Gilmore Girls Recap: 7.05 "The Great Stink"

Episode Name: "The Great Stink"
Episode Number: 7.05
Air Date: October 24, 2006
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Lorelai packing up several bags of stuff, while Chris looks on bored. Stuff for herself and for Paul Anka to stay at Christopher’s. And they leave almost forgetting Paul Anka. Still a boring looking dog, but cute nonetheless.

Rory in the apartment building with a ton of books. Logan called to ask her if she had seen a meteor shower. She says no, and he tells her to go to the roof to see it. "Once in a lifetime" blah blah. So, saw that coming. It’s Logan, on the roof! Lights, flowers, candles, dinner. Romantic. Rory is so excited.

Logan is in town for one whole day for a business trip. But the best part of his trip: Rory. He has bought her all her favorite foods and she is so excited to have him there!

Lorelai and TiVo "no" sounds. hehe. Lorelai says GiGi is amazing, which is far better than her previous declaration of GiGi. Chris then pulls out a letter from Sherri (with a wax seal!). Lots of sorry. Lots of paper. Apparently, she’s dating a yoga dude, she feels bad, and wants to be part of GiGi’s life. Lorelai says it’s great, Chris is not sure I don’t think. But, it’s kind of like Chris, right – Lorelai always gave him second chances.

Rory and Logan on the roof, pan down. I was expecting nakedness, so I am glad they are fully clothed! Rory is being encouraging about Logan’s business idea, his reason for being in town. Something about a business and some website a la MySpace. Logan is spouting business talk – stuff he didn’t know 3 weeks ago. Rory is apparently taking the class her grandfather is teaching, btw. It’s a business class.

Rory in bed, a repeat of him waking up and leaving yet again. Going for a pre-breakfast-breakfast. Rory calls him a "work dork", which is a lame joke, I think. They will later meet for dinner, so at least it’s not a final goodbye.

Michel sniffing something foul at the inn. Lorelai and Sookie noticed it too. Opening window, not a good idea. Worse outside. Lorelai ventures into the stink to see what’s wrong. Everyone in town is walking around with tissues on their noses. Everyone except Kirk, who thinks it smells good. Lorelai bails on the emergency town meeting, so as to avoid Luke.

What’s the smell? Pickles. From a train derailment of pickles that Taylor does not want to pay to clean it up. It’s a matter of pride and principle, so he says. It should either be the pickle owner or the closer town, lol. Luke stands up to argue, as does everyone else. Taylor is annoyed at the "astronomical cost" of $2500 to clean it up. The town vetos Taylor. Good one.

Lorelai and Christopher at a park, with pickle-free air. Talking about Friday night dinner to come, where both Rory and Christopher will be going as well. Chris mentions he talked to Sherri, how she asked to have GiGi stay with her in Paris for a couple of months. Chris thinks it’s a good idea, to get to know her mom. She’s just in pre-school, so it would be ok. Chris wants to send her there with the nanny. Lorelai is disturbed, but I don’t know why yet.

Rory talking about putting Paris in charge of the Yale Daily so she can go out with Logan. Bill, the next one in line, is annoyed that he doesn’t get to do it. Rory’s outfit is adorable, btw. She gets a call from Logan. He bought the company! Yikes! He’s really excited. I would be too if I could not only have a great idea, but the money to buy whomever had already started it ;) Ok, I kid.

Michel has put a towel at the door of the inn to block the smell. He’s trying to explain the pickle smell to customers so they can reschedule. Sookie is baking apples and bread and cheese and chocolate to rid the smell – then, finally, pastrami. To join with the pickle smell. And it works.

Lorelai and Sookie talk about the "GiGi in Paris" thing. Sookie is surprised Lorelai didn’t speak up against this. She is too, really. Because, she says, in her head she was talking to Luke. She got used to butting out of the fatherhood life, as per Luke, and shutting up. And now she is holding her tongue not-on-purpose with Christopher.

Rory trying to decide what to wear. Black dress? Boring! Brown? Just as! I hope she chooses something else. She’s calling to cancel on Friday dinner since she’ll be with Logan. They have an odd conversation. I am not sure if it is funny or not. Kinda un-Gilmore writing style.

Rory at dinner. Her outfit is indeed brown, but it looks much better on her than on the hanger. I am satisfied. Logan brings her over to the table to meet "everybody", when in actuality Rory was expecting nobody. She is just a little flustered at this. Also at meeting Bobby, the hot older woman with the sexy accent that Logan works with. Apparently Bobby knows all about Rory, but I can see it’s very much not in reverse.

Lorelai and Chris in the car, him playing some "hair tunes" that she protests against. Chris is suggesting a weekend away. Lorelai suggests the ice hotel. Um, no, not me. Kinda cold. He suggests Bermuda. Long way to go for a weekend. Chris brings up GiGi being in Paris and Lorelai gets all silent. Then she speaks up. Says it is not such a good idea, necessarily. That GiGi does not know her mom, and despite being 4, it could be hard on her. Chris wants to try to help bring them back together, but Lorelai says maybe Chris should go too. Chris thinks Lor is threatened by Sherri, but Lorelai says it’s not about that. They fight right up till Emily answers the door.

Logan et al talking about the deal. Play by play of the meeting. Apparently they all thought the deal was dropping, then Bobby stood up and said meeting over, and all the men noticed was her legs. And that signed the deal. Ok, that’s sad.

Bobby tries to smalltalk with Rory. Talking about "reading literature at Oxford" and the real world, then about how much of a laugh Logan is to work with. Rory has that look on her face like "ok, what don’t I know here?"

Richard at dinner talking about his class at Yale. Emily going gaga over Lorelai and Christopher now being an item. How she made lamb, cause it’s so special, and about playing doubles with them for tennis. Meanwhile, Lorelai and Chris are glaring at each other.

During all this, Emily is reminiscing about Lor and Chris as derelict youths. Chris hinted earlier he had changed, but it did not hit Lorelai until now. She pulls Chris aside. Says that Chris leaving Rory is not like Sherri leaving GiGi – that he has changed and she understands that he is misunderstanding whom she is referring to when being mad at Sherri. But Chris doesn’t accept this apology or whatever, and leaves the room.

Rory and Logan after dinner. He still seams hyper, but she is dejected. Does the "I’m fine" bit, which never means fine. She admits the night was not what she expected. Logan apologizes for not being clear. She apologizes too, since she did have a romantic night the previous night. Rory then complains about not knowing that Bobby was a girl. He says she’s cute when she is jealous.

Rory also admits about not feeling included, and about Bobby being condescending. Then has a truly Gilmore moment about Bobby’s legs and accent and whatnot. Satisfying as a fan. And satisfying because it’s true double-think. I’ve been there. You’ve been there. Making yourself miserable and jealous when you should be enjoying the short term happiness, and hating yourself for it. That’s how Rory feels here. But it ends well, with a true loving kiss.

Chris and Lorelai sitting on the couch after dinner. He doesn’t even bother to take her aside, but right there in front of Emily and Richard, says he knows he’s not Sherri, and Lorelai should come with Chris to go to Paris. To check out the situation and have a romantic weekend. And, just like that, they are back to being happy.

Ok, hilarious, Emily comments about how much fun she was having all night – because Lorelai was sulking there were no snide remarks. Then Rory walks in and Lorelai shows off the Emily-in-jail photos she has on her cellphone. The parting shot – the entire Gilmore family in the car deciding what to play on the radio. Cute family moment. Each one completely satisfied. Until they smell the pickles again ;)

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