Stopping by Stars Hollow: A Critic's First Watch of 'Gilmore Girls' - Season 1, Episode 2

With the solid structure of the pilot episode underneath our belts, we start to head down the road of season one with episode two. It’s time to stop by Stars Hollow.

Season 1, Episode 2: “The Lorelais’ First Day at Chilton”

Episode two continues the Chilton plot line of episode one with the events of Rory’s first day at Chilton, and as far as a second episode goes, this one is focused and continues not only the plot but themes established in the episode before it.

The most intriguing piece of this episode is not Rory’s foray into the upper-class world of private school but the dynamic between Lorelai and her mother, Emily. Throughout this episode, we get to see exactly why Lorelai and Emily don’t work well together in glorious details that highlight how torn apart their relationship really is.

The attention to detail in the differences in Lorelai and Emily’s speech patterns, dress style, and mannerisms shows that even though they came from the same place, they couldn’t have become more different. The structure of Emily wanting to provide Rory with everything possible for her success at Chilton (almost to the point of being spoiled) versus Lorelai adamantly insisting that she do it on her own is so true to life it’s maddening. You almost don’t know who to yell at for being so stubborn, and Lorelai reiterating that she is “the same person who always needed to work out her own problems and take care of herself…” tells us that this conflict is only going to grow.

Rory’s foray into the world of private school is predictable, all the rich kids are mean to her or treat her more like meat than a person, and the teachers are uptight and strict. The only thing that makes this more than just your average “new girl” in school narrative is Chad Michael Murray.

Sweet, sweet Chad Michael Murray, the true heartthrob of early 2000s film and television. Mr. Murray does some absolutely in-depth character work as the role of jock whose name I've already forgotten; the way he just got close to Rory's face in order to convey sexual tension, the amount of pronunciation he put into the word "Mary". Plus, his hair really stood out, like the amount of dedication those beautiful blonde locks put into rocking that hair gel was just pure magic.

Nah, I’m totally kidding. Chad did just fine playing a cute asshole, and by just fine I mean he totally played the role the same way that any cute guys have played a smarmy jock in a high school.

No, what keeps Rory’s new girl at school adventure away from the boring world of cliche is that all the kids are smart. Our villain is a smart girl, and instead of competing with Rory because of looks or over a man, she’s competing against her in smarts. It’s a race to be valedictorian, not prom queen.

This is a refreshing take on the high school rivals storyline and is definitely more true to life. I can't wait to see how the relationship between Paris and Rory develops (hopefully into friendship, and then the two of them can beat the asshole out of CMM).

This episode also establishes that Lorelai and Luke will be our slow burn romance of the series and that Lorelai will date plenty of wrong guys before they get together. And while some viewers may have been excited by this, I have my seat belt buckled and barf bag at the ready because I hate emotional rollercoasters. Though let me just say, I never thought that a wrinkled forehead of judgment could hold so much sexual tension.

On to Season 1, Episode 3: “Kill Me Now”!