Romeo and Juliet, Termites and Madness
(Season 2, Episodes 9-12)
As wonderful as Gilmore Girls is, we all know it is definitely not a perfect show and its characters are definitely not perfect people. It might be culturally savvy, but sometimes it did get some things wrong. While this keeps it relatable, in some cases the mistakes are of the rookie variety.
I’m not going to ruin anything, but I will put it this way: This is one of the times when Amy Sherman-Palladino’s California roots are more than obvious. It’s also one of those times when these characters have to let go of their preconceived notions about each other, and sometimes that gets explosive.
All right, here we go…
Run Away, Little Boy (Originally aired on November 27, 2001)
Rory’s Shakespeare class is putting on a rather creative version of Romeo and Juliet, with groups being assigned scenes and interpreting them based on the themes in the scenes. Rory’s group, which includes Paris, Madeline, Louise, an awkward kid named Brad, and even more awkwardly, Tristan have the death scene from Act Five, which Paris decrees will be performed in the traditional Elizabethan manner. Rehearsals are held at Miss Patty’s and there are some tense moments between Dean and Tristan.
Meanwhile, a post-Max Lorelai dips a tentative toe into the dating world by going on a casual date with Paul, a younger guy from her business class. It all seems pretty innocent, but then Paul shows up at Luke’s with his parents. There are smirks and snickers galore, especially from Rory.
I have so many thoughts about this episode, mostly about the Shakespeare stuff. First of all, the obviously classically-trained Eddie Shin’s (Henry) impressive little turn as Mercutio. We need more of this, please, Mr. Shin.
The other thing is, why did Rory’s group do an Elizabethan interpretation instead of highlighting the scene’s themes the way the teacher said to? Romeo and Juliet kill themselves in Act Five. Why not set the scene in a suicide cult and have everyone wear black turtlenecks or something? If they were my students I’d probably give them a C.
The Bracebridge Dinner (Originally aired on December 11, 2001)
When the Trelling Paper Company gets snowed in in Chicago, the good folks at the Independence Inn are left with a Bracebridge dinner all set up and no guests to serve it to, so Sookie gets the bright idea of inviting all their friends to partake instead. Jackson plays the role of Squire Bracebridge and Rune is his valet, and they have a witty repartee in sprightly Camelot-speak.
I have a lot of thoughts about this episode, too; namely, what they call old English isn’t old English but on the line of middle English. Old English sounds more like German. And the characters keep saying the dinner is 19th-century when it’s clearly set in the Middle Ages.
Another thing: Bracebridge dinners are exclusive to the Awahnee Hotel in Yosemite, so it’s highly unlikely that a Connecticut inn, even a fictional one, would put on one of these events. Famed photographer Ansel Adams, who wrote the script for the dinner and was a participant from 1927 until 1973, might come back to haunt them.
Anywhoo, this is a fun one, even if it is historically sloppy.
Secrets and Loans (Originally aired on January 22, 2002)
Lorelai and Rory’s house has termites, and Lorelai needs fifteen thousand dollars to fix it, but no bank will give her a loan. Emily might have a solution, though, and Lorelai can’t believe it comes without strings. Everything her mother does, after all, has strings attached.
The predicament does have its perks, though. Unnerved by the thought of insects chewing away at the walls around them, Lorelai convinces Rory to go over to Sookie’s house, where they have chocolate milkshakes and try not to laugh too hard at poor Jackson in his picture pajamas.
Rory’s got her own issues to deal with. Laine, who hitherto stubbornly refused every time Jaime Furtman asked her to be a cheerleader, is suddenly sporting pom poms and acting very mysterious.
All’s well that ends well, of course. Among other surprises, Rory and Lorelai get to see the cheerleading squad dance it out to the tune of “One Step Beyond” by Madness.
Richard In Stars Hollow (Originally aired on January 29, 2002)
Emily is unnerved by a retired Richard suddenly having so much free time. He’s following her around to her errands and making commentary on everything she does, which drives her crazy.
So Richard comes to Stars Hollow, where, after a brief tour of the sights, follows Lorelai around and drives her crazy. He doesn’t really get her world, although he tries, but his main problem is that he feels useless, and for guys, that can be a fate worse than death.
Rory is on the sidelines for most of the drama, though, because Paris is out to win a journalism award and she thinks an expose on Stars Hollow’s seedy underbelly is a winning story. Rory telling her Stars Hollow doesn’t have a seedy underbelly doesn’t convince her, but a trip to the video store does, as Taylor and Kirk have just erected what Taylor calls “The Rory Curtain.”
More to come next week, of course…
Gilmore Girls is currently streaming on Netflix and Hulu. Rated TV-PG.
My grade: (Episodes 9-12): B+ (Ep. 9), C+ (Ep. 10) A (Eps. 11 and 12)
Principal Cast: Lauren Graham, Alexis Bledel, Keiko Agena, Scott Patterson, Yanic Truesdale, Kelly Bishop, Edward Herrmann, Melissa McCarthy, Sean Gunn, Liza Weil, Liz Torres, Jared Padalecki, Matt Czuchry, Milo Ventimiglia, Jackson Douglas, Michael Winters, Sally Struthers, Emily Kuroda, Todd Lowe
Series created by Amy Sherman-Palladino.
