So I had to do a little research. Last night’s epiosde centered on Lorelai and Rory attending their friend Mia’s wedding. Mia, actually, is really more than a friend: she was the original owner of the Independance Inn, and played the role of surrogate mother/grandmother for the girls for many years during Lorelai and Emily’s estrangement. Now I consider myself a very knowledgable Gilmore fan, yet I honestly had no memory of this character. But with a little digging (thanks TV.com!), I found out she appeared in Season 2’s The Inns and Outs of the Inn – which aired November 20, 2001. Just thought I’d give some background. On with the show…
Obviously, the most interesting dynamic of this storyline was going to be Emily’s reaction to Mia’s “return”. I was ready for anything: an Emily meltdown, a mid-wedding shouting match between Mia and Emily, Emily and Lorelai – take your pick. Writer David Babcock handled it very nicely, showing real emotions while not overdoing it.
It was also interesting how this Gilmore Girls Only road-trip materialized, considering Lorelai was initially going solo. Rory was too stressed out with Senior year coming to an end, and Logan’s recent boorish behavior. Emily wasn’t even invited. Leave it to men behaving badly: Rory finally has it out with Logan (and even sides with Mitchum!), while Emily needs a break from Richard. Daughter and mother makes three…
Back in Stars Hollow, Kirk’s pointing out Zack’s shortcomings as Lane’s replacement at the diner. And Zack and Lane invite Luke to dinner, asking him to be their son’s godfather. What a change in Luke over the past few years: beginning with Jess, continuing with April and Liz and T.J’s baby daughter, and now this. I’d say he’s more than qualified to be a father figure for Zack, even if in a small way.
At the wedding, Emily is visably affected by the bond between Mia and her girls. Yes, she has a few of her moments (commenting on Mia’s lovely “little” home, asking a guest to fetch her water). But, at the same time, this must have been very hard on her. Even Lorelai acknowledges this, as does Rory. We also learn that Emily and Mia had a brief interaction five years earlier. Overall, though – Emily behaved pretty well. And what a great scene with Emily and Mia staring out the window at Rory and Logan, Emily bursting with pride at the woman Rory has become. Without having to say it, she was also talking about Lorelai. Lorelai was proud of her mother, too…
Gilmore Girls Only concludes just as it should – with Lorelai, Rory and Emily settling down to the Will Smith sap-fest Pursuit of Happyness, and receiving great news from home: Lane’s twin boys have arrived…
Next week: Nothin’. And we’ll have to wait ’til April 10 for a new episode. By then, we should also know whether it’s a countdown to the season or series finale…
