelai is preparing for Rory's graduation and associated
activities and keeps thinking of new things she needs. She tells
Sookie about Logan "asking her permission" to propose to Rory. She
also talks about last night's karaoke and says that she isn't sure
if the "Luke thing" was something new or just residual feelings.
Meanwhile, Luke goes over to Liz's and finds a pair of earrings for
a graduation present for Rory. He also finds a necklace that Liz
says would be perfect for Lorelai and gets it as a "backup" (or so
he claims).
Lorelai is at the diner. She tells Babette and Patty that she just
got swept up in the moment last night. Unfortunately Luke hears
this. Rory calls and tells Lorelai that there is a limit of four
tickets and she can't get any more. Lorelai tells her that Luke
"barely looked at me" and "obviously" was just embarrassed by the
song.
(Communication still not Luke and Lorelai's strong point.)
Town meeting. Graduation tickets get added to the agenda. Lorelai
explains that there are only four tickets. Taylor suggest a
graduation party in the town square, complete with reenactment.
Emily and Richard are throwing their own graduation party for Rory.
Lorelai talks to Christopher and tells him about Logan's possible
proposal. Emily and Richard sing a modified version of "You're the
Top" as a tribute to Rory. Logan proposes to Rory but she isn't
ready to answer. Lorelai and Rory ride in the carriage Logan
rented. Lorelai tells Rory about Logan asking her permission.
Rory asks Lorelai what she should do--several times. Lorelai says
that Rory has to decide.
(I admire Lorelai's restraint. She doesn't think it's a good idea
for Rory to get married right now. And Rory practically begging
Lorelai to tell her what to do basically proves this. But
Lorelai's right not to answer--Rory has to come to her own
decision.)
Lorelai talks to Luke outside the diner. Lorelai tells him about
Logan's proposal. They have a conversation which quickly develops
a subtext of Luke and Lorelai's own relationship. Luke gives
Lorelai the earrings to give to Rory as his graduation gift.
Emily, Richard and Lorelai are in their seats for the ceremony.
Emily wants to know what Rory is going to do about the proposal.
Lorelai says she doesn't know, that Rory has to decide for herself.
Lorelai is trying to keep track of timing, etc. Richard tells
Lorelai he'll do that and she should just enjoy the moment.
(Note the different approaches of Emily and Lorelai. Emily wants
Lorelai to "use her influence" while Lorelai thinks that's exactly
what she shouldn't do in this case. It may not have occurred to
Emily that if Lorelai did "use her influence" it would be in the
opposite direction to what Emily wants.)
After the ceremony, Rory tells Logan that she isn't ready to marry
him. Logan says that he doesn't want to "go backwards"--they
either get engaged or break up. Rory returns the ring and Logan
walks away.
(I suspect they wouldn't have had such a clear breakup if there was
going to be another season.)
Later Lorelai and Rory are getting ready to leave Rory's apartment.
Rory says she feels awful and she hates that her graduation day is
going to be associated with the breakup. Lorelai tells Rory she
made the right decision.
(Lorelai is right, of course. Rory wasn't ready to get married.)
7-22 Bon Voyage
Rory meets Christiane Amanpour at the Inn. Christiane gives Rory
her card.
Rory and Lorelai are planning a tour of roller-coasters. Rory
finds the rocket Logan gave her. Lorelai says that you "have to
feel sad and get through it," but says that it will get better.
Rory asks her if she feels better about Luke and Lorelai answers
that she does because "we're done," that she needs someone who can
"show me how he feels." She also tells Rory about the graduation
reenactment party.
Friday night dinner. Rory isn't there yet because she's at a
meeting. Emily suggests that Lorelai add a spa to the Inn. Rory
arrives and announces that she got a job. She leaves in three days
to cover the Obama campaign for an online magazine. Emily says
sadly that "This is the last time we'll see you for who knows how
long." Lorelai says that they'll definitely stay for after-dinner
drinks.
(The spa idea is mainly Emily's attempt to maintain the
relationship, although she probably does genuinely think it's a
good idea for the Inn.)
Lorelai and Rory are at the diner. Lorelai tells Luke (and the
other customers) that they'll have to cancel the graduation party
because of Rory's new job. Luke then goes to Sookie and suggests
that they have the party tomorrow and also make it a surprise
party.
Lorelai and Rory are going through the list of needed supplies.
They knock on Miss Patty's door but Miss Patty gives them an excuse
and they leave. Inside, much of the town is attending a secret
unofficial town meeting to plan Rory's surprise party.
Lorelai and Rory are talking in the town square. Townsfolk
carrying party stuff enter the square, see them and quietly leave
(a fun little scene). Rory leaves to go talk to Lane. Rory and
Lane have a wide-ranging chat, Rory confesses that she's "panic-
attack nervous" and Lane reassures her. Back home, Rory wants to
know why Lorelai seems so fine with everything. Lorelai responds
that if she starts to think about Rory leaving she'll fall apart.
Later that night, Lorelai watches Rory sleeping and nearly breaks
down crying.
Meanwhile, party preparations are going on in the town square.
Babette runs up and says that her ankles and the weather forecast
both say that it'll rain tomorrow. The townsfolk think they'll
have to cancel the party, but Luke gets an idea. And later that
night we see Luke sewing together tarps, etc. He also gets the
necklace box from a drawer and puts it in his pocket.
Next morning. Lorelai and Rory are in the jeep. Rory is concerned
that no one is picking up their phones. Lorelai sees the giant
tent containing the cheering townsfolk. Zach and Jackson come out
with umbrellas to fetch them. Lorelai sees Richard and Emily and
goes over to talk to them. Richard tells her that the party isn't
just for Rory, it's also a testament to her.
(Richard may have mellowed a bit since the heart attack. And he
seems to be trying to build bridges to Lorelai. It isn't often
that we've heard him suggest that he's proud of Lorelai.)
Taylor gives a strange speech, then Rory gives some brief remarks.
And then the party officially starts. Emily suggests that Lorelai
add a tennis court to the Inn. Lorelai suggest they discuss it
"Friday night at dinner." Emily asks if the Friday night dinners
are continuing and Lorelai responds that they "might as well"
because she's "kind of gotten used to it."
(Lorelai realizing what Emily's suggestions were really mostly
about. And accepting that the Friday night dinners have become an
important part of her own life. Lorelai and Emily will never be as
close as Lorelai and Rory are, but they might be inching toward a
reasonably good relationship.)
Sookie tells Lorelai that the party was "all Luke"--he was the one
who suggested it, he was the main one planning it, and he was the
one who figured out how to save it. Lorelai goes in search of
Luke. She thanks him for the party and Luke says he likes to see
her happy. And then they kiss.
(Sometimes Luke CAN show her how he feels.)
Next morning Lorelai is wearing a necklace (presumably given to
her by Luke the previous night). She starts a rambling speech but
Rory stops her and says "You've given me everything I need." They
go to Luke's diner for one last breakfast before Rory leaves. And
we close on Lorelai and Rory talking while Luke prepares breakfast.
(And we end where we started--at the diner. A nice finale.
Although I still think it feels more like a season finale than a
series finale.)
--
Michael Ikeda mmi...@erols.com
"Telling a statistician not to use sampling is like telling an
astronomer they can't say there is a moon and stars"
Lynne Billard, past president American Statistical Association
David E. Milligan
"Michael Ikeda" <mmi...@erols.com> wrote in message
news:Xns9AF6B86ADB915...@216.196.97.136...
> Two side notes before we go over the last two episodes...
>
> 1) Just rewatched the extra (Season 2 disc) on some of the
> translated versions of Gilmore Girls. The versions covered often
> leave the pop culture references untranslated, apparently with the
> idea that viewers will either get individual references or not,
> just as in the original version. Also, Michel is Italian in the
> French version.
>
accent is what made it funny.
> 2) Gilmore Girls got on a list of "Top Ten Shows killed by
> college". (The entire list was posted to the Yale section of
> www.collegeotr.com on July 30). The explanation for the show's
> inclusion is unintentionally amusing:
>
> "This show was smart and sassy so it was fitting for resident good-
> girl Rory to go to Yale. Once there though, there was nothing to
> blabber about and the show was taken off the air."
>
So Rory's whole four-year Yale experience was mostly smoke and mirrors?
You would have thought Emily would be thrilled, instead of bitching about the seats, not
being able to see, and just about everything else
> (Note the different approaches of Emily and Lorelai. Emily wants
> Lorelai to "use her influence" while Lorelai thinks that's exactly
> what she shouldn't do in this case. It may not have occurred to
> Emily that if Lorelai did "use her influence" it would be in the
> opposite direction to what Emily wants.)
>
> After the ceremony, Rory tells Logan that she isn't ready to marry
> him. Logan says that he doesn't want to "go backwards"--they
> either get engaged or break up. Rory returns the ring and Logan
> walks away.
>
> (I suspect they wouldn't have had such a clear breakup if there was
> going to be another season.)
>
I would have loved to see Logan come crawling back to Rory, and if she'll take him back, it
would be under any conditions she set forth.
I really liked the impromptu re-enactment Lor & Ror did, and Babette's disappointed
reaction -- "That's not how I imagined it."
> Luke then goes to Sookie and suggests
> that they have the party tomorrow and also make it a surprise
> party.
>
> Lorelai and Rory are going through the list of needed supplies.
> They knock on Miss Patty's door but Miss Patty gives them an excuse
> and they leave. Inside, much of the town is attending a secret
> unofficial town meeting to plan Rory's surprise party.
>
> Lorelai and Rory are talking in the town square. Townsfolk
> carrying party stuff enter the square, see them and quietly leave
> (a fun little scene). Rory leaves to go talk to Lane. Rory and
> Lane have a wide-ranging chat, Rory confesses that she's "panic-
> attack nervous" and Lane reassures her. Back home, Rory wants to
> know why Lorelai seems so fine with everything. Lorelai responds
> that if she starts to think about Rory leaving she'll fall apart.
> Later that night, Lorelai watches Rory sleeping and nearly breaks
> down crying.
>
SO MANY great scenes -- and that was another one.
Most of the scenes between Lor & Em that I like the most are when they're actually getting
along.
> Sookie tells Lorelai that the party was "all Luke"--he was the one
> who suggested it, he was the main one planning it, and he was the
> one who figured out how to save it. Lorelai goes in search of
> Luke. She thanks him for the party and Luke says he likes to see
> her happy. And then they kiss.
>
> (Sometimes Luke CAN show her how he feels.)
>
> Next morning Lorelai is wearing a necklace (presumably given to
> her by Luke the previous night).
I wonder what led up to him giving it to her, and what happened afterward.
> She starts a rambling speech but
> Rory stops her and says "You've given me everything I need." They
> go to Luke's diner for one last breakfast before Rory leaves. And
> we close on Lorelai and Rory talking while Luke prepares breakfast.
>
> (And we end where we started--at the diner. A nice finale.
> Although I still think it feels more like a season finale than a
> series finale.)
>
I guess Rosenthal did the best he could, not knowing if there was another season or not.