3.13 - Dear Emily and Richard

[Dani257]

I'm going by memory here, since it's been awhile, but I felt the episode was unbalanced. I mean, it showed how Richard and Emily felt, and how Emily was ready to accept Rory even before she was born (hearkening back to her wonderful speech to Rory in Christopher Returns) but it really didn't show why Lorelai felt the need to leave.  I've always felt that Lorelai had to have a bigger reason than just not getting along with her parents for her to leave with Rory.  I mean, as far as security, it would have been easier to stay.  Richard and Emily were obviously willing to take care of both of them.  And, if Lorelai just had the need to run, the easier thing to do would be to leave Rory.  I'm sure she didn't have any fear that they would put Rory out on the street. So, there had to be some really significant reasons for why a 17 year old kid would decide not only to run away, but to take on the added responsibility of having a baby with her.  I don't think this episode showed a balance of both what the elder Gilmores and Lorelai were going through back then. 

[lou20]

Lorelai ran because her parents were trying to rule her life and tell her how to live. Unfortunatly i have been in the same place as Lorelai so i can understand where she is coming from! I guess that she didnt want Rory growing up in the same environment as what she did.

[Dani257]

Yes, I'm saying that this episode didn't convey that.  The flashback scenes were very one sided.

[Gilmore_Lover]

However, she didn't want her daughter to have to grow up with Emily and richard and endure everthing that gave her a need to run in the first place.

[lou20]

Exactly, i ran from my parents coz i didnt want my child to grow up in the same envirnoment as what I did, I was unhappy and because my parents would fight all the time i felt that my daughter didnt need to be around people that constaintly fight. They also told me how to live my life and how my daughter should live hers. So instead of being told what to do i ran and it was the best thing i did for me and my daughter, and it gave me a sense of living my own life and be able to raise my daughter the way that i want!

[honkifuluvGG]

You're a strong person to be able to recognise what you didn't like about your life lou and strive for a different one for your daughter.
I guess if this was the only ep you ever saw of GG you would be right dani257 when you say this wasn't really conveyed in the episode.  But knowing all of Lorelai's feelings on this situation from previous episodes, not to mention the fact that Emily has her whine about 
                   a) this being the first time in ages Lorelai hadn't left the stroller in the foyer to be tripped over, and
                   b) that she should answer her now because if she had gone out it wouldn't hurt her to let them know first,
before emily discovers the note, sort of indicates that Emily was still very opinionated in every aspect of Lorelai's life.  And while personally I can understand that it is their house and their rules, a new sense of oneself and responsibility kicks in when you have a child.  Knowing Lorelai's personality, even that conveyed in just this episode, would have made that hard for Lorelai to swallow.

[lou20]

You're a strong person to be able to recognise what you didn't like about your life lou and strive for a different one for your daughter.

Y thank you!!

[gilmoregroupie]

This epi was really awesome w/all the flashbacks! 

[Littlegreen]

I love this episode!!
Its probably my favorite.  My teacher told me to watch GG because she liked it so much,so I did the next week and this episode was on.  it was the first episode I ever watched, now I am addicted to the show.  Its like comfort food for me.  I mostaly like the juxdaposition of the two different mother daughter realtionships taking place in different times.

[rorygilmoregirl93]

i love it.it is one of my favorite epis.also,it is kind of weird though,to see it,but it is so welcomed because everyone wanted to see the past part.and i think that how sherry is,is really funny.but thats me.

[Littlegreen]

I like this episode, but when i rewatched it recently I found it hard to believe that sherry the character portrayed in teh season three episodes would abandon her baby and chris, it shows that she is overwhealmed and not sure what to do, but not the horible kinda person to leave a note with her husband saying it was his turn taking care of the baby, and not seeing her daughter for several years.
It was a great and intresting plot twist but unbelievable after seeing this episode

[harvestmoon52]

Absolutely amazing episode- Lorelai wasn't kidding when she said a half hour before she had Rory she was eating a pepper sandwich.

[totalggfan84]

I really liked this episode with the flashbacks. I've always wanted to see what actually happened and i finally got to in this episode. I thought Chealsey Brummet did a great job as Lorelai but I didn't like the boy that played Christopher. Yeah when i was watching this, i recognized chealsey brummet from All That. This is truly a classic episode that i never get tired of watching.

[Courtney1983]

This episode was a nice contrast to just seeing normal daily life of the Gilmores... Chelsea Brummett was probably chosen as the actress not only for her looks, but on her young and sarcastic attitude... She was as convincing as she could be with such little air time. Van Dyke for Christopher seemed like he had NO believable emotion... you could so tell it was acting.

I found it hard to believe that sherry the character portrayed in the season three episodes would abandon her baby and chris

I agree, she did look a little spaztic, but caring enough not to abandon a child... but when you see her friends you could see that she really was too business like to care for a child. They couldnt make her seem completely evil, or else it wouldnt be believable that Chris would fall for her.

[kateness]

I'm in the same "i love this episode" boat as many of you...

Even though Emily was pretty irrational most of the time - she definately loved her daughter. And I take that from the flashback scene where Strobe, Francie, Emily & Richard are trying to figure out "what to do with it" - and Strobe was implying an abortion. Emily really stood up for her daughter when she stopped him saying "choose your words very carefully Strobe."

it's almost like we're SO used to being put down or hidden from the world from our parents that when they actually show GENUIEN LOVE, it can really take you by surprise. I may not have had a child but my parents, especially my father [bless his soul], he really came through during the most surprising moments for me...

I don't know if I'm making sense, but I hope I am. It's definately a key favorite for me.