Stopping by Stars Hollow: A Critic’s First Watch of 'Gilmore Girls' - Season 1, Episode 16

Oh my goodness, it’s June already! Where has the time gone? What is time anyway? When did time start going so fast? Did someone give time an energy drink or something? Time needs a cold shower and a spa day because she is stressed and overworked.

Let’s give time a break and not think about how fast our existence is passing us by with a nice leisurely stop by Stars Hollow.

Season 1, Episode 16: “Star-Crossed Lovers and Other Strangers”

Well I’ll be damned ladies, gents, and all those in between: we’ve got another contender!

Rachel, Luke’s on again off again photographer girlfriend is back and better than ever (even though we’ve just met her). She is pretty, she is smart, she knows her way around a dinner… she’s Luke’s dream girl and Lorelai is left rattled.

Much like Christopher, Rachel brings to the table that shared history that can screw up even the most fated love connections. However, unlike Christopher… I’m not really rooting for her. In fact, instead of being worried that Rachel is back, I’m disgruntled. Why am I disgruntled with her appearance rather than fearful of another obstacle in the path to Luke and Lorelai’s relationship? Because her character introduction happened too soon.

We’ve just got off an episode where a major player in Lorelai’s love life was introduced and had us on edge for a “will they/won’t they.” The audience is now on watch for any Christopher interjections and has seen how torn up his presence has made her. The introduction of Rachel right after the developing of the emotionally complex relationship between Christopher and Lorelai compared to the mutually growth based relationship of Luke and Lorelai becomes redundant. We’re left thinking 'Oh great, another hurdle, convenient,' rather than 'Oh crap. Things were going great between Luke and Lorelai, I wonder what’s going to happen next.'

If instead of introducing Rachel right after Christopher Sherman-Palladino had added an episode or two of cushion that followed Rory and Dean’s break up while Luke was quietly there offering support and comfort to the Gilmore Girls, Rachel’s impact would have been a lot stronger and a lot more worrisome.

In fact, we may even root for Rachel and Luke to be together; for them to really settle down and for Luke to finally have the life with Rachel that he’s always wanted. Rachel is a contender in this series, but she just comes in at the wrong time. The audience is emotionally spent after Christopher's return and needs a moment to cope and hope for Luke and Lorelai before Rachel is introduced.

Now let’s talk about Rory and Dean!

Who builds a person a car after dating them for three months? What seventeen-year-old has the money to buy the parts to a classic car? This gift from Dean is absolute madness… and where were his parents to stop him from doing this? Also, where did he get the money to pay for dinner as well? I’ve worked a $7.25 an hour job and trust me there is no way in heck he could afford both even if it was the early 2000s!

Also their break up argument? I get why Dean is upset… but if you really loved a person whether or not they say I love you back doesn’t really matter to you. You would try to understand why they didn’t say I love you. But I get it; they’re young, they’re inexperienced—and I just wanna beat some sense into them.

But they’re broken up now so let’s see where this bundle of hormones goes as we move…

Onto Season 1, Episode 17: "The Breakup, Part 2"