Category: S3Ep15: Face-Off

Toilet Papered School

[They stop to look at Stars Hollow High, which has been toilet papered by a rival school]
LORELAI: You know, I almost like it better like this.
RORY: It is more festive.

Toilet papering is a common practical joke, prank or act of revenge in the US, where a tree, house, or other building is completely covered in toilet paper. Common events that might attract toilet papering include Halloween, April Fool’s Day, high school graduation, or an important sports match (such as in this episode).

“He said he’d call me”

LORELAI: One question. During this time that you watched TV, did homework, proofread articles for The Franklin, organized my sock drawer, returned emails and gave a much needed cleaning to your computer, did it ever occur to you to call him?
RORY: No.
LORELAI: Why?
RORY: Because he said he’d call me.

Before Rory was going out with Jess, she used to hang out at the diner all the time just to see him. Now he’s her boyfriend, she won’t even pick up the phone to talk to him when she’s all alone. Why do characters all turn into idiots when they begin a relationship on this show?

Bay of Pigs

LORELAI: And the plan was that [Jess] calls you whenever because his work time varies?
RORY: Yes.
LORELAI: Good plan. Bay of Pigs, was that yours, too?

Lorelai refers to the bay of Pigs Invasion, a failed military landing operation on the coast of Cuba in 1961 by Cuban exiles, covertly financed and directed by the United States. It was aimed at overthrowing Fidel Castro’s communist government. The operation took place at the height of the Cold War, and its failure widened the division between the US and Cuba, while pushing Cuba closer to the Soviets.

Bath Sheet vs Bath Towel

EMILY: Richard, perhaps you could get that while I have another bath sheet versus bath towel debate with your mother.

Bath sheets are simply large towels – large enough that you can wrap them around your torso or waist after your bath or shower. They are efficient for drying as they can soak up more water, and are seen as the luxury option. However, some people find them too heavy and cumbersome (and take a long time to dry out). It is unclear whether Trix wants a bath sheet rather than a bath towel, or the other way around.

Atlantic Ocean

EMILY: I never really truly appreciated the Atlantic Ocean before. Three thousand lovely miles of water.

The Atlantic Ocean, the second-largest of the world’s five oceans, with an area of about 106,460,000 square km (41,100,000 sq mi). It covers approximately 20% of Earth’s surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known for separating the “Old World” of Africa, Europe, and Asia from the “New World” of the Americas in the European perception of the World. The name Atlantic refers to the ocean being beyond the Strait of Gibraltar between Spain and Africa, opposite the Atlas Mountains in Morocco.

There are 3360 miles between Hartford and London, or 2929 nautical miles – very close to Emily’s estimate of 3000.

Note that Emily thinking of the lovely miles of water that used to separate her and Trix is very similar to Lorelai once saying that the best thing about Stars Hollow is the “miles and miles and miles” it is from Hartford – underlining that Lorelai’s relationship with Emily is very much like Emily’s relationship with Trix.