7.18 - Hay Bale Maze

[skftex]

Perhaps this is another metaphor-- for the tumultous relationship between Dave Rosenthal and US with Season 7; DR is the Taylor Doose of our world as an audience... he orchestrated this season of episodes and we've been complaining all the way, that it's "not the same as last year!", and yet he seems confident in his plan. As we've stumbled through these dozen+ episodes, we've lost our way and yet are starting to laugh a little more... maybe soon we will find our way to the end and be esctatic with the way it all turns out!

Well, I'm DEFINITELY not saying "not the same as last year!" I'm saying, "Thank God this season isn't like last season!!".  I know I'm in the minority, but I think this season with DR is so, so much better than season 6 with ASP.  Sorry, but if that was the kind of stuff we would have seen this season had ASP stayed, I'm glad she's gone.  I absolutely hated season 6 and think that its funny that a lot of the complaints about David Rosenthal are things that he had no choice but to work with because that's how it was written last year.  I'm not saying this season is as good as 1-4, which were the best years in my opinion, but I think its close to season 5 at least.  ASP brought in April, and that isn't a slam on the actress, she's fine, I just think the character is redundant.  Its a trick almost every dying show does, lets bring in a new kid!! It rarely works, and it doesn't here either, because she's Rory but we get to see her younger, and stranger.  

As for this show, I liked it.  I liked the maze thing with Taylor, I thought that was classic Taylor.  I was glad we got to see a lot of the Stars Hollow people, though I wish they'd integrate them just a BIT more.  How could they NOT have Babbette and Miss Patty make comments about Logan? I mean, Logan is so pretty, they'd HAVE to say something about him. I like Logan's current storyline, I think its the most interesting part right now, but then I also know what is coming, so I'm looking for clues.  LOL  I missed that they didn't have Lane OR Mrs. Kim on though.  Mrs. Kim would have been out there near that maze handing out religious fliers for sure!

Sharon

[xxLL4Everxx]

^I have to agree with you for a few things. Everyone is  blaming David Rosenthal for this sucky Season. But let's remember we didn't like Season 6 either! And that was with ASP. So, the badness started with ASP. Now don't get me wrong, I prefer ASP but she did start the whole L/L thing. And she was the one who brought April in. (I mean, I love April but if she hadn't come L/L would still be together)

[skftex]

Well, I guess that April is why Luke and Lorelai aren't together, but that was just a device.  I think if we hadn't had April, we would have had Lorelai's parents (again) or Luke's sister, or Luke being kidnapped by Anna and kept in a dungeon for a season , or something else to keep them apart.  ASP thought up April to keep them apart, but if she hadn't, she would have come up with something else, because for some reason on TV shows, they decide that having a couple stay together is boring and they have to come up with some drama to keep people watching.  I don't always buy in to that, but it does seem to happen to alot of shows, that viewers say it was "boring" when the characters they waited forever to get together finally do get together.  I saw it on this board when Luke and Lorelai were together.  They were showing the couple as real couples are, and I guess people wanted them to be more exciting, so in comes April, so there could be some drama.  Sometimes people get what they want, and find out it isn't what they really wanted.   I really don't hate April, I just haven't quite seen the point of her other than as a device, which makes me not that interested in that character at all.

Sharon

[xxLL4Everxx]

What I don't get is that ASP made them look like soul mates and got them engaged and all that stuff and got our hopes up only to come crashing down. And I agree that there has to be drama to keep it exciting but did it have to lead to them breaking up? And then making it all awkard when they are around each other?

[conradv]

What I don't get is that ASP made them look like soul mates and got them engaged and all that stuff and got our hopes up only to come crashing down. And I agree that there has to be drama to keep it exciting but did it have to lead to them breaking up? And then making it all awkard when they are around each other?

I totally understand the awkwardness.  They've both been hurt badly and don't know what to do.

[xxLL4Everxx]

Yeah, I understand the awkardness it's just what caused it that bugs me.

[skftex]

I understand the awkwardness.  I'm glad that they didn't just send Christopher away, which is a storyline I felt was a bit rushed, and boom, Luke is back! I'm ok with awkward for awhile, though I can't say I'll be happy with it if this turns out to be the last season.

Sharon

[xxLL4Everxx]

I don't think Chris was rushed out of the picture! I think it felt like FOREVER to get him out. But that's just me being the Flyswatter that I am.

I cannot stand the awkardness. It sucks that they were so close and now all they do is small - talk.

[skftex]

Yeah, I imagine most people who like Luke and Lorelai thought Christopher was there too long, but I liked Christopher.  I'm definitely a L/L fan, and I didn't like that the storyline moved back to him, but once he was, I thought they rushed the breakup.  Left me wondering why they brought him in at all.  Which makes me wonder, is Lorelai even divorced yet? Do we even know that?  I don't remember if it has been mentioned but then, my mind is mush these days. 

Sharon

[Dani257]

As for this show, I liked it.  I liked the maze thing with Taylor, I thought that was classic Taylor.  I was glad we got to see a lot of the Stars Hollow people, though I wish they'd integrate them just a BIT more.  How could they NOT have Babbette and Miss Patty make comments about Logan? I mean, Logan is so pretty, they'd HAVE to say something about him. I like Logan's current storyline, I think its the most interesting part right now, but then I also know what is coming, so I'm looking for clues.  LOL  I missed that they didn't have Lane OR Mrs. Kim on though.  Mrs. Kim would have been out there near that maze handing out religious fliers for sure!

Sharon

I would have liked to have seen Logan and Taylor interact, since Logan thought Taylor was so fascinating.  And, there's just something wrong with an episode that has Zach (a recurring character) but no sign of Lane (a main cast member).  If they couldn't cast some babies to play Steve and Kwan, (wish they showed that scene) couldn't they have had Lane and Zach go through the maze?  They could have said that Mrs. Kim was watching the babies.

[Bishop234]

That's what I heard.  Me and my wife were watching it [TIVO'd, of course] and ran it back several times and heard the same thing. I have watched this show from the first episode and can honestly say that I have not heard that particular vernacular used before.
At least Michell did not say ..Audi 5000 G!

[skftex]

I would have liked to have seen Logan and Taylor interact, since Logan thought Taylor was so fascinating.  And, there's just something wrong with an episode that has Zach (a recurring character) but no sign of Lane (a main cast member).  If they couldn't cast some babies to play Steve and Kwan, (wish they showed that scene) couldn't they have had Lane and Zach go through the maze?  They could have said that Mrs. Kim was watching the babies.

Yes, that would have worked too.  I don't get why we see Zach every episode but not Lane, is there something going on with the actress that she isn't available? I don't mind Zach but the whole point of Zach is his connection to Lane, as you said, one of the main characters. 

Logan talking to Taylor would have been interesting as well, but just thinking about it, I think Logan would have that smug look that I'm not fond of.  I like Logan, well, I should say, I like him as he is now.  I like the way they've written the character this season, but that smug look he does sometimes just makes me want to slap him.  We don't get that look as much as we did back in his first episodes though. 

Sharon

[PyramidHead316]

I was mad with Logan basically this whole episode.  "Don't put me in, let me factor you in my life" or something like that.  So really, Rory's just supposed to not think about him at all and let him worry about her, but she isn't really supposed to give a thought about him.  It just bothered me.  And maybe, like some of you said, it's nice he's letting her choose her own path, but I took that the other way, like Rory wasn't suppoed to even consider him and he was suppoed to work her in...I think the statement he made could go either sweet or horrible...I took it horrible.  

I think that was meant to differentiate Logan from Rory's previous boyfriends. Dean would have wanted her to bend her life over backwards for him. He would have resented her considering moving away from Stars Hollow and might have even looked down on her for not taking the first available opportunity right away. He also would have panicked about the relationship and done something rash (again). Jess wouldn't have cared at all. He would have said something like, "Do what you want. I don't care", not out of spite, but because it just wasn't a priority for him. Granted, he had improved considerably the last time we saw him, but he seemed more placid than driven to me. Like if he has a good idea, he would say, "That's a good idea. Let's go for it," rather than, "Wow. That's a great idea! Let's jump on it right away."

Okay, so my dialogue's not great, but the point is that at this stage in his life, he's likely to tell Rory something like, "Do what you feel is right," without explaining the reasons behind that advice. 

Logan's very mellow about Rory's decision, but the reason is that he's devoted to being there for her. He may be broke at the moment, but the upside is that he's no longer bound by his father's wishes. He also hasn't figured out what he wants to do yet, so it's not as if he has rock solid reason to stay there in Hartford. If he needs to go to another city to be with Rory, there is nothing standing in his way. As long as she wants to be with him, he'll follow her no matter what. It wouldn't be any trouble to "work her in" because he has nothing else in his life at the moment.

He also realizes that it has to be Rory's decision. A lot of Rory's problems have come from wanting to make other people happy before herself. Now that she's nearing her graduation, Rory has to start thinking about herself and what'll make her happy. Since Rory's not the best person at doing that, Logan is right to worry that he may influence her decision in a negative way. I agree he could have chosen his words better, but I think that comes from inexperience, not from any lack of understanding. While he may have taken it slightly too far, I think he's doing a noble thing by prompting Rory to think about herself first, and not worry so much about him. If there's one thing Logan's demonstrated, it's that he has a quality for adapting to new situations. He didn't think he could be a boyfriend to Rory, and yet here he is two years later, still with her. He didn't want to work at his father's company, and yet once he was there, he fit right in. And though it backfired on him hugely, he did make an attempt to become his own man by taking that Internet business venture.

I think Rory is making the right decision by not taking the job in Providence, assuming she doesn't change her mind about it later. It's necessary to have a plan for your life and to have a way of supporting yourself. But I think Lorelai was letting her dislike for Logan cloud her judgment in this case. For one thing, Rory's what - 22 years old? She shouldn't be in a hurry to stick herself in a job unless she's absolutely sure it's what she wants. If the fellowship is what she wants, then she should wait on that first before applying for other jobs. She doesn't want to be in the position where she says yes to a job, then the fellowship responds and she can't take it because of her prior commitment.

I can relate because just a while ago, I was looking for a temporary job and was instead offered a couple of full time positions. The problem was that if I took one of these jobs, it would mean a long-term commitment that would prevent me from going back to school to study IT. I would have a job and some money, but I would lose the chance at doing what I really wanted. Sometimes you have to pass up the first opportunity for the sake of your ultimate goals.

I know Lorelai's in a hurry to see Rory break out on her own, but she shouldn't rush the girl. It's not like Rory has no place to go if she doesn't find a job right away. If it becomes necessary, they could have Christopher find her an apartment. Just because he's divorced from Lorelai doesn't mean he has to stay away from Rory. It doesn't have to be permanent, just something she could make do with while she looks for a job.

It reminds me of what Uncle Phil told Will on an early episode of the Fresh Prince, when Will was going on about making his own way, and doing it all on his own: "Nobody does anything by themselves. People opened doors for me, and I've worked hard to open doors for you. It doesn't make you any less of a man to walk through them." Christopher may not have worked for his fortune, but he's still Rory's father and he's supposed to be there for her. There's no shame in accepting a tiny bit of help from someone.

[Dani257]

Actually, didn't Rory say she had put out resumes to different newspapers?  So, it's not even just a matter of a choice between one sure job and one iffy fellowship.  She's got back ups, which I would guess aren't all going to be getting around to looking at her resume and demanding an answer right away.  Isn't it just as likely that there would be other papers she won't have heard from before she finds out whether she got the Reston?  It's not likely Rory will close all opportunities if she doesn't snap up the first job offered.

"Nobody does anything by themselves. People opened doors for me, and I've worked hard to open doors for you. It doesn't make you any less of a man to walk through them."

Who knew words of wisdom could come from The Fresh Prince?

[Billie]

Jess wouldn't have cared at all. He would have said something like, "Do what you want. I don't care", not out of spite, but because it just wasn't a priority for him.

I don't agree. Do you remember how he talked her back into Yale? He definitely cared!!! He tried to encourage her to do what was right for her and I'm sure he would have this time, too! Would have been interesting what he would have thought being best for her though ..... hmmmm......