Gilmore Girls 1.15 “Christopher Returns”
Gilmore Girls 1.15 "Christopher Returns"
Original Air Date: March 1, 2001 (Recap date: November 28, 2007)
Photos, Recap & Discussion
Discussion Questions:
- Does Christopher’s decision to be an involved parent make Lorelai think he could be even more in her life too?
- Was Christopher lying about the success of his business? How is it he has no money?
- Why is the town so interested in Christoper?
- Is Luke jealous of Christoper?
- Why do both sets of parents like Christopher more than Lorelai?
- Why did Lorelai sleep with Christoper?
- When Lorelai apologizes to Luke, is she just apologizing for the paint? Or for hurting him? Being with another guy?
- Why does Christopher ask Lorelai to marry him? Does his father have anything to do with it?
- Lorelai suggests they not put all the blankets away yet - is that a metaphor for leaving her heart open too?
Gilmore Girls Episode Recap & Photos:
Lorelai cautions Rory not to get too optimistic about Christopher sticking around long, or being very involved. Rory impresses Christopher with her dedication to doing her homework and extra credit work. He says Rory is all Lorelai - a chip off the ol’ perfect block.
Chris is tying up loose ends in his life - has a real, potentially successful business. Lorelai is skeptical given his track record. Chris says he wants to be more involved in Rory’s life. That pleases Lorelai, who has always left the door open for him. She compliments him by saying Rory is a lot like him too. And the confused Lorelai face…
Rory takes Christopher to Dean’s softball game. Luke is pitching. They are not very good - and eventually give up with a default win based on whoever gets a run first.
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Sookie and Michel laughing together - did hell freeze over? It didn’t last. Lorelai talks to Sookie about Christopher being there. She wants to be mad, but then he smiles and Lorelai melts. He knows her better than anyone. And Lorelai is thinking romantically, at least a little bit, but is also confused.
Miss Patty starts the phone chain alerting everyone that Christopher is in town. Christopher offers to buy Rory the book she most wants - the Compact Oxfort English Dictionary. However, when he goes to pay, his card is rejected. He asks Rory not to tell Lorelai about that.
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Emily calls Christopher to invite him to Friday dinner, along with Christopher’s parents. They both pause outside the Gilmore house, building up courage to see their parents.
Emily and Richard simply dote on how great Christopher is. Rory is nervous around her other grandparents, since she does not know them. Lorelai makes an outlandish comment - ‘I hate President Bush’ - in order to take pressure off Rory. Christopher’s parents attack Lorelai. They are very very rude to her - insulting who she is, what she does. It seems everyone loves Christopher, but not Lorelai.
Christopher’s dad blames Lorelai for Christopher not attending University and going along with the ‘plans’ their parents had for them. It gets heated. Richard tries to say it was a mutual mistake many years ago - but he won’t shut up. He says Christopher was bound for Princeton and no matter how good Rory is, it cannot make up for that. He says he is embarrassed every day about it.
"All because you seduced him into ruining his life. She had that baby and she ended his future."
All of a sudden, the Gilmore’s seem like better people in comparison. They may not like what happened, but they love Rory. Richard demands that he apologize to Lorelai. Says Lorelai is very successful at what she does and kicks the Hayden’s out.
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Lorelai thanks Richard for defending her. But he reminds her that the past is not forgotten - the hell that Lorelai put them through is not forgotten. Richard insists they did nothing to deserve Lorelai deserting them like that. Richard was angry at Christopher too, but he had been ok following the ‘procedure’ to get married. Lorelai thought what she wanted mattered. Lorelai feels pity for Richard thinking that one must sacrifice so much for what is ‘right’ in society’s eyes.
Emily reassures Rory that she has never been included in the list of disappointments. Lorelai is crying on her old balcony. Christopher comes to consoler her and give her much needed alcohol. They are standing where Rory was conceived.
Luke is waiting for Lorelai to paint the diner, he’s all set up, but she is too busy re-living what led to Rory’s conception with Christopher. Lorelai regrets it, at least her rational mind does, immediately after. At home, he seems sad that he’s stuck with the couch. Rory is a little sad that her other grandparents don’t want to know her. Lorelai assures her that neither she nor Christopher regret having Rory.
It’s not until early the next morning that Lorelai realizes, in shock, that she forgot about Luke. She runs out of the house in her PJs to apologize to him for missing their ‘date’ - at this point, they both realized it was one. He knows that it was ’someone’ who came up. Lorelai apologizes - in a way that infers for more than just the paint.
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Lorelai goes home upset about all the stupid mistakes she’s made in the last 24 hours. Sleeping with Christopher. Standing up Luke.
"Lorelai. I want to marry you."
"And the hits just keep on coming."
Lorelai calls Christopher completely insane. He thinks they are already a family, but Lorelai knows that family comes with way more responsibilities. She says Christopher is not as mature - and uses his favorite band, The Offspring - as proof. That, and the declined credit card. Christopher wants to get married then get to know each other as adults. Lorelai pushes Christopher to admit his business is failing. Chris says Lorelai is his soul mate. And he doesn’t know how much he misses Rory till he sees her - says staying away is easier. But Lorelai says Rory needs her dad.
Christopher leaves, and no marriage is planned. Rory knows what Christopher asked and wants to know why Lorelai said no. Lorelai explains that Christopher is asking for things he’s not ready for. Lorelai says she will always love Christopher, but knows he cannot be a family man yet. But leaves room to hope he’ll return.
Lorelai surprises Luke by painting the diner all by herself. Learning that Christopher left, he and Lorelai return to their slightly flirtatious banter.
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Tags: gilmore girls, gilmore girls season 1, christopher returns, 1.15, lorelai christopher, gilmore girls episodes, gilmore girls recaps, gilmore girls photos, screencaps
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POSTED IN: Christopher Hayden, Gilmore Girls Recaps, Gilmore Girls Screencaps, Lorelai Gilmore, Lorelai's love life, Luke Danes
8 opinions for Gilmore Girls 1.15 “Christopher Returns”
Sierra
Nov 28, 2007 at 2:08 pm
Is Luke jealous of Christoper?
I THINK SO BECAUSE HE LOVES LOR
Arieanna
Nov 28, 2007 at 2:25 pm
Well, maybe he doesn’t love her yet. It’s still very early in this relationship for them.
MR
Nov 28, 2007 at 2:57 pm
Actually it’s not that early….it’s like 3 or so years after they first met. But I get what your saying, I also know how they both feel.
Jessica King
Nov 28, 2007 at 4:28 pm
I not sure if Luke jealous of Christopher,but he dont know who Chrisopher is frist time that all.
Bianca
Nov 29, 2007 at 3:34 am
I think that he was jealous because he did know that it was someone that made her miss their “date”
Pamela
Nov 29, 2007 at 7:01 am
I think that, in his heart, Christopher wants to do the right thing and give Rory a family, in addition to the fact that he always comes back to Lorelei, who he sees as his soulmate. Lorelei, on the other hand, will always love Chris, but really knows him too well hence the hesitation.
What I do know is that I don’t think Lorelei knows what she wants either, given the fact that she missed a good part of her childhood. Lorelei is still growing up and exploring life and relationships, more so now because Rory is older.
Lorelei tends to be as impulsive as Chris in matters of the heart and maybe she sees herself in him and that is why she has kept him at a distance.
Sometimes Lorelei tends to take on the part of martyr when it comes to hearing things she doesn’t like e.g. when Richard defended her and the Gilmore name (as he should have) but she failed to see his point of view and the pain she may have caused them too; also when she states “and the hits keep on coming.” Give me a break. Chris just ask her to marry him not to set her hair on fire.
Arieanna
Nov 29, 2007 at 8:24 am
Well, I think Lorelai regrets sleeping with Chris. If you remember with Max, Lorelai was really concerned about protecting Rory, and a lot more is at stake with Christopher being Rory’s dad. So I think she was very worried and, knowing he wasn’t ready, just felt bombarded by what her rash decision led to.
I did like how Luke seemed to understand what was going on. He knew her that well. And that’s why, when Chris left, he didn’t ask questions. He knew where things stood.
Mary
Nov 29, 2007 at 4:18 pm
Lorelai has always viewed Christopher as a “wonderful possibility”. The idea of her, Christopher, and Rory being a family. A perfect ideal, that in reality, will never work. But, I think, they would have to try before she can be with Luke completely. That’s why it is a shame that Gilmore Girls could not have gone another season. So many things could of been resolved.
In Emily and Richard’s mind, Christopher wanted to do the right thing and marry Lorelai, but that was never an option with Lorelai, and her parents have never forgiven her for that. As her father said, it is the right thing to do. And, in her parents eye, Lorelai always chooses the wrong path. What does Lorelai have to do to win their approval?
Lorelai has to ask forgiveness from Luke. He as become to important in her life. The painting was totally her. He could care less about painting because the building was a part of his Dad. And, painting it, would mean he is moving on. And, moving on, in his mind, includes her.
And, since Christopher is in the picture, will he ever have a chance? I am glad, that Lorelai painted the diner no matter what. To show Luke, I am sorry, and I want to do this for you.
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