7.20 “Lorelai? Lorelai?”

In which Rory’s having end-of-college wiggins, Lorelai and Luke take baby steps back to one another and Logan wants permission.

Here’s what happened:

Failure Part I

Apparently, Rory’s been feeling a wee bit anxious, and it’s disturbing her dreams.

Failure in her brain translates to being kicked out of a school she’s already conquered, being abandoned by her mother and having a friend (frenemy?) be more successful at life than she. Nothing says “Yikes!” like Paris handing you your community service garbage poker.

Failure Part II

Friday night dinner time again, and Richard’s been given a post heart attack clean bill of health from his doc. Rory lets the grandparents know that Logan’s got some promising prospects in California. They have a surprise for her. And no, they didn’t buy Yale for Rory. Rather they purchased a pied-a-terre (read: apartment) in NYC and Rory is welcome to live in it. Guess it’s time to share the news with the family that she did not get the fellowship.

The next day, Lorelai arrives at the diner to find Miss Patty and Babette attempting to save their voices for the debut of their cabaret act at karaoke night. Lorelai’s going to be there, right?

Woo hoo hoo, look what’s back atop Luke’s melon.

He’s busy planning his upcoming boat trip with April. Lorelai offers him some advice: plan at least a couple of nights at a hotel for hair washing and room services purposes. The southern coast of Maine is also a must. He’s affably agreeable to all her suggestions.

Rory returns to her apartment to find Paris entertaining a group of Yale seniors who were also accepted into Harvard med school. This is not a networking, friendshippy type of gathering though because, you know, Paris. She wants to size up the competition and is willing to shell out for the erotic naked guy cake standing in for a corpse cake in order to suss out the competition.

Paris also gives Rory her mail, including a “We’re not hiring” letter from the Chicago Sun-Times. Bummer. Starting to see her options dwindling, Rory puts in a call to the paper whose offer she rejected.

Blue hat

At the Dragonfly, Lorelai and Sookie pick apart the implications of Luke being back in the blue hat. Reciprocity seems to be called for. Luke is being friendly, therefore Lorelai should do something friendly in return.

Lane, meanwhile, has just gotten the twins down for a nap and is eager to finally eat something. Zach returns from the grocery store with news. He received a call from a Vapor Rub band member. They need a fill-in lead guitarist for a two-month tour and thought of Zach. He told them he won’t go without Lane and the twins, and the band is fine with that. If not for the sleeping boys, there would be a mess of yelling, howling and foot stomping going on. As it is, Lane quietly bursts with pride for Zach, popping open the name brand chips he brought home in celebration.

Lorelai returns home to unexpectedly find Rory in her old room, hiding under the covers.

She’s let the whole job thing get in the way of her finals. She also blames Lorelai for making Rory think she could accomplish anything. Lorelai talks her off the ledge, reminds her that she’s talented and smart and that everyone is allowed a meltdown. She also assures Rory that she could never disappoint Lorelai.

Diaper duty

The twins are awake again, demanding Lane’s (and Brian’s) full-time attention. Time for a road tour reality check.

At the diner, Lorelai tries to cheer Rory up with mac-n-cheese and lists of celebrities who weren’t successful from the start. She even suggests that Rory has had it easy so far in life (ya think?!) and these setbacks are even a bit character-building.

Lorelai’s attempt to “wear her own hat” with Luke is just about as awkward as you’d expect.

LORELAI: That sounds great. [Small awkward pause] Hey, Rory and I are gonna go see, Um Patty and Babette’s act at K.C.’S tonight. It should be a hoot.
LUKE: You know, not really my thing.
LORELAI: Yeah. No. I’m not saying…
LUKE: No, I know.
[They both laugh]
LORELAI: Just we’re going, but, you know.
LUKE: Well, if I have some free time…
LORELAI: No, no, no.

Rory takes Logan’s call outside the diner. He’s headed back to the East coast. He also has his own words of encouragement for Rory. Hmm…it almost sounds as if he knows something Rory doesn’t.

Luke receives his own phone call. This one is from April with some news. She had previously filled out an application to be part of a summer science camp and just found out that she was accepted. The only problem is that it’s the same time as their proposed boat trip. Luke does the awesome supportive dad thing.

Karaoke night

Miss Patty and Babette finish their rousing cabaret debut with Peggy Lee’s Fever, dedicated to Morey. Rory has an idea of what will really cheer her up…Lorelai getting up to sing a tune. Um, she has to be way more drunk before that will happen.

Luke and Zach close up the diner for the night when Lane comes in to pick Zach up for karaoke night (who’s watching the twins? Brian? Mrs. Kim?). They try to convince Luke to come along, but he tells them to go ahead and he might catch up later.

On the walk over, Lane tells Zach that it just isn’t possible for her to go on tour. She has a difficult enough time at home with a support system. On the road would be impossible. Zach is ready to call the band and tell them he can’t go.

At first he says no way, but then fully realizes what an opportunity this is. And it’s just for two months, after all.

Back at the karaoke bar, Lorelai is sufficiently drunk enough to get on stage for this performance.

Logan redux

The morning after, and Rory is ready to go back and finish school with a flourish. Lorelai still suffers from last night’s drink and spectacle.

Zach and Luke also do a bit of dissection of the evening. Yes, Lorelai has some pipes. Sure Zach, the tune was a bit of a bizarro choice. Does Luke feel less bummed that his boat trip was cancelled?

Zach almost forgot. He found Luke’s black ball cap wedged behind the dishwasher. Hmm, so blue hat not so much of a message after all?

Lorelai receives a visitor at the house. Logan’s at the front door, and he’s not there to see Rory. He has news–he’s been offered a position in Palo Alto. But that’s not all.

What a catchy tune:
“Do You Really Want to Hurt Me“

That Gilmore Girls show sure is a pop culture playground:

EMILY: I’m sure it’s nepotism. If your name isn’t Keller or Sulzberger, you may as well not even apply.

ZACH: I’m just saying, if you’re gonna do Boy George, at least commit to the high heels and the makeup.

Hey, this is the first time I’ve noticed:
Luke has a scale outside his diner. Is that his subtle way of letting his diners know what he thinks of their eating choices? Did Taylor put it there? Strange that in seven seasons I’ve never noticed that thing sitting there.

Now showing at the Gilmores:
The House on Haunted Hill

The witticisms of Lorelai Gilmore, ladies and gentlemen:

EMILY: Well, your grandfather and I have a little surprise for you.
LORELAI: Uh-oh.
RORY: What?
LORELAI: Did you name another building after her?
EMILY: No.
LORELAI: No I know I know, you bought Yale and named it Rory. From now on, the Ivy League is going to be Harvard, Princeton, and Rory. Has a nice sound, though.
RORY: A nice ring to it.
LORELAI: “Hey, I’ll meet you at the Rory/Harvard game.”

LORELAI: Hi, gals.
MISS PATTY: Lorelai
BABETTE: Hi, hon.
LORELAI: What’s with the whispering?
BABETTE: We’re saving our voices.
LORELAI: I think that ship has sailed.

A reason Season 7 is not so bad:
The moment when the song shifts recipients and the moment that Luke realizes that Lorelai is singing to him (breathing a little heavier, eyes getting a little watery) are pretty intense and hope-inspiring.

A reason Season 7 is SO BAD:
The karaoke moment is supposed to be some sort of turning point for Luke and Lorelai, but it seems like the type of obvious vehicle that a thousand other shows would employ. It just seems uninspired, despite the meaningful looks that occur. Plus Lorelai has never been so spazzy up on stage, even during her drunken ramblings at Lane’s wedding reception.

~GIVEAWAY TIME!!!!~

This is the fifth and final of the Gilmore Girls merch giveaways. If you’ve missed the first four, it’s not too late. Simply visit the blog posts where we ask your opinion as a fan. We’ll randomly select a winner from the respondents, and the winner will get the free stuff.

Click here for a chance to receive a lovely “In Omnia Paratus” poster.
Click here for a chance to score a Doose’s Market tote bag.
Click here for the Luke’s coffee mug question.
Click here for a set of 8 Gilmore Girls fandom pins/buttons.

The final question…

Amy Sherman-Palladino, creator of this show we love so dear, has said that she knew with which four words she wanted to end the series. What’s your best guess as to what those four words will be?

Let us know in the comments by 8 p.m. EST on Thanksgiving Day, and you will be in the drawing to win an INCREDIBLE set of 5 holiday greeting cards you can send to your most hardcore fan friends this holiday season. Or you can just be a hoarder like we would be, and keep them for yourself.