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In ‘Unto the Breach‘, so much happens that it’s hard to decide what to talk about in this discussion post! But, among all the things that we could discuss, I’ve decided to ask just this: Why does Logan propose at Rory’s graduation party?
Photo Greg Gayne/The CW © 2007 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved
Logan proposing – obviously a HUGE deal. Though Logan had told Rory to not factor him into her decision about what to do with her future, he’s evidently changed his mind (ok, that’s a whole other discussion, I know). Perhaps he’s scared of losing Rory, I don’t know. After asking for Lorelai’s permission in the previous episode, we’ve been waiting for him to pop the question to Rory ever since.
Where Logan chooses to propose to Rory…. at the graduation party that Emily & Richard throw for Rory! Of all places! The proposal (written out here) is truly very sweet. But should Logan have done it in front of so many people, some of whom Rory barely knows?
Why did Logan propose at this exact time? Was it just about the ‘grand gesture’? Did he perhaps feel he was losing time? Do you think maybe that social pressure was involved? That Logan perhaps thought Rory would be more likely to say ‘yes’ if her family were there to witness it? I’d love to know what you think motivated Logan to choose this place and this time for his “grand gesture.”
Here’s the scene where Logan proposes to Rory:
Watch this episode of Gilmore Girls on TheWB.com here.
I hated this episode of GG. It was done completely wrong in every aspect. The timing was off for the proposal considering everything that had happened in the earlier episodes. If they knew that the show might not go on, they should not have made these two characters separate this way. Rory and Logan should have done the long distance thing again and ended the show instead of spliting up. Or they could have not made Logans character get a job on the West Coast and then they could have gotten married. It ruined the show for me. I will not even watch season 7 because of this episode. I cannot stand it! Rory and Logan were my favorite characters and I refuse to see it ended this way.
I think Logan proposes at her party because, partly because of the grand gesture, everyone is dressed up and theres champane and just the whole party, but I think he mostly proposes there because all of her family is there, Chris and Lorelai, and Emily and Richard.
I think he made a mistake. He knows how much Rory is discreet and doesn’t like to be exposed like this.
I’m not saying she would have said yes if he had done it differently but maybe she would have been more prompt to think about it.
Whether he likes it or not, or realizes it or not, Logan is his father’s son — Mitchum Huntzburger never expects to be told “no” whatever the situation, and Logan just never imagined there was even the slightest possibility that Rory would turn him down.
If the show had continued for another season, I would have like to have seen Logan come crawling back to Rory, ready to accept her on HER terms.
I just think Logan wanted that moment to be special and he knew Rory and her family had a special bond, so maybe to him it seemed appropriate to propose in front of everyone. In his eyes it could have been a double celebration – her graduation and engagement – with the family all included. Kill two birds with one stone if you will. To me, I thought it was sweet and very romantic. Bottom line, if Rory was ready to marry Logan, really ready, it wouldn’t have mattered where he proposed or who was around. All she would have cared about is saying yes and celebrating the engagement. The way she acted it felt as if she had never even thought about marrying Logan, let alone have him propose. After she said no and Logan walked way, grrrr, I was so mad! Logan was the one who told her to follow her own path and he’d factor her in and vice versa. So why does it have to be all or nothing? He went off to London and Rory stuck by him. I don’t know, I think that was just inconsistent writing on the part of the show’s writers. This is why we need a movie … we need to get some type of closure, whether good or bad to the Rory/Logan storyline.
Out of character.
I will try never to bring the writers into this fantasy I have of this show.
Things we have discussed before I will find some way to think that it IS Rory or Luke or Lorelei.
But this.. THIS is just ridiculous.
Logan is too smart and senitive to do it this way.
He really wants this and would not f it up like this.
It makes for good plot movement, so the WRITERS did it this way.
Stupid writers.
Or could it be he was so overconfident and sure that the answer would be yes that he did it in the way it would have maximum impact on all of Rory’s closest friends. Wouldn’t be the first time he tried to impress everyone and get his way by his gift of gab!! Wouldn’t be the first time this approach failed either!!
Okay so this was actually one of the better storylines Rory got this season and here’s why: Logan proposing in front of everyone was just a grand gesture type thing which he was very prone to over the years and it gave Rory the chance to think. And in the end, she chose to remain independent which was the RIGHT decision because a) it was in sync with her original character, b) it redeemed the character after about two and a half years of stupid decisions involving Logan and c) it kept with the original message of the show which is that these two girls (now both women) are strong, smart, and will not be held back no matter what.
As for “but how could she say ‘no’ to LOGAN!?!?” sentiment: Sure, he was better than Jess or Dean for Rory. That’s how the relationship was characterized. But relationships are funny sometimes. Sometimes you either move forward or you don’t. Plain and simple. There’s no over dramatic fallout, no horrible arguments, not even any evident problems. I feel like this was a mature, complex end to Rory Gilmore’s first (since she’s only 22 years old) mature and complex relationship and by remaining single she is actually walking off into the sunset with her happy ending.
Ryan, I think you hit the nail on the head in relation to the ending of their relationship – I too felt that it was appropriate that it ended in this manner. It’s obviously sad for both of them but after such an intense & complex relationship if she wasn’t ready to say “yes” right away then they did the right thing by ending it (IMHO!).
In terms of why he did it in public, once more I think this is one of Logan’s over-the-top gestures that he has noot thought through. Yes if she had agreed to marry him it would have been wonderfully romantic but he obviously didn’t consider the embarrassment that all parties would feel if she didn’t answer him. Surely it would have been more appropriate to have taken her out in the carriage he had arranged, popped the question & then announced the good news when they got back to the party – it would have been just as special & if Rory had needed time they could just have kept quiet when they returned.
I just think that a public proposal would be the most humiliating thing – I would prob say yes out of sheer embarrassment so good on Rory for not falling foul of that!!!
I agree with Robin wholeheartedly…and with the people who share the “but how could Rory say ‘no’ to Logan?
The writers should have tied of the loose ends of Rory’s relationship well before the final hour. I think that this has upset people most. It makes sense for Rory to remain “single” but why figure this out in the very last episode? Both characters were shortchanged in this sense for a quick out, but most especially Logan. I think what we miss is that we love Rory (still) but feel bad about the writing for Logan, as if he was written off as never existing or inconsequential.
This would have been a great opportunity for the shows writers to depict a mature relationship that ends amicably. No dramatic fallout as Robin put and then show that Logan is okay with that.
They could have skipped the proposal all together or had Rory and Logan come to an agreement of some kind. But I like the above idea better and they didn’t do that they just gave Logan the shaf.
it leaves you in suspense after the finale…whats going to happen after she leaves, will they meet up again…i wished that she would blow off the job and go to san fransico and say yes…she may not be ready but she loves him …logan shouldnt have said its all or nothing cause that makes gilmore girl lovers want to cry….i cryed at the end…i just wanted to go up to logan and slap him when i saw the ending cause they are so perfect and hot together
I’ve been watching gilmore girls since I was forteen on and off (now 21) and I got to this episode on this last Christmas eve.
I was devestated when they broke up via Logan’s proposal.
I believe the writers betrayed their love by the way he just stunned her with his ‘intentions’ and didn’t give her the time she needed to think things over – no matter what her answer was going to be.
He did everything else right! Asking Loralie’s permission was perfect.. but everything else was a shambles – especially not telling her he got the job in California, just landing everything on her like that at such an overwhelming event as it was. He knew better as a character and he ignored it.
What was his problem – a month before he was on her couch helpless and now he just got too big for his boots – that was battler script writing for sure.
He just F’s it up big time, and even more so at the graduation day, just walking off like that. It was bitter sweet – Rory looking over and seeing him wave with that smile, and then her handing the ring back and him just walking off for good without any emotion.
He was the best thing, the most real thing, that ever happened to her. Not because he was amazingly charming, handsome and wealthy – something she deserved, but because it was a real love story that made a vital part of the show.
When they first jumped off that tower at the Life and Death Brigade weekend – that was the beginning of big change for Rory and for Logan.
When they started getting invovled, I said that she would have to change dramaticly to be with him..and she did – I believe for the better.
One of my favourite scenes now, looking back, was of her an emotional wreck after the musuem opening thing when she got drunk with lane and paris..that night she just opens up her heart and cries about Logan – that was one of the most real and beautiful things she does. Loralie is disgusted and says it’s not Rory to be like that but I disagree. It’s life, and heart break is part of life.
At the G-parents vowel renewal when Chris lets Rory in on the secret that Loralie was the one that walked up and kissed him for the first time – that inspires her to do the same thing. Which is perfect in a way – like mother like daughter. But I do not see why they had to end the same way. Yes, she is the same but she is different.
She blossomed into an amazing person who deserved to chase her dreams and live her potential yes, but I just don’t see why Logan couldn’t be a part of that.
Everyone else got their happiness in that respect – why was she the only one to have to grow up into the next stage of her life being serious without a guy apparently ‘dragging’ her down.
If you ask me – when it cam to them being together ‘forever’, it included her getting a job in NYC – even if it wasn’t the Times and them living there together..whether engaged or not.
Sorry for the essay – but like Trinity says it ‘makes gilmore girl lovers want to cry’. And that’s not cool