[6.7/10] A lot of fluff in this one, and much of it pretty unresolved. All the birthday stuff to create a particular cake or the world’s largest pizza was comic relief that wasn’t all that funny. Sure, it’s worth a mild smile here and there, but it took up a surprisingly decent chunk of the episode to little avail.
We also got incremental steps forward on the “Luke knows Jess is cutting class” front. I do appreciate the fact that Luke has trouble being direct, so first he tries to offer Jess a way out by giving him a raise in the hopes it’ll convince him to quit his job, and then moves Jess’s car so the kid has no choice but to go to school. But much of it is wrapped up in a fairly dull storyline of Luke meeting Nicole’s parents, and it’s another Gilmore Girls episode that feels like it’s nudging the ball forward rather than telling a complete story.
We also get Michel in a mini-competition with the never-before-seen night manager, Tobin, each vying for Lorelai’s approval and appreciation. It’s another bit that seems like it’s supposed to be funny -- and I appreciate them giving Michel more to do -- but again, it feels insubstantial and not especially amusing.
(Oh, and Paris got and quickly removed a nose ring, her two deputies are going to other schools, and Rory is cheering her on.)
The only real meat on the bones of this episode has to do with Richard and Emily’s portion. For one thing, while I didn’t quite get it at first, I love the idea that the two of them are elated to hear that Rory’s going to Yale, but don’t want to let on because they don’t want to cause drama with Lorelai, only to exalt when Lorelai basically gives them permission to be excited. Their joint kiss for Rory is adorable.
On the other hand, the whole bit with Richard giving Lorelai the proceeds of the investment he made in her name, and Lorelai turning around and giving it to Emily to pay her back for Rory’s school fees is sad but intriguing. As I’ve said before, I like stories where everyone is true to their characters and has understandable motivations and goals, but they clash. Richard has his Chuck McGill-like devotion to the law and propriety so gives Lorelai the money he views as rightfully hers. Lorelai never wants to be indebted to her parents and treasures her word and her independence so is excited to be able to pay them back. Emily is worried that this is the only thing keeping her in her daughter’s life and so is worried that it’s a kiss off and that she’ll never see Lorelai and Rory again. And Lorelai loves her grandparents and wants there to be peace with them and her mom.
It’s a nice, complicated intersection between family and finances, so while the scene where this all comes spilling out a bit melodramatic, it still works and feels natural to the characters.
If only the rest of the episode could say the same. “Happy Birthday, Baby” is big on light airy material, but outside of its final 5-10 minutes, skimpy on anything character-focused or narratively satisfying.
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParent2017-10-14T01:51:09Z
[6.7/10] A lot of fluff in this one, and much of it pretty unresolved. All the birthday stuff to create a particular cake or the world’s largest pizza was comic relief that wasn’t all that funny. Sure, it’s worth a mild smile here and there, but it took up a surprisingly decent chunk of the episode to little avail.
We also got incremental steps forward on the “Luke knows Jess is cutting class” front. I do appreciate the fact that Luke has trouble being direct, so first he tries to offer Jess a way out by giving him a raise in the hopes it’ll convince him to quit his job, and then moves Jess’s car so the kid has no choice but to go to school. But much of it is wrapped up in a fairly dull storyline of Luke meeting Nicole’s parents, and it’s another Gilmore Girls episode that feels like it’s nudging the ball forward rather than telling a complete story.
We also get Michel in a mini-competition with the never-before-seen night manager, Tobin, each vying for Lorelai’s approval and appreciation. It’s another bit that seems like it’s supposed to be funny -- and I appreciate them giving Michel more to do -- but again, it feels insubstantial and not especially amusing.
(Oh, and Paris got and quickly removed a nose ring, her two deputies are going to other schools, and Rory is cheering her on.)
The only real meat on the bones of this episode has to do with Richard and Emily’s portion. For one thing, while I didn’t quite get it at first, I love the idea that the two of them are elated to hear that Rory’s going to Yale, but don’t want to let on because they don’t want to cause drama with Lorelai, only to exalt when Lorelai basically gives them permission to be excited. Their joint kiss for Rory is adorable.
On the other hand, the whole bit with Richard giving Lorelai the proceeds of the investment he made in her name, and Lorelai turning around and giving it to Emily to pay her back for Rory’s school fees is sad but intriguing. As I’ve said before, I like stories where everyone is true to their characters and has understandable motivations and goals, but they clash. Richard has his Chuck McGill-like devotion to the law and propriety so gives Lorelai the money he views as rightfully hers. Lorelai never wants to be indebted to her parents and treasures her word and her independence so is excited to be able to pay them back. Emily is worried that this is the only thing keeping her in her daughter’s life and so is worried that it’s a kiss off and that she’ll never see Lorelai and Rory again. And Lorelai loves her grandparents and wants there to be peace with them and her mom.
It’s a nice, complicated intersection between family and finances, so while the scene where this all comes spilling out a bit melodramatic, it still works and feels natural to the characters.
If only the rest of the episode could say the same. “Happy Birthday, Baby” is big on light airy material, but outside of its final 5-10 minutes, skimpy on anything character-focused or narratively satisfying.