Gilmore Girls Recap: The Great Stink

Title: The Great Stink
Original Airdate: 10/24/06

We open with Christopher sitting on Lorelai’s couch, watching her pack multiple bags filled with random items, like high heels and tennis balls.  Looks like Lor and Paul Anka are going to be spending their first night over at Chris’s place. All the stuff is to make sure that the dog is at ease. Chris is pretty sure all that’s just not normal. Hey man, you’re the one who said she was “it” for you, can’t go back on it now.

Rory’s just arrived home and by home I mean her rich and incredibly hot boyfriend’s penthouse. She doesn’t even get off the elevator before Logan phones and demands she head up to the roof. Seems there is some meteor shower he wants her to watch. She runs up to the roof and finds him up there complete with a candlelight dinner. Surprise! Logan desperately wants to kiss his lady but Rory wants to know why he’s there. Turns out he’s only in town for 26 hours due to an important meeting, something to do with the purchase of a web company. Rory’s all excited and jumping all over him, which is really what any woman in her right mind would do.

At Chris’s Lorelai is playing with the Tivo and it’s looking like she doesn’t know how to work it. That I have a very hard time believing. She ribs Chris about his show selection (The View?) but he insists that it’s all because of the Nanny. Sure Chris, whatever helps you sleep better at night. He’s got something important to show Lorelali, a letter from his ex-wife Sherry that he received a few days earlier. It’s a long letter that explains that she’s sorry for what happened and she wants to be a part of her daughter GiGi’s life now. That and she’s dating her yoga instructor. Guess all the “downward dog” has mellowed her out. Lorelai thinks it’s great but is surprised Chris is telling her about it. He just thought he’d try the whole adult relationship thing. Well, I guess trying before you hit your 40’s is a good idea. With that they cuddle and watch TV.

Rory and Logan are still on the roof, lying down on some cushions snuggling.  Logan hates that you can’t see the stars in London, and that his girlfriend isn’t there. Marry him Rory. Seriously. Rory just can’t believe he’s there and that he’s leaving the next night. They start talking about his business meeting the next morning and Logan‘s work team of Nick, Phil and Bobby. Logan starts using some strange words I don’t understand which seems to turn Rory on and its back to the kissing. Hands down playing Rory is the best job in television, unless of course you play Veronica Mars or Pam Beesly. You know its true ladies, you know it’s true.

The next morning Rory wakes up to Logan heading out. Seems he has a pre-breakfast breakfast to get to so he can strategize with his team. Logan’s a work dork, and Rory’s a work dork lover. God they are too cute. He promises after his meeting he is all Rory’s for dinner and he’s out the door.

At the Inn Michele has his face all scrunched up, and for once it isn’t because of something Lorelai did. Shocking I know. Actually there’s a horrible smell and they can’t figure out where it’s coming from. Once Lorelai opens the window it only makes it worse so she heads outside to see what’s going on. Reluctantly Sookie and Michele follow her. Everyone in town is covering their noses in disgust. Kirk informs Lor that Taylor called an emergency town meeting but he has no idea why. Maybe the smell? Kirk just doesn’t think it’s so bad. Note to Kirk: Never ever change! Lorelai decides she’d rather deal with the smell then see Luke at the meeting so she heads back to the Inn. This is good because I’m finding her short shiny skirt with the swirls on it is very hypnotic and giving me a headache.

Michele and Sookie head to the meeting and everyone’s mad as hell about the overwhelming odor. Taylor insists that it’s no big deal, just pickles. A giant pickle? No, 3.5 tons of pickles that scattered after a train derailment outside of town. That was 3 days ago and those pickles have been baking in the sun ever since. Anyway, Taylor doesn’t want to pay for the pickle clean up because even though the wind is wafting the smell their way, well technically it’s on the neighboring town’s turf. Everyone insists they pay the $2,500.00 to have the pickles removed, so Taylor is overruled, as per usual. I love town meeting scenes because everyone is there including my man Luke.

Christopher and Lorelai are at the park watching Gigi play, which actually means she’s lifting her skirt and flashing people. She’s only four so I’ll cut the kid some slack but Chris is going to have his hands full in about 10 years. After a brief discussion about Chris coming to dinner at the grandparents that night we find out Sherry phoned. Chris has decided to send Gigi and her Nanny to Paris for a couple months so she can spend time with her mother. Lorelai most certainly does not seem impressed with this new development but keeps her mouth shut. How unlike you Ms. Gilmore, how unlike you indeed.

At the Yale paper Paris and Bill are fighting over who will be in charge of getting the paper out that night because Rory won’t be there. Bill reminds us all of the crazy age of Editor Paris but Rory doesn’t care, she just wants it to get done. Logan calls to let Rory know that the meeting went amazing and they bought the company. He’s sending her a car to pick her up so they can have dinner. Rory runs off to get ready. It’s all going so well you know something’s bound to go wrong.

Michele is lighting candles around the Inn and telling an inquiring customer to not check in unless they are a great lover of pickles. I can’t imagine anyone loving pickles that much. They even have sheets shoved under the door to stop the smell and Lorelai from coming in.

Finally inside Lor tells Sookie all about how Sherry is trying to get back in touch with Christopher and him sendiung Gigi to Paris. Sookie assumes Lorelai told him it was a crazy idea. Oh sweet Sookie, you know what happens when you assume? If you don’t you should look it up. Lor can’t believe she didn’t speak her mind, I mean that’s what she’s known for right? That and a whole lot more but that’s beside the point.  Maybe she’s not comfortable talking to Chris? Nope she is, but in her head she thought she was talking to Luke. Not that she misses him but because Luke didn’t want her involved with his child while Chris is the exact opposite. He’s open to Lorelai and wants her opinion. Chris is not Luke. Could you please stop saying that like it’s a good thing Lor?

Rory calls to say she won’t be able to make it to dinner that night because Logan is in town. Her Mom informs her of the pickle madness and her Dad coming to Friday night dinner.  There is also some talk about “farming for rutabagas” but I think that’s there new code for “sex”.

Rory shows up at a swanky restaurant all dressed up to see her man. Logan shows her to their table, which surprisingly holds his co-workers Nick, Phil and the very female looking Bobby. Female meaning an attractive blonde with a British accent who keeps saying words like “parched”. They all start talking business and Rory does not look like a happy girl at all.

Heads Up: America’s Next Top Model has Fabio on this week. I haven’t heard about him since that goose smashed into his face while he was riding a rollercoaster. Looks like he recovered nicely which is most excellent because those “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter” commercials just wouldn’t be the same without him.

Happy couple Christopher and Lorelai (Listopher? Christali?) are driving to dinner and discussing going away together. Lorelai wants to go to an Ice Hotel and Chris wants to go to Bermuda. For once I actually agree with Chris, who suggests they do both, since he’ll have free time with GiGi gone. That gets a look from Lorelai who finally opens up to how she feels about his daughter going to Paris. She feels that since Gigi hasn’t seen her mother in two years it’s going to be confusing for her. Chris feels he’s doing a good job with his child but it’s hard and she needs her Mom. He wants to bring them together. Lor’s unimpressed with sending a toddler overseas with a 25 year old Nanny and that Chris should take her himself. They pull up in front of the Gilmore Estate and Chris calls her on being threatened by Sherry, since Lor obviously never liked her. (Duh.) But Lor proclaims that it’s about her being able to be open and honest about her concerns without him freaking out at her. They decide to “drop it” right before a giddy Emily opens the door. Friday night dinner is going to be F-U-N.

Back at the restaurant Team Logan is recalling how they thought the business deal was going to slip through their fingers. Yet they don’t notice that they’re English accents keep slipping but oh well. Turns out it was Bobby who saved the deal because Bobby is amazing, wonderful and has long legs. Basically she stood up and proclaimed the meeting over when it wasn’t going their way and called the other company’s bluff.  Rory’s loathing all this and hates it even more when Bobby tries to start some girl talk. Bob seems really genuine, even when she says she envy’s Rory’s time to “read and think” because her life is all about work. But Logan is such a laugh so it’s bearable. With that she prances off to the “loo”, but not before proclaiming Logan and Rory “adorable”. Hit her Rory, hit her hard. And wait…I think the guy who plays Phil played Mr. Ecko’s brother on Lost, yep he did. Dude, aren’t you supposed to be dead?

Everyone is sitting around the dinner table talking over pear salad. Well Richard and Emily are talking about Yale while Christopher and Lor (Lopher? Core?) give each other sad/angry looks from across the table. Emily is so excited about the new couple and all the fun things they can do as a foursome, like play tennis and bridge. I think she’s more excited about the fact her daughter’s agreeing with everything she says because she’s not paying attention. They’re having lamb for dinner since it’s a special occasion. Special occasions at my house mean more then one topping on the pizza, we’re high class like that. Chris proclaims he didn’t like lamb as a child but does now, because you know, “people change”. Whoa, major Lorelai burn there. Meanwhile Richard decides to toast the new happy couple who finally have gotten their act together (his words, not mine) and moved on from their rebellious youth. Lore seems to realize something so she asks Chris to join her in the washroom.

In the “loo” Lorelai proclaims that Chris is not Sherry and that he’s changed. He was 16 and a confused kid when he left Rory but Sherry was a grown woman when she left her child. Lor thinks Chris felt that when she was criticizing his ex-wife that she was also criticizing him. She’s promises that she wasn’t and that she gets it. He thanks her, sarcastically, for telling him how he feels and walks out. So for those keeping score at home, Christopher is NOT Sherry and he is NOT Luke. What about Kirk? I bet he’s totally Kirk.

Logan’s walking Rory back to the car and can tell something is wrong. Rory explains that she thought that the dinner was going to be just them, not with the “guys” and by “guys” she means Bobby. Why didn’t Logan ever express that Bobby had breasts?  Logan thinks it’s cute that she’s jealous but Bobby is just a colleague. Rory proclaims she isn’t jealous yet keeps ranting about Bobby anyway. Logan understands. She misses him and he misses her too. And with that they kiss.

It’s drinks after dinner and Emily is ranting away about something or other. Lorelai is sitting and pouting and Christopher is looking rather sheepish.  He finally confesses that Lor was right about Sherry, that he should go to Paris with Gigi and he wants Lor to come with him. He’s sweet and convincing and Lorelai just can’t help but agree, so she’s back to being her regular self. Poor Emily is saddened by the loss of her polite and quiet daughter, but you had to know it wouldn’t last. Rory finally shows up so it’s a perfect time for Lor to pull out her cell phone to show pics of Emily in jail. Richard jumps at the chance to see those.

In the car the happy clan is driving back to Stars Hollow. Chris keeps switching the radio stations but Lorelai and Rory keep vetoing the song choices.  They finally decide on “Come a Little Bit Closer” by Jay & the Americans, an oldie everyone can enjoy, including me. They’re all smiling, grooving to the music and content with their family unit. That is until the smell of sun baked pickles hits them.

You know this Chris and Lorelai (Chore? Lois?) thing is going way too fast and smooth, you all think it can hold up for the rest of the season? I have to admit I’m still skeptical.

Special thanks to Whirl who is doing an awesome job recapping Gilmore Girls for GMMR.  Make sure to leave a comment and show your love!!