Spoilers for Gilmore Girls episode “I’d Rather Be In Philadelphia.”
Again (Rebecca Rand Kirshner), last night’s episode had a certain sweetness to it that the Palladinos often eschewed in favor of quirkiness. Not that we didn’t get quirkiness last night – Babette was her lovable self, with the jungle bedroom and the dog walking. And the Luke/Zach stuff was, I thought, very funny. I do . . . actually . . . miss Kirk a little bit. And Taylor. Just a little. And town meetings. When the show is so focused on romantic relationships, we miss some of the stuff that made it so appealing to begin with. But Babette is enough, at least for now.
I was going to start and ask if there was any way to excuse Christopher not showing up at the hospital. Look, I can be fair. Perhaps, instead of sulking (which is what I like to imagine he’s doing), he was actually tied up with work (does he really work, or was that just something Lorelai told Babette?). But . . . if he couldn’t make it right away, there’s not really an excuse for him not to call. So, despite my efforts to be fair, I’m not sure there’s any plausible excuse for what he did.
Enter Luke Danes! Who is, except for maybe last year, consistently good in a crisis. Of course I loved that he showed up and did exactly what Emily asked and was considerate of what Lorelai might want re: Christopher. Speaking of which, again, there was just no excuse for Christopher to be so rude to Luke at the end. When Luke said he should go and Christopher said, “Yeah, you should,†I . . . was really disappointed in him. Seriously, Chris, it’s not the playground. You aren’t 12. There’s no need to be so aggressive. As much as I love to hate Christopher (and I really love to hate Christopher), it’s disappointing that his character hasn’t grown in any meaningful way in the seven seasons this show has been on. Sure, he’s a little more responsible, sure, he’s got money and is more settled, sure, it appears that he’s doing a pretty good job with GiGi. I said way back at the beginning of this round of Lorelai and Christopher that if he had been more patient and selfless, I would have admitted defeat (or at least said that he had changed and given him the point). But, instead, he has consistently behaved in the opposite way, being childish and petulant rather than choosing otherwise. It’s really a shame – in my perfect Gilmore Girls world, of course we wouldn’t have had this final round of Lorelai and Christopher, but I hate that it ultimately comes down to the fact that he’s still the same as he was at 16. I don’t blame Rosenthal for this, though I know a lot of critics are blaming him for this season and wishing the Palladinos were still around. I think that Rosenthal has made an effort to get the story where it needed to go (after the ending of last season) in a reasonable amount of time, since this is very likely to be the last season. Anyway. Regarding (my boyfriend) Luke Danes, I really didn’t think he was coming back to the hospital. And when he showed up and they were talking, and then Christopher rounded that corner, it was all Mike could do to keep me from standing and cheering.
I enjoyed Emily in this episode, powering through as only Emily can do, and then tearfully explaining to Lorelai exactly how she was feeling. It seemed completely realistic to me that Emily would act exactly as she did. And I can’t tell you how delighted I was to see her in that track suit. I especially enjoyed her cliché exchange with Lorelai – and I think the end was significant as far as Emily’s relationship with Christopher. Every cloud has a silver lining/Blood is thicker than water perhaps means that the bright spot in Richard’s health crisis is that all the Gilmores are on the same page as far as Christopher’s jerkiness, and maybe (maybe?) the grandparents will stand by Lorelai if (when?) she kicks Christopher to the curb (or if they mutually decide to part, though it has to be at least partially Lorelai’s decision, since nothing else about their relationship has been).
I wish I had more to say about Rory and Logan. I just . . . don’t. Except that conversation about the internet company gave me the, “Danger, Will Robinson!†feeling. And . . . even Logan, who is not one of my favorites, managed to show up at the hospital. Christopher: Do you understand how lame that makes you look?
I’m definitely starting to get the feeling that this is a season I’ll enjoy better on DVD, after I know where it’s heading. But based on the past three episodes, I would be willing to purchase this season, despite the Paris (the city, not the girl) debacle, despite all the lame mushiness. Because if Christopher finally finally gets kicked to the curb (as it appears will happen), it will be worth rewatching.
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11 Comments
It’s not OK? IT’S NOT OK?
Darn.
(OK, so I’ve never watched GG… but I couldn’t resist responding to the title.)
No, Chris, deserting your wife when her father is in the hospital is NOT OKAY. hehe.
Man. The Grahammie on this one goes to Kelly Bishop. She made me cry, dammit.
I felt like Lauren’s portrayal of Lorelai was off, but then I know that they were trying to play Lorelai as detached and confused that Christopher wasn’t there. I guess that … well, it’s hard to watch her play vacant. [Ironic that Emily rants about vacant stares and then that's mostly what Lorelai gives.]
I agree with you on Logan buying the company—seems like a very bad idea. I half expected exuberant Rory to take money out of her trust and join with him. I also think that it’s presumptuous for Logan to think that he knows more about business than his father—in character, but presumptuous. [And yes, I'm a risk-averse project engineer for a government contractor, so maybe I'm not the right person to judge this, heh.]
I think the thing I enjoyed the most was that Scott hit all the right tones with Luke. I feel like Luke is wanting to regain what’s lost—for him, now, that means the friendship they had in the past. Christopher is too stupid to get that, but probably also smart enough to realize that, for Luke and Lorelai, friendship is going to beget more for them. He could stop being an ass about it, though; he’s about three steps away from driving cross-country while wearing adult diapers to stalk Luke. [Except Christopher Hayden? NEVER WOULD BE AN ASTRONAUT.]
I’m babbling.
I think the “Luke regaining Lorelai’s friendship” note is exactly the note that they should be hitting. Because . . . as much as I want Luke and Lorelai together, I think that her going from Luke to Christopher and then back to Luke without some kind of pause/break is a really bad idea for Lorelai. I would like to see them rebuild their friendship (which they have been doing somewhat already, with the letter and him coming to the hospital), and then it would be nice to see them together in the end, but . . . I would want her to be alone for a while first.
I pretty much agree with you, Kari, but … again, I don’t want an eighth season! But I guess it could be happening whether I want it or not. Heh.
Question: What’s the “Danger” sign about the convo with the internet company? Do you think it means he’ll move or something? If it’s about finances…well, he IS the heir to the Huntzberger family billions; somehow I don’t imagine him in a refrigerator box. (Not that that’s what you meant…I just don’t know what you do mean.)
Do you think he was being insensitive by talking to Rory about it? Because he really only addressed it at all after she begged him to, and it was only a conversation with her; we never saw him answer his Blackberry.
And Logan’s face at the end when Chris showed up…I thought for a second he was going to punch the guy. I would’ve opened a bottle of champagne if that had happened!
You’re reading way too much into it, Steve.
I didn’t mean it was insensitive, just that I think something is going to go wrong with the deal because of the way it was brought up. And I know that it doesn’t mean Logan is going to be on the street, but it would be nice to see him making wise investments (and, as much as I don’t like Mitchum Huntzberger, I think listening to his business advice is probably a good idea).
Geof: I think the 8th season is still up in the air. I would like to see things get straightened out and then for the show to exit with some dignity still intact.
I think the deal will be significant for the plot…but I don’t know it will necessarily tank. It could really take off and then demand a LOT of Logan’s time, just based on the way that it was introduced. But I don’t disagree that it might very well fail.
Steve: I think the danger signs for Logan are as follows:
1) You presume to know more about business than your billionaire father?
2) You’re leveraging your entire trust fund on one deal? That tells me that you don’t know business—never put all your eggs in one basket.
3) He didn’t ask, but I felt like Rory would offer to get some family money and go in with him. That would seem like a very bad idea on a lot of levels.
4) I could almost see DSR making this into .bomb II: Good Money After Bad Reloaded. That plot device … bores me. But Logan striking out on his own is interesting, but not a good thing per se. He could make a small fortune, but the best way to make a small fortune is still to start with a big one…
I don’t remember them saying it was his entire trust fund. And Logan’s pursuing businesses that are outside of Mitchum’s experience. I’m not completely disagreeing with you, Geof, but I don’t think the writers are going for such an easy and obvious prelude to disaster…and if they are, I’m disappointed.
I deleted the ep off my TiVo, so I can’t go back and replay his line, but that Logan is having to go to a hedge fund to get the other $2M indicates to me that he could well be leveraging his entire trust fund. That, and his desperation. [I mean ... hedge funds? Traditional VC is too much for him? Really?]