Dating with the Gilmore Girls

217 Fake Troubadors and Uncle Louis

We start by explaining answering machines to any possible zoomers who would for some reason listen. Then we talk about this how this episode is interesting as it is just almost entirely a Luke episode, not a Lorelai or especially a Rory storyline. We follow this by a extensive debate on how many times you must taste something to determine if it is acceptable. It is obviously two, not three. We begin a discussion on what amenities should be at a wedding and what is too much. This will be a discussion throughout our review of the episode. Simon and Abby have a small back and forth about Michel and Luke’s knowledge of each other. We have a a spirited discourse of the quirks of Luke’s from Quarter-Caf to using 7 sweeteners in your coffee and having a twenty foot cord on your phone. We talk about Taylor's conflict with Long Haired Freak/Lady Godiva./ Van Halen Hair and whether the many named character had in fact not had a Cart/Kiosk permit. Speaking of weddings we discuss the costs of the table settings that are being used for a demonstration vs our own Wedding’s entire cost. We talk about what are acceptable reasons to give for skipping a funeral. We have a talk about why no one will go to Uncle Louis’s funeral and how Luke is not a curmudgeon. We have a rather extensive discussion of the dynamics of fitting stuff into a casket, having a funeral and how one keeps a casket closed. We discuss what Emily’s intent for a possible Lorelai wedding and whether Emily’s vision actually is a reflection of Lorelai. Abby brings up her theory that Lorelai threatened the reenctors in taking part in Louis’s funeral. Long episode. But very enjoyable.

No Bagels or Food

We had to redo this so we are missing our bagels and our in this episode, a short on admittedly we don't have much to go on. We discuss the actress Madchen Amick, the actress playing Christopher's new love interest Sherry, whether she looks like Elle McPherson and whether her character Sherry is weird.  Whether Chris was concealing that Sherry was with him in Hartford. We talk about if Emily was acting crazy about Rory hanging out with Sherry. And we have a very important small detour to talk about Kirk's likley being a triplet. 

Four Stories and a Big Pretzel

In this episode we start off  with what will be an issue throughout this commentary, we get way off topic repeatedly. We start with what we will throughout this episode talk about, the Dean, Rory, Jess shipping fight. Then we move to Miss Patty playing unwanted matchmaker for Lorelai, and we have a short discussion on you should and shouldn’t put your dating profiel. This is where Simon totally doesn’t admit to seeing the original Star War trilogy 60-70 times. We talk about how neither of us have ever done the Jackson trying to get Suki to move in indrectly conversation. We discuss if Rory should have gone on a date with Jess a he paid 90 dollars for her and her basket as the basket is assumed to come with a date. And then we segway and debate how he made that money in less then 6 months at Luke’s. Then we discuss how the show had been dumbing down Dean. We have a conversation about what disgusting items are in Rory’s basket that Jess ends up eating.. We have a offopic chat about when Caesar became a full character (not this episode). Then Simon has very on topic point that Kirk could totally have a twin or be part of triplets and therefore there be two other men who look exactly like him who we totally saw on the show in the early episodes were not him. We look att how the Suki and Jackson story line resolves itself. We have a extended discussion on our theories about the Kim family’s dynamics and where Mr. Kim is. And then discuss we discuss the departing character Henry Cho, what sports he plays, what his families form of Christianity is, and how his family might know the Kim’s in passing. Finally end the episode examining how Emily comments to Lorelai about Jess also show why Lorelai and her parents have such a bad relationship. Also our food was an amazing Pretzel with Goat Cheese

Really Authentic Chinese Food

In this episode we start by complimenting our very authentic Chinese food (As authentic as Al’s Pancake World) , we talk about why you never ask a women how many coffees she has had in a day. Both of us talk aobut our fan theory for why Paris and Rory have been having a better relationship so far despite the how not showing a softening of the animosity that we saw in the last season due to their shared desire to ensure The Franklin is a excellent student run paper. We explain to any zoomers listening what a video store is. Simon decides to spend a minute talking about Director Paul Verhoven. We spend the majority of the episode discussing Richard’s less then admirable conduct after effectively being forced to spend a day in Star’s Hollow so that he doesn’t annoy Emily. From his comments on her breakfast (which we think leads to Luke stocking grapefruit in future episode) to her conduct at work, and how much food she orders from Al’s Pancake World, as well as his attempt to get Dean’s car he built for Rory declared unsafe. We discuss why The Franklin doing an article on small town censorship would have actually been a award winner in the early to mid 2000s. We have a little side discussion asking what bands did Richard mean when he referred to Rory not having Death Rockers as posters on her walls. We discuss about the Harvard Yale fight, Simon slightly defending Richard’s point but not his way at making it. We end discussing how we both thought this episode would have had a much darker ending when we originally saw this involving Richard.

211 Not Enough Milkshakes

In this episode we have a lot of straw sounds as we consume our Haagen Dazs chocolate-chocolate milk shakes. We question how Lane could go to The Rocky Horror Picture Show due to Mrs. Kim. Then Simon talks about his research into termites and which type of North American termites are destructive in the manner this episode intones is happening to the house, not the kind in Connecticut it turns out. We expand that into discussing how they wouldn’t likely be a issue for house in Connecticut, but in fact a problem in California and how it seems like its a common plot point in shows due to so many TV shows being filmed in California. We discuss PSAT scores when we were in High School. We have a small discussion about Rory and Lorelai fight about the need for a loan and asking help from Richard and Emily. We discuss whether Lorelai is being too stubborn as a whole about getting helped. We have a bit questioning the amount Lorelai is actually making as a manager of The Independence Inn. And conclude with questioning whether Emily always intended to “help” out Lorelai all so she both have something over both Lorelai and her fellow DAR members with getting it so that her organization now has a permanent meeting place at The Independence Inn.

209 Pancakes and Shakespeare

We open the episode talking about our meal, Michelle’s pancakes and how using whole milk would mean if we sold it to him he would sue us. Simon advocates watching the non Stanley Kubrick version of the Shining. Abby disagrees. Simon goes into a diatribe about Shakespeare and how nobody in the last 60 years seems to understand Romeo and Juliet. Then we both agree that Richard II is a better play then Romeo and Juliet, it is deal with it. We discuss the choices of Rory in not revealing the kiss with Tristan after she and Dean broke up, once she was back with Dean. Likewise we talk about whether Dean should be at the rehearsal with Tristan present the general character of Tristan. We have a extended discussion of the age of Lorelai’s rebound date who we spend half the episode forgetting the name was , (his name was Paul). And then we discuss whether Paris is right to melt down due to the problems with the production of Romeo and Juliet. Simon manages to get in a One Tree Hill reference for the fact that after this episode the Tristan actor Chad Michael Murray would be the male lead of the show. We had to have noise reduction on the episode which is why it sounds slightly off.

208 Paintings and Star Trek`

In this episode among other things we talk about the guest star Linda Porter who plays Fran and her accomplishments outside the how. There are several parts where we talk about the owner of the Independence Inn Mia, we have several disagreements about the portrayal of her character. We talk about how Luke apparently on top of being a Buffet head is a Trekkie and based on her references to it. Lorelai is a closeted one as well. We have a slightly off topic segway about the great painting that Emily has commissioned of Rory, and even venture to guess what it cost to get the prop made for the show. We question whether Richard who is not in this episode who was mentioned having to eat at a coffee chain for dinner had to eat at Starbucks. Finally we  discuss Lorelai's tendency to take things out on other people.

210 Not so good Desserts

We start talking about why we don't like the recipe provided in the official recipe book. Then Simon feels he must comment on the very realistic snow around Star's Hollow.  We talk of the Bracebridge dinner to be performed at the Independence Inn. Simon makes clear that pomegranates are the greatest fruit of all. We talk about Richard and Emily relationship issues and discuss how it could be affected in the arc through this episode. We discuss whether Clara the sister of Dean should have been at the Bracebridge dinner being at her oldest she is maybe just turned ten and drinking is featured at the event.  We have a extended discussion about how Richard is very happy in this episode due to him having resigned from his job in hopes it would make him happy, and how this ties to the greater arc of Richard and Emily. And then we look at how this episode sets up the beginning of Rory and Jess's relationship. Finally we look at the beginning of a trend in the show, where Lorelai obsesses over Christopher when he is seeing someone else.

Popcorn and Puffs

An episode that gave us alot of trouble, this was our third attempt after technical difficulties and a computer change meant we lost our original recording and then the second was not saved,  Simon lost his notes so talked off the cuff.  We discuss why Sandra Day O' Conor was not a Puff and where she went to prep school.  We have a little change of subject talking about  various major guests stars who are part of the Booster Club Lorelai joins in the epsidoe. We digress to look at  Lorelai and Lukes evolving relationship. Simon is wrong about ages of the casted  Puffs except Francie. And we talk why Headmaster Charlatan had police ready at 3 AM in the morning in case anyone rang the bell of Chilton.

206 How to be a Lady.

This episode arguably is one of the most impactful of the series as it starts up several arcs that will follow the show till its very end. Also we get Simon going on a extended speculation of Christopher’s relationship with his parents. And forgive Simon who admittedly seems to misplace events in the episode
 
We open with Rory and Lorelai watching as Richard and Emily Gilmore yell at each other to Lorelai’s joy and Rory’s sadness which we talk about with some humor how Richard’s remarks are aimed at Emily and here love of elite events. We go sideways for a bit commenting on the single LP of Metallica that is emblazoned on Jess Mariano’s shirt in the next scene. Then we comment on--let’s say the rather intense interest that Emily’s friends seem to have for Rory which sets up the main plot of the episode: Rory coming out to society at a Cotillion, which Lorelai and then her dad Chris are both horrified about.
 
 
We then move onto speculation on whether Rory, Lane and Dean hang regularly doing stuff like watching music related media as they are watching the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame awards. This is followed up with Abby asking Simon if he at 16 would have been as bothered as Dean is about being expected to wear a rather cumbersome Tail Suit. (Not just a tuxedo). Simon says indeed he would have and we speculate that this may in fact be the start of “Is Dean actually good for Rory arc?” Dean not being entirely on board with having to wear such a getup is not out of the question for one of his age Simon argues based on his own experiences in high school. We then move to debating if Christopher has changed and discussing Rammstein.
 
Our review now moves to the Big Event, the cotillion. We discuss the character of Libby and if she is seen later even though with a different name but same actress, and her rather questionable suggestion about Rory and any possible stepfathers. We then agree on how horrified we are at the musical choices and general event structure of the cotillion. Our focus now move to looking at the arrival of the major arc for many seasons, which is Richard's Job and Emily and Richard’s marriage issues. We nearly conclude where we discuss the arrival offscreen of Shari. But actually not, and then really conclude talking about how Jess is annoying Luke in a extreme way by stealing his clothes acting like him at Luke’s Diner.