6-1 New and Improved Lorelai
Written by: Amy Sherman-Palladino
Directed by: Amy Sherman Palladino
What Happens: Luke accepts Lorelai’s marriage proposal. Rory has moved in with her grandparents.
What Else Happens: Rory gets 300 hours of community service.
The Verdict: A pretty solid debut. No one’s talking to each other. And the citizens of Stars Hollow,
Kirk especially, are still crazy.
Grade: B+
6-2 Fight Face
Written by: Daniel Palladino
Directed by: Daniel Palladino
What Happens: Rory begins her community service. She’s also introduced to the D.A.R.
What Else Happens: Lorelai buys a dog. And Luke is forced to deal with his brother-in-law T.J.
The Verdict: Nice follow-up to the season-opener, with some strong moments between Luke and Lorelai.
A little too hectic in the last fifteen minutes.
Grade: B-
6-3 The UnGraduate
Written by: David Rosenthal
Directed by: Michael Zinberg
What Happens: Sookie can’t get Lorelai to commit on a wedding date; not until things are alright with Rory. Meanwhile, Rory settles into life without college.
What Else Happens: Hep Alien rocks the Whitfield Seventh Day Advenice Church.
The Verdict: Another good effort. Even outside writers are effectively dealing with the girls’ estrangement.
Grade: B
6-4 Always a Godmother, Never a God
Written by: Rebecca Rand Kirshner
Directed by: Robert Berlinger
What Happens: Sookie chooses Lorelai and Rory to be godmothers.
What Else Happens: Rory heads a D.A.R. function in Emily’s absence; Jackson’s family is in town.
The Verdict: Spoke too soon. Just when I start patting the show on the back, they deliver the first stinker of the season.
Grade: D+
6-5 We’ve Got Magic to Do
Written by: Daniel Palladino
Directed by: Michael Zinberg
What Happens: Rory throws a very successful D.A.R. party, and Richard & Emily learn the truth regarding the evil Mr. Huntzberger.
What Else Happens: Miss Patty’s 28th Annual Recital. Kirk scores again…
The Verdict: The best episode of the season thus far.
Grade: A-
6-6 Welcome to the Dollhouse
Written by: Keith Eisner
Directed by: Jackson Douglas
What Happens: Taylor wants to bring Stars Hollow back to Colonial times.
What Else Happens: Richard shows concern regarding Rory’s future with Logan.
The Verdict: A pretty good episode with a strong conclusion: Richard concedes to Lorelai that Rory’s headed in the wrong direction.
Grade: B-
6-7 Twenty-One is the Loneliest Number
Written by: Amy Sherman-Palladino
Directed by: Bob Berlinger
What Happens: Emily throws Rory a 21st birthday party.
What Else Happens: Paris is taking over as editor of the Yale Daily News.
The Verdict: A sharp effort (as usual) from Amy Sherman-Palladino. The Gilmores’ Senior are cracking. And Edward Herrmann (Richard) is doing some of his best work.
Grade: B+
6-8 Let Me Hear Your Balalaikas Ringing Out
Written by: Daniel Palladino
Directed by: Kenny Ortega
What Happens: Might as well get this out of the way first: Jess returns, and tells Rory exactly what he thinks of Logan and her not being in school.
What Else Happens: Emily and Rory come to blows, Paul Anka’s sick, and Luke sponsors a girls’ soccer team.
The Verdict: The house is rockin’ with domestic problems. And this one’s a keeper…
Grade: B
6-9 The Prodigal Daughter Returns
Written by: Amy Sherman-Palladino
Directed by: Amy Sherman-Palladino
What Happens: A young girl, April, shows up at Luke’s Diner – claiming to be his daughter.
What Else Happens: A phone message from Christopher sparks a heated exchange between Lorelai and Luke. And Rory moves out of the Gilmores’ Senior house.
The Verdict: A rare misstep by Ms. Sherman Palladino. And they have their work cut out for them justifying the need for Luke’s long-lost daughter April.
Grade: C+
6-10 He’s Slippin’ ’em Bread…Dig?
Written by: Daniel Palladino
Directed by: Kenny Ortega
What Happens: The girls have been reunited…finally! And Christopher announces he has come into quite a bit of loot.
What Else Happens: Zach sabotages a big gig for the band. And Logan breaks up with Rory by way of his sister.
The Verdict: Gilmore Girls deliver two less than stellar episodes heading into their now infamous holiday hibernation period.
Grade: C+
6-11 The Perfect Dress
Written by: Amy Sherman-Palladino
Directed by: Jamie Babbit
What Happens: Lorelai and Sookie start talking wedding, and Lorelai finds the perfect dress. Meanwhile, Luke pays a visit to April’s mother.
What Else Happens: Rory adjusts to life back at Yale. And Lane’s p*ssed at the world following the breakup with her boyfriend and band.
The Verdict: A great return from a month-and-a-half long hiatus.
Grade: A-
6-12 Just Like Gwen and Gavin
Written by: Daniel Palladino
Directed by: Stephen Clancy
What Happens: Lorelai finds out about April. Logan’s trying to win back Rory.
What Else Happens: Kirk pitches in for Taylor to run the Winter Carnival.
The Verdict: I’m remembering why I haven’t missed Rory at Yale.
Grade: B-
6-13 Friday Night’s Alright for Fighting
Written by: Amy Sherman-Palladino
Directed by: Kenny Ortega
What Happens: Friday Night Dinner takes on a whole new meaning: Lorelai, Rory, Richard and Emily finally break their silence.
What Else Happens: Rory saves the day at the Yale Daily News when Paris has a meltdown.
The Verdict: The Friday Night Dinner is really what it’s all about. Kenny Ortega’s almost trippy direction during the last scenes should be noted.
Grade: B
6-14 You’ve Been Gilmored
Written by: Jordon Nardino
Directed by: Stephen Clancy
What Happens: The Gilmores’ Senior invite Lorelai and Luke to Friday Night Dinner.
What Else Happens: Paris is out, and Rory is in as editor of the paper. Paris proceeds to kick Rory out, and she moves in with Logan.
The Verdict: Another outside writer drops the ball. I felt like I’d been gilmored. Or punk’d. Or whatever.
Grade: C-
6-15 A Vineyard Valentine
Written by: Daniel Palladino
Directed by: Daniel Palladino
What Happens: Rory and Logan invite Lorelai and Luke along for a weekend getaway.
What Else Happens: There’s a not-so-nice surprise awaiting Lorelai on her answering machine.
The Verdict: Didn’t look so good on paper, but Mr. Palladino (how very New York Times of me) pulls
off a strange weekend pairing.
Grade: B
6-16 Bridesmaids Revisited
Written by: Rebecca Rand Kirshner
Directed by: Linda Mendoza
What Happens: A lot. Christopher is slowly creeping back into Lorelai’s life. Rory finds out what Logan was up to while they were “broken up”. Paris kicks Doyle out.
What Else Happens: Zach proposes to Lane. And Kirk’s on an all-juice diet.
The Verdict: Too much going on again. Lane really said yes?
Grade: B-
