[7.2/10] So here’s where my background gets in the way of the show a bit, because the entire time Lorelai and Sookie are fretting over whether or not the cupcake lady will die and/or sell “The Rachel House” to them, I’m just thinking “sign a contract where she still has nominal ownership rights or a right to always use the property to make her feel better!” And when Lorelai is frazzled by Mia wanting to sell the Independence Inn, but poo poos Sookie’s idea of them buying it because it’s “five times what they can afford,” I’m thinking “Mia clearly loves you! She would 100% sell it to you on some kind of multi-year payment schedule until it’s fully yours!”
Now, it’s also 100% unfair to (a.) criticize a show for not offering business solutions to narrative obstacles and (b.) expect the characters in the show to come up with them (though Lorelai is taking business classes). But still, it lessens my enjoyment of the episode because it feels like there’s ways to solve these problems that are driving Lorelai mad, and the show hardly grapples with them.
I’m also not a big fan of the tack they often take with Lorelai about these things, where she’s miffed or upset about one thing -- in this case Mia selling the inn -- and takes it out on other people who aren’t the source of the problem, like Sookie and Emily. It’s not like Gilmore Girls is the only show that does this (lord knows The Sopranos is practically built on the idea), but for whatever reason Lorelai misdirecting her anger always plays poorly for me.
It does give Melissa McCarthy a chance to do some great work. I have to admit, I’ve been pretty come-see-come-saw on McCarthy after her post-Bridesmaids explosion of popularity, but she is and has been very very good on this show. She brings the comic chops she’s shown since, the good rapport with Lorelai (and Lauren Graham), and when she gets dramatic moments to play like her pushback against Lorelai’s criticisms, she nails them every time.
Admittedly, it makes some sense that when Lorelai’s the one worrying about dollars and sense, she might come down on even her best friend for her occasionally scatterbrained ways, but it’s just not a good look. The other side of the coin is that the show grapples with that, having her apologize and make up, and lord knows none of us is at our best when we’re learning that our “home,” whatever that means, may be slipping away right out from under us.
The very fact that Lorleai considers that inn “home” understandably bothers Emily, and it leads to the best scene in the episode. Mia (the absentee owner of the Independence Inn) doesn’t make much of an impression here. She’s meant to be the warm and chatty counterpoint to Emily’s stuffiness, but she mostly comes off like a warmed over older imitation of Sally Bowles. But she’s (and Kelly Bishop) are perfect in the scene she and Emily Gilmore share. The awkwardness, the resentment, the well-meaning statement about what each would do if their daughter showed up on a stranger’s doorstep, are all just pitch perfect, the culmination of 15 years of expectation and resentment and understanding bundled up into one scene. Almost makes up for the middling road to get there.
Otherwise the episode doesn’t have much to offer. Luke feuding with Taylor over Jess putting a chalk outline of a dead body on the sidewalk is cornball stuff. (And how the hell can a cop do a headcount for the entire town and make sure no one’s missing?) Rory having to sit for an oil painting is a perfectly fine if trifling comic sideshow. And Jess is still doing the bad boy with a heart of gold routine, as he and Rory have the “nod of respect” moment over Jess fixing Luke’s toaster to show that contrary to her assertions, Jess does care. Oh be still my beating heart, Ratboy. Feh.
The episode has a number of weak spots, but a great throughline for Sookie, and a nice culmination to the business with Mia makes up for much of it. Not saying much, but one of Daniel Palladino’s best so far.
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParent2017-08-25T21:41:12Z
[7.2/10] So here’s where my background gets in the way of the show a bit, because the entire time Lorelai and Sookie are fretting over whether or not the cupcake lady will die and/or sell “The Rachel House” to them, I’m just thinking “sign a contract where she still has nominal ownership rights or a right to always use the property to make her feel better!” And when Lorelai is frazzled by Mia wanting to sell the Independence Inn, but poo poos Sookie’s idea of them buying it because it’s “five times what they can afford,” I’m thinking “Mia clearly loves you! She would 100% sell it to you on some kind of multi-year payment schedule until it’s fully yours!”
Now, it’s also 100% unfair to (a.) criticize a show for not offering business solutions to narrative obstacles and (b.) expect the characters in the show to come up with them (though Lorelai is taking business classes). But still, it lessens my enjoyment of the episode because it feels like there’s ways to solve these problems that are driving Lorelai mad, and the show hardly grapples with them.
I’m also not a big fan of the tack they often take with Lorelai about these things, where she’s miffed or upset about one thing -- in this case Mia selling the inn -- and takes it out on other people who aren’t the source of the problem, like Sookie and Emily. It’s not like Gilmore Girls is the only show that does this (lord knows The Sopranos is practically built on the idea), but for whatever reason Lorelai misdirecting her anger always plays poorly for me.
It does give Melissa McCarthy a chance to do some great work. I have to admit, I’ve been pretty come-see-come-saw on McCarthy after her post-Bridesmaids explosion of popularity, but she is and has been very very good on this show. She brings the comic chops she’s shown since, the good rapport with Lorelai (and Lauren Graham), and when she gets dramatic moments to play like her pushback against Lorelai’s criticisms, she nails them every time.
Admittedly, it makes some sense that when Lorelai’s the one worrying about dollars and sense, she might come down on even her best friend for her occasionally scatterbrained ways, but it’s just not a good look. The other side of the coin is that the show grapples with that, having her apologize and make up, and lord knows none of us is at our best when we’re learning that our “home,” whatever that means, may be slipping away right out from under us.
The very fact that Lorleai considers that inn “home” understandably bothers Emily, and it leads to the best scene in the episode. Mia (the absentee owner of the Independence Inn) doesn’t make much of an impression here. She’s meant to be the warm and chatty counterpoint to Emily’s stuffiness, but she mostly comes off like a warmed over older imitation of Sally Bowles. But she’s (and Kelly Bishop) are perfect in the scene she and Emily Gilmore share. The awkwardness, the resentment, the well-meaning statement about what each would do if their daughter showed up on a stranger’s doorstep, are all just pitch perfect, the culmination of 15 years of expectation and resentment and understanding bundled up into one scene. Almost makes up for the middling road to get there.
Otherwise the episode doesn’t have much to offer. Luke feuding with Taylor over Jess putting a chalk outline of a dead body on the sidewalk is cornball stuff. (And how the hell can a cop do a headcount for the entire town and make sure no one’s missing?) Rory having to sit for an oil painting is a perfectly fine if trifling comic sideshow. And Jess is still doing the bad boy with a heart of gold routine, as he and Rory have the “nod of respect” moment over Jess fixing Luke’s toaster to show that contrary to her assertions, Jess does care. Oh be still my beating heart, Ratboy. Feh.
The episode has a number of weak spots, but a great throughline for Sookie, and a nice culmination to the business with Mia makes up for much of it. Not saying much, but one of Daniel Palladino’s best so far.