Gilmore Girls 1.16 “Star-Crossed Lovers and Other Strangers”
Gilmore Girls 1.16 "Star-Crossed Lovers and Other Strangers"
Original Air Date: March 8, 2001 (Recap date: November 29, 2007)
Photos, Recap & Discussion
Discussion Questions:
- How come, when Lorelai mentions being cranky about all the love of the festival, Rory asks about Max? Why not Christopher or Luke?
- Is Lorelai feeling sad or unlucky?
- Why does Lorelai care about making herself look silly in front of Rachel?
- Was Dean being irrationally angry when Rory asks for time to think after he says ‘I love you’?
- Why does Rory need to think about it? How does her past, and her mother’s past, play into it?
- Was Rachel asking about Lorelai because she wants Luke for herself, or just out of curiosity?
- Does Rachel love Luke, or simply love being loved by him?
- Why does Luke want to take a chance on Rachel?
Gilmore Girls Episode Recap & Photos:
Miss Patty is narrating the story of two young ’star-crossed’ lovers who run away from home to be together, a story akin to Romeo and Juliet, but they get lost in the dark. The stars guide their way to the place where the gazebo now stands in the center of Stars Hollow. The town is preparing for the Founders Firelight Festival - celebrating how Stars Hollow came to be.
Rory has Dean reading Anna Karenina, but he thinks it’s over his head. Rory argues that Tolstoy wrote for the masses and anyone can read his works. I do agree here - War and Peace is my favorite book, and Tolstoy an amazingly engaging writer. Just the names are hard.
Dean wants Rory to get out of Friday dinner - and reminds her it’s their 3 month anniversary. He has something special planned.
Lorelai wants to cook (yes, cook) to relieve some of the funk of the too-much-love festival. Rory asks about Max - he has not called. Rory asks Lorelai to get her out of Friday dinner - Emily is completely understanding of the special occasion, which totally surprises Lorelai.
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Tristan is making out with a girl in front of Paris’ locker. Rory’s too - but Rory tells them to move.
The spirit of the festival is infecting the whole town with love - Lorelai is a little tired of it. She walks in on Jackson and Sookie making out - and no coffee. Even Michel has a date. Lorelai makes for Luke’s for coffee - and a star almost falls on her head. Lorelai, the lover of town festivals, is fed up with this one. Luke cheers up Lorelai with his cynicism about how fake the festival probably is.
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In walks Rachel. Luke’s Rachel. She took a flight to see Luke on impulse, after getting back from the Middle East. Luke is speechless. Stutters. Lost himself completely. Lorelai attempts small talk - the substance of which she feels completely stupid about later. She was babbling while Luke and Rachel devoured each other with their eyes.
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Lorelai says she had a dream about Max and it put her in a funk. After getting Rory ready for her date, Lorelai heads to Hartford. Starts babbling. Emily digs in on the fact that Rory’s dating is far more successful than Lorelai’s. It becomes apparent why Emily let Rory out of dinner so easily - she brought in a guy as a blind date for Lorelai.
"I want you to remember something. Tonight your daughter is celebrating her three month anniversary. When was the last time you had a relationship that lasted that long?"
So mean! But Richard sympathizes - Chase is odious.
Rory and Dean are having a lovely time - Rory even orders a single meatball to save as per Lorelai’s suggestion of the Lady & The Tramp moment. They move to phase 2 of the date to join the festival - where the mayor talks about how much true love has begun in that gazebo. Dean looks lovingly at Rory. As do all the other couples. Rory asks for her surprise before they watch the bonfire being lit.
Lorelai and Richard are bored stiff, and annoyed, while Emily keeps asking more questions of the very boring Chase. Emily then tells Lorelai and Chase to get brandy in the other room on their own - he looks at her in such a creepy icky so-not-attractive yet trying to be way. Lorelai excuses herself and tries to sneak out her old room - Richard catches her, but pretends he did not so that she may leave.
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Dean takes Rory to a salvage yard to show Rory the car he is building for her. She is very touched. She says they are having one of those moments which are so perfect it makes you sad - that nothing would ever be that good again. The moment is indeed beautiful, and Dean looks at Rory, after they kiss and she looks on him with so much happiness and says:
"Rory, I love you"
Rory’s jaw drops. Dean becomes offended when Rory does not return the gesture. She feels overwhelmed and wants time to think. He gets angry and hurt.
"This is not something you think about, Rory. This is something you either feel or you don’t"
Rory says it’s a big deal to say ‘I love you’, and mentions that her mother loved her dad. I don’t know if that refers to how it didn’t work out with them, or how Lorelai became pregnant. Dean doesn’t want to look at Rory.
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Rachel is snapping up shots of all the happy people at the festival. Luke wants to know why Rachel is there, and she notes he doesn’t sound all that happy to see her. The fact that she shows up and leaves suddenly is not a trait Luke likes. Rachel says she missed Luke. He says he missed her too. Then Rachel asks what the deal is with Lorelai. He says nothing… yet. He honestly doesn’t know - mixed signals. But it seems to boost Rachel’s ego to know that Luke is happy to see Rachel there.
Rachel goes to take more pictures, and Lorelai takes a seat beside Luke. Immediately they start laughing and talking. Lorelai asks what’s the deal with Rachel, but it’s an ‘I don’t know’ all around. But he says he may jump in and give it another try, even if she does leave at some point. Lorelai is happy that Luke has a ’someone’.
Lorelai goes home and calls her ’someone’ - Max. But just as she is about to leave a message, Rory walks in troubled.
"We just broke up."
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Tags: gilmore girls, gilmore girls season 1, gilmore girls episodes, star crossed lovers, star crossed lovers and other strangers, stars hollow, gilmore girls photos, gilmore girls screencaps
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POSTED IN: Dean Forester, Gilmore Girls Recaps, Gilmore Girls Screencaps, Lorelai's love life, Luke Danes, Rory Gilmore, Rory's love life
13 opinions for Gilmore Girls 1.16 “Star-Crossed Lovers and Other Strangers”
Agie
Nov 29, 2007 at 2:53 pm
I can’t believe Dean got mad at Rory because she didn’t say “i love you” back. i think that was very immature of him!
i think lorelai was a bit sad, and unlucky. she was sad that she wasn’t with Max, or even LUKE for that matter. and unlucky because she was alone without someone for the festival
Arieanna
Nov 29, 2007 at 3:24 pm
I agree, it was very immature of Dean. But he’s never known the life Rory has. His parents are together.
Rory grew up only with her mom, never with a male parent figure. She doesn’t have that same trust because her father has not been there for her. So, for her to say she loves a guy is hard.
Tucker
Nov 29, 2007 at 3:31 pm
it was immature of dean… but they are only 16 =/
I think Rachel was asking luke about Lorelai to see if he was even still availible. She had been gone for 5 years or however long it was…. she had to make sure he was single if she wanted to get back together with him right ?
Agie
Nov 29, 2007 at 3:37 pm
Plus she never heard her own mom say it, which i can see how her mom had a part in it. But i still think hes more to blame. if he cared for her so much he would have understood that she wasn’t ready to move that fast.
Mary
Nov 29, 2007 at 6:15 pm
In context of what Rory and Dean were talking about, it was wrong of him to get mad. After all, Rory had just stated how perfect that moment was and how wonderful she felt. Especially, if it is your first love, and you don’t know what to do.
But, in Dean’s mind, love is a simple thing, and it is the next step. Whereas, Rory and Lorelai don’t take love lightly, and it is this complex, allusive romantic feeling that may be unattainable. The only thing that they can really count on, is their mother and daughter devotion and love. So, romantic love, is unfamiliar, awkward, allusive, and down right strange to Rory and Lorelai.
When Rachel comes back, it brings back old feelings in Luke. Yet, he knows, he has feelings for Lorelai, because at the end of the episode, he says to Lorelai, “I will see you tom.” Even though Rachel is back, he does not want to give up his daily ritual with Lorelai. He told Rachel, they have moments, and he does know what to think. To bad Christopher and Rachel had to show up at the times they did.
I like the scene where Lorelai is walking through town and one of the Big Stars falls and breaks right in front. Showing her, how unlucky she is in love.
Jessica King
Nov 29, 2007 at 7:35 pm
I’m agree with Tucker,Arieanna and Agie that what they said about Dean is very immature.I’m so mad at Dean,when he say ‘I love you’ and she not ready say ‘I love you’ then broke up and Dean is so jerk for hurt Rory so much this episode.But Rory just afraid tell him for I love you too and I wish Dean should be patient for wait until what she say to him,but he not.
2.Lorelai was excited ask Luke and he said you on and see you tomorrow,but Rachel come back and see Luke at diner then Lorelai become sad and she is unlucky for dont have someone at festival without Max or Christopher.
3.Lorelai is very jealous of Rachel for she still feeling for Luke and Rachel broke Luke’s heart.
6.Rachel just out of curiosity about who Lorelai is
7.if Rachel love Luke or not.
8.Luke try want together with Rachel
Agie
Nov 29, 2007 at 8:42 pm
the whole lorelai and rachel thing is complicated to me. i really can’t make a discission on it! i just can’t believe lorelai didn’t show her feelings sooner than season 4/5– she sooo knew it!
Arieanna
Nov 29, 2007 at 9:34 pm
Now that I’ve thought even more about this, do you think Lorelai called Max because she felt left out of all the love in the air? You know, more because she was lonely than that she wanted to be with him?
Manu_GG
Nov 30, 2007 at 4:09 am
Awww, great episode!!
…The return of Rachel…Lorelai jealous…Dean and Rory break up…..things that are unforgetable!
…And the answer for your question Arieanna is YES!
Absollutely, Lorelai called Max because she was feeling lonely.
…God i miss those days of Lorelai and Luke jealous of each other!
Manu_GG
Nov 30, 2007 at 4:11 am
Here in Brazil, we are replaying season 3.
…Today is the episode that Jess goes to California to see his dad.
Agie
Nov 30, 2007 at 6:18 am
i hate that episode.
Pamela
Nov 30, 2007 at 11:27 am
Lorelei’s attitude about Luke is that she doesn’t quite want him, but she doesn’t want anyone else to want him either - at least not at this point. She very much likes to be in control and Rachel coming to Stars Hollow, out of the blue, sort of took the wind out of her sails, so to speak. As for Rachel loving Luke - she is too into herself to love him totally, which is why she fades in and out at the drop of a hat.
Dean’s reaction was immature. If I had been in Rory’s place I might have done the same thing. Boys at Dean’s age want the instant gratification be it words or action. Rory isn’t wired like that.
And, speaking of Max…who couldn’t love Max Medina (except when he is very cranky - remember his tirade about what his role was in Rory’s life). I would give him a call too if I were Lorelei because, I believe Max really loved her, but she couldn’t commit.
I must be tough have all those men vying for your attention like Christopher, Luke, Max Medina, Jason Stiles!
Alia
Dec 2, 2007 at 10:30 pm
OMG!! How can Dean be so mean? I know he is all controlling and stuff!! Typing this is getting me annoyed! I shall now focus on the questions… Lorelai is annoyed by the festival because everyone is in love and she doesn’t have anyone :( Rory brings up Max because Christopher is gone and she is only friends with Luke…For now… I think she is feeling unlucky and sad that she is unlucky… Lorelai was probably annoyed about making herself look silly in front of Rachel because it could be part of the feeling unlucky part of her day. Of course Dean was being irrationaly angry because he is up himself!!!! Poor Rory. her past probably plays into this because she is not sure if Lorelai ever loved any of her boyfriends. This is also Rory’s first boyfriend so she might be worried about screwing this up… I think Rachel asked Luke about Lorelai for herself because she came all this way to see Luke. I think Rachel would still be ok (but disappointed) that Luke had moved on…
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