It is a Truth Universally Acknowledged… As I was prepping for this post, I read something that I can’t stop thinking about… First, a little context. Before writing, I try to find interesting tidbits to enrich the Gilmore to Love experience (you’re welcome). A good place to start would be reviews, BUT it’s hard to find GG reviews. Recaps, yes, transcripts, thankfully, but an article where someone actually grapples and tries to make sense of the show, not so much. The major exception is the A.V. Club.

As with a lot of the internet world, most of the A.V. Club commenters don’t appreciate the reviewer’s take on the show. The writer, David Simms, seems to enjoy the characters and banter, but often cites that “not a lot happens” in the episodes. This brings us back to that stop-me-in-my-tracks something. A commenter named “Copper Boom” (ha! Stick with me until season 4 to figure that one out) combats Simms’ critiques of the show by drawing a comparison between GG and (drumroll….) Jane Austen. When I read that comment, something clicked. My love for Austen and love for GG actually spring from my love of very similar things. So similar, that I made a little list for you. But first, what actually happened in these two episodes? Here’s a quick rewatch recap for ya.

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Lorelai is #6! Facebook thinks I’m obsessed with GG, so I see a lot of Gilmore Girls articles on my feed. A lot. I can’t blame it, I only share my Gilmore to Love blog! Anywho, a few weeks ago this post from Yahoo caught my eye. Their writers (and who doesn’t trust Yahoo!?) place Lorelai Gilmore as the 6th best character to grace the silver screen since Tony Soprano. The reviewer mostly lauds Lorelai’s friendship with Rory – she’s a mom willing to do anything with her daughter, especially when it includes a random movie and copious amounts of food. So in Lorelai’s honor (and hey, TV has gotten really strong in the last 15 years), we’ll take a look at her development in these episodes. Are these her shining moments? Do they reveal a bit of her selfish side? Or do the funny and the flawed both shine through? Read more

Going Once, Going Twice…Sold! That’s right folks. We are officially in the triangle portion of season 2, and it is getting me in the mood for another pro-con extravaganza. MUST LIST. But, first, let’s set the scene: the town has gathered for their (weekly?) event to raise money for the bridge. The ladies bring a picnic basket and the guys bid on said baskets and the basket maker’s company. Quaint and romantic for the 1800s AND Stars Hallow. Anyway, things get interesting when Jess outbids Dean for Rory’s basket (filled with horrifying mystery mush) and – most importantly – Rory’s company. In the name of rules and in defiance of Dean’s loud protest, Rory spends the rest of the day with Jess. The falling out between Dean and Rory AND the time Rory spends with Jess will give us plenty of material to get listin’! (No, you’re not in Cracker Barrel, I’m just excited. The letters are flyin.’) First off, to borrow from Lorelai, I’m Swiss, babe. I’m just stating the facts (of this fictional show). I’m not team anyone. This is as much for me as it is for you. Writing is therapeutic, people. Read more

Secrets & Richard First, I’d like to share that Ike and I are making Friday Night Dinners our own. Inspired in part by the regularity of the Gilmore family meals, the neighborly bent of the Girls, our general pull to be more hospitable and the fact that our kid goes to sleep around 7 making it impossible to go out after that time, we’ve created the Peters Friday Night Dinner. The rules are simple. Each week we invite a person (or couple of people) over to enjoy a meal at our house. The only catch: we can’t invite anyone we’ve invited before. I think it will be fun, and I’m hoping that it will stretch and grow us as a family. I want Elliott to grow up in a home where we regularly welcome new faces – and stuff them with delicious food and charm them with life-changing conversation. I’ve blogged it, there’s no going back. Keep me honest. On with the show! I had a crazy idea for this week: a quick and straightforward revisiting of each episode. I’m sure your mind is spinning. Stick with me. Read more

Getting Cozy I’ve been Arkansas-ed. Last Saturday I was hiking (and sweating) at a resort near Hot Springs. On Monday? I was battling ice-induced cabin fever. Something had to give, and through divine rewatching timing, we’ve made it to one of the coziest ‘sodes of GG. I needed it. And not just because I’m wearing two pairs of socks. I feel like I’ve been down on the Girls lately. After the strong finish of season one, season two (upon this rewatching) has been slow to get in a good rhythm for me. The Girls themselves have been lovely, but the situations have been strange and episodic and the young male leads cartoonish at best. While these episodes still have their bumps (over-the-top jerky Tristin and Dean’s pesky little sis), they are mostly smooth…sledding. Why, yes, I am in the snow day spirit. In fact, in honor of freezing rain, blustery winds and wintery mixes across the country, we’ll talk about the coziest moments of each episodes. (Yup, I’ll wait for you to get your warm beverage). Read more

The Ins & Outs of Gilmore Girls Season 2 Last time, I felt like things were about to heat up in the arc story for season 2 – I’m sorry if I misled anyone. These two episodes, while including some great moments, don’t make great strides to advance the Girls’ story. In Like Mother, Like Daughter Rory is accosted by a guidance counselor for not being more social during lunch. She ends up almost joining a sorority and almost getting kicked out of school (for almost ringing a bell!). Lorelai is also called out for her lack of Chilton participation, and helps throws a booster club fashion show. Yes, this really happens. In Ins and Outs, Lorelai and Sookie plan to move on their inn but hit a couple speed bumps along the way. Fran (the owner of the property they want) won’t sell and Lorelai goes into crazy jerk mode against Sookie for being…accident-prone, creative-genius Sookie. They make up. Rory tells Jess to stop pranking the town. Both are rather episodic. A problem arises and then is solved in a neat 42-minute bow. I’m not the only one who feels this way, David Sims of the AV Club uses words like “silly,” “lame,” “absurd,” and “kind of a bad episode” in his review for the same material. Yikes. What’s a rewatcher to do? Even when episodes leave me a little meh, I try to find meaning in the stories around me. So for your reading delight, here are a few questions that help me critically (like as a critic…you dig?) watch shows, movies or even read books. You’re welcome. Read more

Team Jess? A few weeks ago one of my fellow GG fans sent me this Buzzfeed article, “38 Important Facts Every Gilmore Girls Fan Should Know.” [Brag Alert, you’ve been warned] I knew most of them, and for the sake of full disclosure, I didn’t even read the post for a while. Yes, I know, I have so much pride in my (probably useless) GG knowledge. But when I finally did, one fact caught my eye: #17 “Jess was written into the show as a cockblock for Lorelai and Luke.” Really?! I never thought of the introduction of Jess in those terms, but it makes total sense. I dug a little further. The link in the blurb leads to this Mental Floss article, “22 Things You Might Not Know About Gilmore Girls.” It give validity to this important GG fact with a (colorful) Amy Sherman-Pallodino quote. “We’re dealing with two people who, if they just opened their eyes and stared across the table at each other, would go, ‘Oh sh–, it’s you,“ she said. "So when you’re playing that game, you have to find obstacles that are real to put in their way.” So there you go, if you ever wondered if show creators manipulate will they-won’t-they relationships, they do. And this time, the manipulation comes in the form of a surly 17-year-old boy. Read more

Real Life Lessons Confession: The episodes we are about to discuss have never been my favorite. Lorelai is at her shadiest and crabbiest which makes for some frustrating/painful watching. That being said, I have also never enjoyed these episodes more than I did upon this re-watching. Maybe it’s my life stage (I’m knock, knock, knocking on 30’sdoor) or maybe I’m watching the show with a more critical eye than before, but these episodes and their themes have resonated with me this week. That’s right. TV taught me something. Pour some coffee andpull up a chair. It’s time to talk GG. Read more

Here We Go It’s good to be back in Stars Hallow. The last two episodes left us with some burning questions: Will Lorelai say yes to Max? What’s up with Dean and Rory? What ridiculous thing will Kirk do next?* *Note: Not technically a burning question, but always entertaining. The first two season 2 episodes answer these questions, while introducing new dilemmas. Today, we’ll take a closer look at said dilemmas. If that sounds a little negative, have no fear. We’ll also look for solutions. By the end you can totally mark “solve a problem” off your to-do list. You’re welcome. Read more