1.06 - Rory's Birthday Parties

[Dani257]

I've just never seen Rory as perfect.  Not from the moment I started watching.  And, to me, early on, it was obvious that she wasn't.  This episode clearly shows an imperfect person.  And, earlier episodes.  The Deer Hunters, the pilot episode.  It just doesn't seem to be something that needs studying to see. But, I must see it differently than most people, because a lot of people do feel that her later extreme actions were necessary to show that she wasn't. 

To me, the push of Rory as perfect started around the end of her Chilton years, but it really took off when she started making extreme mistakes.  Then, the writers started all the "Rory's never been in trouble, Rory's never done anything, she's the sweetest and best kid ever."

[Kitty]

It wasn't that I bought into what they were trying to sell about her being perfect-it is just that I know that is the image they were trying to convey.  I guess it depends on ones definition of perfect.  I understand what they were trying to show us with Rory, because like Rory, I never got in any major trouble, made good grades and basically didn't cross anyone (not on purpose).  I was naive and innocent...but none of this meant that I never made mistakes-its just that the mistakes I made were not life altering ones.  Lorelai's was life altering.  Rory's were not-to a certain point. 

[Dani257]

Well, that makes me question AS=P's attitude towards girls.  Did she see Lorelai as more normal than Rory?  Did she think that Lorelai would represent the normal teenage girl (in the past, and a little bit in the present, since she had some teenage qualities which helped her be best friends with Rory), with typical mistakes and flaws and someone like Rory would be different and special?  That most girls do make life altering mistakes and until they showed Rory doing that, she would have this aura of perfection about her?

[hey]

dang they look different did you noitice in like the first 3 sesons she didnt really style it much and then in like the 5th she did (rory)

[GGfan2000]

I loved this episode. It was sweet of Dean making that braclet for rory.

[Kitty]

Well, that makes me question AS=P's attitude towards girls.  Did she see Lorelai as more normal than Rory?  Did she think that Lorelai would represent the normal teenage girl (in the past, and a little bit in the present, since she had some teenage qualities which helped her be best friends with Rory), with typical mistakes and flaws and someone like Rory would be different and special?  That most girls do make life altering mistakes and until they showed Rory doing that, she would have this aura of perfection about her?

I dont think it would have anything to do with AS-P's attitude towards girls.  I would think it has everything to do with the story they are trying to tell about these Gilmore girls. 

[Dani257]

Well, I thought one aspect of the story was that Lorelai was doing her best to make sure Rory didn't make the same mistake that she did.  And, that Rory grew up with (being) an example of what could happen if you're not careful.  Which is still different from being perfect.  Or from being portrayed as perfect.  I don't see the fact that they portrayed Rory's mistakes as not being life altering that it meant they were trying to convey that she was perfect.  I saw it as just she didn't make life altering mistakes.  Two different things.

[Kitty]

Dani, Im not really sure what you are trying to get at.  I understand that you dislike the idea that Rory was seen as supposedly so perfect, but beyond that I dont understand what you are saying. 

I will say, and continue to say, There is a big difference  between getting pregnant and in this case with Rory, disrespecting her grandmother.  There is a big difference between Rory missing a test in high school and stealing a yacht. 

To me, there is a big contrast/compare theme throughout the whole series between all of the Gilmore girls. 


And in that it is a story...written by talented writers.  Every good writer is able to conjure up feelings of like or dislike....to even the most horrid of characters, or the most likeable.  It really just depends on how much of what aspect of that character they want you to see and why. 

[Dani257]

I'm trying to get at that I disagree that Rory was ever written as perfect or that the show was ever trying to convey her as perfect.  And, the differences between her flaws early on and Lorelai's still don't say to me that Rory was supposed to be viewed as perfect.

[JusTcaLLmeRedhEad]

i thought Rory looked really pretty in this episode. i really like her hair curly. the dress Lorelai fixed for her was really pretty too.

Rory's birthday party at her house looked really fun

[Literati Forever]

The party did look fun!

And I was really happy that Emily and Richard came!

[Gilmore-Fan-13]

This one of my favorite episodes.

[Littlegreen]

   Is anyone else bothered by the timelines in the show?  Rory is driving with her mother before her 16th birthday, and is driving on her own soon after!!!  I wish driving was that easy.  I live in Connecticut where you can only get your permet after 16 years of age, and can not dirve on your own untill you are 16 and 6 months old.  The characters are suposted to live in connecticut but can drive before the rest of the connecticutians.  Sorry that was a very picky thing to talk about,  (I am just annoyed because I  am 16  and 4 months and can't get my licence yet  ).
   Another time line thing that bothers me is that if Rory turns 16 at the begining of her sophmore year than she would have probably stayed back a year, which I cant see her doing.

[meg99]

This episode is great! I totaly love it,it's definatly one of my favorites(i must have watched like 20 times).Anyways,i thought it was sweet that luke blew up balloons and baked a coffee cake for rory .And the present Dean got Rory was really cute .I always have thought that Rory and Dean were perfect together,too bad things didn't work out for them  .            anyways great episode!

[Dani257]

   Is anyone else bothered by the timelines in the show?  Rory is driving with her mother before her 16th birthday, and is driving on her own soon after!!!  I wish driving was that easy.  I live in Connecticut where you can only get your permet after 16 years of age, and can not dirve on your own untill you are 16 and 6 months old.  The characters are suposted to live in connecticut but can drive before the rest of the connecticutians.  Sorry that was a very picky thing to talk about,  (I am just annoyed because I  am 16  and 4 months and can't get my licence yet  ).
   Another time line thing that bothers me is that if Rory turns 16 at the begining of her sophmore year than she would have probably stayed back a year, which I cant see her doing.

It's possible that they hadn't decided to make a birthday episode when they did Kill Me Now (that's the one where Rory drove because Lorelai was having too much fun saying how much she didn't want to go to the country club).  Maybe when they wrote that, they decided Rory was 16, but later, they wanted to do an episode where she had a birthday.  Or, maybe Lorelai just let Rory drive anyway.

I think in school, there are kids who are older than the average age in a grade, and some who are younger.  But, not because they've been kept back, but because of where their birthday falls.