[7.0/10] This is one of those episode where I find both the B-stories pretty delightful and the A-story pretty meh, which balances out to a “just scratching the surface of ‘good’” rating.
The comic B-story is intriguing, with Paris and Doyle hooking up after running into one another at speed dating. I wouldn’t have put them together on my own, but there’s a certain energy that they share to where they actually make a lot of sense. The two of them fighting over pens or saving the calories and cutting to the chase or having a debate via Paris’s life coach really works as a dynamic between the two more outsized characters. (And Paris’s insults to the various schmucks at the speed dating event are a hoot, even if some of the life coach humor falls flat.)
The dramatic B-story is amazing. I’m sure that drama is assured for the future, but I love how Luke and Lorelai are as a couple. This is a meaningful, realistic conflict realized in the show’s exaggerated tones, and it works perfectly. I love the fact that Lorelai is (somewhat implausibly) in the dark about Luke’s “Dark Day” but doesn’t really push him on it. I love that Luke confides in her because he feels safe in their relationship. I love that Lorelai tries to save Luke’s dad’s boat because she cares about him (a la the Dean box). I love that Luke gets upset over it in the midst of his gloomy period. I love that he almost immediately apologizes and Lorelai apologizes for thinking like her and not like him and the nigh-wordless understanding they have. They are just so effortless as a couple even when things are rocky like this and it just works.
Were that the same could be said for the A-story, which features Rory trying to nerd out when hosting a Chilton student on a day-long tour through Yale, and finding that her charge is more interested in unbridled freedom and boys than pure learning like she is. It’s a pretty cliché sort of deal, and the minor relationship drama with everyone thinking she’s into Logan doesn’t go very far. You do feel for Marty, who finally realizes he’s in the friendzone and clearly feels a bit hurt that Rory sees him that way. But the general Logan shenanigans and the high school student hijinks provoke more eyerolls than laughs. That said, Richard teaming up with Rory to turn the prank around on Logan is the perfect button for this whole thing, and I was surprised at how nice it was to have the Chilton headmaster back for an episode.
Overall, the main story is pretty feeble, but has a few fun moments, and both of the supporting stories are great in either funny or touching tones, so this one averages out to something solid.
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParent2017-12-21T03:27:10Z
[7.0/10] This is one of those episode where I find both the B-stories pretty delightful and the A-story pretty meh, which balances out to a “just scratching the surface of ‘good’” rating.
The comic B-story is intriguing, with Paris and Doyle hooking up after running into one another at speed dating. I wouldn’t have put them together on my own, but there’s a certain energy that they share to where they actually make a lot of sense. The two of them fighting over pens or saving the calories and cutting to the chase or having a debate via Paris’s life coach really works as a dynamic between the two more outsized characters. (And Paris’s insults to the various schmucks at the speed dating event are a hoot, even if some of the life coach humor falls flat.)
The dramatic B-story is amazing. I’m sure that drama is assured for the future, but I love how Luke and Lorelai are as a couple. This is a meaningful, realistic conflict realized in the show’s exaggerated tones, and it works perfectly. I love the fact that Lorelai is (somewhat implausibly) in the dark about Luke’s “Dark Day” but doesn’t really push him on it. I love that Luke confides in her because he feels safe in their relationship. I love that Lorelai tries to save Luke’s dad’s boat because she cares about him (a la the Dean box). I love that Luke gets upset over it in the midst of his gloomy period. I love that he almost immediately apologizes and Lorelai apologizes for thinking like her and not like him and the nigh-wordless understanding they have. They are just so effortless as a couple even when things are rocky like this and it just works.
Were that the same could be said for the A-story, which features Rory trying to nerd out when hosting a Chilton student on a day-long tour through Yale, and finding that her charge is more interested in unbridled freedom and boys than pure learning like she is. It’s a pretty cliché sort of deal, and the minor relationship drama with everyone thinking she’s into Logan doesn’t go very far. You do feel for Marty, who finally realizes he’s in the friendzone and clearly feels a bit hurt that Rory sees him that way. But the general Logan shenanigans and the high school student hijinks provoke more eyerolls than laughs. That said, Richard teaming up with Rory to turn the prank around on Logan is the perfect button for this whole thing, and I was surprised at how nice it was to have the Chilton headmaster back for an episode.
Overall, the main story is pretty feeble, but has a few fun moments, and both of the supporting stories are great in either funny or touching tones, so this one averages out to something solid.