Tag: Character Insight

Obsession Board

RORY: We started the obsession board a few years ago. And then when we took that trip to Harvard, the student store was having a two for one flag sale, so that kind of sent us into the final stage of the psychosis. Hospitals were called, medications were prescribed, there is no cure.

Richard takes note of the cork board Rory has in her room, completely covered in Harvard memorabilia. Note that she says, “We started the obsession board a few years ago”. It was Lorelai who began the board, perhaps when Rory was about fourteen, and on the verge of starting high school.

Richard is taken aback that Rory is already so set on going to Harvard, when his alma mater is Yale University. He already knew it was Rory’s preference, now he discovers it is her absolute obsession and the only university she is interested in. That Rory says, “There is no cure”, probably suggests to Richard that she can’t see herself changing her mind.

Censorship in a Small Town

PARIS: Our story. Censorship in a small town, it’s perfect.
RORY: Paris, stop it. You know I don’t believe in censorship.
PARIS: Even better, small town minds run amok.

Paris is right – this is actually an interesting story, showing how in small towns, a tiny minority of people (Kirk and Taylor) can wield enough power to crush free speech entirely. Rory says she doesn’t believe in censorship, but she literally asked for an R-rated DVD to be put in a different section of the video store. That’s censorship!

“You owe me!”

EMILY: You owe me! … I pay for Rory’s school! …And I co-signed your loan! You still have a house because of me!
LORELAI: Are you hearing yourself?
EMILY: I’m sorry but I’m desperate. I just need one day of peace and I will do anything to get it, anything.

Lorelai always feared that allowing her parents to help her would give them the opportunity to emotionally blackmail her later. Now her fear comes true – but it isn’t some cunningly-planned scheme of Emily’s. She’s stressed and desperate, and says anything she can think of to get Lorelai’s assistance.

Water Aerobics Class

EMILY: He’s going to join my water aerobics class.
LORELAI: What?
EMILY: He bought some new swim trunks today. He’s out of control.

Water aerobics, or aquarobics, are aerobics performed in a swimming pool, usually standing upright. It’s a form of resistance and strength training, as well as a cardiac workout – you can work harder without getting overheated. It’s ideal for seniors as a way to exercise safely.

Lorelai earlier said that Emily was keeping her legs trim by holding grudges. Here we discover that Emily actually attends an exercise class to keep fit. (In real life, Kelly Bishop’s shapely legs are from her years of dancing on Broadway).

Ruth Gordon Film Festival

RORY: Ooh, we could do a Ruth Gordon film festival. Harold and Maude, Rosemary’s Baby, and that really great episode of Taxi.

Ruth Gordon Jones (1896-1985), actress, screenwriter, and playwright. She was known for her nasal voice and distinctive personality, and became most successful in later life, being chosen for major screen roles in her 70s and 80s, and winning several awards. She seems to be a favourite of Rory.

Harold and Maude [pictured], 1971 coming-of-age dark comedy/existentialist drama. Directed by Hal Ashby and written by Colin Higgins, it follows the exploits of Harold (played by Bud Cort), a 19-year-old from a wealthy but emotionally cold family who is obsessed with death. He develops a friendship, later a romance, with 79-year-old Maude (Ruth Gordon), a Holocaust survivor who teaches him about living life to the fullest. It initially received mixed reviews, but became a runaway cult favourite, and is now regarded as one of the best comedies, best romances, and greatest films of all time. Colin Higgins adapted the screenplay into a novel, then a stage play.

Rosemary’s Baby, previously discussed. For this film she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, as well as a Golden Globe Award and a Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award.

Taxi, award-winning sitcom which aired from 1978 to 1983, focusing on the lives of the employees of the fictional Sunshine Cab Company in Manhattan. Ruth Gordon made a guest appearance in the 1979 episode Sugar Mama, playing a woman who tries to solicit one of the taxi drivers as a male escort. She won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.

“A lot of coffee”

RICHARD: Interesting. I just realised you have three cups of coffee in the morning …
EMILY: Well, so what?
RICHARD: Nothing. Just an observation, that’s all. That’s a lot of coffee to drink early in the morning.

It seems that Lorelai and Emily have something else in common – they both need their coffee to get through the day. This feels like a callback to the beginning of the Pilot, where Luke asks Lorelai how many coffees she’s had. It’s first thing in the morning, but she’s already had five, and is ordering her sixth.