So, yeah, I rewatched last week’s episode and–while there were some nice grace notes–must concur with the group’s overall eh. I must have picked the wrong day to give up cocaine. Tonight looks better though:
We’ve Got Magic To Do. Rory (Alexis Bledel) does a fabulous job organizing a big DAR bash for Emily (Kelly Bishop). However, at the party, Richard (Edward Herrmann) confronts Logan’s (Matt Czuchry) father, Mitchum Huntzberger (guest star Gregg Henry), about his opinion of Rory’s journalistic talents, while Emily has an even uglier confrontation with Logan’s mother, Shria (guest star Leann Hunley), over the romance between Rory and Logan. Meanwhile, after a small kitchen fire at the Dragonfly Inn, Lorelai (Lauren Graham) needs Richard’s help settling the insurance claim and uses the time spent with her father to needle him about the fact that he has been unable to get Rory to return to Yale. Though he’s annoyed with Lorelai, Richard has to admit that Rory is not where she should be. Melissa McCarthy, Scott Patterson, Yanic Truesdale, Liza Weil and Sean Gunn also star. Michael Zinberg directed the episode written by Daniel Palladino.
That was *awesome*.
Yeah, maybe I’ll watch that one again. It definitely hit just about every Gilmore goodness button I’ve got except for Lane, and Lane had a lot of stuff last week (except still no Mrs. Kim). But I come here to praise Gilmore Girls, not ask after Mrs. Kim. All the people acted like the people we know them to be without it being “comfortable.” Plus, it was funny. And smart. And referenced books.
Yes, tonight was more like it. Excellent episode. Richard and Emily (and Miss Patty rock). So much good.
AND the previews were so crazed, that I’m going to ignore them completely and just look forward to the promise of lots of Lorelai scenes with Emily and Richard.
Well, I had mixed reactions. Daniel insists on writing so much weird Kirk (and really, when did Kirk get pregnant?), and so much idle time with the townies that should have been brief shots. It’s like, he doesn’t know when to move away from the kitsch. I’d have been much happier if the dance segments were each a few seconds shorter, and that time given to a moment of affection before Lorelai left the diner. And since when do they have a disagreement and then she leaves without even a peck? It was sort of weird, to me, that she knew she’d inadvertently made Luke feel he’d been banished, she tried to clear that up, but then there was no affection – like we’re back to before they were dating.
On the major plus side, I love that Emily and Richard discovered that Lorelai had been absolutely correct. Love love love the confrontations they had with the Huntzburgers, especially Emily’s. I particularly love that not only did she cut Shira down, but there was a very cold-blooded threat said with an icy smile — she’d make sure that everyone would be talking about all of these unpleasantries if Shira didn’t change her behavior.
I’m very much looking forward to Rory gaining a clue that you should never let one critique crash your dreams. As much as the Huntzburgers are arrogant, etc., Mitchum was right — if Rory has what it takes, she wouldn’t let his criticsm knock her down — she’d bounce back. She’s currently proving he was right in his original assessment. Let’s hope she gains a clue and proves him wrong.
I disagree with you about the Luke & Lorelai scene, Toni — it felt to me like there was plenty of affection, tempered by the new awkwardness of coping with wanting to be together while also needing time on their own. I’m glad to see this because it’s exactly the kind of thing I’ve been hoping they’d focus on with L&L this season: how two independent people, both committed to and happy in their relationship, nonetheless can have real drama and difficulties along the way (without it ending in disaster). I think finding the balance between being each other’s main companions while also needing time alone and time with other people isn’t something that you figure out instantly; it takes time and communication to get comfortable telling each other what you need and not being threatened by that. So the scene made sense to me, and I felt like by the end of it, they’d already come to a better understanding. Actually I thought the lack of a peck reflected that understanding and trust: no reassurance was needed, they’re good.
Well, I totally agree with you on the scene itself (you said it much better)… but it just felt off for them to have had the kind of kissing in the last show (when she was on the porch) and not now, when it’s something a little more important going on. I do like that they’re exploring this kind of stuff and you’re right, you can be happy and still have these sorts of things to figure out and some drama along the way without threatening the relationship.
(I just like the kisses.)
I am a fan of the kisses as well.
But then, I’m also a fan of all the Stars Hollow characters. More screen time for flavorful townspeople! Look, this show and Katharine Hepburn are my main reasons to feel good about the state where I was raised…
What Christopher said.