(S07E13) So this is what it takes to get a good episode this season? Richard Gilmore has to have open-heart surgery? Well, I guess if this is what they have to do, I can accept that. Maybe next week, they'll give Paul Anka worms.Seriously, though, the reason why this episode worked is because all we saw was the Family Gilmore, together for most of the episode. Not sixty seconds of a Friday night dinner. Not Lorelai and Rory chatting on the phone. Nope, they were all together for an extended period, interacting in the ways that once made the show so great.
Did this episode have flaws? Tons. But it was the best of the season so far.
Let's start at the end, shall we? Didn't you just love that look Lorelai gave those bags of food Luke brought over? Remember, by then Christopher had finally arrived at the hospital after repeated and increasingly angry phone calls from Lorelai, only to see Luke being a much better friend than he could ever be. And Lor's "this is not cool" phone call near the end certainly showed that Lorelai has matured a bit, at least more than her mother gave her credit for earlier this year. She was right; whatever difficulty her and Chris were having, Richard's surgery was the bigger issue. Good for her to not only have that insight, but to not bother her mother, Rory, or anyone else with her problems with her husband. She didn't even bother to explain why he wasn't there; she'd just say no and concentrate on the matter at hand.
By the way, my dad had a heart attack and a bypass three years ago. We didn't pack half the house and bring it to his room, and after he got out of surgery he was still unconscious and breathing with a ventilator. Compared to what he looked like, Richard looked like he had just been through a spa treatment. Sometimes I wonder if TV writers realize that shows like ER have lowered our tolerance for unrealistic medicine.
Anyway... I guess packing half the house gave Rory and Logan a chance to interact outside the hospital. Logan's really becoming the mover and shaker. Risking his trust fund on buying an Internet business, taking a helicopter to the hospital... if he had longer hair and better legs he'd be Ivanka Trump. But he's also becoming a better boyfriend to Rory, isn't he? And did you see his eyes light up when Rory started spewing business lingo? It's almost as if those days of being a Yale ne'er-do-well never existed. Also, when did Smart Rory come back and take over for Rudderless Crying Rory? Was it while she was driving to the hospital?
No one does frantic denial better than Kelly Bishop. I'm just going to say that right now. Berating the nurses, complaining about the health club, ordering fish, ordering Luke to get Richard's Jag, talking with the lawyers... she did everything but deal with the reality of her husband's condition. I was waiting for Lor to snap her out of it, and I think the writers waited a bit too long. But she finally did, in the gift shop. And Bishop played it just right, not having Emily break down completely (no hugs!) but at least showing the emotion she's feeling while still maintaining that Emily Gilmore control. One of these days, she'll get an Emmy nomination; I just don't think it'll be for Gilmore Girls.
One more question: How did Babette know about the details of the heart attack so soon? I thought Lor ran away from her and got in the car right after she got the call. I'm guessing between that moment and when she told Luke, Lor called her and told her what happened and asked to take care of Paul Anka. That's the only thing I can think of. But I think that's the most lines Sally Struthers has gotten on the show in at least a year (just as an aside, how many cartons of cigarettes did it take for Sally's voice to get that harsh since her All in the Family days? I know that doesn't happen on Ho-Hos alone).
So, what's the over/under for Luke and Lor getting back together? I give it 3 episodes, which will be enough time for them to get married, Rory to graduate, and Lor to get pregnant, wrapping up the series very nicely. Maybe Chris will stick around a little while longer, but it's not seeming likely after Luke became Gallant to Chris' Goofus. Maybe the writers will surprise us and have Lorelai stay with Chris. But I don't think that's going to happen.
So about that "Paul Anka gets worms" episode...















Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-06-2007 @ 10:58PM
Diana said...
I didn't think this episode was stellar at all, in fact I thought it was one of the worst of the season. Everything just felt so off.
If Lorelai doesn't smack down Chris next week I will quit the show. I don't care if this is the final season.
Kelly Bishop did hit it out of the park though. And it was awesome to see Babette, Sookie and Michelle in the same episode. I feel like it's been awhile since that happened.
I posted an entry about my feelings on the episode at my blog: http://www.mediaobsessed.com
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2-06-2007 @ 11:04PM
Joel Keller said...
Diana, I didn't say it was stellar. I said it was the best of the season so far. If you've read my reviews of this year's episodes, you'll realize that it's not exactly a high compliment.
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2-06-2007 @ 11:21PM
BC said...
You really have to hand it to Kelly Bishop. Initially, in a situation where you might sympathize with Emily, you just want to repeatedly punch her in the face. But later, after Lorelai lights into her for doing what she and her husband had previously planned, you do sympathize with her for having to put up with a stupid cunt of a daughter who is completely incapable of managing her own life, yet feels qualified to criticize the way other people manage theirs. I do feel a little sorry for Chris; he thought he was finally getting the love of his life, and instead he got stuck with Luke's sloppy seconds.
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2-07-2007 @ 12:05AM
David said...
"If Lorelai doesn't smack down Chris next week I will quit the show. I don't care if this is the final season."
My question is why didn't you sooner? The not smacking thing can get you to quit the show with like 13 episodes left, but Rory being dumbed down, dating a married man, dating a rich loser, Loreili being dumbed down and dating everyone from her past, Luke having a 12 year old out of the blue, being a jackass to people instead of secretly caring, and the grandmother charnging her mind every other season on who's best for her daughter doesn't make you quit? Umm... ok.
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2-07-2007 @ 9:25AM
Allison Solow said...
I don't think I'd label this the best of the season, but it was an improvement. I think Rosenthal is still aspiring to Palladino/Sherman standards and he just doesn't have their deft touch. For instance, it felt like a standard plot turn to have Chris show up at exactly the moment that Luke is dropping off the food. Wouldn't it have been a sharper barb to have him show up after the food arrived and he finds Lor drinking Luke's coffee -- the very coffee that ticked him off last week! All the same notes could have been played, but without the "soap" moment.
As for the rest, thanks for Babette and Michelle and Sookie. I think Amy's version would have had Kirk showing up at the hospital offering to transplant a kidney and not realizing Richard had a heart attack. Also, Miss Patti might have tracked down Rory with the Bobby Short LPs.
Finally, I think the end game is apparent based on the previews. It sounds like Lor is ready to cut Chris lose. Frankly, his behavior in this show was really inexcusable -- and slightly unbelievable. Unless we're going to find out he was really so far away that it took five calls from Lor before he could make it back to New Haven. Seriously, he had to remember that Lor and Rory were right there when his father was ill and dying -- family crises are more important than a husband-and-wife fight. Can't wait to hear why he didn't take Lor's calls...
As for Luke, there's a word in Yiddish that best describes his character -- a mensch. That's a person of quality who does the right thing. Sounds exactly like Luke, and it's one of the reasons Lor will go back to him.
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2-07-2007 @ 10:45AM
homerj312 said...
It was a very good episode, all the episodes this season have been pretty good. You mindless drones just hop on the bandwagon and are persuaded by media critics. You want the new episodes to be bad and you look to find anything wrong with them.
The acting is still good, the fast talking, pop culture referencing writing is still good. The situations they have to deal with are new and unique and not just recycled storylines. I like the show more now than when Rory was pining for Jess.
So stop being cynical bastards about this show just because someone tells you its not as good as it use to be. I know I'll get replies saying you can really tell a difference with the characters or the writing but seriously most of you aren't that observant even if it was true and are just looking to complain because you were told the show is worse now, even though it isn't.
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2-07-2007 @ 11:38AM
David said...
Homer this is a blog where we talk about out views so stop trying to tell us how it is in your world when we don't agree.
And anyone with eyes can tell this is a completely different show, not just this season but the last few. If you like these shity storylines and completely out of place charters good for you, butyour reply makes it seem that you are the mindless drone that will believe anythnig that happens on this show.
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2-07-2007 @ 1:28PM
Bob said...
David, I'm pretty sure that homerj is agreeing with you. And the fact of the matter is I do to. The Palladino's made the show what it is now after that train wreck that was last season. It's just easier to blame the new guy and think back to 'better days'.
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2-07-2007 @ 2:09PM
Mighty Wind said...
This was a long, boring episode. I like the grandfather but I thought he should have died already. We did this once before, right?
I've been frustrated not to have a glimpse at Rory and Logan's relationship and thought it should have been a major part of the show after Christmas because he went off blowing the only friendship Rory had and had just before that sent her tickets to London for a visit when Rory expected to actually move there. Then he just appears out of the blue (he must have been at the airport when he got news, etc.). And, yes, welcome back Old Rory!
I loved the looks Rory and Lorelei were giving each other and the nursing staff, etc. That was great.
And, I sure agree that Kelly Bishop was outstanding!
I'm kinda tired of the Chris vs. Luke issue. Lor seems to go from one to the other without much space, reflection, or remorse.
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2-07-2007 @ 2:17PM
margot said...
I thought Logan had taken an apartment in NYC b/c his job had given him opportunity to manage something there. That's why she moved out of his apt, remember? With him living so close, Rory didn't see the point in living in his apt (and hopefully being taken care of finally got old). Then, reading above, I recall Rory visiting him in London. Was he just there on business?
Assuming he's back living in NYC makes the helicopter transport much more plausible.
Either way, I'm just confused.
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2-07-2007 @ 4:35PM
DeAnn said...
I agree with Joel Keller that this was a better episode than anything else this season. We got to see how much of a dickus maximus Christopher is, how immature he is for running off in a huff after finding a reason to fight with Lor, and we got to see what a great guy Luke still is, as he's there for Lor and comes through for the whole family when they needed him.
Also, as to the Sally Struthers comment, I met her in 1988 at the Disney/MGM opening, and her voice wasn't that husky. She must have had some major ailments since then to cause her voice to become so gravelly.
And to that sheep Homer, if you'd watched the show with an regularity, you'd notice the huge difference in the dialog, the plot, the characters and even the camera angles since AmySP left. I noticed it immediately, and I think that most people are observant enough to know when the quality of a show takes a sharp nose dive.
And thank heaven Rory is back to being a smart and quippy gal, instead of being whiny, wimpy and lost. She was becoming annoying, and in this ep, she seemed more like her old self. And I agree with Alison that adding a moment with Kirk or having Lor drinking Lukes coffee would have made the ep even better.
I can only hope that the season ends with Rory marrying Logan and Lor divorcing Christopher.
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2-07-2007 @ 6:10PM
Harry said...
I like the episode and I love the show, overall. I think everyone is way too up in arms about the whole thing. The show started out okay, got great, got a little worse, but staved very good. Now it's in a slump, but so was The O.C. in season two and look at it now*!
Stop watching if you want, and keep bitching, because I know you will but I'll stick with this until the end.
*Not being canceled, but being the best its ever been.
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2-08-2007 @ 10:54AM
Janet said...
I missed last night's episode and was wondering if somebody knew where I could see it. I checked out a few websites that required membership fees for unlimited downloads etc. I don't need anything elaborate like that as it is probably the one and only time I will miss an episode and not remember to tape it, Any suggestions would be appreciated, Or, if any of you have the episode downloaded, is there a way to send it to me as an attachment? I am somewhat low-tech and I don't know if that is even possible. Thanks for your help.
As for the show overall. . . I have to say that I love this season. Yeah, some of the earlier seasons have been better, but not all. I was not a fan of Luke's annoying sister and brother- in-law that kept showing up last season and maybe the one before that. I am still on the fence about Logan and find him alternatively great/ repellent. I still don't understand why Rory got in that big fight with Lorelei after Rory and Logan crashed that yacht. Logan didn't have to do community service and what was all this nonsense about dropping out of Yale, moving into the poolhouse and being all about materialism and drinking? I know that happened on the show a long time ago but it seems like a lot of folks and The New York Times are focusing on the flaws of this season when the past few seasons have had other problematic storylines. Overall I love the show and will hang in until the end. I must say that it was great to get some Paris on last week's episode. The chart was very Paris.
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2-08-2007 @ 8:14PM
Plan B said...
I agree that this show has definitely seen ups and downs over the seasons. But I think we need to remember (at least us ladies) what is was like to be a teenage girl. Late teens/early 20's is usually the time when people start to become their own person, apart from their parents. First year of college is the first time they've ever lived away from home, they're figuring out how to be responsible, finding out where their own boundaries are, ideally learning about real consequences for their actions instead of just going to their room or being grounded. This explains, outside of bad writing, Rory's changes over the seasons.
As for Lorelai, she never had that time in her life because she became a mom at such a young age. So, now that Rory is gone, she is learning and experiencing everything she would have then.
This is, of course, written as if they were real people, not simply characters on a television show who exist solely for our entertainment. I have always loved this show, good and bad, because even the worst written episode still has the snappy, quick-fire dialog and is better than any episode of According to Jim. Add in the elder Gilmores and Michel and you can't go wrong.
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2-08-2007 @ 9:03PM
Stevie said...
mighty wind: yes we did this once before, b/c whenever they're afraid not enough is happening they throw sookie a baby, and whenever they need lor to make up with somebody they throw richard a heart problem.
the one thing we can all agree on is that kelly bishop is a brilliant actress, and man oh man did she prove it this ep. back when the show was good enough for me to watch each ep 3x (from season 1 up until 5 or so), i would watch her in scenes where she had no lines (say, if she was sitting next to richard and he was doing the talking), b/c it's so amazing how she nails the character and never drops it.
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2-10-2007 @ 7:44PM
dyse22 said...
Is this really the last season?.. I heard there are new writers which is probably why the show isn't as great as it has been in years past.. I think they want it to go off the air.. They really can do better this show is so great, the quick wit of loralei and rory and actually the grandparents and the whole town at this point is awesome.. but come on CW and writers get it together don't ruin a great show..
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2-13-2007 @ 4:50PM
ren said...
I don't think that Lorelai should stay with Chris.
By the way, are you going to be part of the Great8Mandate on www.gilmoregirls.org?
Great blog, feel free to read mine including my whiny rant to CW execs about the show
http://worldofren.blogspot.com
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2-20-2007 @ 4:26PM
nukethewhalesagain said...
I know i am more than a little late but I finally got a chance to watch this episode on my non-Tivo. This was a terrible episode and I really think it highlights how bad the plotting has gotten in the past couple of seasons (thats right, even the Palladinos are responsible for what Gilmore Girls has become). I will admit I have always disliked Logan but the writers have never given me any credible reason for me to like him. The idea that he is all of a sudden a stand-up guy just because they wanted to contrast his behavior with Chris' is lazy. His maturation has not be slow and believable like it should have been but rather the writers just give him moments of brilliance then return him over to the dark side (look at his recent jealousy over Marty and the lecture that he gave Rory earlier in the season because of her article). Even Lorelai was surprised that he turned out to be a good guy at the end but thats only cause she hasn't seen everything like we the viewer have. I don't care what they contrive to split them apart whether it be a better option or some bad business deal but I will not be happy if at the end of the series it looks like a "happy ending" for Logan and Rory.
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