Emily Gilmore / Kelly Bishop Appreciation

[gilmore for life]

emily is is a pain in the ass but so funny

[SIDNEY]

I think what's so special about Emily is that she is so real. You don't for a second think of her as a fictional character. When she is a pain, she is a true pain. But she also has her vulnerable moments. She is impressing this way.

[bingbong]

For most of the series, Emily was a multi-dimensional character. There were a few episodes, especially during season 5, where she started looking like a caricature of herself, but there were usually shadings to her character that brought out her side of the story in her battles with Lorelai. Sometimes her personality was all over the place within the space of a single episode, to the point that your head was spinning as you watched her. Definitely one of the most remarkable characters on a show filled with them.

[SIDNEY]

For most of the series, Emily was a multi-dimensional character. There were a few episodes, especially during season 5, where she started looking like a caricature of herself, but there were usually shadings to her character that brought out her side of the story in her battles with Lorelai. Sometimes her personality was all over the place within the space of a single episode, to the point that your head was spinning as you watched her. Definitely one of the most remarkable characters on a show filled with them.

When you refer to season 5 i am assuming you mean moments like when she was fighting with Richard and she jumps out of the window and the cops came and Asher's awake! It's funny because (as you said) she was confusing and head-spinning character during this time. She almost seemed out of herself. I think she was in search of herself after realizing that she has no one in her life exceprt Richard who was gone by that time.

What i like most is how her character seems so proud and together but inside she is not that strong or proud of herself, that came clear when she talked about how she envies Lorelai for being  independent and how shocked she was when Loelai said she leaned how to deal with people from the best (Emily).

[bingbong]

^ ^ Those things, but i was also thinking around the time of "Wedding Bell Blues." It was typical of her to try to get Lorelai and Christopher together but the way the whole thing came off made her seem like a cartoon villian to me. Even afterwards, when she and Richard were secretly plotting to get Lorelai back for FND and so forth, basically by having Richard drive Luke crazy. Just a bit silly i guess.

I think Emily is very strong and proud inside, but even she has her weak moments which fill-out her character. Those moments of vulnerability are part of who she is, but i think she is essentially as tough as she appears.

[SIDNEY]

Yep, the whole thing with Richard was so silly. I thought it was silly also how she said that he likes that he was Lorelai's and Rory's favorite grandparent. She was insane.

I don't think Emily is strong inside because her doubts are about the core of her character. She questions who she is and what's  good about herself or if there is anything good about her. These doubts are not just some passing thoughts in a weak moment but are things that she secretly thinks of most of the time but chooses to ignore.

[bingbong]

I don't believe Emily has these doubts about herself most of the time. We would get more glimpses of it if the writers intended it that way. In Emily's mind she considers herself a good parent who was not appreciated by her daughter. As a member of the Hartford community, she considers herself an esteemed matriarch of the powerful Gilmore family.

[SIDNEY]

Emily only considered herself a good parent in early episodes but then she came to the realization that she wasn't that perfect. One example is in "There's The Rub". But she kept saying from early seasons to the end that she lost Lorelai and how it was Emily's fault. These are serious self doubts to keep on her mind for 7 years with  the show alone.

Emily is not strong but she is proud and her pride forces her to act strong and confident, that's what i think.

[bingbong]

In "There's The Rub," Emily expressed frustration that she and Lorelai were not close the way Lorelai and Rory were close, but i didn't have the impression she was implying it was due to her failure as a parent. Lorelai might have seen that implication, but i didn't see it in Emily. I took it as one of her many moods, and this one desired being a buddy with her daughter. Besides, it was just another fleeting moment. If she wanted to see a failure in her parenting (or as a human being), she might have examined the way she absurdly accused Lorelai of forcing her onto the guy at the bar in the earlier scene. But she made no acknowledgement of that, nothing even implied.

[SIDNEY]

I refered to "There's The Rub" as a first sign of Emily realizing that she wasn't the perfect mom she thought she was. Maybe there was not much guilt in that episode but there was some kind of tiny regret to not have the relationship L&R have. Emily realized that Lorelai was the perfect mom not her. But that feeling devopled later on, like for example when Rory moved out of her Grandparent's house, Emily was ver clear that it was due to her failure same as Lorelai moving out was Emily's failure. I think the more Emily got to know Lorelai, the less proud she became. If you compare the first episode with later ones you'll know what i mean.

[bingbong]

When Rory moved out of E&R's house wiithout any notice, Emily was angry at Rory's lack of appreciation, and rightfully so. But i agree in the later seasons Emily made some genuine strides in admitting that Lorelai was a success in her life. A good example was in season 7 after Richard was sick and Emily was seriously pondering life without him. Also in the episode where Emily is considering buying a plane (i forget if it was season 6 or 7), Emily made a few emotional remarks to Lorelai that she was at fault for things that had gone wrong. So, yep, i see your point. There were cracks in her Armor of Pride (or Pride of Armor).

[SIDNEY]

Wow, "you agreed with me. I didn't think you were capable", Rory quote!  The plane thing happened in season 6 that's why i remember it so well. I am not a fan of the last season.

[cherilee13]

Kelly Bishop is now playing in a play on Broadway called 'Becky Shaw".  On Jan 1, 2009, Lauren Graham and Ed Herrmann both attended to show and the three of them had pictures taken together.  It was really great to see them together again.  You can see the pictures at   http://pics.livejournal.com/gossipcom/gallery/000c8wzt      Emily Berg (Francie) is also in this play. 

[thevoid99]

It's great to see those 3 together.  I like to see mini-Gilmore reunions like this.

We need more to keep the excitement going for the possible GG movie.  And it better be written & directed by Amy Sherman-Palladino.

[cherilee13]

I agree, I like the little reunions as well.  I am hoping that there will be others once Guys and Dolls starts it run. 

I have pretty much given up hope on a GG movie but that doesn't mean I don't want it or it won't happen.  I am sure that if it does happen, it will be written and directed by ASP.