(S07E10) For the last few weeks, I've been wondering if David Rosenthal and company have been turning Lorelai Gilmore into a more childish, petulant character than she had been in recent years, or if she's always been this childish and petulant, but her act has started to wear thin. After this episode, I've determined it's a little bit of each, leaning towards the "written that way" side. There really seems to be no reason that Lor should be so mean-spirited nowadays, especially towards her parents. She's pushing 40. She owns a successful business. And she's finally married to her high school sweetheart, who just happens to be loaded. So why does she still act like a baby?In short: it's an easy way to for the writers to make Christopher look like a putz.
This was one of the first times in the history of the show that I was on Emily's side. I mean, yes, the wedding party planning was over the top and reflected more of her high-society tastes than Lor's "Pizza for dinner and the Pixies on the CD player" tastes. And having Gil Chesterton (Edward Hibbert's character on Frasier) there to flouncily plan it would annoy the most patient daughters. But, for crissakes, Emily was just trying to do something nice to celebrate her daughter's marriage! Why was Lor fighting things every step of the way, dismissing everything with a wise-ass remark? I thought she had reached a level of maturity with her parents where she held her snarkiness in check at least some of the time.
The only reason I can think of for having her act this way is this is how Rosenthal wants to show Lor's complete discomfort over this marriage. But she's really not letting Chris in, is she? She wants to stay in Stars Hollow, even though Chris isn't accepted there. She doesn't quite want a baby, even though Chris tries to push the idea on her after she sees him coo at Luke's neice Doula. She doesn't want to do wedding vows, even though Chris just wants something resembling a decent wedding. So Chris starts looking like a pushy jerk -- "you were planning that big wedding with that diner guy" -- but all he's trying to do is make it a life of "we" instead of "you and me." Thankfully, Emily had the good sense to give Lor that verbal warning at the end of the episode, telling her that marriage is about as serious a thing as a person can do in life, and that she needs to compromise, even if that doesn't make her happy. Someone had to.
Of course, it did seem that in that brief scene where Luke and Lor were together that they had tons more chemistry than Lor and Chris have had all season. Again, that might be a sign of heavy-handed writing; Lor and Chris used to have chemistry coming out the wazoo. Anyway, the fight between Chris and Luke was fun but anticlimatic; they beat each other senseless, throwing each other into the town's holiday display, then they walked away. Okayyyy... will anything come of this at all? Because, for now, this seems like it was a scene out of a bad Burt Reynolds movie and not something you'd see on Gilmore Girls.
This entire episode, written by Rosenthal himself, had a sleepy pace to it, especially compared to last week's episode. Lots of silent space and people waiting for other people to speak. It was way too slow for an episode that packed in so much. For example, Luke's dispute with Anna over custody of April needed more details. Why waste time on Kirk's bigfooting the middle school's giftwrap sales if it's going to take away from such a meaty story? Kirk seems to be the go-to guy for "quirky town charm" in a lot of episodes this year, but in those caes, you almost never see any other townies, and that's just lazy writing. Last week's episode was so good because the whole town was involved. Kirk's not the whole town. Pretty simple.
Chris and Luke were not the only jealous ones this week. Logan's still got a little bit of the spiteful guy in him, sandbagging the whole "Rory knows Marty" thing. Of course, if he didn't tell Lucy, Lord knows if Rory or Marty would have ever said anything. That story that Lucy told about Marty stalking her performances made ol Mar sound downright creepy, didn't it? Rory may have made the right decision to give him the boot after all. But why the disrespect from Logan? I thought he was past all that crap. Also, I can't believe how angry Lucy -- and Olivia, too, the sheep -- was at Rory. So they lied a little. It's not like they were dating back in freshman year. It seemed like an outsized response, given the revelation. Eh, no matter... Lucy was pretty damned annoying, anyway.
One more thing: two phone calls? That's all we get with Lor and Rory? It's almost like the two of them have been apart more this year than they were last year, and they weren't talking to each other for the first half of last year. That's not helping matters any.
The inconsistency of this season has been frustrating. There was a reason why Team Palladino rewrote all the episodes, a la Aaron Sorkin, no matter who was the credited writer: they wanted the "voice" of the show to remain consistent. As we can tell, without Amy and Daniel there, that consistency has disappeared. I get the feeling this is what we're going to see for the rest of the season.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
12-05-2006 @ 11:28PM
Mirna said...
I agree with you 100%. The writing has been very sloppy. The premiere was good but has slowed down A LOT. Not enough snappy repartee and the pop culture references have disappeared completely.
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12-06-2006 @ 12:01AM
Judi said...
Indeed. It was odd that alluva sudden Lauren Graham and Scott Patterson seem to have chemistry when it's known that the two do not get along off-stage...
Just going from rumor of course.
I mean it's not as if the Luke and Lorelai thing was THAT great before (based on the acting), but now I just want it back cuz Christopher's sucking hard! And, well, it is "destiny" ala Ross and Rachel style, right?
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12-06-2006 @ 1:48AM
La-di-dah said...
Yes, the fact that the conflict between Lorelai and Chris has not been written well is a problem. We know Lorelai is Ms Independent committment-phobe, but she was great with Luke because he didn't ask anything much of her - he respected her space, and he was more likely to scrunch his face and give in to her than push her hard. All this does not the best marriage make, but it is certainly comfortable for Lorelai for she did not ask anything much of him either ... until the one thing which broke up their relationship.
On the other hand, Chris seems to be trying to extract a lot of change in Lorelai, which has never ever been natural for her, and yes, the writers are making him moody about it (which I say is the wrong tactic. Lets-make-a-baby on a whim can only work when the partner feels a whim too, and Lorelai did not, or when they at least communicate, and they did not). . And we wouldn't know if this is normal Chris character because we just don't know him that much (frankly, I don't like him that much since what I remember from a few seasons ago is that he broke Lorelai's heart). So it does seem like an easy way to break them up. Easier if Lorelai does not fight it (she did not chase Chris down to talk about the problem, and neither did he). Bah!
Even though I like Luke-Lorelai, I think the writers can convince us via strong writing that Lorelai and Chris are better together, especially if Lorelai finally learns how to be in a relationship. I would be insulted if they broke them up sloppily so we can have "destiny." At this point, I feel the writing has to be equally as convincing to make me accept that Luke and Lorelai are meant to be if they go in that direction.
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1-14-2007 @ 4:05AM
counselor thoughts said...
While perhaps not great writing for television all of those things you complained about inn this piece, were very typical behaviors "normal development" given their surrounding environment.
Lorelai probably won't ever grow up. People are often stuck at the age in which they begin to have children. Chlidren don't leave much room for self-growth alongside everything else we all struggle with. Beyond that given lorelai really didn't have a childhood she's going to spend a long time making up for those last 20 odd years she had to deprive herself of like thinking of what she wants, without having to put her wants last or on a constant compromise. Obviously the discomfort over weedding plans come from the factc that she spent most of her adult life around rebelling from her mother, a very hard habit to let go after 30 years, even if intentions arer well-meaning. There's the history that cannot simply disappear in a span of a few years.
phone calls - people, especially college kids, drift apart from family for a period during this stage of reestablishing one's selfhood and redefining the changing rules of a life situation.
Okay, so this would be my opinon on the subject if the show were real life and not tv.
I can't help but agree that they've done a poor job of keeping the town in the loop as that was part of the initial charm.
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12-06-2006 @ 4:53AM
jOHN! said...
Logan was also a little snippy to Marty when they first knew each other. Logan, at the time, kinda looked down on Marty.
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12-06-2006 @ 7:37AM
courtney said...
Lazy writing/bad storytelling. Never thought I'd say this after what Sherman-Palladino did to the show last season, but please please come back - Rosenthal is a hack. Doesn't understand these characters and can't write a decent sparkling smart scene to save his life.
The fight was just filler ot me - no words? Just two grown men thrashing around for what purpose? ASP wouldn't stoop so low -
The stalking thing is just creepy given Rosenthal's own history with being a stalker of Heidi Klum - really, there's no one on the staff that could have told him that was a bad idea?
Ugh to the whole show. Especially the part where they distort legal reality to suit their lousy storyline by having a lawyer tell Luke he really barely has a chance to get visitation rights - totally wrong and just another example of this show mucking around with reality to tell their stories - first the bogus marriage in France which one cannot do at the drop of the hat and have it be legal and now having a lawyer dismiss Luke's rights out of hand.
Bleah. I'm out. I barely made it through these past few months - but, now I'm done with the whole mess. I do still love the early seasons - I've watched since day one seven years ago and have rewatched old episodes and still really find them fresh, funny and brilliant.
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12-06-2006 @ 8:18AM
Lynn said...
First, the fact we never saw the wedding..They may find out it wasn't legal in the States..Now they have thrown a lawyer into the story.
Lorelai is seen holding Luke's neice and the two of them look very natural together..
I can't help feeling this will turn into reality. Christopher will become such a jerk(again), he will leave. I know GG's doesn't do real heavy drama, but something could happen to Liz and TJ and Luke will end up caring for and raising the baby, and Lorelai will be helping him.April will be in New Mexico. Comments have been made(in another publication) Luke will still have a very profound place in Lorelai's life..Just looking for some sense in all this.
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12-06-2006 @ 8:58AM
MrsEldubya said...
I figured Logan said all that about Rory and Marty because he didn't like the way Marty was looking at Rory and watching her every move at dinner. He jumped to pick up her napkin and kept stealing glances and the Lucy mentioned him "stalking" her. Logan had had enough. Rory was sort of looking back and that was the final straw.
AS-P was never so heavy handed with things as Rosenthal. We get it, Chris isn't fitting in and Lorelai doesn't want to bend. Duh! Getting married away from Stars Hallow does make sense because it would have never happened with her friends and family around. Even the stories of their childhood show that Lorelai ruled the relationship (she kissed him first) and Luke balances her out better.
Anyway, we had sound problems last night so we missed out on the first 15 mins of the episode and for some reason closed captioning didn't work either. Hopefully I can catch it on a repeat.
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12-06-2006 @ 10:29AM
Pamela said...
Why do some commentors think that Chris is being a jerk? It is Lorelei that is being so immature I'd like to slap her. She is being so rude and ungrateful to her Mother who is trying to throw her a lovely wedding celebration.I think Lorelei doesn't want to repeat her vows because she is remorseful of this marriage. And I feel sorry for Christopher. He dreamed of getting back together with Lorelei and being a family, and now she is just fighting him at every turn and perhaps it will be Chris that decides to leave the marriage, not Lorelei. Talk about "bait and switch"! When Lorelei doesn't get her way (like setting a wedding date with Luke), she acts out (like sleeping with Chris, and then marrying him). Grow up!!In order for this series to end properly, Christopher needs to dump Lorelei, Luke and Lorelei must get back together, they must each have learned from their mistakes, Luke must get shared custody with his daughter, and they must all live happily ever after--in Stars Hollow. I guess I need to get a life . . .
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12-06-2006 @ 3:45PM
CastingGod said...
Come on people the "BABY" is a set up. It will happen when they come back. It was mentioned in clips early on. Marty is dating that girl because she reminds him of Rory. She kinda looks like an early Rory.
Logan is jealous of Marty so,that was the the perfect time to throw the wrench in.
It will wind up that Rory like Loreli will be alone.
As for Emily I'm on her side with the vows. Lor as usual is actingimmature and spoiled. It;s time to grow up and accept what you've done. You married the man now, live with it.
So,starnge that Lor/Luke now are somewhat friends. What happened to all the "you wanted more into getting married then I was".That was a slap and Lor forgives him that quick.
My last year for this series. Can't take the immaturity of Lor and Rory. It's getting as bad as Teri Hatcher and Desperate Housewives.
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12-06-2006 @ 5:29PM
Leeanna said...
Lorelei is annoying! very very annoying. She does need to go grow up, she acts like she's 12. It was cute but now . .. not so much. Once again i'm a fan of Chris and Lorelei to me they make more sense. Luke is down right boring and does not no how to speak up and be a man. He is so darn passive its sad. Its his fault his relationship with Lorelei is over and now that she's with Chris its serves him right. Heck he even said it to her you belong with Chris. I always thought Chris and Lorelei were a better match and agree with the above comment if the writters would put some effort into it they could make them work. As for Logan he had every right to tell that girl the truth. I mean why not, whats the big deal?? That guy "boyfriend" is just wierd i mean talk about not letting go! Rory should have told the girl awhile back and yes the girl reaction was a bit extreme but she has a right to by upset. In the end . . Lorelei needs to grow up or Chris needs to leave her. And Luke character plot should be focused on that whole custody issue.
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12-07-2006 @ 7:29AM
Bob said...
I really don't know why you are surprised at how Lor is acting. She has always been this way. It's easy to blame Rosenthal and I know how much you love to do that but come on she has been like this for the run of the show! Don't get me wrong this wasn't that great an episode. But I don't think that your heroes The Palladinos could have done any better with this storyline THEY started with their sour grapes sabotage that was last season. As for the Lucy thing I actually like the character. I can only tolerate so much of Paris and Lucy and Olivia are pretty fun and quirky...an work you love to through around. It is nice and more realistic for Rory to have more friends than just Paris...and they are very similar to Rory anyway. I find myself curious to see where that story line is going, as well as the Luke story line. More so at this point than Lor's I have just found her abrasive and annoying all season (and in reruns now). I surprisingly to myself liked her subdued self from last year better.
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12-06-2006 @ 11:43PM
Stevie said...
how boring was that fight? compared to the dean-vs-jess throwdown of season whatever, this was a yawnfest. and did anyone else think luke would've kicked chris' ass if chris didn't fight dirty (pulling him into the tree)?
totally agree w/ everything being said about lor's immaturity. and, like mr. keller, i'm not sure whether this is a new brand of immaturity or just the old stuff getting old.
also agree that the breakup w/ lucy and olivia was over the top. and i really felt it was marty's responsibility to come clean to lucy; rory should have prodded him to do it, but he's the one who started the whole thing, so if anyone was going to clear it up it would have to be him. as much as i loathe logan (and remembering how they met just reminds me all the more how much of a jerk he's always been), i can't be pissed at him for this. he's right; the whole thing was stupid.
the whole show's getting pretty stupid, but the idea of not watching this show just doesn't seem possible to me. it's hard to let go!
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12-07-2006 @ 11:07AM
SamMalone said...
RE: the Luke/Chris fight. I figure it was their respective jealousy of eachother. Chris is jealous that Lor is cooing over the baby Luke is taking care of. Luke is jealous that she married Chris. The fight ended oddly because it was a draw (come on Luke would kick butt). The matter is still boiling under the surface, I'm sure we'll see it come up later.
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12-17-2006 @ 6:43PM
DAndres said...
I had hope at the begining of the season when Lor and Chris were finally getting together. He makes the most sense. They have a long history, major chemistry, a deep connection and to top it off, a child. He has always WANTED to marry Lorelai and has called her his soulmate. Their chemistry, since day one, has been amazing. Luke and she were sweet but boring. Luke does not fit into Lor's life at all. He doesn't have a clue about where she came from. He does not enjoy pop culture. He does not include her in the most intimate aspects of his life and didn't want to marry her until cornered. I believe the writers are now taking the easy way out....trying to make Chris look like a jerk and force Luke and Lorelai moments. Rosenthal has now announced that Chris's behavior during Richard's illness will make Lor see that Luke is the one for her. I am sure that Lorelai's uncommitted childish behavior is what makes Chris feel insecure and act out. I am sure this series finale (which I believe will be this year) will be some contrived Luke and Lorelai reunion. How sad to see such a good show fall so far!
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12-11-2006 @ 10:26PM
bluekidcory said...
The worst was the battle between Luke and Chris. They could've made that so funny but instead it just dragged on and lacked any kind of Gilmore quirkiness. It didn't even resolve anything. Besides, it's Gilmore Girls!, they should have some yelling fit with many phrases we'd never understand while fighting. Go back to the Dean and Tristian war: I can still hear the words "You don't want to fight me Tristain" in my head.
TOODLES
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12-22-2006 @ 11:40AM
Carrie said...
Well, I agree and disagree with a lot of stuff, but rather than beat it all (as a new person) please bear with me for a few comments I discussed with some GG friends before I found this blog.
Lorelai's passion is Luke. With Luke she would be over the top happy. But Luke's tendency toward giving her her space resulted in him separating the two of them, which enhanced her insecurity. How the writing played that out, well, that can be debated, although I agree it could have been done better.
Christopher, however, is someone Lorelai loves and cares about and has for decades. She can be happy with him, although not in the hot passionate way I see her being happy with Luke.
The fight was funny, but not as funny as it could have been.
TJ is equally annoying now as he was under previous writers.
Logan spilling to Lucy: help me here. I remember Rory meeting Logan at Emily and Richard's house at the "Male Yale" party. Logan rescued Rory from the assault of up-and-coming Yalies selected by Grandma and Grandpa to meet their tiarred granddaughter. It was the night Dean had to pick her up (post-coitus relationship), and dumped her when she came out 15 minutes late with a boatload of wealthy Yalies standing at the door. I may be wrong, but I believe that episode preceded the one where Marty introduced Logan and his party buddies.
My two cents. Thank you for your time.
Carrie
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12-30-2006 @ 1:45PM
Theri said...
Isn't it obvious? Jess is gonna come back and take Rory away from Logan and get her back to her old self. Christopher is gonna break up with Lorelei because she isn't listening to him, and Kirkis gonna end up with her. DUH
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1-03-2007 @ 11:17AM
Carrie said...
I wouldn't mind seeing Jess come back. Kirk and Lorelai? Hmmm... Kirk and Paris might be a funnier twist. Maybe a catfight between Lulu and Paris?
Wow, that sounds like a scene from a really bad B-movie. Lorelai and Rory would love it!
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1-03-2007 @ 6:24PM
DeAnn said...
It would be interesting if Jess came back, but I doubt that will happen as Milo V, the actor, is on Heros now. Still, he made an interesting boyfriend for goodie two shoes Rory. He was certainly smarter than Dean, and I'd bet he was a better kisser. Dean's just a bit too big of a guy to have good intimacy skills. And Kirk will NOT end up with Lorelai...puuullllease! Kirk is the ultimate geek/dork. He and the stupid Lulu were meant for each other. I hope they get back together and have geeky stupid children who wreak havoc on Taylor Dosey's ice cream shop. I really hope that Lorelai finds happiness somewhere, anywhere, before the show is booted off the air (the bad writing this season is losing fans fast). I hope Rory marries Logan, because she and Logan are good together and he's such a hottie, they'd have great looking babies. Plus it would solve Rorys bizarre "I don't know what to do with my life" dilema. She used to want to be Christine Amanpour, but suddenly she's a ditz who doesn't know what to do with a journalism degree...that's just sad, folks. Bad writing and bad planning. Anyway, lets just pray that ASP comes back and saves the show, or that it gets canceled before we are tortured with more of these turgid shows and their flat dialog.
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