1x17 The Breakup, Part 2

[8.5/10] Love that this is basically a Rory story, rather than just a break-up story. It’s as much about what it’s like to experience your first real heartbreak than about mere teen angst or longing looks at the telephone. The way Rory tries to cope is very in-character and well-observed, as is the way that Lorelai tries to both protect, indulge, and nudge her daughter through a difficult process.

My favorite part is the first half of the episode, where you basically get the collision of those two things. Rory is trying everything she can to outrun her feelings, not be someone who falls to pieces over not having a boyfriend, and just, in general, keep so busy that she never even processes her pain. Lorelai tries to be encouraging of that, and to make sure that Rory isn’t hurt more than she has to be, but also wants her to confront what she’s feeling so she can get through it. That (good-natured) clash provides the best material in the episode, and whether it’s going through Rory’s to-do list or Lorelai giving impassioned pleas about wallowing, the episode soars in those moments.

The town color is more hit or miss. I don’t know how everyone knows instantly, but the antics of the usual suspects -- Miss Patty, Kirk, Babette -- are too cutesy for my tastes. On the other hand, Luke being so protective that he gets into a tussling match with Dean to keep him out of the restaurant is adorably protective and curmudgeonly. By the same token, it’s a little sitcommy, but Sookie freaking out because Jackson is cooking dinner and won’t let her in the kitchen is fun too.

I was less enamored by the second half of the episode, but it still had some quality stuff. As much as the Lorelai-Max stuff has left me cold, their chemistry felt a little more strong here. Again, I don’t know why they can’t just wait six months and then rekindle this, but whatever, the show needs drama and it makes for a counterpoint between the Gilmore Girls as to how they’re dealing with being apart from the guys they care for. Lorelai and Max agreeing to be friends and to “talk” is perfectly fine, and Lorelai’s doorstep monologue is heartwarming and funny in its way, though the timing feels a bit convenient.

The business at the Chilton party was a little less successful but still good. I have to admit, I really like Lane meeting a prospective boyfriend whose only flaw is that her parents would approve of him. Paris is still pretty overwrought in her disdain for social situations, and her mean girl coterie worrying about macking on their boyfriends is meh as well. I’m also not a big fan at the presto change-o way the show tried to humanize Tristan just because his girlfriend is toying with him. I like the notion that there’s more dimensions to him than what we’ve seen, but it still feels out of nowhere and unearned.

It also conveniently makes him single at the same time Rory is, and while I dreaded their inevitable kiss, I liked how the show played it. Rory doesn’t stop and go “I’ve made a huge mistake,” she just has an emotional reaction because a physical act brings to the surface all the emotion she’s been trying to avoid. Lorelai coming home to her daughter being ready to “wallow” and let it all out is a nice way to end the episode.

Overall, I like that the show took an entire episode to just have Rory process all of this in her own way and slowly but surely come to terms with it. I’m less on board with the Max stuff, but it works well enough, and leads nicely to the Gilmores coming back together to support one another. On the whole, a very nice outing for the show.

A pretty good episode, especially when it's centered around a break-up and all that teenage drama that could go with it.

I like how it's not a typical, 'cry for a whole day under the sheets' sort of reaction that we get from Rory, and that the writers kept it very in-character for her to be wanting to remain up on her feet and doing things, rather than confront her feelings and talk about what had happened. Not only is it just accurate to her as a character going through life, but it also keeps the track of otherwise great episodes up. I don't think I could have gotten through a whole 40 minutes of Rory sobbing and eating ice cream - not that she can't or isn't allowed to, but it's great that it's such a delayed response and is the tail end of the episode's plot.

Speaking of which, I truly did enjoy everything pre-party. It's fun, it's still quite light, and it's entertaining. Bonus points for Luke being all too ready to fight Dean on the street after hearing about the breakup. :joy: Perhaps I'm just not at all invested in party scenes because they always feel repetitive, but the 2nd half of the episode is... Good, still - just not as interesting as I'd like it to be. However, I won't diminish it on the fact that I did enjoy Lane's antics in finding a boy her parents would approve of, and I genuinely want to know if she'll tell her parents about it or not in the upcoming next episode.

Overall, I personally think this is one of the better episodes of the pilot season thus far - it's a good pickup, especially given these last few episodes seemed a little monotonous to me.