GILMORE GIRLS: RAINCOATS AND RECIPES {FOURTH SEASON FINALE} (TV)
Summary
The fourth season finale in this dramatic series about Lorelai Gilmore, a thirty-something mother raising her teenage daughter Rory under the constant surveillance of her overbearing and very wealthy parents, Emily and Richard. In this episode, Lorelai prepares for the Dragonfly's test run weekend, overseeing final details and forbidding Michel from bringing his beloved dogs along. At the same time, Rory tells Lane about Jess' surprise visit and passionate request to run away together, reflecting on his unpredictable nature. Lorelai finds herself nervous around Luke in the aftermath of Liz's wedding, admitting to Rory that she is unsure if they are actually dating or not. At Friday night dinner, Emily invites Rory to spend the summer with her in Europe, still not admitting that she and Richard are secretly separated. Lorelai resorts to "Parent Trap"-like strategy and invites her parents to the test run, hoping that they will work out their issues when forced to room together at the inn. Later, Kirk comes to Luke for help, explaining that he has night terrors and is worried about sabotaging his night with Lulu at the Dragonfly, and Luke very reluctantly agrees to assist if need be.
On the first day of the test run, the bedroom doors arrive at the last minute and Lorelai rushes around making last-minute adjustments. Rory encounters Dean, who is still upset about Jess' sudden appearance, and sparks fly between them again as she assures him that she has not reunited with her wayward ex-boyfriend. Kirk attempts to make his room terror-proof as the guests begin to show up, and Lorelai, after putting Emily and Richard in an isolated bungalow outside of the inn, is further flustered by Luke's arrival. The weekend gets off to a good start as everyone enjoys their dinner, though Sookie frets over having to fire two of their excellent kitchen staff, and Lorelai is stunned by the sudden appearance of Jason, who wants to end their "cooling-off period" and reunite. Lorelai is still upset about his lawsuit against Richard, but Jason resolves to stay at the inn until they can have a discussion. As the guests relax and play board games, gossip-expert Babette fills Luke in on Jason, guessing that he and Lorelai have gotten back together. Emily rebukes Lorelai for forcing her and Richard into "that godforsaken cabin," finally admitting to her that they are separated, and the feuding couple leaves. Rory runs home to pick up supplies and again runs into Dean, and they admit that there is still something between them. She asks about Lindsay, and Dean tells her that they are not happy and that his marriage is over, and matters then take an intimate turn in Rory's bedroom.
Luke meets Jason, who says that he and Lorelai are "working through" their problems, and Luke confronts Lorelai, upset that she is still dating someone else even though he has been "very clear with his intentions" through his uncharacteristically romantic actions. Lorelai, taken aback, assures him that she is not dating Jason, and when she agrees that there was "a moment" after Liz's wedding, the two finally share their first kiss. They are then interrupted by Kirk in the throes of a night terror, however, and Luke is forced to run after him. Lorelai excitedly runs home to update Rory, but is shocked to find her there with Dean, upset to realize that she has cheated with a married man. Dean leaves and Lorelai calls Rory out on her actions, but Rory is defensive, saying that he is "her Dean" and that his brief marriage is over anyway. The two fight, and a tearful Rory calls Dean on his phone, but Lindsay answers and she hangs up. Commercials deleted.
Cataloging of this program was made possible by Amy Sherman-Palladino.
Details
- NETWORK: WB
- DATE: May 18, 2004 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:44:31
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:85108
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama; Comedy; Mothers and daughters
- SERIES RUN: WB/CW - TV series, 2000-2007; Netflix - Internet series, 2016
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Gavin Polone … Executive Producer
- Daniel Palladino … Executive Producer
- Amy Sherman-Palladino … Executive Producer, Created by, Director, Writer
- Jane Espenson … Co-Executive Producer
- Sheila R. Lawrence … Co-Executive Producer
- Chris Long … Co-Executive Producer
- Helen Pai … Producer
- Patricia Fass Palmer … Producer
- John Stephens … Co-Producer
- Janet Leahy … Consulting Producer
- Sam Phillips … Music by
- Carole King … Theme Music by
- Louise Goffin … Theme Music by
- Toni Stern … Theme Music by
- Lauren Graham … Cast, Lorelai Gilmore
- Alexis Bledel … Cast, Rory Gilmore
- Melissa McCarthy … Cast, Sookie St. James
- Scott Patterson … Cast, Luke Danes
- Keiko Agena … Cast, Lane Kim
- Yanic Truesdale … Cast, Michel Gerard
- Liza Weil … Cast, Paris
- Sean Gunn … Cast, Kirk Gleason
- Chris Eigeman … Cast, Jason "Digger" Stiles
- Kelly Bishop … Cast, Emily Gilmore
- Edward Herrmann … Cast, Richard Gilmore
- Jared Padalecki … Cast, Dean Forester
- Liz Torres … Cast, Miss Patty
- Michael Winters … Cast, Taylor Doose
- Sally Struthers … Cast, Babette Dell
- Biff Yeager … Cast, Tom
- Jackson Douglas … Cast, Jackson Melville
- Grant-Lee Phillips … Cast, Grant
- Rini Bell … Cast, Lulu
- Jamie Gannon … Cast, Lev
- Graham Norris … Cast, Dereck