2.16 - There's the Rub

[lessa]

Nuts, I missed the Rory-flaming.

Oh, well, I guess more to the point, she is a vicious trollop; "That's the rub."

But Lorelai and Emily were one scene over bonding over vicious trollop, maybe the point was not that she was confused or bad or cheating on Dean or just going through some emo-girl learning experience, but that uptight, straight-laced, literal minded Paris had spent time with Rory, Dean, and Jess, and was able to see, well, in a sentence, everything we've just discussed.

The fact that she actually had enough empathy to throw Rory a rope in her indecisive moment instead of dancing with glee at discovering her adversary's weakness is a secondary miracle. (Unless she'd been planning to use it for blackmail later...)

[bingbong]

Ha, Paris cashed in the "favor" when she callously broke up with Jaime over the phone at Yale and told him it was Rory's suggestion. Wonderful the way "friendish" people help each other out in their relationships with guys.

I wonder if Paris lies awake at night secretly wishing for Rory's life (no doubt mixed with resentment)? She makes that remark about going months without seeing her parents and not even getting a "wish you were here" on a postcard, comparing her plight to Rory's. When she tells the lie to Dean, she is mocking the teen soap opera aspect of it, but i sense an undercurrent of wishful thinking, that she would willingly be part of any involvement with a guy. Not to mention the self-flogging she gives herself when she says "shock" that the plan for her to bond with Jess didn't work.

First it was her original heart-throb, Tristan, who desired Rory instead of her. Now she sees that it isn't enough for Rory to have a boyfriend, but there is a second guy desiring her. And both of those guys have nothing better to do on a Friday night then devise schemes for seeing her. And Rory is doing laundry on a Friday night by choice, whereas Paris has no such choice; she is on an obsessive quest for scholastic perfection, but she would put aside studying for one night if some worthy guy asked her out. The way she and Jess got along, too bad we couldn't have a double-date of Rory/Dean and Paris/Jess. That would have made for an interesting Friday night.

[lessa]

Yeah, I remember that theory from the "cheating" thread. Paris and Rory, meant to be... each other's beard.

I think that's why they went with f(r)iendish for an adjective: Vicious trollops of a feather flock together. Paris basically had the same choice Emily did. Bond over being bad or call Rory out, completely shame her and lecture the ashes about how they should have been more sensible. It wasn't (directly) her fault Rory was in that mess, she didn't owe her anything.

Of course, that's one of the reasons I defend Rory in this particular scenario- she screwed up, big time, but she doesn't want to break Dean's heart, despite the increasing inevitability of it. She learned how to deal with this situation from Lorelai, who told her that if an indiscretion was innocent and unintentional, confessing it would just hurt her boyfriend unnecessarily.

It definitely applied to Tristan, there the only reason to tell Dean was so he wouldn't find out some other way. But here, she's operating on the assumption that she'd have to be a moron to break up with her teen king for Luke's scruffy-looking, trouble-making nephew. Of course, like much knowledge, knowing it is not enough to prevent moronic behavior.

Doubtless if Dean had still had her full attention, she'd have called him at the beginning of the evening and told him her alone-time was turning into a party, could he cancel his plans and get over there with ice? Worst case scenario, his inability to keep up with the conversation turns on a light in his brain about their compatibility issues, and he breaks up with her. Best case, his stormy, threatening presence prompts Jess and Paris to leave together on a pity date, and it annoys Rory so much that she speaks up for her "friendship."

Dean: Oh, I get it, you and your smart friends wanted to keep talking about Hemingway.

Rory: You're smart, too, I could help you get into a college if you...

Dean: If I what? Gave up football, mechanics, and dating to read books with the Algonquins there all the time?

Rory: Dean...

Dean: Listen, Rory, I like those things. I like hanging out and working to save up for things. I like to play video games and going on vacation. You... like books. Lots and lots of books. And talking about books and being with people who talk about books.

Rory: That's not true, I also like, um, writing... And TV, I watch a lot of TV, I'm practically famous for my thorough understanding of pop culture references in television.

Dean: Yeah, with me and Lorelai. Do you actually even like it, or are you just waiting to get back to reading with your friends?

Rory: Hey!

Dean: Listen, Rory, I've tried to give you space so you could get into Harvard. It's your dream, and I'm really proud of that. I want you to go and study 'till your cute little ears catch fire if that's what it takes.
<beat>
But is this what it takes, too? Kissing Tristan? Studying with Paris? Talking over my head with Jess? Every Friday with your grandparents? Is there any room for me in there?

Rory: (tears up) I... don't know, there used to be...

Dean: Before Jess?

Rory: I'm sorry.

Dean: <bitterly> Yeah, me, too.

Rory: <crying openly> thanks for not doing this in public with a thousand people watching...

[bingbong]

I agree that Rory did not want to break Dean's heart.  But i can't defend her because i believe Dean's feelings were secondary at best in her mind. When she was trying to get Jess out of the house she said she wanted to "avoid" a problem with Dean. That was the key word: avoid. That's one lesson she learned from Lorelai when it comes to dealing with guys: if you can avoid conflict, do so. In later seasons, with Logan, she was a little better at confronting problems, better than Lorelai, but not right now. She does not want to hurt Dean, she does not want to lose Dean, but she was thinking of herself most of all. Maintain the status quo and have it every which way.

On the surface, her kiss with Tristan appears more serious because she has not done anything physical with Jess. But the key difference is, despite a few moments of weakness (when she and Dean were technically broken up), she truly had no interest in Tristan. Jess is another story because the interest is genuine and becoming less and less innocent. I'm looking at Rory's motives; they were good-hearted with the Tristan thing, but far more selfish in this episode.

I enjoyed your dialogue, lessa! You have inspired me to give my own version of the scene. This can appear as a deleted scene on your DVD.

Dean: Oh, I get it, you and your smart friends wanted to keep talking about Hemingway.
Rory: Dean, stop. You are very smart but you should apply yourself to something besides video games. And we were talking about Kerouac.
Dean: There, you did it again!
Rory: I have a compromise. Let's chat about a book that interests you, Lord of the Rings.
Dean: What? There was a book based on the movie?
Rory: No, the book came first and... oh, never mind. Not a good idea. I am out of ideas for us.
Dean: What does that mean?
Rory: It means things have gotten stale and... (Dean's eyes start watering)... what i mean is, you are too good for me.
Dean: That's ridiculous. No one can be too good for you. You are Rory, the golden goddess.
Rory: See, that's not helping. I might be a goddess, but i am not golden.
Dean: What's the problem? I'm not "bad" enough for you? I can be bad. Remember the ice cream from Friday night? It melted and sat out all night but i will eat it anyway!
Rory: No, that won't do -
Dean: Give me scissors. I will run with scissors!
Rory: No, this is not -
Dean: I know, i will get another girlfriend, a 'Donna Reed' type, and make you jealous.
Rory: Hey, that's a start! But it might not be enough.
Dean: How about if i married her?
Rory: While you're in high school? No, better wait until you turn 18 and graduate.
Dean: This is perfect. Only then will you appreciate 'your Dean.'
Rory: Yes, i could never have sex with you unless you were married.
Dean: Deal. I can wait a couple of years. But what will i do until then?
Rory: Focus on your schoolwork but have a little fun on the side. Find yourself a vicious trollop. You will need the experience before you're ready for me.
Dean: Yes, a trollop! How about your mom? Is she available?
Rory: No, my mom is saving herself for a genetically engineered hybrid of Luke, Max and my dad.
Dean: Coooool.
Rory: I have to go now. Jess is going to take me driving in your car. He's an excellent driver, swerves for animals and everything.
Dean: Be sure to buckle up.
Rory: I'll see you in a couple of years. Study hard and good luck with your trollop!
Dean: Hmmm, i wonder if Shane likes melted ice cream?

[lessa]

Oh, wow, yours is so much better than mine. XD XD XD

But I don't think she was all that disinterested in Tristan. I mean, from a completely literal point of view, she did everything for Tristan that she did for Jess. That is, feeling sorry for him, trying to make him behave, and fruitlessly trying to set him up with Paris... Anyway, she looked pretty interested after he clarified his pathetic feelings that kept him from dating anyone else. They might have shared a genuine, open-eyed, consensual kiss if Dean hadn't been standing right there.

You know, like a Tisket tie-in, no matter how not-right, shabby, or felonious he is, a guy who walks around nursing a crazy secret crush is in the dictionary under 'romantic.' I find it difficult to believe that Lorelai was the only reason Rory was not honest with Dean about her vulnerability to it. Maybe, though, since, like Lorelai, she friggin' hates it when her boyfriend yells at her.

I was thinking it was the indirect lesson she learned from Lorelai about Max. Lorelai was crushed by the end of their 'ship, even though it was her "fault" they broke up, and Rory harbors the opinion that Lorelai didn't really know what she was throwing away. So when considering the besotted perfect Dean and the mischievously annoying Jess, she's probably thinking a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, that perfection was not as important as security, and so on. Be fair, Dean was as determined to make it work in spite of their drifting apart as she was until he hit his own breaking point. Would he have gotten fed up and dumped her if Jess had never become his excuse? Would Dean finding someone who loved his cycle and jersey have clarified it a little sooner for her? (Rhetorical.)

Well, maybe she's evil, maybe she's not, but, I'll be honest, calling out a 17-year-old girl on that sort of screwup would make a massive hypocrite out of me. Which is why I think Paris's understanding of it was the key to the whole episode. I wouldn't be reaming Rory if she'd stolen a hotel bathrobe, either.

[superstarmonkey]

So when considering the besotted perfect Dean and the mischievously annoying Jess, she's probably thinking a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, that perfection was not as important as security, and so on.

I think you've hit the nail on the head Lessa. Rory never intended to break up with Dean. She still had feelings for him, waning ones admitedly, but she still cared about him. I think she considered Jess to be a crush that would 'go away soon'. She enjoyed spending time with him and did like him but she would never break up with secure, stable, loving Dean to be with the wild, spontanouis rebel. I think that during this season, and especially during (or maybe after) this episode she was beating herself up iabout it - how she SHOULD be studying towards havard spending time with her perfect boyfriend, rather than hanging out with the intriguing, but altogether bad - for - her boy. Obviously she didn't listen to her head very much! 

No matter how stupid and thoughtless Rory was in this episode - letting Paris conver for her, letting Jess stay etc - I still believe her intentions were pure towards Dean. Though she shows signs of being manipulative and selfish, I honestly believe that her actions were (semi) unconsciously done. I say semi because Rory has always been one to avoid conflict, and so yes she did try to protect herself too. I think that she was behaving like a true naive teenager - which is what she was! Lorelai, Emily and Richard (as well as all the townsfolk) always go on about Rory being old and mature for her age, and I think it's good that we see places where she slips up and acts what people her age sometimes act like. 

[bingbong]

I agree, it's refreshing to see flaws in Rory's character that make her seem closer to a "typical" teenager. I suspect the writers felt they needed to add this less savory layer to her character because perfection can get boring. I give them credit for it, because they did it in a way that is subtle and fairly complex, with less of the wham over-the-top events of the later seasons.

Well, maybe she's evil, maybe she's not, but, I'll be honest, calling out a 17-year-old girl on that sort of screwup would make a massive hypocrite out of me. Which is why I think Paris's understanding of it was the key to the whole episode. I wouldn't be reaming Rory if she'd stolen a hotel bathrobe, either.

If you're implying that you did worse things at her age, i can join you in that club. I had a bit of Jess in me at that age (minus the petty vandalism, phooey). But i don't feel like a hypocrite for ripping any of these characters. For me, that's part of the fun: Loving them for their good points and burning them at the stake when they fall from grace.

[lessa]

Heh, I love dissecting Rory, too, but not for this. IMO, her biggest mistake was not asking Lorelai for advice. Of course, Lorelai's advice to Rory about dancing with "other men" might not be the same as her advice to Emily about it!

Which is, I guess, why she needs Paris to lie for her. I mean, (forgive my stuck record) Dean was never going to go the distance, and Jess had his day, but eventually swanned off, too. Tristan was barely even a flash in the pan. Right or wrong, Rory really likes spending time with Jess, and she has to do it both accidentally and behind Dean's back (and spend the entire next day with him) so he won't break up with her.

Paris understood that well enough to realize that, even with her as a chaperon, Dean's reaction would completely demolish a great evening, start a huge argument, and send her back home to try and study between her psychotically bickering parents. It was probably worth way more than lying to preserve the unholy status quo of her rival's love-life.

What's it gonna be, Paris, Vicious Trollop or Wide World of Mungbeans?

[laurla205]

Love the dialogues Jim and lessa, five stars to both!

I’ve decided that Rory definitely does not get a full pass on this one as far as I’m concerned.  And actually, lessa, your statements helped that along   Just because there is more than one 17 year-old girl out there leading two guys on doesn’t make the action of doing so acceptable.  And just because one guy wasn’t going to last forever (how many do at age 17?) doesn’t afford the right to lie to said guy and consciously disrespect him whether she ends up with that guy or not.  It sort of reminds me of the type of person who never breaks up with someone until they have the next bf/gf lined up waiting in the wings and that’s not an attractive quality.  The actions don’t get forgiven by me for the sake of plot development.  I do positively agree that it’s a nice breath of fresh air to see Rory’s flaws.  The fact that we don’t see them quite as often as some of the other characters just doesn’t make them 100% forgivable to me.  I stick to the fact that if Rory was innocently just enjoying spending time with Jess there was no reason to hide it from Dean.  It’s when the intentions become more than friendship that she crossed the line, even if they’re only somewhere in between friendship and romance. 

[honkifuluvGG]

I hope you regular VP discussion members aren't sore from all the *whacking* I've been undertaking.  Pretty sticks a plenty as this discussion has again been such an entertaining read for me this week.  You guys are definately gifted with the written word and for that I am very thankful.

My on the whole Rory part of this discussion:  While I really enjoy Rory's character she is far from my favourite and I very rarely feel the need to come to her defence (let's face it, she was pretty blessed with the perfectness and all), but in this instance, while I'm not so much defending her, I can feel a certain understanding for how she handled the whole transition of boyfriends. 

I mean seriously as a late bloomer to the whole dating/boys game, Rory had barely handled having a crush on Dean and the whole beginning of that romance.  She fumbled through so many of their firsts with the help of Lorelai, who lets face it is no poster child for the "how to..." with men.  And then she finds herself, however long down the track it is, enjoying the company of another boy.  I do think that it started out innocently, but perhaps developed further along the way.  Where I feel the need to perhaps understand Rory's course of actions is that I believe she truly was just enjoying him for who he was.  Lorelai and Rory have consistantly been characters that have enjoyed the many facets of personalities of a wide range of inhabitants of Stars Hollow and I saw this as a continuation of that, in the beginning.  Sure as time got on I think even Rory realised it was a crush, but perhaps was in denial as she did very much care for Dean.  As adults we know it's possible to have strong feelings for more than one individual, but at 16 or 17 we very rarely know how to handle such complex situations.  And Rory didn't get it right!  But I hardly want to tar and feather her for it.  While trying to sort out her own feelings on the situation I think she probably struggled to empathise with Dean's plight.  And at this point Rory still hasn't suffered the experience of being the one that has been done wrong by.... she's Miss Irresistable remember.  So the ability to see things from that side of the argument is still something she is yet to learn.  As birlliantly as she might be academically, socially she was just your normal run of the mill teen.

[lessa]

*honk!*

Well, I don't think there's such a thing as a run-of-the-mill teen. Whether she got it right or not depends entirely on how you gage dating success. XD

Rory can't help being anal and hesitant, and she can't help wanting to do what people tell her to do. Dean had to cling for weeks just to get her attention, Jess had to pull Tom Sawyers for her amusement for months before she even considered him. After the first little bump where she wanted to swap Chilton for sex, she pretty much needed to be educated and encouraged every step of the way. And that was when she was completely obsessed with her boyfriend!

Breaking up with Dean would have hurt him no matter when and how she did it. Needing to be told that they were over is just Rory being Rory. It would have worked out perfectly if Dean had had an accidental date and wanted to be forgiven. Shoving Jess out of her life over Dean's jealousy would have been just as big a mistake, but it would have made the relationship work while Rory is still too young to know what "It just isn't right" means.

Add that to the fact that her mother knows every trick in the book for making a relationship outlast compatibility issues, and you get a girl who doesn't know what's going on and treats her boyfriend like she's married to him, no matter what her heart tells her.

No, Rory's not an average kid, she's a romantic disaster area waiting for a place to happen. I actually thought it was an intentional premise of the show.

[gg crazy]

I love this episode! Everyone around rory knew that jess had a thing 4 her.

[thevoid99]

I can!  Those robes rock.

Lorelai and Emily, things go well, things go bad.  At least they're trying to bond together and such.  I do love Emily's constant talking to Lorelai during the whole spa thing.  It's hilarious.  The night on the town was great until Emily is convinced she's cheating on Richard by dancing with another man. 

Rory, having to have a night all to herself.  Nope, ain't going to happen.  Paris, getting an "A-" and freaking out.  Turns to Rory, studies and then hangs out with her.  Jess comes along, with food and he and Paris get into an argument over literature.  That had to be a great conversation.  Shows how prolific Jess' taste is in literature.  Then Dean comes out, all mad.  I love what Jess is saying.  Man, he's my boy.  Dean gets all angry and then Paris saves the day!

I think overall, it's a great episode that explores relationships.  Lorelai and Emily.  Rory, Dean, Paris, and Jess. 

I think for Paris, she kinda envies Rory for having a life where she has a mother around all of the time and such and starts to find who her true best friend is.  Jess like Rory and Rory, starts to realize it but there's Dean. 

The Rory/Dean ship is starting get into some troubled waters.  Sorry dude but... Jess reads a lot and is more interesting.  Dean will now whine to Lorelai. 

[Gilmore Gyrlie]

So Rory isn't "Polly Perfect" after all, Dean sees the handwriting on the wall.


But doesn't want to face the truth, he's losing her to Jess.


Okay Jess appears to be her literary equal, but still an insensitive JERK.


This episode needed some Lane Kim, I miss her.


Emily gettin her flirt on with Barney Miller was too cute.

[James]

I thought this episode was really too cute! Just how Jess came over with the food and lied and said luke sent it over. It was obvious he wanted to stay and see rory! And how they all were talking about books and poetry and stuff. It was good. Plus the scenes with lorelai and her mom at the spa were just plain funny!

I had watched this episode on tv episodes online. I really enjoyed it.