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Stopping by Stars Hollow: A Critic’s First Watch of 'Gilmore Girls' - Season 1, Episode 8

"Your parents never explained the concept of weather to you?"

By Jacqueline SpencePublished 6 years ago 3 min read
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Guess who’s got a cold? It’s a me! And my head is throbbing! Let’s try to not breathe out of our mouths and keep our fever down by stopping by Stars Hollow.

Season 1, Episode 8: “Love and War and Snow”

Adorable scenes! Adorable, character-driven scenes all around!

In this episode, we see the development of Lorelai and Max’s relationship, the development of Rory’s relationship with her grandparents, the fortification of Lane and Rory’s relationship, and the development of Luke’s relationship with the town.

Lorelai and Max give us some cute scenes that don’t convince me that they should be a couple. It’s all cuddles, witty to and fros, and sexual tension; but it does supply some good fantasy fuel. Who doesn’t want to walk around a scenic, small town covered in snow with a handsome man on your arm? I mean, remove the snow, and it sounds like the perfect evening to me. If anything, these parts of the episode gave the audience what they were looking for: Lorelai having a life outside of Rory.

Rory showing her grandparents the joys of middle-class living is sublime. It not only showcases how much Rory’s grandparent love her, but it also shows us how disappointed they are in Lorelai. The reviewing of Lorelai’s yearbook reveals even more layers in the relationship dynamic between Emily, Richard, and their daughter. The scenes when Rory is left alone in the giant manor gives us a glimpse into Lorelai’s everyday life growing up. This storyline not only gives the audience an understanding as to how Richard and Emily handle difficult situations, but it also gives us a better understanding of how and why Lorelai came to be the character we know today.

Lane’s jealousy and feeling of neglect because Rory has gone to a new school and is dating a boy is so cliché that I was completely unenthused to see how the conflict resolved. So far, Gilmore Girls has taken it’s genre clichés and breathed new life into them. Lane Kim is such a rich character and her relationship with Rory seemed so supportive and healthy when it first started. While it is plausible that some jealousy would develop with Dean entering the scene, you think that given Lane’s character, the situation would have been handled differently. Lane thus far had been the one that talked sense into Rory, and she wouldn’t have let her go this long without confronting her in a more civil manner. You wrote Lane to be a smart, strong female; why would you have her get so upset over something so stupid?

The visual metaphor of the coldhearted Luke warming up to the cooky traditions of Stars Hollow by giving the twelve regiment actors hot drinks during the blizzard was absolutely delightful. It was also despicably delightful to watch him suffer from afar as he witnessed Max and Lorelai on their date. This was a good Luke episode. It gave him more backstory, establishing why he was in Stars Hollow and what makes him a part of the town. The anecdote of him keeping his dad’s hardware store the same, besides making it a diner, gives his character more depth. We have a better understanding of what kind of person he is, besides the grumpy, new-aged, owner of a diner. We also get a taste of what he wants: he wants to reinvigorate the town, he wants to stay set in his ways, and he wants Lorelai.

If anything, Luke, Lorelai, and Rory’s plotlines were the stars of this episode. Lane’s plotline should have gotten an episode all by itself. A series as dedicated to showcasing healthy female relationships should have used it as an opportunity to show in-depth how strong Rory and Lane’s friendship is. But instead, we got an easily predictable C-rank story that was forgettable if not annoying… and Lane Kim should never be annoying.

On to Season 1, Episode 9: “Rory’s Dance”!

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About the Creator

Jacqueline Spence

A highly opinionated mass media addict, I hold the entertainment industry accountable for plot holes, cash grabs, poor casting, and broken promises in the hopes to inspire upcoming creators to be better.

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