Month: September 2022

National Guard

JESS: Two weeks ago there was a run on snow cones. Machine broke, people went crazy, Taylor tried to call in the National Guard, but –

The National Guard is a state-based military force that is part of the reserve component of the US Army and Air Force when activated for federal missions – what would be called the Army Reserve in other countries. The idea of a local militia in the US goes back to the earliest English colonisation of the Americas, the first one formed in 1636. The title National Guard has been used nationally since 1903, and there are currently more than 400 000 people serving in the National Guard.

The National Guard may be activated in times of emergency, such as hurricanes, wildfires, riots, or terrorist attacks. Jess jokingly likens the snow cone machine breaking down to such disasters. This comment from Jess sounds as if he is beginning to fit in with the town better – the crack about Taylor and the snow cones sounds like something Luke would say, or even Lorelai. His summer in Stars Hollow, and perhaps dating a girl from the town, is helping him to feel more at home there.

Snow Cones

JESS: It was hot. Two weeks ago there was a run on snow cones.

A snow cone is a dessert made of shaved or ground up ice, topped with a flavoured syrup, usually served in a paper cone or foam cup. Ice desserts began being made in the US in the mid-19th century, when ice became commercially available. By the late 19th century, theatres were selling them in the summer to keep patrons cool, and they were seen as an upper-class commodity. They became popular in the Great Depression and during World War II, as they had become so cheap almost anyone could afford one as a treat.

Luke’s Diner apparently has a machine that makes snow cones, at least during the summer months and for the tourist trade.

Christopher’s Motorcycle

When Lorelai talks to Christopher outside the Gilmore mansion, he’s sitting on his motorcycle. He implied that he got rid of it to buy his Volvo, but apparently he didn’t.

I thought I had finally caught Christopher out in a direct lie, but when I went back and read through the script again, he never actually says that he sold his motorcycle – it’s all jokes and evasion to make Lorelai think that he has, that he has changed. But ta da! It’s the same old crummy, irresponsible Christopher as before. He’s such a weasel with his words that you can’t pin him down.

“You need a mask and a horse”

EMILY: Leave now, please. [Christopher leaves]

LORELAI: You know, you need a mask and a horse when you do that.

Lorelai refers to masked heroes who ride a horse, such as The Lone Ranger, previously discussed, who rides a white horse named Silver.

Emily redeems herself in this episode when she orders Christopher to leave her house. She may have been pushing Lorelai to get back with Christopher by any means, but when she sees that Lorelai and Rory really don’t want Christopher there, she does her best to protect them from him (she’s good at setting boundaries when she wants to, the way she wishes Lorelai had done for her when she needed rescuing from a man).

Lorelai doesn’t often call Emily her hero, but this is a rare example when she does.

Third Dimension

CHRISTOPHER: [Rory] did not get there by herself.

LORELAI: Hey, have you ever met your daughter? She could get anywhere by herself! She could get to the third dimension by herself!

A joke – the third dimension is the one we all live in. We can all get there by ourselves. More seriously, it implies that Rory is capable of seeing reality for herself.

Christopher Shows Up

While Lorelai and Rory are having Friday Night Dinner with Emily, Christopher decides to show up – no doubt encouraged by Emily, who has had a cosy little chat with him over the phone, and tried to make Lorelai get back with him.

Christopher doesn’t actually have any ideas on how to change the situation – he just wants Lorelai (and to a lesser extent, Rory) back in his life. He makes it clear that he wants Lorelai, not Sherry, but isn’t willing to break up with Sherry. In fact, he tells Lorelai he plans to marry her. I feel as if Sherry deserves to know all this before she commits to marriage and motherhood with Christopher!

I’m not completely sure what Christopher hopes to gain by seeing Lorelai – presumably to make friends again, with the hopes of one day persuading Lorelai to become his mistress, bed buddy, or booty call.

Elizabeth Arden

PARIS: All right, I’ll push it through … But the next genius who comes up with the brilliant plan to put Elizabeth Arden in the chemistry class can bite my ass.

Elizabeth Arden Inc., major cosmetics, skin care, and fragrance company founded by Canadian-American businesswoman Elizabeth Arden in 1910, first as the Red Door salon on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. The brand has been owned by Revlon since 2016 and is headquartered in Miami, Florida.

I’m not sure why students would ask for Elizabeth Arden in the chemistry class – maybe for the hand cream? Or for perfume, to cover the chemical smell?

“Gays in the military”

PARIS: You want the first stand I make against the faculty to involve a fashion choice? It would be my ‘gays in the military.’

Paris refers to the “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy in regard to allowing gay people to serve in the US military. Bill Clinton had campaigned in 1992 on the promise of allowing all citizens to serve in the military, regardless of sexual orientation. However, on being elected to the presidency, he had to settle with a compromise solution, called the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Don’t Pursue” policy, popularly known by its first four words.

Essentially the policy allowed gay people to serve in the military, provided they remained in the closet, while openly gay military personnel could be dishonourably discharged if they “told” anyone they were gay. It was an offence to ask anyone about their sexual orientation, or to pursue an investigation into anyone who didn’t “tell” (remained closeted). Later they added a “Don’t Harass” to the title, to mean the military would not allow harassment or violence against anyone. The policy was repealed in 2010 under the Obama administration, allowing openly gay personnel to serve in the US military. Former president Clinton welcomed the repeal.

Paris is saying that if the first thing she brings in as president is shorter hemlines, it would look like she was starting out by giving in to Francine straight away, like Clinton gave in to Congress.

Patience is a Virtue

FRANCIE: Okay, I guess I can wait . . . for a while.

PARIS: Patience is a virtue.

“Patience is a virtue” is a proverbial saying refering to Patience as one of the seven heavely virtues, dating back to the 5th century epic poem Psychomachia, by the Latin poet Prudentius.

An old couplet says:

Patience is a virtue, possess it if you can

‘Tis seldom found in women, but never in a man!