Gilmore Girls: Rory's Birthday Parties Rewatch
November 2, 2014 10:28 AM - Season 1, Episode 6 - Subscribe
Rory has two 16th birthday parties: one hosted by her mother, one by her grandmother.
I was just coming to post this! This is the first episode I've watched that is truly charming me. Lorelai being a grownup! Rory being a sassy teen! Emily giving in a little sometimes!
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 8:20 PM on November 2, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 8:20 PM on November 2, 2014 [2 favorites]
I love this episode because it's the first one where you start to get a sense of what the Gilmores lost when Lorelai ran away. It really helps you understand the dynamic between Lorelai and her parents (especially Emily) so much better and helps set them up as sympathetic characters.
posted by lunasol at 8:28 PM on November 2, 2014 [6 favorites]
posted by lunasol at 8:28 PM on November 2, 2014 [6 favorites]
I love Richard reading the teen magazine on the porch. And all the Rory stories from the SH townsfolk.
posted by Kitteh at 6:25 AM on November 3, 2014
posted by Kitteh at 6:25 AM on November 3, 2014
OK you guys I've been seriously bingeing and I'm on S03E04 and wondering why Luke's is four storeys tall from the outside but there's only the diner and Luke's "office" above it. Are there evil spirits occupying the top two floors?
This is a serious question and demands intensive thought!
posted by tracicle at 12:11 AM on November 6, 2014
This is a serious question and demands intensive thought!
posted by tracicle at 12:11 AM on November 6, 2014
OK you guys I've been seriously bingeing and I'm on S03E04 and wondering why Luke's is four storeys tall from the outside but there's only the diner and Luke's "office" above it.
I don't remember what's in his 'office,' but unless he sleeps there then there must also be at least a bedroom: later in season one, in episode 16 or 17 (one of those -- it's been a little while), there's a scene where he comes downstairs to the diner having just woken up. The implication I got from that was that he lives above the diner, but I don't remember if that's contradicted in later episodes/seasons.
Anyway: re: this episode -- I think this is the first episode that feels fully representative of the series. The preceding five episodes established the characters and the setting, and, while those were enjoyable, where Gilmore Girls shines (to me) is in how it tells character-driven, emotionally-nuanced stories. The jokes and the quirkiness and the small-town charming-ness are nice bonuses deployed in support of those stories, but not, in and of themselves, why I like the show.
There are so many nice little moments in this that wouldn't have made sense as moments before -- the pudding (and the debate about pudding); the shopping sequence ('what about pearls?' is so perfectly Emily); Emily doing the Right Thing by throwing a party that's exactly wrong; Emily and Richard ringing the doorbell to Lorelei's house; Rory bringing Richard the magazine (and that he reads the entire thing! and takes a personality quiz!).
I found the shopping scene deeply affecting, because it felt as if you can see how Lorelei and Emily could have had a healthier relationship over the last sixteen years -- with some give and take and disagreement but not unhappiness. Emily's party, by contrast, felt as if it was added to have a contrast -- I can see her wanting to throw Rory a party, and I can see her doing that over Rory's (or realistically, Lorelei's) objections, but doing that without informing Rory and then expecting Rory to act as hostess seems...un-Emily-ish? It does help cement the overarching idea that Emily will do what she feels is the Right Thing, and expects other people to do the Right Thing as well, but the implementation of that requires her to do the Wrong Thing by setting Rory up for failure; it's weird. I can buy it, but it feels out-of-character.
On the other hand, her showing up to the party at Lorelei's house -- that feels spot-on for everyone involved, from the doorbell-ringing (and Lorelei's awkward door opening) up through the discussion between Richard and Emily in their car as they leave. It's one of the first episodes where we can see how Emily sees Lorelei, rather than how Lorelei thinks Emily sees her. And that's the nuance that makes it great: everyone in the show is sometimes an unreliable narrator of their own stories.
posted by cjelli at 9:05 AM on November 6, 2014 [3 favorites]
I don't remember what's in his 'office,' but unless he sleeps there then there must also be at least a bedroom: later in season one, in episode 16 or 17 (one of those -- it's been a little while), there's a scene where he comes downstairs to the diner having just woken up. The implication I got from that was that he lives above the diner, but I don't remember if that's contradicted in later episodes/seasons.
Anyway: re: this episode -- I think this is the first episode that feels fully representative of the series. The preceding five episodes established the characters and the setting, and, while those were enjoyable, where Gilmore Girls shines (to me) is in how it tells character-driven, emotionally-nuanced stories. The jokes and the quirkiness and the small-town charming-ness are nice bonuses deployed in support of those stories, but not, in and of themselves, why I like the show.
There are so many nice little moments in this that wouldn't have made sense as moments before -- the pudding (and the debate about pudding); the shopping sequence ('what about pearls?' is so perfectly Emily); Emily doing the Right Thing by throwing a party that's exactly wrong; Emily and Richard ringing the doorbell to Lorelei's house; Rory bringing Richard the magazine (and that he reads the entire thing! and takes a personality quiz!).
I found the shopping scene deeply affecting, because it felt as if you can see how Lorelei and Emily could have had a healthier relationship over the last sixteen years -- with some give and take and disagreement but not unhappiness. Emily's party, by contrast, felt as if it was added to have a contrast -- I can see her wanting to throw Rory a party, and I can see her doing that over Rory's (or realistically, Lorelei's) objections, but doing that without informing Rory and then expecting Rory to act as hostess seems...un-Emily-ish? It does help cement the overarching idea that Emily will do what she feels is the Right Thing, and expects other people to do the Right Thing as well, but the implementation of that requires her to do the Wrong Thing by setting Rory up for failure; it's weird. I can buy it, but it feels out-of-character.
On the other hand, her showing up to the party at Lorelei's house -- that feels spot-on for everyone involved, from the doorbell-ringing (and Lorelei's awkward door opening) up through the discussion between Richard and Emily in their car as they leave. It's one of the first episodes where we can see how Emily sees Lorelei, rather than how Lorelei thinks Emily sees her. And that's the nuance that makes it great: everyone in the show is sometimes an unreliable narrator of their own stories.
posted by cjelli at 9:05 AM on November 6, 2014 [3 favorites]
Re: Luke's upstairs area
He lives there. It is his primary residence. There is no bedroom, but a bed area that we will see in the future plus room for another separate bed area that we will also see in the future, but actually in the nearer future.
He also has a full kitchen up there and we will see him cook in it.
I hope these are not considered spoilers!
posted by danabanana at 12:10 PM on November 6, 2014 [2 favorites]
He lives there. It is his primary residence. There is no bedroom, but a bed area that we will see in the future plus room for another separate bed area that we will also see in the future, but actually in the nearer future.
He also has a full kitchen up there and we will see him cook in it.
I hope these are not considered spoilers!
posted by danabanana at 12:10 PM on November 6, 2014 [2 favorites]
Also, since I'm just posting random Gilmore stuff, Drella and Jackson are splitting.
posted by danabanana at 12:13 PM on November 6, 2014
posted by danabanana at 12:13 PM on November 6, 2014
OK you guys I've been seriously bingeing and I'm on S03E04 and wondering why Luke's is four storeys tall from the outside but there's only the diner and Luke's "office" above it.
My moment of losing suspension of disbelief is seeing the steep dessert hillside on the mountain in the background of views of the town square.
posted by Bee'sWing at 12:22 PM on November 6, 2014
My moment of losing suspension of disbelief is seeing the steep dessert hillside on the mountain in the background of views of the town square.
posted by Bee'sWing at 12:22 PM on November 6, 2014
My moment of losing suspension of disbelief is seeing the steep dessert hillside on the mountain in the background of views of the town square.
I haven't noticed it yet, but that's accurate: the town square in every post-pilot episode was shot on a Warner Brother's set that's been used for filming all sorts of things, including, according to Wikipedia --
-the gazebo is in the background of the robbery scene of the Seinfeld series finale.
-an inn was originally the Waltons' home on The Waltons.
-the town's high school was the Hazzard County Courthouse in the Dukes of Hazzard.
-various parts of the set were used in "Supernatural, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Pushing Daisies, Eastwick, Pretty Little Liars, and Hart of Dixie."
posted by cjelli at 12:34 PM on November 6, 2014 [1 favorite]
I haven't noticed it yet, but that's accurate: the town square in every post-pilot episode was shot on a Warner Brother's set that's been used for filming all sorts of things, including, according to Wikipedia --
-the gazebo is in the background of the robbery scene of the Seinfeld series finale.
-an inn was originally the Waltons' home on The Waltons.
-the town's high school was the Hazzard County Courthouse in the Dukes of Hazzard.
-various parts of the set were used in "Supernatural, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Pushing Daisies, Eastwick, Pretty Little Liars, and Hart of Dixie."
posted by cjelli at 12:34 PM on November 6, 2014 [1 favorite]
I don't remember what's in his 'office,' but unless he sleeps there then there must also be at least a bedroom: later in season one, in episode 16 or 17 (one of those -- it's been a little while), there's a scene where he comes downstairs to the diner having just woken up.
I don't imagine it spoils anything to know that Luke does indeed live up there: it used to be the office but Luke converted it to a studio-type home. It looks like his entire living space is on the floor above the diner, meaning there are two empty floors above it. Maybe there's just no ceilings up there and the apartment has a three-storey-tall wall stud.
Unfortunately I'm so far ahead now that it's hard to comment on season 1 episodes without acknowledging the changes in the characters over the next two seasons. But that shopping scene was the first real exchange Lorelei and Emily had, and it was so good to see Emily struggling not just to get Rory the right gift, but to acknowledge that Lorelei is the parent and let her have her say.
posted by tracicle at 12:40 PM on November 6, 2014 [2 favorites]
I don't imagine it spoils anything to know that Luke does indeed live up there: it used to be the office but Luke converted it to a studio-type home. It looks like his entire living space is on the floor above the diner, meaning there are two empty floors above it. Maybe there's just no ceilings up there and the apartment has a three-storey-tall wall stud.
Unfortunately I'm so far ahead now that it's hard to comment on season 1 episodes without acknowledging the changes in the characters over the next two seasons. But that shopping scene was the first real exchange Lorelei and Emily had, and it was so good to see Emily struggling not just to get Rory the right gift, but to acknowledge that Lorelei is the parent and let her have her say.
posted by tracicle at 12:40 PM on November 6, 2014 [2 favorites]
Ok, speaking of not-spoiler set details, and nothing specifically about this episode because I've been watching waaaaay faster than we post these recaps:
CAN WE TALK ABOUT SUKI'S KITCHEN AT THE INN AND HOW FAKE AS HELL IT LOOKS
-every available inch of counterspace is taken up by beautifully decorated desserts. the hotel serves full meals, yet there's no chopped vegetables or bubbling stocks or messes or even frosting drips, just tray after tray of chocolate strawberries and trifles and giant fondant-wrapped cakes?
-the entire shelf that's around eye-level over the whatever-station (the scone and cupcake and eclair station) is full of those oils and vinegars packed with citrus and chiles the were a ubiquitous white elephant gift and tool of realtors trying to make a kitchen look fancier during the time period that this show aired for some reason that always said NOT EDIBLE, FOR DECORATIVE USE ONLY on gummy stickers on the bottom
posted by Juliet Banana at 4:56 PM on November 10, 2014 [4 favorites]
CAN WE TALK ABOUT SUKI'S KITCHEN AT THE INN AND HOW FAKE AS HELL IT LOOKS
-every available inch of counterspace is taken up by beautifully decorated desserts. the hotel serves full meals, yet there's no chopped vegetables or bubbling stocks or messes or even frosting drips, just tray after tray of chocolate strawberries and trifles and giant fondant-wrapped cakes?
-the entire shelf that's around eye-level over the whatever-station (the scone and cupcake and eclair station) is full of those oils and vinegars packed with citrus and chiles the were a ubiquitous white elephant gift and tool of realtors trying to make a kitchen look fancier during the time period that this show aired for some reason that always said NOT EDIBLE, FOR DECORATIVE USE ONLY on gummy stickers on the bottom
posted by Juliet Banana at 4:56 PM on November 10, 2014 [4 favorites]
CAN WE TALK ABOUT SUKI'S KITCHEN AT THE INN AND HOW FAKE AS HELL IT LOOKS
Yeah, but that's partly what's so great about it, that it looks so perfect and beautiful that it looks fake, and yet it's somehow believable. You could say that about a lot of the setting for Gilmore Girls, in particular Stars Hollow. But yeah. I've also always noticed the perfectness of the kitchen in particular. Such lovely produce! It's like a fruit bowl greeting card.
posted by Blitz at 11:17 AM on November 11, 2014 [2 favorites]
Yeah, but that's partly what's so great about it, that it looks so perfect and beautiful that it looks fake, and yet it's somehow believable. You could say that about a lot of the setting for Gilmore Girls, in particular Stars Hollow. But yeah. I've also always noticed the perfectness of the kitchen in particular. Such lovely produce! It's like a fruit bowl greeting card.
posted by Blitz at 11:17 AM on November 11, 2014 [2 favorites]
Also, I really, really have to say I love the Friday night dinner scenes they always do at the beginning of every episode before they start the credits. They're so nice! This one's a good one, though towards the latter seasons they seems to be struggling. Put a post it on it when you're done!
posted by Blitz at 11:30 AM on November 11, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Blitz at 11:30 AM on November 11, 2014 [1 favorite]
Yes, those post-its! How awkward!
You do really feel for Emily at the end of this episode as she gets in the car....
posted by jillithd at 7:43 AM on December 18, 2014
You do really feel for Emily at the end of this episode as she gets in the car....
posted by jillithd at 7:43 AM on December 18, 2014
"Why don't I bring a tape recorder?" Because you'd drink yourself into oblivion if you had to listen to those conversations again, DUH.
"But she did agree to let the string quartet learn "Like A Virgin."
"Okay, fine, you can get her the bong then.
"Jane." "LANE." Daria!!!!
"Okay, burger boy, dance!" "Will you marry me?" The most random segues of all time.
"THe cops shut down an 8-year-old's birthday party?" "And arrested the clown." PLEASE INFORM ME ABOUT THIS NOODLE INCIDENT.
"Oooh, boy, here we go." Poor Rory is not into this story. "I wonder if the Waltons ever did this."
"But pelting the nurses sure was fun."
Seriously, what IS wrong with this Tristan dude?
Dear Rory: my high school nemesis and I attended the same college and we never saw each other. It's totally doable!
Waitaminute, all of his hate is about a jerky boy?!
Wow, Rory really is the kind of Lorelai those parents wanted as a daughter.
posted by jenfullmoon at 9:27 PM on September 25, 2016
"But she did agree to let the string quartet learn "Like A Virgin."
"Okay, fine, you can get her the bong then.
"Jane." "LANE." Daria!!!!
"Okay, burger boy, dance!" "Will you marry me?" The most random segues of all time.
"THe cops shut down an 8-year-old's birthday party?" "And arrested the clown." PLEASE INFORM ME ABOUT THIS NOODLE INCIDENT.
"Oooh, boy, here we go." Poor Rory is not into this story. "I wonder if the Waltons ever did this."
"But pelting the nurses sure was fun."
Seriously, what IS wrong with this Tristan dude?
Dear Rory: my high school nemesis and I attended the same college and we never saw each other. It's totally doable!
Waitaminute, all of his hate is about a jerky boy?!
Wow, Rory really is the kind of Lorelai those parents wanted as a daughter.
posted by jenfullmoon at 9:27 PM on September 25, 2016
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posted by sammyo at 5:03 PM on November 2, 2014