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Gilmore Girls 6.12 “Just Like Gwen and Gavin”

by Arieanna on May 1st, 2008

Gilmore Girls 6.12 "Just Like Gwen and Gavin"
Original Air Date: January 17, 2006 (Recap date: May 1, 2008)
Recap & Discussion

Discussion Questions:

• Taylor has let Kirk run events before - why wake the whole town up about not being there for this one?
• Is Luke purposefully lying to Lorelai now, not just keeping a secret? Is there a difference?
• What do you think of Lorelai’s booth game idea? Would you pay $1 to have a dog tell your fortune?
• What do you think of Logan’s attempts to win back Rory? Are they sincere, or simply an example of what one can do with lots of money?
• Would Luke prefer to disappoint April than to be honest with Lorelai?
• Would Kirk make a good Taylor?
• Does Luke think he can keep April secret from Lorelai if she doesn’t come by the diner? What about the gossip in the town?
• Why does Logan think Lorelai will help him?
• Are you surprised Lorelai is willing to hear Logan out?
• Why is Paris getting worse as a writer as the result of being an editor?
• Do you think Paris is going overboard with her systems?
• What do you think was in the letter? Why would it make Rory laugh? What could Lorelai possibly say to change Rory’s mind?
• What does Luke’s secret say about his relationship with Lorelai?
• Does Mrs. Kim approve of Zack now?
• Why does Luke want to postpone the wedding? Why does Lorelai suggest it?
• Does Lorelai think that perhaps she is fated never to marry?

Gilmore Girls Episode Recap:

The church bells start to chime at 3:12am, waking up Luke & Lorelai and probably the rest of Stars Hollow. Someone outside is yelling "Town Meeting" and Lorelai drags Luke out of bed to attend. The town has filled the town hall in their PJs. Kirk sets up a monitor and turns it own - Taylor is broadcasting an urgent notice from a remote location. Where a kid named Timmy is throwing ping-pong balls at Taylor’s head.

The annual Stars Hollow Winter Carnival is this weekend and he is snowed in at his sister’s in Maine. He’s always run this carnival, and Stars Hollow has never cancelled a carnival of any sort. Miss Patty asks Kirk to do it and problem solved. Easier than Taylor expected. The town empties out while Taylor continues to leave instructions.

Luke isn’t doing well without his sleep. He has served a customer having tea a refill of coffee - a "hybrid" that Luke says is "in" right now. Lorelai has had an extra-productive morning. Lorelai even volunteered to man a booth at the festival. Luke says he has no special plans for the day - "the usual" errands. Luke sleepily takes away both of Lorelai’s coffees, instead of just the second one he accidentally gave her.

Rory returns to find a beautiful vase of flowers at her door. She sighs and picks them up. The whole apartment is filled with flowers. Paris thinks it puts them in danger - too much bling making them a target. Rory refuses to talk to Logan, figuring he’ll get the message eventually. UPS knocks at the door and Paris hides in fear. Rory apologizes for the fancy fruit being delivered.

Luke meets April in a snow-filled park. It was Luke’s idea to meet there, thinking it a fun place for kids. However, April is as practical as Luke is, and isn’t into the playing. Luke mentions he’d like to make their meetings semi-regular or even regular. April has a week off of school, so Luke suggests meeting again tomorrow for something less cold. April’s interests, like Morse code, are outside Luke’s expertise, and Luke’s other ideas for hanging out are not interesting her. April suggests just hanging out at the diner. They fascinate her. It’s what she has herself set on, so Luke agrees.

Kirk is pestering Lorelai about her booth game for the Winter Carnival. Lorelai promises not to disappoint or embarrass him with her unorthodox choices. Kirk says Lorelai doesn’t keep her promises, and gives various examples. Lorelai welcomes Liam from the New England Maple Syrup Council to the Dragonfly. Kirk inappropriately tries to ask the guest a question:

"Would you pay a dollar to have your fortune told by a dog?"

Lorelai says it’s for a carnival. It looks like Lorelai has Paul Anka in mind to be a fortune teller!

Paris is looking over shoulders at the Yale Daily News making a lot of critical comments. Paris shows Rory the new activity board - so Paris knows where everyone is at all times. Rory leaves the office and her way is blocked by a coffee cart. A coffee cart that is there for her. Courtesy of Logan Huntzberger. He’s hired for the day, so proceeds to follow Rory.

Luke calls Anna, who says that April had a great time on her first outing. Luke is trying to say that the diner is maybe not the best place for April. Anna says April is low maintenance. When Anna doesn’t back down on April coming over, Luke says tomorrow may not be good at all. Anna says that is not how it works, that you don’t get to have a "bad time" when you’re a parent. Anna doesn’t want April’s hopes to get up if he’s going to cancel. Luke is either all in or all out. Luke says for April to come to the diner tomorrow.

The staffers at the Yale Daily News are holding a meeting about Paris, who has been looking through their trash even! Rory spots them at the bar - she was not invited. They tell Rory they’re having a meeting about Kaiser Gellar and her reign of terror - that Paris is re-writing so much that the paper is just going to crap. Paris used to be good, but the copy is just getting horrible.

The senior staffers have the right to force Paris out - Rory reminds them she’s a senior staffer, but they say she’s in Paris’ pocket. Rory says her personal feelings can’t get in way of her being devoted to the paper. Rory agrees there’s a problem they should talk about. Rory’s coffee cart guy, Ben, clears his throat. Rory offers them his services, so they order away.

Lorelai runs into Taylor who was lucky enough to get a flight out of Maine. He’s hiding in his sweater though:

"I’m incognito! Don’t you see? With the Carnival coming up, this is my Huckleberry Finn opportunity to observe things invisibly. You know, I’m not going to be around forever, Lorelai."

Taylor says he’s mortal and that someone, maybe Kirk, will have to take over his "delicate tasks", like measuring the height of lawns.

Zack is keeping himself busy with the Carnival, not so happy with the state of things: no band, no girlfriend, no best friend, and crappy job. Lorelai says he’ll move on, that it’s human nature, but then Zack gets worried that Lane has moved on. Lorelai gets annoyed with Kirk for putting a Tarot Card Reading booth next to hers - he doubted Paul Anka’s ability to predict the future. Lorelai says it’s all fake, despite the fact that Lulu believes in the cards.

Luke calls Lorelai saying he needs to run something past her. In person. Lorelai says she’s super busy, so Luke asks if she’s coming by the diner. She won’t be stopping by, which seems to satisfy Luke. Zack sees Mrs. Kim talking to a Korean guy about "we" being there when the carnival begins. He asks Mrs. Kim to tell Lane he’ll see her later. Zack looks sad.

Luke sees April talking to the mailman and pulls her inside, reprimanding her for talking to a stranger. Luke confuses her by saying not to trust anyone, but that it’s a safe town. Luke asks April if she wants to color, which makes her laugh. April wants to help out around the diner.

Sookie and Lorelai are disgusted by the syrup tasting - plain syrup, drunk like coffee. Lorelai wonders how one discovers a talent for syrup tasting. When the spit buckets come out, Lorelai and Sookie leave the room.

Lorelai finds Logan waiting for her in the Dragonfly’s living room. Logan asks for a minute of her time - she seems angry he is there. Logan knows he’s not high on Lorelai’s list, which she confirms saying he’s definitely above the guy who thought up smallpox blankets. Lorelai decides to take inventory of the things that have happened to Rory since Logan entered her life:

"arrested, convicted, she’s on probation, she’ll have a criminal record unless we can get it expunged, she dropped out of school, moved out of my house, she didn’t speak to me for five months, three weeks and sixteen days"

Lorelai then sarcastically says that, wait, maybe he is her favorite person. Logan says he can defend herself on a couple of those points, but Lorelai says he can’t and asks why he’s there. Logan says he misses Rory - that he made a mistake and is trying to rectify it, but nothing is working. He’s doing what he can think of, with all the gifts, which Lorelai scoffs at - his "old standbys".

Lorelai says it sounds like Rory is trying to show him how she feels, but Logan knows it’s a suicide mission. He just wants to exhaust all of his options, including talking to Lorelai to ask for help. Lorelai looks at him cautiosly, unsure if he’s being honest. Logan says he’s going for broke, and Lorelai says he’s got moxie for that. Logan says he gets that from his dad, and Lorelai says she hates his dad. He agrees - something in common. That makes Lorelai smirk.

Lorelai does show up to the diner, and says hi to April, who is filling the salt. Lorelai asks how she landed the gig, and April tells Lorelai that her father owns the place. Lorelai questions that just as Luke comes around the counter from the kitchen. April keeps rambling about not knowing what to call Luke yet, while Lorelai just stares at him in amazement. Luke has a big sigh, looks down, then back up at Lorelai, defeated. Lorelai looks on the verge of tears. Luke asks her to go outside.

Lorelai stands with her arms crossed, looking hurt. "So she’s… Wow." Lorelai has trouble believing it, as does Luke still. "You have a…" Yeah, a daughter, Luke says. Lorelai guesses April’s age correctly, then asks when Luke found out. Luke says "just", but Lorelai wants to know "when just?" Luke tells her he found out two months ago. Lorelai says that’s a long time to go without telling her.

Luke says it’s all been a blur, the last couple of months. He apologizes for not telling her. Luke says he kept putting it off, for one reason or another. Luke says he’s stupid. Lorelai says she needs to digest it and Luke tries to apologize again. Lorelai looks really hurt.

Paris has given the staffers numbered hats so she doesn’t need to remember their names. Paris hands Rory a number too, so she won’t play favorites. Rory takes Paris aside to say the atmosphere at the paper is toxic and people are afraid to approach Paris about it. That people are nervous. Paris even took away the magnets that indicated people were in the washroom, so people are afraid to go. Paris takes this as an excuse to openly berate everyone on the paper for being wimps. Rory puts on her cap and gets to work.

Logan is waiting at Rory’s door with a box of Krispy Kreme donuts, knowing Rory can’t refuse them. But she does. She’s not interested in all the things he keeps sending and tells him to go. But Logan has one thing left to give Rory - a note from Lorelai. Logan says he talked with Lorelai then she went away, wrote the note, and asked him to give it to Rory. He was instructed not to read it, and the seal proves he kept his word.

Rory reads the letter, telling Logan to "shh" each time he asks what it says. Rory has a small smile at the start, a laugh in the middle, a thoughtful "mmm" with a nod, a few "yup" comments, more laughs, and a contemplative face at the end. Logan asks if there is anything in there about giving him a second chance, and Rory says she’d have to re-read it. Logan asks if Rory would come out with him so he can make it up to her. Rory says maybe dinner and when Logan pushes for a date, she says she’ll call him. Logan leaves, satisfied. Rory re-reads the letter while eating a donut.

Rory comes home with laundry and some of Logan’s gifts, saying "oh my God" about Lorelai’s letter. Lorelai is setting out Chinese food but looks very stressed. Rory says Lorelai’s letter was brilliant. Rory wants to know all about Logan’s visit, though it seems like Logan is an a-okay topic now.

Rory comes out of her room, sees Lorelai for the first time, and knows something is wrong. Lorelai had her face in her hands. Lorelai says:

"Luke has a daughter."

Rory says "what?" and sits down. Lorelai says he didn’t formally meet the daughter, but that she saw her and that Luke has a daughter. And he’s known for two months. Lorelai wants to know what that says about their relationship - that Luke waited two months before telling her. Lorelai understands that he’s confused, she is too, but what does it mean that he kept a secret like that? What does it say about him or her? Does he trust her?

Rory says Luke trusts her, but that sometimes guys are dumb. Lorelai says she was cute and smart, like Rory. But she’s freaking out.

"What else is he hiding? I mean, how can you really know that you know somebody?"

Rory says that every relationship is "a big honking leap of faith" and Rory says that Luke must be freaked out double what Lorelai is. He’s Mr. Responsibility and he must have panicked.

"I’m sure his not telling you says nothing about your relationship. Maybe this is a cheesy perspective to offer you, but Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale went through the same sort of situation. He found out he had a kid that he didn’t know about, but they made it work. As far as I know."

Rory says, if Gwen and Gavin can work it out, so can they. Rory suggests she and Luke just talk more.

It’s the day of the festival and Kirk is checking the tickets for counterfeit ones (even though the tickets are just 50 cents). Taylor is hovering around, making sure things are ok. Pretending to be German. Lorelai’s "Amazing Doggy Swami" booth is already making a profit. Paul Anka has a little outfit with a turban and sequined vest.

Lane has a booth too, but the prize is a brochure entitled "Hell is waiting for you, Sinner!" Zack is spying on Lane and the Korean boy at the booth. Taylor is not fooling anybody with his getup, though he has switched to a French accent. Zack follows the Korean boy to Babette’s booth, which is a game of bottle toss. Zack goes head to head against him - Zack being all macho and teasing.

"Yeah! Yeah! Welcome to the S.H., bitch!"

The guy asks Zack what his problem is, but Zack (in his face) calls him an Asian George Clooney and stalks off.

Zack confronts Mrs. Kim for putting Lane "back on the market". Zack points out Lane laughing with the boy. Mrs. Kim says he’s her uncle! Joe, he’s her uncle. Zack clears up that Lane is not "into" her uncle. Mrs. Kim then storms after Zack to clear "this" up. With angry hand gestures, Mrs. Kim tells Zack she won’t get in his way. He’s confused.

Swami Doggy reads Lane’s fortune - "You will sing songs of gemstones" - then Luke comes by. He asks Lorelai to walk. Luke apologizes to Lorelai again - being confused is no excuse, but that’s the excuse. Lorelai says it’s ok, that nothing could have prepared him for this one. Luke says he didn’t know how to tell her, that he’s bad with those things. Lorelai says it’s weird, but that they can make it work. That April is there, and she’s raised a daugther. She can help.

Luke says he knows Lorelai can help, it’s just "all" so much right now. Lorelai asks what all? Luke says he has a kid, she’s here, and June third… Lorelai asks what about it. Luke says it’s so soon, but Lorelai reminds him it’s still months away. Luke says it’s all happening too fast, and it’s piling up.   

Sounding like she doesn’t really mean it, Lorelai says if it’s happening too fast they can postpone the wedding. Luke seems keen, so Lorelai says it’s not set in stone, that the date just happened to work out. Lorelai doesn’t want Luke going into this all "jumbled" up. Luke asks if that would be ok with her? Lorelai says it’s ok, but she looks away like it’s not. Luke says it’ll really help, to give him time to "resolve this other thing" and that all will be better later on. Lorelai says it’s a done deal. Luke kisses her before leaving, with plans to meet up for the night later. Lorelai looks around, nearly crying, then heads back to her booth.

Tags: gilmore girls, gilmore girls season 7, gilmore girls recaps, gilmore girls episodes, just like gwen and gavin, nardini, april, april nardini, luke danes, wedding, logan rory, huntzberger

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POSTED IN: Discussions, Gilmore Girls Recaps, Kirk Gleason, Logan Huntzberger, Lorelai Gilmore, Lorelai's love life, Luke Danes, Paris Geller, Rory Gilmore, Rory's love life, Taylor Doose