For me this was completely an episode for the supporting characters to shine. Sookie is just great at her Thanksgiving cookout. Her expressions and attitude to the whole deepfrying thing were brilliant. And I can't believe how rowdy Jackson's freinds/family are. For me though it seems a tad out of character for Jackson to be that way, but if he wasn't then we never would have had the whole 5 stages of grief speech from Sookie or know that she was totally "enscotched".

It's always a big plus for me when the supporting characters are out front & center. And they all shine at their brightest. I love when Mrs. Kim shoots down the chocolate turkey, "what do i do with this?" She stands apart for never holding back. She speaks her mind and it's right out there. Speaking of speaking her mind, Babette giving Rory kissing advice, "You gotta give it a little
something!" Sookie and Jackson have never been more loveable and hilarious. Sookie has more of an edge when she's drunk and i like it! Kirk is super hilarious and, as always, pathetic and sympathetic. I don't think he ever topped Cat Kirk. He's got until episode 3.18 to heal, just in time for his severe cheese burns from the giant birthday pizza!

Even Dean is unintentionally funny to me when he tells Jess, "This is my town, i'm not hiding" because i always think of an old-time western showdown with Clint Eastwood or something.
I agree with Caryn about being disappointed with Lorelai here, although i always feel a bit of sympathy when she twists herself inside over her parents. Of all the things Rory should feel the need to conceal from her mom, and i don't blame her. For other teenagers it's sex or drugs (or a non-Korean boyfriend), but for Rory it's an application to Yale! As my own mom used to say, "this should be the worst of your problems." Fortunately for herself, she knows what she needs to do and she does it. She didn't allow her mom's attitude on the subject to stop her from submitting the application. After Lorelai's meltdown, Rory is all concerned that Lorelai is "mad." She meant angry-mad, but she could have meant the other kind.
Gotta make room for Paris:
PARIS: Harvard is going to be expecting Thanksgiving shelter work. They’ll know I called too late and it will totally impugn my organizational skills. By the way, you know I ultimately do all these things for the good of mankind, right?
RORY: Oh yeah.
PARIS: Sometimes I don’t think I come off that way.