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Gilmore Girls 6.08 “Let Me Hear Your Balalaikas Ringing Out”

by Arieanna on April 25th, 2008

Gilmore Girls 6.08 "Let Me Hear Your Balalaikas Ringing Out"
Original Air Date: November 8, 2005 (Recap date: April 25, 2008)
Recap & Discussion

Discussion Questions:

• Is Lorelai hesitating on paint colors because Rory is not there?
• Why does the storyline go back and forth between Luke not liking kids and Luke wanting kids? Isn’t that inconsistent?
• Why doesn’t Rory tell Emily to back off a bit?
• Is Paul Anka sensing that Lorelai is depressed about Rory?
• Why is Logan putting up such a fuss about going to Omaha?
• Why did Jess go to visit Rory?
• Why does Jess credit Rory for playing a part in writing that novel?
• Do you find it odd that Rory didn’t tell Jess about having a boyfriend?
• Does Logan realize Rory dated Jess? Is there a vibe?
• Should Logan have let Rory see Jess on her own? Should Rory have insisted?
• Did Jess fill the role of the "wake-up call" that Lorelai knew Rory needed? A reminder about herself?
• How does Logan fit into all this? Is he a symptom of Rory becoming someone that is not her?
• Is Logan an alcoholic?
• What are we supposed to understand from the contrast between Jess trying to prompt Rory to take back her life and Logan just letting it all slide as temporary?
• Is Rory blaming Logan for not returning to Yale?
• Did the contrast of Logan getting the life she wants so easily make Rory give up on her own life?
• Why didn’t Rory go home?
• Does Paul Anka being sick make Lorelai realize she should have done more for Rory?
• Why is Emily so mad at Rory?
• Has Emily crossed a line? Become a mother? Forgotten how old Rory is?

Gilmore Girls Episode Recap:

Lorelai is choosing paint colors, a difficult task, made more difficult because she keeps changing her mind. Luke collects Lorelai’s shoes - Paul Anka has brought them downstairs one by one and lined them up. Lorelai tells him that Paul Anka has to bring them back up himself.

There is a white that Lorelai liked, but it doesn’t go with Paul Anka, so it’s out. They are under a time crunch to choose colors, so Lorelai sees if Paul Anka has any preferences. Paul Anka licks dark magenta. 

Emily wakes Rory up despite Rory’s complaints that she doesn’t want to wake up yet.

Lorelai has chosen a full set of paint colors… for Luke’s apartment. And for Babette’s place and Sookie’s place. Everywhere but her own place.

Some middle school girls come to Luke looking to see if he’ll be their new soccer team sponsor. He’d get Luke’s Diner on the jerseys and wouldn’t have to come to the games. Luke says it’s not his thing. The girls look sad, as does Lorelai. Lorelai points out they are just looking for a sponsor, not a coach. And it’s free advertising. Lorelai thinks up colors for Al’s Pancake World then, so Luke takes away the color samples. Lorelai begs for them back. Luke agrees to sponsor the soccer team and the girls give him a bear hug. Lorelai points to a nice color for the jerseys.

Mitchum has called Logan off for yet another meeting, with almost no notice. Logan is going to a paper in Omaha, but has a big blowout party planned for that night. Rory says she can make time to come, then switches direction to avoid her grandmother. The big house is feeling Tom Thumb tiny.

Emily catches Rory going out the door and asks where she’ll be. Even suggests the maid run Rory’s errands for her. Emily asks Rory is she’s staying with Paris again this week. Emily is annoyed that Rory didn’t tell her that she won’t be there for dinner - she expects 24 hours notice if Rory won’t be around. Rory keeps trying to leave, but Emily keeps her around to show her a dress she bought for Rory for the Russian Tea for the DAR.

Lorelai has Babette over trying to help her with paint, but Babette is as indecisive as Lorelai is. Luke tells Lorelai she’s going to rot in hell (jokingly) because Lorelai is trying to force Babette to choose for her. Babette brings over some dog training and daycare manuals for Paul Anka, though Lorelai has no expectations of being able to keep Paul Anka from getting distracted or frightened.

Luke is being his usual organized self when it comes to getting the jerseys printed - he wants them to be perfect. At any cost. He wants "his girls" to look good. Lorelai wants one for herself as well - and for Paul Anka. Who is pawing at Rory’s bedroom door. Lorelai thinks he’s depressed. Luke then notices that he can have caps made for the girls too, so he calls to order some.

Colin and Finn are transforming the Tom Dooley song the folk singer is singing into a lesbian snuff film. The boys are boozing it up since the pub is holding folk night. Logan is quite drunk. He is also itching for a new Life & Death Brigade stunt. They close out the bar and cause a lot of noise leaving the bar, pissing off the neighbors. Rory is set with the task of getting the drunk boys home. Logan runs back trying to get one more drink.

Logan is whining about not wanting to go to Omaha. About how boring it would be, and that going home means he has to wake up and go there soon. Rory manages to get him into the car only to find that Colin and Finn have run off.

Rory arrives back home late that night and finds Jess waiting for her at the gate! He’s in town on business and Luke told him where to find her. Jess has something to show Rory. Rory takes them in, since they are exposed to Emily’s window from there. Rory takes Jess to her room in the mansion and stuffs a pillow under the door to mute the sound.

Jess notices Rory’s dress and questions the "function" Rory is going to. Rory talks briefly about her job with the DAR and her issues with her mom. Jess knew a little from Luke. Rory keeps insisting how temporary everything is - her job, living with her grandparents. Jess asks why Rory is not living on campus and Rory mentions she’s not going to school. and Jess says "time off" in a sure-you-are kind of way.

Rory asks where Jess has been, and he says he’s living in Philadelphia. The scene is young. Rory agrees that there’s a good art scene there. Jess notices that Rory is fidgeting and asks if she’s nervous - Rory admits she is. Jess feels that way too. Jess came there with a purpose though - he digs in his bag saying:

"I didn’t think you’d believe it if I didn’t show it to you in person."

He pulls out a small book entitled The Subsect written by Jess Mariano! He wrote a short novel and had it printed by a small press. Jess insists he only printed 500 and there’s no money in it, but Rory is just stunned that Jess wrote a book! Jess is in town asking independent bookstores to stock his book, a few have agreed. Rory wants to see it in a store, so Jess says he’ll give her an address. Rory has an idea for that:

"You know that section toward the front, the staff recommendations? I’m going to grab a copy of your book and put it in that section. And then I’m going to write my own little recommendation on a card and attach it so people see it and buy it."

Jess suggests maybe reading it first. Rory says it will be great, she knew he had the brains to do something like this. Jess tells Rory he works at that press now. Rory asks him about a sequel, but Jess just says to read it first. Rory says "shh" thinking she heard footsteps. False alarm. Jess says it’s late and he should go.

"So I just basically wanted to show you that. Tell you - tell you that I couldn’t have done it without you."

Jess will be in town again and wants to talk more. Rory says tomorrow night would work great. Jess says he’ll sneak out on his own. He leaves Rory with her own copy of his book. Rory sits down right away to read it.

The girls are playing soccer in their new Luke’s Diner uniforms - not only are there jerseys and hats, but there are also jackets! Luke is proud of how his girls look. The girls come to say hi to Luke and he bends right down to give them a little pep talk before the game. Luke tells them there is a celebration after the game at the diner, win or lose.

Lorelai tells Luke that she sent Paul Anka to doggy daycare and after a few missteps he seems to be playing with the other dogs. It may do him some good. The game starts and it turns out the girls are very violent soccer players. Nothing is being fouled, but there is blood. The parents are supporting the agression. After the game, all Luke and Lorelai can talk about is how violent the game was. Even the refs seemed afraid to call a foul.

"Bobcats thirty-seven, humanity nothing! I don’t want to go to another game."

Jess is picking up some pebbles from the fountain outside the Gilmore mansion. He tosses them at Rory’s window, but she’s already coming out the front door. Jess wasn’t sure if he could ring the doorbell or not. Rory says Emily is out anyway. Rory doesn’t know of anyplace to eat around Hartford - she mostly eats at the mansion. Jess wants to go somewhere more funky, so suggests heading to the college district.

Just then, Logan pulls up. Immediately jealous and suspicious. Rory introduces the boys and there’s a good stare-down. Logan puts his arm around Rory and asks that Jess follow them to dinner. Rory almost takes his arm off, feeling it’s a little possessive. Jess stares at the Porsche with a little disbelief and sarcasm then goes to get his own car.

Paul Anka has brought down more of Lorelai’s shoes and has lined them from the front door to Rory’s room. He whines.

Luke is trying to tell the girls not to play such a hard game of soccer. They’re at the diner for the post-game celebration. The girls are defending the way they play as the way the boys play. The "but boys are boys and girls are girls" is the last thing those girls wanted to hear.

Lorelai calls Luke worried that Paul Anka is sick. That he doesn’t want to walk or eat. He hasn’t eaten anything in two days. The vet said it’s just a bug and to let it pass but Lorelai feels very helpless. Luke says he’ll be over after the girls leave the diner.

Logan has taken Jess and Rory to the pub ("Rich Man’s Shoe") for dinner, but none of the trio seem comfortable. Logan is drinking a lot, and Jess is no longer hungry - he’s barely drinking. Logan sticks his money in Jess’ face a few times. It’s not long before Logan asks if Rory and Jess used to date. Rory affirms it but he wants details. Logan grills Jess on what he does but Jess isn’t forthcoming about details, Rory fills in the blanks. Logan’s manner is very arrogant and he tries to toss out author names to prove his own intelligence prowess. Logan says he should write a novel too, just toss in thoughts and stuff. He then asks Jess sarcastically for a copy of his book.

"Where do I send it? The blond dick at Yale?"

Jess decides to make his exit. Logan doesn’t want Rory to follow, but Rory looks at Logan and tells him not to follow. She runs after Jess. Rory apologizes for Logan being a jerk - she agrees he is, and has been in a bad way lately. Jess had a read on him the second he saw him. Rory tries to make excuses for Logan.

Jess looks Rory up and down and asks what the Hell is going on. She thinks he means about Logan, but Jess says with her. Rory looks confused.

"I know you. I know you better than anyone! This isn’t you."

Rory says she doesn’t know.

"What are you doing? Living at your grandparents’ place? Being in the DAR? No Yale - why did you drop out of Yale?"

Rory says it’s complicated, but Jess yells back that it’s not.

"This isn’t you! This! You going out with this jerk, with the Porsche! We made fun of guys like this!"

Rory says again that Jess caught Logan on a bad night, but Jess is getting exasperated. He says it’s not about Logan.

"Screw him! What’s going on with you? This isn’t you, Rory. You know it isn’t. What’s going on?"

She’s starting to figure it out, and Jess just keeps looking at her questioningly. Rory says she doesn’t know a couple of times, wrapping her coat rightly around herself. Jess says maybe they’ll catch up at a better time. Rory can’t look Jess in the face. Jess touches Rory’s elbow and leaves. He turns and wishes her a happy birthday, knowing it was a couple of weeks ago. Rory just nods, looking sad. Then looks away. Jess smiles a little and leaves.

Rory sets her face and goes back inside to find Logan working on his next drink. Logan asks if Jess is gone, then says "ah, writers, so sensitive" in a mocking way. Rory calls Logan a jerk, which he brushes off. Logan tells Rory not to let Jess get to her. Rory yells back that he’s getting to her. Rory says he was an ass.

Rory says Jess wrote a book and Logan mocked him. That Jess is doing something and look at her, what is she doing? Living with her grandparents. Logan says it’s temporary and offers Rory a drink. Rory says temporary can turn into forever. She’s hanging with her grandmother and being waited on by a maid and Rory realizes with a shock that she’s in the DAR and going to cocktail parties. Logan offers Rory a drink, but she says she’s wasting her time partying and drinking and hanging out.

Logan gets up thinking Rory has pulled him into her rant. He says her drinking and partying is her choice. That she could say no when he asks her out. Rory says it’s all they do. Logan insists it’s not, but Rory retorts:

"It’s all you do!"

Logan says that’s his prerogative and yes, he’s going to party. Because, come June, his life is over. Rory sarcastically says:

"Oh, yes, your horrible life. Let’s hear about it."

Logan’s eyes are blaring mad and he says "gotta week." Rory says Logan has every door open to him and he has opportunities anyone would kill for, including her. Logan snaps back:

"No one’s stopping you from making whatever you want happen! Go into journalism! Go into politics! Be a doctor, be a clown! Do whatever you want!"

Rory says it’s not so easy when it’s not handed to you. Logan says back:

"Really. It’s all so easy for me? I don’t want that life! It’s forced on me! You talk about all these doors being open? All I see is one door, and I’m being pushed through it! I have no choice! You try living without options."

Rory asks how hard he’s fighting it, and Logan snaps back he didn’t tell her to quit Yale. She did that. If she wants to change, then change it. But that she has no right to blame him. Logan then tells Rory she should go off with "whatever his name is". Rory says she’s not going off with Jess, then Logan tries to leave with her. Rory says she doesn’t want to go with him. Logan tosses down a wad of money for a cab. He tells Rory to do whatever she wants, that it’s her choice.

Emily knocks on Rory’s door at 7:30am but there’s no answer. Emily goes in - there is no Rory. She hasn’t slept there.

Luke is alseep at Lorelai’s, but she’s not in bed. He calls for her, then goes looking. She’s in Rory’s room sleeping on the chair and Paul Anka is sleeping on Rory’s bed. Lorelai looks like she’s been crying. Luke wakes her up and she asks if Paul Anka is ok, if he’s breathing. She kept checking on him but when she left, she’d feel like he needed her, so she slept with him. She still can’t get him to eat and has a turkey baster in case he gets thirsty.

Lorelai thinks the shoes were a message for Lorelai to take him to the vet. Lorelai is crying now. She tried to do the right things for him. Lorelai thinks she shouldn’t have taken Paul Anka to Kirk’s Doggy Daycare.

"I did this wrong. I did this all wrong! How could I have let this happen? How did I not see it coming? How didn’t I step in and do something? And why can’t I fix these things?"

Luke starts to rub Lorelai’s neck. Lorelai cries that she’s a bad mother. Luke says he’ll call Sookie to say she’ll be late. Luke kisses Lorelai and says everything will be ok.

Rory spent the night with Lane and is very grateful for it. Lane tells her that Emily left a message on her cell phone, which makes Rory angry.

Emily storms into the Russian tea and confronts Rory. Rory says later when Emily insists on talking to her. Emily calls her "young lady" and insists they talk. Rory says no very firmly. Emily complains about the guitars; Rory corrects her, that they are balalaikas. Emily is annoyed with Rory’s tone, but Rory says she’s forcing it. Emily walks after her asking where Rory was last night and why she didn’t call, and why she’s now not wearing her dress.

Rory says that what Emily missed was her inspection of Rory, but Emily says they’re for Rory’s own good since she’s new to the DAR and doesn’t know the "proper dress." Emily says it’s not just about her, that everyone was worried. Rory snaps back that "everyone" means everyone that Emily called from Rory’s private address book. Emily admits she called people. Rory says she shouldn’t have. Emily goes on about Rory not having an updated address book and threatens to throw it out. Rory yells back she will not throw that book out.

Emily tells Rory not to use that tone with her.

"You are becoming more like your mother with every passing day."

"And you are becoming more like my mother’s mother with every passing day!"

That sparks up Emily. The finger starts pointing at Rory. Emily tells Rory she’s grounded. Rory says she can’t be grounded, she’s 21. They are making a scene. Emily hautily says no more sleepovers with Paris either. Rory says she goes wherever she wants, whenever she wants.

"And I haven’t been sleeping at Paris’ house three nights a week! I’ve been at Logan’s!"

Emily says when "your father" gets home they are going to have a talk on house rules. Rory confusedly asks if she meant her grandfather. Rory says she’s have to be living at the house to have house rules and excuses herself and leaves. Emily yells after Rory not to walk away from her.

Rory storms out the door and Emily storms out the opposite door. The balalaikas complete their song.  

Tags: gilmore girls, gilmore girls season six, gilmore girls season 6, let me hear your balalaikas ringing out, gilmore girls episodes, gilmore girls recap, balalaikas, jess mariao, logan huntzberger, dar, emily gilmore, paul anka

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POSTED IN: Discussions, Emily Gilmore, Gilmore Girls Recaps, Jess Mariano, Lane Kim, Logan Huntzberger, Lorelai Gilmore, Luke Danes, Rory Gilmore, Rory's love life