I used to think that I was the only male fan of Gilmore Girls in the entire U.S. of A. But since Esquire's A.J. Jacobs came out and declared it "The Best Show for Men" (part of that article is shown here), a few more guys have come out of the woodwork to admit the same, even in sports-related articles (look under item #6 in this article). I've been a big fan since Season Two, mainly due to a unrequited crush on Lauren Graham, so I was happy to see some other guys reveal themselves in print (where it can never ever be taken back -- right?).Anyway, being a fan for so long, I've noticed that something's been amiss this year, and it mostly has to do with Rory. It's not just Alexis Bledel's storyline, which has turned Rory from a pop culture-spewing, alterna-cute wunderkind to a brooding, spoiled, younger version of Emily Gilmore. It's also kept Bledel away from the crackling chemistry that she had with Graham, who as Lorelai has been faring better this season, playing off Scott Patterson's Luke very well. Bledel's performance has suffered by comparison; right now, she's emoting about as much as a block of cheese. Suffice to say, I've been aching for them to get back together for months, and the Palladinos have been taking way too long to get mother and daughter to reconcile.
Thank God for Jess.
What's that you say, longtime Gilmore fan? Jess was an annoying hellion who wasn't good enough for Rory? That he spent too much time being a pain in the ass to become a developed, much less likable, character? I agree with you; I hated Jess with a passion when Milo Ventimiglia was a regular. But his return in this episode is as welcome as a heated car seat on a cold winter morning.
The essentials of this episode: Rory's being squeezed by Emily. She doesn't trust her granddaughter, see, thinks she's gonna go off with that ne'er-do-well Logan and do the nasty. Rory's starting to feel like something's gone terribly wrong; she's gone from Yale genius to chauffeur for a bunch of drunken douchebags. Logan's feeling the heat from his dad to join the family business and is taking it out on Rory. She misses her mom and her old life.
Magically, along comes Jess. Seems like he's found a life in Philly and has actually written a book (Rory mentions how she read about the new "cool" Philadelphia in The New York Times. I cringed when she said that. I read that article; it called an entire city the "sixth borough" of New York. Condescending crap). A day after he comes back, the two plan to go out and catch up, but Logan comes back early from a business trip and intervenes. The three go out and Logan jealously challenges Jess at every turn, actually making Jess look like a decent guy, which is tough to do.
He storms out, and Rory goes out to apologize. Jess unloads on her, asking her what happened to the girl he used to know, that what she is now isn't that girl. Yes, it's really looking like the Palladinos are merely using Jess as the metaphorical slap in the face and nothing more, but who cares? Rory needed it. She goes back in, argues with Logan (and to an extent, with her "other" self), and is left alone with cab fare. She eventually crashes at Lane's -- are we down to one Lane scene per week now? -- and confronts Emily at a DAR tea, which ends the episode, setting the stage for a big reunion next week.
Oh, and there's the obligatory "Lorelai and Luke biding their time until the reunion" plotline, where Lorelai frets over paint colors for the house, helps Luke sponsor a super-violent girl's soccer team, and tends to the canine Paul Anka's sickness. Only one part of the whole subplot shows an insight into the ongoing storyline; near the end of the episode, Lorelai finally opens Rory's room to let Paul Anka sleep there. When Luke finds her there in the morning, she starts to cry, saying that she's a bad mother; she tried her best to keep things from happening the way they did, but it went that way anyway. She was talking about the sick dog, but I just get the feeling -- call it a "hunch" -- that she was talking about Rory.
So next week's the big reunion. Everything's all well and good. But - gasp! - there's a deep secret that might jeopardize Lorelai and Luke! Of course that was bound to happen, now that Rory's back in the fold. Can't these writers multitask?
The TV Squad Podcast: Vik Sahay of Chuck, Oprah talk, brutal timeslots, and more!
TV Squad Ten: Top Ten ESPN shows from worst to first
Andy Richter: The TV Squad Interview
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
11-09-2005 @ 9:13AM
Malfoy Roark said...
Logan is just having a bad few days. Jess is indeed a bum. I'm hoping Logan puts out a hit on Jess and makes him disappear. I HATE JESS, GRRRRRR. Jess's talking this episode pissed me off almost as much as Santos tossing out "Universal Healthcare" Sunday. GAAHHHHHH NUKE BOTH OF THEM!
Reply
11-09-2005 @ 9:35AM
Stephen Giles said...
This episode finally did what I wanted the show to do for a while: Kick Logan to the curb! I am pretty sure it's over between them. I hate him so much. He is annoying beyond anything and I hope to never see him in an episode again. Luke and Lorelai's subplot was very good although quite not up to par. The final scene at the Russian tea party was brilliant and it really showed the talent of the writers. I also used think that I was the only one who watches the show but now I know I am not alone :)
Reply
11-09-2005 @ 10:04AM
Christina said...
Stephen, since the guy who plays Logan is a series regular, I don't think they're quite done with him yet.
Reply
11-09-2005 @ 10:11AM
Joshua Stein said...
Well, since this is turning into a "men who love Gilmore Girls" meeting, my name is Josh, and I have been hooked since the second season. It was my mom's fault, and now I have my wife hooked.
Anyhow, I always hated Jess, but his return was quite welcome. Though I have to say, I have always sort of liked Logan's cocky attitude. But I can see where they are pushing that character, so it is time for him to go.
My biggest complaint about the show has always been that I really don't like Rory's charecter. Too goody-goody and whiny for my tastes. I like to see her get her comeuppance, and even with this episode, I got really mad at the way she implied that her loafing ways were Logan's fault. She's the one who wanted to steal a boat, who decided to drop out of college, and who doesn't complain about going out and drinking every night of the week.
My other complaint for this week was no Edward Hermann, one of my all time favorite actors, and the glue that has held the show together during some of its more rocky points.
Reply
11-09-2005 @ 11:02AM
e said...
Joel - I totally agree. I HATED Jess so much, and after last night's ep, I wish he was back so much. He seems so much more mature and milder now.
Plus, I hate Logan so much more.
Reply
11-09-2005 @ 11:20AM
Sugar said...
I love men, who love Gilmore Girls!!! That's all I have to say...
Reply
11-09-2005 @ 11:28AM
kerry said...
I think I might be alone in that I liked Jess a lot during season 2 and part of season 3, but then hated him again by the end. I think it's just the 15-year-old girl in me who swoons for well-read bad boys, but either way I was downright stoked to see him on the show last night, even if he turned in a kind of lazy performance. As for the one Lane scene per week thing, you're totally right. Lane is perpetually underused, and now it's like she's not even on the show. I also miss Mrs. Kim, who is my favorite Townie of them all. Josh is right about Edward Hermann, he always makes his scenes worthwhile, but it's pretty typical for him to only show up in a portion of episodes in a season, hence the "special appearances by" credit. Plus, I kind of like having him around less, so when he does show up it's a real treat.
Reply
11-09-2005 @ 3:05PM
Buttons said...
Although I missed last nights episode; after reading about it I was happy to discover that Rory may be back on the right track. Logan was a nice mix but it went to far. When Rory decided to side with grandma and grandpa, move out of her mother's house etc.. etc..it changed what gilmore girls was completly.
Reply
11-09-2005 @ 3:19PM
Mike said...
Did anyone else think that Logan's explosion at Rory was completely out of character? Sure, I expected him to take some digs at Jess, but he's always been one to be calm and smooth. That insults-at-a-thousand-miles-per-hour Logan in the bar was a completely different character.
Reply
11-10-2005 @ 2:21AM
maya said...
This ep is really great. And though I hated Jess when he was a regular too (A BIG JERK AND AN ASS!), he seems like a pretty decent guy now. And I really felt that Matt Czuchry acted well in this ep. And I dont think Logan's blowout was out of character. Yes he's always calm and collected. But add the feeling of frustration and pressure from his family obligations+jetlag+and an ex-bf, well I think it was too much for him. Remember ppl, he had never been in a committed relationship ie. clueless in the love department. And since Rory and Logan's relationship has been all happy and lovey dovey so far, some conflict was bound to happen. Remember Luke and Lorelai in Wedding Bell Blues? Christopher came. And now Jess. See the resemblance? So obviously Logan could be THE ONE(much to some ppl dismay). But let see what happens.
Reply
11-09-2005 @ 10:46PM
Joel Keller said...
Well, as someone said earlier, Logan was having a bad day, because his dad is putting all this pressure on him to join the business. He's not quite as shallow as the caricatures he has as friends/drinking buddies, but he's not much better. There were indications that he wanted Rory to go back to school, but they were only hints. I swear, Jess looks like a catch in comparison.
Oh, the TV Guide recapper actually noticed that all the shoes Paul Anka was bringing downstairs pointed to Rory's room. In an episode full of pretty obvious symbolism, that one went right over my head. Anyone else notice that?
Reply
11-10-2005 @ 1:11PM
Kelly said...
I only started watching Gilmore Girls this past summer and I'm totally hooked now! And I got my boyfriend hooked! I've never been a big Jess fan...he's just SO moody, it can be exhausting. And as much as I liked Logan at first, he's been pretty disappointing lately. To be honest, I wish they'd just introduce someone completely new that would be perfect for Rory.
Oh, and it did take me a little while to figure out the shoes were leading to Rory's room. I guess I didn't have my bearings right, because I thought it was just a closet! It was sad to see Lorelai crying like that!!
Reply
11-10-2005 @ 1:13PM
milo said...
Sure, it's a great show for men, but unfortunately Lorelei is the intellectual version of the anorexic supermodels that women always point out as unrealistic.
I believe she provides an false ideal of conversation and smarts. Simply put, the more Lorelei that you watch, the less likely you are to be intellectually satisfied with any normal woman (unless she too happens to have a team of funny writers and an encyclopedic knowledge of vast swaths of culture)
You'll end up happier if you fantasize about more realistic women.
Reply
11-10-2005 @ 3:14PM
Moe said...
Another guy for Gilmore Girls! And again, I started watching because I developed a crush on Lauren Graham while she was on Newsradio.
Excellent review of the show, which in my opinion, was one the best shows of the year, just because so much is going to happen from here on out.
Reply
11-10-2005 @ 3:51PM
Mike said...
Yeah I noticed that the shows all pointed to Rory's room. Which is weird. Because Paul Anka should have no particular attachment to that room or Rory at all. But I get the symbolism thing.
Reply
11-10-2005 @ 7:27PM
Jackie said...
I really think that Jess's character has always been an interesting one to say the least. I have also always enjoyed storylines in general involving the redemption of a character. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing a character like Jess evolve from a troubled-youth to making something out of himself in his published book.
I would argue that Jess’s transformation is as drastic as the transformation Rory had in the 5th and 6th seasons. It was so interesting to see the two of them again in these opposite roles. Rory was always the one to have her life together, not Jess. Hearing Jess ask Rory ‘what was going on’ was Gilmore Girls at its best.
I realize the powers that be will probably not bring Jess back into a substantial storyline again, but if they did I definitely would not mind. =) In fact, it makes me sad that we probably won’t see Jess in another episode for a very long time.
Reply
11-11-2005 @ 2:04AM
Lorna said...
I no longer think Logan is good enough for Rory after this latest episode. I am a Rory/Jess, or Literai, fan, and I still hope for a reunion before the series is over.
Reply
11-11-2005 @ 9:24AM
Karen said...
I like Logan, and still do after this episode
Never been a Jess fan and I once was but after he treated Rory poorly in their relationship he can do no good with me anymore. nd I'm positive Rory and Logan will work out just like Rory and Lorelai will do now :)
Reply
11-11-2005 @ 5:21PM
Sara said...
Last week's episode, cheered me up soo much. I love Jess and Logan is just a jerk. Jess up him into the right place after Logan has ruined Rory's life. Jess reminded her of what she had going for her. I just can't wait till next week when Rory finally goes home to her mother.
Reply
11-14-2005 @ 10:21PM
Lisa said...
to the note above, your not the only one who liked Jess. I loved him when he was on the show. It was good that he came back to slap Rory out of it. Like come on what a waste she's becoming. And Logan was totally right with yelling at her. he did not force her to do anything. She the one "finding herself". And for those who don't like Logan . . tsk tsk. Its like not liking Lorelei those two are obviously opposite. Logan living out the male version of lorlei old life. So I don't think he's going anywhere. Does anybody agree with me. Anywho, drama is coming no couple on tv has it easy wihtout somebody trying to mess it up.
Reply