Stopping By Stars Hollow: A Critic’s First Watch of 'Gilmore Girls' - Season 1, Episode 17

The mosquitos have taken over. I repeat the mosquitos have taken over. I am covered head to toe in bug bites (mainly in the toe region) and am plagued by their whizzing whines. But despite their horrid invasion, I am excited. Why?

Because They Have Thoughts launched last night! Take a look at my article on Captain America: Civil War and while you’re there tour around the site and check out the articles by other great writers. And after you do that, we can stop by Stars Hollow!

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

Ah yes! A wonderfully relatable break up episode. In this episode we see Rory refuse to cope with her breakup with Dean and it drives us crazy. This entire episode is an “I told you so waiting to happen”. It is also a great example of how Gilmore Girls can have multiple plot lines going at once without one suffering (for once).

Now, why does this episode succeed at having multiple plot lines while the previous episodes had seemingly failed or underperformed? Because every plot line branches off from one central narrative: Rory’s breakup.

By having every plot line in this episode come from a central event, the episode has a greater cohesive feel that past multi-plot line episodes were lacking. There is a purpose to every moment as it not only informs the characters’ dynamics and personal history but also helps to build the resolution of the main event. This gives the episode a natural build of tension that leaves the audience waiting for the resolution at the edge of their seat.

In comparison to the episodes that highlight Lorelai and Rory’s journeys separately, “The Breakup, Part 2” makes us wonder what’s taken so long for Sherman-Palladino to give us episodes that are so beautifully woven together.

It’s also brilliant how in character Rory’s reaction to her breakup is. This episode shows us a new side to Rory’s character that the audience has yet to see, this is her first breakup, her first heartbreak, and her first truly regrettable embarrassment. It’s heartbreaking to see her bottle up these emotions instead of expressing them. We’ve seen in past episodes how keeping things to herself has led to Rory exploding, but those were small transgressions, small frustrations. Dean breaking up with Rory is a huge moment which makes this episode a ticking time bomb whose countdown just keeps getting faster and faster.

Oh, and seeing Rachel in her element? Absolutely lovely. I like Rachel a lot and having her so seamlessly fit back into Luke’s life really helps to seal the possibility of her being Lorelai’s rival. It’s almost like a living Norman Rockwell painting when the two of them handle the dinner together: a masterpiece incapsulating a simpler time. This a great contrast to the bickering and challenging nature between Lorelai and Luke, which is a wonderful thing. Rachel and Lorelai are two sides of the same coin: they are both beautiful, witty, and strong-willed however Lorelai isn’t one to go with the flow in relationships while Rachel is more willing to roll over.

Also Rory and Tristan? Do I like the idea of Rory and Tristan? Honestly, yeah. I like the idea of Rory trying Tristan out only to realize that she had a great with going with Dean and that she truly loves him. It would be a great way for her to get Tristan off her back as well, for it would give a close to Tristan’s obsession with her: they would try it, it wouldn’t work out, end of story.

Now let’s see Rory wallow as we move…

Onto Season 1, Episode 18: “The Third Lorelai”