Last week I started a two-part mini-series on the best episodes from each season of Gilmore Girls. Why?
Because why not talk about one of my favorite TV shows?? Especially now that it’s living a second life thanks to the wonders of Netflix.
As noted last week: If, thanks to Netflix, you are currently binging your way through Gilmore Girls for the first time, a) congratulations on an AWESOME life choice and b) this may get a bit spoiler-y. You’ve been warned. Here we go! (Oh, and if you missed part 1, check it out here.)
The Best Episode from Season 4: Last Week Fights, This Week Tights (Ep 21)
Why it’s the best: This is the episode everybody who stuck with Gilmore Girls for four seasons has been waiting for: Luke and Lorelai’s first “date.” I know, I know, a lot of people get more excited for the first kiss (which is also pretty darn great) but really, my favorite is this date-that-they-don’t-call-a-date…but we ALL know IS a date. And it’s not just any date. It’s a date at a Renaissance wedding. (Could I please win an award for most uses of the word “date” in a single paragraph?) So not only do you get Luke and Lorelai testing out some romantic waters, you get a singing pastor and TJ going on and on about tights and Jess walking his mother down the aisle sooo uncomfortably. You get Luke and Lorelai dancing and Kirk trying to talk Renn as he plays DJ. And let’s not forget…Crazy Carrie.
In case you’d like to relive what might be the most entertaining/adorable wedding ever, here you go:
Honorable Mentions:
In the Clamor and the Clangor (Ep 11): Because Luke and Lorelai breaking into the church and vandalizing the bells is awesome. The pastor’s relief is even more awesome. And because I LOVE when Luke straight up asks Lorelai whey she doesn’t want him to move. *sigh* And then there’s the whole Lane’s secret rock band life being discovered by Mrs. Kim. That’s a big series turning point for two well-loved side characters.
Luke Can See Her Face (Ep 20): Because Luke can see her face! Because Luke listening to self-help tapes about love is one of his absolute best moments on the whole series. Also…Jess.:)
I know I should’ve listed the finale as an honorable mention, but I’m only allowing myself two per season. And as much as I LOVE what we finally, finally, FINALLY get to see in that finale, personally, I tend to love the little moments that lead up to the big moments sometimes more than the big moments themselves…thus, my picks. But please feel free to disagree with me in the comments. (Also, yes, I barely said a word about Rory in my season 4 picks. She’s pretty blah this season, IMO.)
Okay, no, I didn’t include the episode in which Lorelai says this (Ep 6), but I have to include the gif. Because it’s one of my favorite quotes of the season.
The Best Episode in Season 5: Tippecanoe and Taylor, Too (Ep 4)
Why it’s the best: There’s just sooooo much to love about this episode and I think the reason it makes my favorite of the season is that it showcases the quirkiness of Stars Hollow. Jackson running against Taylor for town selectman is just the start. We also get to see Sookie turn all first-lady/Hillary Clinton-esque and Hep Alien perform and Lorelai develop compassion for Taylor and the list goes on. We also get to see the beginning of the downfall of Rory and Dean’s re-relationship, to which all I have to say is YAY. Dean = BLERG.
Also, now “Believe It or Not” is in my head:
Honorable Mentions
To Live and Let Diorama (Ep 18): Honestly, it’s the diorama that makes this episode…and it once again puts the hilariousness of Stars Hollow on display. I. Love. It. Plus Luke trying to get on Taylor’s good side is just great.
So…Good Talk (Ep 16): Words will not suffice for this one. Instead, this says it all:
The Best Episode Season 6: Let Me Hear Your Balalaikas Ringing Out (Ep 8)
Why it’s the best: It’s simple—Jess. But seriously—Jess. I love Jess’s return because we get to see him as an adult who has, to go a little cliche for a moment, finally found himself. He’s written a book and he’s back to tell Rory he couldn’t have done it without her. I should admit that by this point in the series, honestly, Rory has just become ridiculous to me. And I love that Jess finally says what we’re all thinking, which is something along the lines of, What is WRONG with you?? My one beef with this episode (Logan fans, cover your ears) is that if Rory had any sense at all, she’d have dropped Logan the second Jess walked back into her life. Yes, I’m still upset about this.
I know it’s just a TV show. I really do. But HOWWW do you go back to Logan after this scene? Someone explain it to me…how???
Honorable Mentions
We’ve Got Magic to Do (Ep 5): Even though I’ve pretty much lost patience with Rory by this season, it is fun to see her sinking in to her grandparents’ world for awhile. Even while you’re cringing, the contrast between her old life and this new one makes for interesting viewing. And the huge D.A.R. WWII-themed function is just a cool set. Plus, fiiiinally Emily and Richard get a taste of how horrible the Huntzbergers really are.
Driving Miss Gilmore (Ep 21): The amazing thing to me about this episode is how incredibly sad it makes me (Lorelai realizing her relationship with Luke is basically over) and how much it makes me crack up (Jackson and Sookie trying to get rid of the weed Jackson found in his field). But that’s the beauty of Gilmore Girls.
Sidenote: Season 6, for me, is just a downer of a season in many ways. And probably my lackluster response to the season as a whole is evident here. Maybe I’m forgetting some awesome moments…if so, feel free to remind me in the comments.
The Best Episode from Season 7: Bon Voyage (Ep 22)
Why it’s the best: I barely had to think about this one. A lot of diehard Gilmore Girls fans can’t stand Season 7…and I’m definitely in that crowd. Brief GG history lesson: The husband and wife duo who wrote the early seasons—Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino—left at the end of season 6. The new writers just could’ve live up. But to be fair to them, I think ASP sort of wrote them into a hole…still, they could’ve dug out much earlier than they did and turned things around. But I feel like in the finale, they really did recapture the magic of the early seasons. The whole town coming together to see Rory off is brilliant. Luke and Lorelai getting that finale moment is perfect…and I’m not one that needs to see this huge wedding or even a proposal to be happy. That little moment when Luke tells Lorelai he just wants to see her happy…it’s just perfect to me.
And best of all, to me, is how they ended with the exact shot that the very first episode ended with:
Honorable Mentions
Introducing Lorelai Planetarium (Ep 8): Because Luke watches The Philadelphia Story at the end!! I adore that moment…Luke sitting by his daughter’s hospital bed, flipping through channels and landing on Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn…and suddenly, viewers are filled with hope.
I’d Rather Be in Philadelphia (Ep 13): It’s true that I’m really not a Logan fan. Not really at all. But he does shine in this episode…and the contrast between him and Christopher is good. And of course, Luke rushing in to help…but the best thing about this episode, hands down, is Emily breaking down in the hospital gift shop. Any time Emily has a big show of emotion, it’s a great moment for the show.
Okay, those are my favorites. I’m totally an early-seasons girl when it comes to GG, but the latter ones definitely have their high points. What are your favorites? What did I miss?
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Question: Doesn’t she go to Jess after he shows up with that book and kiss him then tells him she loves Logan or is this after that? Ack! I can’t remember. But if this is the first re-entrance, I think she probably doesn’t jump b/c he’s left and disappointed her before so she’s cautious. You know I’m a die-hard Logan fan, but if Jess hadn’t ran so much, I think she might have. By the time she sees it’s the real deal (which I totally believe it is) I think she’s just settled into Logan and does love her, even with his bratty ways at times, he’s been pretty solid, imho!
Great post again, Tagg!
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She goes to Jess’s book-signing thing later in the series solely because she’s mad at Logan. Which is totally unfair to Jess. GAH she makes me so mad this season…
Sigh, I know you’re a die-hard Logan fan. I don’t understand it. I just don’t. But I still love you. 🙂
Check out my friend’s Gilmore Girls food blog! http://starshollowbites.blogspot.com/
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HAHA I love the name of the site. Looks awesome.
I am definately not a fan of season six and the first half of seven. Its too bad the whole thing happened with ASP….but that being said there are some good moments in alot of the last two seasons. Here are a few:
S6 E4 – Jackson’s brother Bo hitting on Lorelai *shudder*
S6 E6 – Dragonfly’s new street name – “Sores and Boils Alley”
S6E12 – Kirk arguing about the validity of a “doggie swammie” at the Winter Carnival
S6 E13 – Mrs. Kim insisting that Zach write a hit song before he can marry Lane
S6 E19 – Lane and Zach’s two weddings! “58 seats, 62 Koreans”
S7 E12 – Lorelai’s “character reference” for Luke – so sweet
S7 E19 – Paris getting into every med/law school she applies too and freaking out
S7 E21 – Kirk in a box – ’nuff said
And yes – I loved the last scene of the last episode because of the callback to the first episode. It was a nice way to end after such a stinko season.
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You’re right, despite the whole snafu with the writers, there are still great moments in these seasons. BO!!! I forgot about him. He’s hilarious…and gross…and hilarious.
I love Mrs. Kim. She is awesome in every scene she’s in.
And yes, Lorelai’s character reference for Luke is one of the best things ever.
Oh, dear! I am not liking the sound of some future episodes. 😉
That being said, I’m STILL loving this show (season 3) and cannot wait to see how some of these issues play out that you’re hyping. Right now, Jess is too much of a jerk for me to like fully, but I’m looking forward to all that maturing I’ve read he goes through here and there. As always, WAY fun post, Melissa.
Oh don’t worry – there is still lots of goodness. This show is magical that way – even though they (writers, showrunners) do things that make you crazy and want to scream – it is still great!
And I’m with you on the Jess thing – I never got on Team Jess – even after the maturing (sorry all the Jess lovers – I like a good boy :))
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Totally agree, Chris, with your first paragraph…even with the annoying things and plot/character flaws in latter seasons, it’s still a blast of a show.
But how can you not like Jess??? J/k…I know lots of people don’t care for him.
On this latest rewatch of GG (thx Netflix!) I decided to look at all of the love interests for Rory (and Lorelai) fresh and with an open mind. And I STILL don’t get what Rory saw in Jess 1.0 – except for that stereotype that every girl has to like a bad boy thing. I know, I know, I am in the minority. Please tell me what I am not seeing!
(And BTW I don’t really like any of the guys with Rory. None of them were right. Hopefully she met a nice guy on Barack Obama’s press bus.)
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Oh Chris! You just brought up the question I love to answer: what Rory (or anybody) sees in Jess 1.0. I did write a full post on this once, but in short: he speaks her language. Jess will talk books and movies and ideas/thoughts/opinions with Rory on a level Dean never could. Whereas Dean sort of halfheartedly voiced his support for Rory’s dreams, he complained whenever she wouldn’t spend time with him. Jess, on the other hand, did a practice interview with her and when he sensed she was doubting her own dream, he told her she COULD do it. He had about a thousand faults, yes, and had no idea what to do with his anger and hurt–which is why he messed up so much. But you could tell he wanted to be and do better. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have come back to Stars Hollow in Season 2 or read that self-help book about love Luke gave him or finally told Rory he loved her. He TRIED to get prom tickets, which was sweet, and when he finally imploded at the end of season three, I think it was as much because he couldn’t stand how he was hurting Rory as anything else. 🙂 🙂 🙂
Although, for the record, I was really glad Rory ended the whole series on her own and not in a relationship. Sure, if Jess had come back, I’d have been all about that. But really, I think it was more fitting for her character and her storyline for her to go off and pursue her dream on her own…especially after so many years of being guided by her mom and grandparents.
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Totally understand about Jess, Rissi. He’s just not for everybody. Weirdly, I like him even when he’s a jerk…but I have always been a sucker for the flawed, wounded characters. Even with all the way she messes up (and trust me, he messes up pretty big), I still love his character…I just can’t help it. 🙂
Sorry to make you rehash your thoughts – I did read that post about Jess – but I am old and my memory is going….:)
I forgot about him reading the book that Luke gave him and he did buy the prom tickets so I guess he has those things going for him. I just always saw him as dragging Rory down. She loved doing town things and enjoying life as a teenager and he was always so negative and sulky. I don’t know – when everyone in your life doesn’t like the person you are in a relationship with – to me that is a red flag.
Ok – I will now stop talking about fictional people as if they are real (it’s a job hazard of a writer I think :))
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Haha, no need to apologize. This is a topic of which I will never tire. And it’s true…Jess definitely had his sulky moments. And your red flag point is a good one. But…I just can’t help it. I love his character. Always will. LOL!
As for talking about fictional people as if they were real, I feel like my entire life as a writer is made up of interactions with fake people. So no judgment from me there. LOl!