Gilmore Girls 2.04 “The Trip to Harvard”
Gilmore Girls 2.04 "The Trip to Harvard"
Original Air Date: October 23, 2001 (Recap date: December 12, 2007)
Photos, Recap & Discussion
Discussion Questions:
- Does Lorelai realize why she didn’t marry Max?
- Lorelai was so sure of her feelings when she went back to Max… why does she not love him now?
- How do you think Luke interpreted the news of Lorelai breaking off her engagement?
- Why did Lorelai get upset looking at the photos at Harvard?
- Did you notice a familiar student in the lecture? Hint: he now co-stars with Milo Ventimiglia
- Why does Lorelai open up to Luke, but nobody else?
- When Luke suggests Lorelai ‘pick his brain’ - is that a date?
- Do you think Lorelai decided to start progress on her Inn realizing that Rory would be leading her own life & dreams very soon?
- Did Lorelai realize that her dream, right now, was not marriage? That there was more she wanted?
Gilmore Girls Episode Recap & Photos:
So, where did that road trip lead to? Well, nowhere yet. They’re lost. Or being ‘guided by fate’. Your pick. After picking up some roadside food (nuts), Lorelai calls Sookie to tell her she’s not coming to work… or to her wedding. Poor Sookie had already made the cake, but doesn’t tell Lorelai.
"You were a good cake, Clyde. I never shoulda named you."
They are heading towards Portsmith, according to Rory’s map skills. Lorelai’s sense of adventure brings them to an old friend’s at the "Cheshire Cat Bed & Breakfast" - but, Donald had sold out to a very frilly woman named LeDon. So, Donald’s eclectic century themed rooms have been replaced by… Lorelai’s worst nightmare. Flowers and frills and cats and dolls.
Lorelai fears being accosted by the cocktail hour dentists at the Inn for horrid chit chat. So much for dinner. Rory tries to bring up Max. She wants to make sure Lorelai is not just running - she thinks Lorelai loves Max and is scared. Rory is mad at Lorelai for making her a child in this conversation. And for tossing of their life so casually. Lorelai simply yells at Rory for suggesting she will regret it.
Once the lights are off, Lorelai says she is sure - that she wishes she loved Max.
Lorelai writes "Satanic forces are at work here" in the guest book. They try to sneak out for food, but are chit-chatted into staying. The scones were a good incentive. Lorelai sneaks off for ‘publishing business’ and leaves Rory in the grip of the guests.
Sookie tells Lorelai her news has spread - except to Luke, who has kept to himself lately. Sookie breaks the news to him. He seems sorry, and surprised. But, not sad. He generously offers Kirk a 9th refill… for free. And offers free coffee to everyone.
Looking at the map, Lorelai figures out where they are headed. Boston - Harvard! Lorelai gets hit on by a college guy. She pretends she knows him. Rory thinks she’s stupid when faced with the 13 million volume Harvard library collection. Lorelai drags Rory into a dorm and pretends to be a student again. Lorelai even walks into an open dorm room to look around and take a picture. Then they sneak into a lecture. Rory even contradicts the professor!
Returning to Stars Hollow, everybody just wants to console Lorelai. Seeing the chuppa makes Lorelai sad. She stands under it and cries a bit.
Lorelai shows her Harvard slideshow to Emily. Most photos are fuzzy. Lorelai tries to break the news about Max, but Emily assumes it’s that Lorelai eloped and is furious. Emily does not seem surprised or sorry upon being corrected. Lorelai wants to know what her gift was - Emily decides to hold it over Lorelai as a surprise until she does get married.
Lane is home. She had a good time, too. Good food, nice family, lots of shopping.
Luke apologizes for coming down so hard on Max. Feels guilty. Lorelai tells him not to - that he is great. Then he feels guilty about leaving the chuppa on her lawn - he forgot. Lorelai tells him she wants to keep it. That it was a beautiful gift.
They talk about the trip. Luke instantly sympathizes with Lorelai - knowing that seeing Rory fit so well at Harvard would hurt her. Lorelai opens up to Luke in a way she hasn’t yet to Rory or Sookie.
"These past few days… so many thoughts about my life then. My life now. What I missed. Thoughts about what I’ll never have. And what I want to have."
And she asks Luke if he knows how to open a line of credit. She wants to open the Inn - now. Luke encourages her - that she can do anything. She knows her stuff. Luke offers up his time to Lorelai to talk over things. I think she feels better.
She looks at Luke and can say nothing but ‘thank you’.
Rory goes to talk with Lane about Harvard. Sad for a second, Lorelai calls Sookie to talk ‘Inn’ matters.
Tags: gilmore girls, gilmore girls season 2, the trip to harvard, rory lorelai, lorelai max, luke, gilmore girls recaps, gilmore girls photos, screencaps, episodes
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POSTED IN: Discussions, Gilmore Girls Recaps, Gilmore Girls Screencaps, Lorelai Gilmore, Lorelai's love life, Luke Danes
6 opinions for Gilmore Girls 2.04 “The Trip to Harvard”
michael
Dec 12, 2007 at 2:45 pm
does anyone know who lorelai was looking at in the valedictorian pictures at harvard?????
Arman Guvenc
Dec 12, 2007 at 2:56 pm
it doesn’t matter. she looked there because it could have been her if she didn’t get preagnant. that was the important thing.
Arieanna
Dec 12, 2007 at 3:22 pm
You know, I think it was not about her only. I think part of it was, but not entirely.
Look at what Lorelai said to Luke. About her past, her future. I think, looking at the photos, she was sad about a past that would not be. But also sad because Rory is going for that dream - Rory could be on that wall.
I think that all inspired Lorelai to go after her own dream - the Inn.
Katie V.
Dec 12, 2007 at 3:44 pm
As soon as i realized who that guy was in the classroom i threw my hands up in the air and screamed “HIRO”. Does any one also realize the same actress plays Francine Hayden and Angela Petrelli?
Jessica King
Dec 12, 2007 at 7:13 pm
I love part of Luke and Lorelai conversation and make she feel better from Max.Lorelai want keep the chuppa-who made for her,that so sweet.
Jillian
Dec 13, 2007 at 9:10 pm
This is one of my all-time favorite GG episodes because not only is Lorelai hysterical throughout most of the episode but also because I get every reference and especially because of how tight Lorelai and Luke are. I think she opened up to Luke so much because not only was he willing to listen but he’s the only one who tells her the truth. Also, it’s evident that he really does care about her.
When Lorelai says; “thank-you” to Luke I get the feeling that maybe subconsciously she was thanking him for stopping her from making a big mistake. She was so caught up in the allure of weddings and everyone around her kept on pressuring her to get married to Max that she hid her doubts. Luke was the only person who constantly tried to make her aware she was getting married for the wrong reasons… of course that may have covered up his own desires to break her off from Max. When he gave her the Chouppa and they had the talk on the stairs not too soon afterwards Lorelai realized how she really felt and needed to get away from anymore influences for a little bit. I think Luke was sincerely surprised and felt bad for Lorelai when he first heard the news but there is definately a sense of great relief that takes over. Lorelai listens to Luke and what he says sinks in unlike some other people she deals with.
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