Let Me Hear Your Balalaikas Ringing Out episode #6.08 | written by Elise

Elise's comment:

Jess wrote a book!
Luke sponsored a soccer team!
Lorelai is crying over Paul Anka!

What an episode. From the moment they started showing the "previously on Gilmore Girls", I knew this was the episode we had been waiting for. Everything that happenned after Rory decided not to return to Yale has been building up to this episode.

I screamed in excitement when I saw Jess appear at the gate. I just thought I should mention that.

It took Jess to wake Rory up. He's the one who will make her realize that she has left a lot of dreams and people behind. I'm not sure where the writers want to go with the Jess storyline. I hope he sticks around for a while.

The contrast between Jess and Logan was interesting. Logan seemed like such a jerk. Why is Jess suddenly the good guy? What led him to turn his life around? He told Rory that she motivated him to write the book. But what really changed him?

When he showed up at Yale 2 years ago and asked Rory to come with him, was it her refusal that triggered this need to change? Was he looking to get his life back together before coming back to her? Why did he decide to show up? I know he wanted to show her his book, but there has to be something more to it.

This brings me to the parallel I drew between Christopher and Logan a while ago. Now, more than ever, I also see a parallel between Christopher and Jess. Wasn't it Chris who got a real job, bought a Volvo, got his life together? Lorelai had been waiting for this for a long time. Look back to the last episodes of season 2. They were finally on the same page, at the same stage of their lives.

Isn't this what's happenning with Jess? He finally seems to have gotten his life together (I still can't get over the fact that he once lived in this horrible dirty appartment with 2 other guys). As with Lorelai and Chris, will Rory be attracted to this new Jess? She did run after him when he left the pub. He seems to be more "together" that Logan. Will she leave Logan? I actually felt sorry for the poor guy when he talked about his one open door, the one he's being pushed into.

Role confusion is in full swing. Rory has been living the life that Emily and Richard wanted for their daughter (although they wanted Lorelai to go to University). I'm glad that she's finally starting to realize why her mother left them when she got Rory. That last scene was amazing. Emily is once more portrayed as the villain. She also seemed on the verge of craziness, confusing Rory for Lorelai. I'm glad Rory stood up to her.

Lorelai is confusing Paul Anka for her daughter. To be honnest, that scene when she's in Rory's room, watching her dog, almost brought me to tears. Do you remember when Rory broke her arm, how she slept on that same chair, watching her? Ironically, Jess had been the cause of that accident. All this talk about not seeing that things were wrong, not stepping in, they were so symbolical. I really enjoyed that scene.

I have one disapointment: When Rory didn't leave the pub with Logan, and didn't sleep at her grandparents, I thought she was gone to Stars Hollow to talk to her mother. I got really excited when I saw Luke going into Rory's bedroom... to find the dog in Rory's place. But a reconcilliation is approaching, I feel it.

Tidbits that are worth mentionning:

- Grumpy Luke no more. He was so motivated about his soccer jerseys.
- Who let Kirk open a Doggy Day Care?
- I don't want to start rumours, but is Keiko Agena (Lane) pregnant?
- Redecorating tip: make sure that the paint matches your dog's hair.

Quote of the week:

Emily: You are becoming more like your mother with every passing day.
Rory: You are becoming more like my mother's mother with every passing day.

Talk about this episode...

[ written on November 9 2005 ]