Gilmore Girls 3.15 “Face-Off”

Gilmore Girls 3.15 "Face-Off"
Original Air Date: February 18, 2003 (Recap date: February 1, 2008)
Photos, Recap & Discussion

Discussion Questions:

• Are you surprised Richard is not getting annoyed by Trix too?
• Why doesn’t Rory just call Jess, instead of pouting about why he didn’t call her?
• Why doesn’t Rory ask Jess why he didn’t call?
• Does Rory regret giving up the faithful Dean?
• Is Jess being disrespectful to Rory?
• Do you think Rory overreacted?
• Is Trix aware she hurts Emily?
• Did Lorelai encourage Rory to be unfair to Jess?
• Why does Rory lie to Lorelai about what she did after the game?
• Why is Rory sad?

Gilmore Girls Episode Recap & Photos:

Taylor’s family will be staying at the Inn for the Doose reunion, and Lorelai just seems "thrilled" about that. They all appear as anal as he is. Lorelai goes to fetch coffee, which Rory forgot to bring back to her. Rory pretends to have a French malady to get rid of Taylor - he gives them very verbose buttons for a hockey game. Stars Hollow High made it to the regional semi-finals for the first time in many years.

Rory and Lorelai are racing to finish their dinner at the Gilmore mansion. Emily is straining under having received the 40th ’simple question’ from Trix that day. While Emily is on the phone with Trix again and Richard gets the door, Lorelai and Rory argue about who is eating faster. They are rushing to get out to their plans.

Trix was making sure there’d be soap in her bathroom when she spends a few days with them. And men have arrived to take a mattress up to the guest room for Trix. Emily won’t let Rory & Lorelai go without knowing why they want to rush out. They have dates. Emily tells them they will stay for dessert and threatens to throwin a game of charades if they object.

There is no message from Jess at home, though Rory expected him to call to set up their date after he got off work. He never does call - Rory studies, cleans, watches tv. But does not call him.

Lorelai points out that fact the next day. They walk by the school, which has been TP’ed. Rory sees Dean and starts comparing Jess to Dean because Dean always called. Lorelai says she can’t compare them, and that Rory was very spoiled with Dean. Suggests Rory not freeze out Jess until she hears what he has to say.

Jess doesn’t say a peep to Rory about missing their call / date. Luke is sick of the hockey fever. Jess gives Rory the muffins to go, and Rory leaves without looking at him. Lorelai tells Jess that he and Rory are in a fight. He says he didn’t get off work until midnight and had no time to call.

The band is practicing some Christian songs - Mrs. Kim booked them. Mrs. Kim also arranged for Lane to be on a date that night. Lane and Dave came up with a plan for her date to dump her, crush her, and guilt Mrs. Kim into letting her date Dave. The date already knows about this - he too is in love with someone secretly. He’s the male Lane.

The Doose clan is at the Inn, and Michel is having a confrontation with an old man. Michel inadvertently said "that’s nice" when the man said he fought in the war. Taylor has an itinerary for the family, but his older brother says it’s stupid and cancels it all.

Emily stops by the Inn on the pretext of setting up a DAR lunch. Trix has banished her from her own house while she prepares for a party. She has a list of errands from Trix but is clearly losing it. Lorelai helps out by offering her slide projector.

Lane goes on her date - seeing it all makes Dave a little sad. Rory is at home brooding again. Lorelai says it’s not good to spend a day and a half waiting for Jess to call. Lorelai suggests the hockey game.

Emily comes home and sees Trix kissing a man in a purple leisure suit. Emily quickly slips back outside and says ‘oh my.’

Babette and Miss Patty sing the anthem. Rory makes it to the hockey game as a "free woman". She waves at Dean. Dave, not quite as ‘ok’ with the fake dating as he thought he would be, goes to check on Lane during his break. Rory and Lane run into Lindsay in the line. Things are awkward and weird. The girls don’t know why. Dave comes for about 30 seconds then has to go back. Lane is excited that Dave is jealous.

Jess comes by the house for Rory and Lorelai hassles him for not calling and for treating Rory badly. He thinks Rory knows he’s not the schedule kinda guy.

We know why Lindsay was weird - she is dating Dean! Rory and Lane see them kissing. Rory says she’s fine, but can’t stop looking at Lindsay. Kirk is having very little luck with this Hockey for Dummies announcing.

Lorelai drops off things at the Gilmore house and is asked to come meet everybody. Trix finds fault in everything Emily does. Emily is not phased - indeed, she’s singing. Hints to Trix about why a love song may be stuck in her head. Lorelai takes her away and Emily shares her thrilling news about the man. Not because she’s happy for Trix, but because she finally has something to hold over her. Lorelai convinces Emily it would be bad manners to embarrass Trix in front of company.

But… Emily breaks down. Trix was insulting Emily about when dinner was served and being a bad wife, so Emily points her finger and says she saw Trix kissing a man. Everyone is taken aback.

Stars Hollow lost the hockey game. Dean comes to talk with Rory - Rory says she thinks it’s great, about Lindsay. Dean seems happy to hear that, and relieved that it’s out in the open. He asks how things are with Jess - Rory says great. But storms out, picks up a pay phone, and leaves an angry message for Jess telling him she won’t be the girl to wait for his call; she wants a plan on when and where they will meet. And says she plans to go on being spoiled.

She walks out of the rink and sees Jess there waiting for her. He had stood in line for a long time to get them concert tickets for that night. Rory asks him to delete the messages on the machine without listening to them.

Emily apologizes to Trix for not respecting her privacy. Trix says she has no desire to re-marry and dishonor the memory of her husband. This man has been her companion for many years. Emily feels terrible, but says she would like for Trix to know she causes her pain and embarrasses her too; thinks Trix should feel terrible too. Emily says she gets lonely too.

Lorelai sticks up for Emily to her father. Richard just laughs at the whole situation. The jogging suits, his ‘new daddy’, Emily hiding in the bushes. Emily comes down to get some tea for her and Trix - Emily seems happy. Sort of. Trix still sends down a maid to make sure Emily makes the tea correctly. 

Rory tells her mom she hung out with Lane after the game. Rory goes to her room and curls up on her bed. She looks sad.  

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