Gilmore girls: Season 1 Episode 5 Cinnamon's Wake

It's been longer than I wanted between posts, but the last couple of weeks have flown by! But here it is! Cinnamon's wake. This one isn't too exciting. Not a lot of thoughts on this one. A bit random with the structure of my words but it might be best read along with the episode.

Opening Friday night dinner scene. 

I have to go with Lorelai on this one. Who wants to go to a funeral of someone they don't know or remember? Not me! I don't like funerals in general. Who wants to deal with that? But Emily's nazi joke was spot on and we get what seems like a genuine laugh (not an acting laugh) out of Alexis (Rory). 

Did Rory really think that Lorelai was going to bake? How does she not automatically think Lorelai was getting Sookie to do it. I mean, we all knew this when we watched originally, right?

Here we have Max asking Lorelai out for the first time. I understand that he seems intriguing and he's nice and interested, but really he's the most boring of all of Lorelai's love interests in the end. He never challenges her except to be macho against Luke in a future episode and what he sees as his property. Even with this first exchange between them, I never saw them going it the long term.

In the next scene, Lane and Rory are walking down the street towards the market. Rory wants to go in without Lane and to Lane, this should have been obvious and clear as to why. She has already told Rory that "the new kid" had been asking about her. But when Lane walks away calling her a freak I always thought that was strange. If she would have made a face and said something like "weird" it would have made more sense. But it has always bugged me the way she calls her a freak. It's her best friend and the way she says it is as if it is her mortal enemy.

Kirk finally as Kirk. But still what doesn't make sense is that Kirk has grown up there. He should know who Patty is and Patty should know who he is. Especially since, in later episodes, we find out he was in Miss Patty's dance classes as a kid. I think Kirk has the biggest arc over the series as anyone. I guess less of an arc and more of a change in character. From random characters to Kirk who is new, to Kirk who everyone knows and has lived his whole life in Stars Hallow. But he's still one of my favorite characters and I love Sean Gunn. I am so glad they brought him on for a regular character. Stars Hallow wouldn't be the same without him.

Lorelai and Max meet up in a coffee shop. I remember when it first aired I was all for her dating Max and most of it was because of this scene. But now, as I watch it in a different frame of mind for this blog, I see how not exciting this scene is and how normal of a person Max is. I guess that is the point. Max does grow on you. He's attractive, intelligent, and is nice to Lorelai. But when it comes to forever, I never thought they would make it. Lorelai needs more excitement in her life.

Stars Hollow doesn't have a regular grocery store, but they have an animal hospital? A vet, sure, but a full animal hospital? Doubtful. But poor Cinnamon. However, if Lorelai REALLY was interested in Max, even with the wake for Cinnamon, I don't think she would have forgotten their date. Which should have been an indicator of how she truly feels. 

I can see where Rory would be upset about Max and Lorelai. I am not sure how I would have felt when I was a teenager if my mom had been single and met a single teacher. Although, I can't imagine her having dated any of the teachers I had except MAYBE one of them. The rest of them were old and crotchety for the most part. And if she had dated that one teacher, I probably would have been proud of her because all the girls on campus had a crush on him. They all would have been jealous.

Lorelai, Lorelai, Lorelai.... with as careful as she is with what she tells her mother, how in the world did she tell her they were at a cat wake when she told her she wouldn't go to her distant family funeral?? Hand smack to forehead.

But honestly, I would love to live in a town where everyone was so close that the old cat in town is so beloved that they get together for a wake when the cat dies. Something just seems so odd and wonderful about that.

Clearly, Rory didn't really have a problem with Lorelai dating Max (especially now that she can relate to Lorelai's feelings), just that she didn't tell her. Which is ironic since she clearly likes Dean but is keeping that from Lorelai.

Pop Culture References:

Skanking to Rancid

M. Night Shyamalan

The Bangles

Jim Carrey

Jean-Paul Sartre

Oprah

Iran Contra Scandal/Oliver North/Fawn Hall

Gilmore girls: Season 1 Episode 4 The Deer Hunters

The Deer Hunters. One of my favorite episodes. Although, not a lot in this episode to dissect so this will be mostly just my thoughts.

We begin at the office supply store. I have always been part Rory and part Lorelai. I would have had a very specific list (with reasons why I need 3 highlighters), but I would have gone for the festive purple paper pad. In fact, I always wanted the fun colored paper pads when I was a kid, but they were more expensive. So, nope. Not in our house. haha But I was fine with the 3 ringed spiral paper pads if they had cool designs on the cover and they were usually cheaper than the fun colored paper.

Something about the next scene has always bugged me. Rory gets off the bus (multiple times) and is carrying so many bags of books. But where does she put it all? When she's in school there is no way her locker can hold all of that and when she comes out of class she only has one extra bag with her other than her backpack. Where have all the book bags gone? I think she had 6 total including her small lunch looking bag.

I find it funny now how Lane is eating a rice cake and Rory has a Snickers bar and she gives it to her because when Rory asks "what is that?" Lane replies, "Twelve calories." There was a day when I would choose the Snickers bar. But now that I don't eat processed sugar except for the occasional piece of dark chocolate, I would never go for the candy bar. And oddly enough, I eat a TON of rice cakes and actually really like them. What has happened to me????? I even now agree with Mrs. Kim that it is chocolate covered death. haha I guess I am getting old.

The parent-teacher meeting just shows us that kids do get their bullying from their surroundings (ie parents). Those parents in that room are so uptight and rude. I would so feel like Lorelai in that room. 

I take offense to Lorelai saying that nothing can be more embarrassing for Rory than the one time she admitted she liked Saved By the Bell. I love that show. Sure, it's awful and cheesy, but that's the awesomeness of it. I will always be a SBTB fan!

Hello! Sookie! Use different spoons to taste! I hate it on TV shows and movies when they taste something and then put the spoon right back in the dish. Here she feeds Lorelai from 3 different bowls with the same big spoon and then shoves the spoon in one of the bowls as she walks away. Hello! Food safety #1! And why would the restaurant critic mention his server had a goatee? I suppose it is possible, but I am not sure why that would even matter unless he was an amazing server and he didn't get his name and wanted to give him kudos. But seriously, get the name!

Rory and Lorelai wake up late and Rory has to drive herself to school. However, Rory isn't technically 16 yet. So unless the driving age in Connecticut is 15, she is driving illegally. Which it isn't. In fact, in Connecticut you can't even get a permit until age 16. I am assuming it was like this when this show aired. I don't think it has changed. Then she gets hit by a deer. I also get that she's compassionate and cares about the deer (I would be the same), but who gets out of the car to look for the deer when she's already running late? I would go back later after school.

I have always wondered how Lorelai got to the school. Obviously, someone had to have dropped her off, but we will never know. Not that it is important to the story at all, I have just always wondered. Cab? Sookie? Michel? Someone else?

Lorelai's outburst in the headmaster's office is awesome. I could totally see myself fighting like that if I had a kid in that situation. At the end of the episode, we get a glimpse in Lorelai's eye of what is to become of her and Max.

Pop Culture references:

Versaci

Black Sabbath

Steely Dan

Boston

Queen

Mozart

Artie Shaw

Joan of Arc

B52's

Saved By the Bell

Pat Benatar

Il Duce (in reference to Benito Mussolini)

Gilmore girls: Season 1 Episode 3 Kill Me Now

Rory and Richard go golfing.

This opening dinner scene has always cracked me up. First of all, it starts off explaining the history of Emily and all of the maids she rotates in and out. Plus, Lorelai does have a point with Anton and Sofia. How DO you mix up those two? Lauren's delivery of these lines is fantastic. It's always been one of my favorite openings. Then we have the introduction to.....the dead Grandmother Lorelai. Which, as we know from a few episodes later that she is not dead. And although they never state that she has passed, they use phrases like "WAS my mother" and "yes she WAS." 

Rory is definitely not athletically inclined. I have never heard of a school forcing you to choose a sport. I guess they do that instead of a regular gym class? At any rate, we have Emily forcing Richard to take Rory golfing, which neither of them seems to want to do. But I found it funny that Richard was SO against it. He seems to like Rory so much and be amazed by her all of the time, you would think he would want to share whatever he could with her. But I guess a man going to the country club to golf is the last thing he wants to share with his teenage granddaughter.

The wedding at the Inn. Twins marrying twins. Is there anything weirder? Does anyone know of this happening to anyone??

Richard saying that Rory would rather be at the mall is hilarious and shows how much he really doesn't know her yet. Of course, the golf outing for Emily is all about showing Rory off to their "friends" at the club. But why does she have to buy Rory such an ugly hat? There are better golf hats out there. You would think Emily, of all people, would have better taste than that!

It's embarrassing to admit, but until this episode of Gilmore girls, I 1. had no idea what/where Fez was and 2. didn't know what odious meant. Thank you, GG for giving me knowledge.

Sean Gunn's second appearance. Although he doesn't have a name in this episode, they just call him "this guy." I know that he wasn't an original character and was written into the show permanently later, but it's weird to watch these early episodes knowing that Kirk grew up in Stars Hollow and everyone knows who he is yet no one knows who he is in these.

Back in the diner, Lorelai learns that Rory had a good time with her Grandfather at the club. I don’t know why Luke ends up being surprised that Lorelai doesn’t eat/want her food. They always order and then leave full plates on the table. I don't know how much food they actually consume. I did read (I believe in Lauren's book) that they had spit buckets for in between takes. If you watch closely, Alexis especially will take the TINIEST bites of food. I don't blame her. Think if you were a character that ate all the time and had to take multiple takes. You wouldn't want to eat the food either! Plus I have heard that the dinner scenes at the Gilmore house the actual food tasted awful.

I love that they are out on the porch reading and doing homework. I desperately want a house that has a big porch like theirs. 

If you pay attention you will see that Sookie always has colored band-aids on her fingers. As a clumsy girl myself, I can relate. I also love the relationship between Jackson and Sookie. Although it is still just a business relationship at this point, they are so hilarious together and are relationship goals. 

I can understand where Lorelai is coming from being weirded out that Rory is bonding with her parents. If my family would have been just a little different, this could have easily have been me and my mom. She always felt disconnected from her family growing up and is very independent like Lorelai. She had me when she was 19 and she worked her ass off to make sure I was provided for. If her parents would have been a tad more normal (yes comparatively the Gilmores are normal haha) and rich, it’s possible things would have been just like this for us.

Pop Culture References: (I have left out all the song references because of the wedding-too many- and the book references).

Bob Barker

The lady with the lion head (famous plastic surgery victim)

Antonio Banderas - Side note, I used to live off the corner of the streets Antonio and Banderas, and people used to think I was kidding when I would give them directions.

Double-mint commercial

Tiger Woods

Pepe Le Pew

Thelonious Monk

Madonna and Sean Penn marriage