Episode Report Card Pamie: D | 16 USERS: B+ YOU GRADE IT Pilot
By Pamie | Season 1 | Episode 1 | Aired on 10.04.2000
"The place looks great," Lorelai says. "It hasn't changed," says Mommy Dearest. "Well, there you go...How are the girls at the bridge club?" Lorelai small-talks. "Old," curts Mommy Dearest. "Well...good." Uncomfortable silence in the living room. Lorelai and her mother sit across from each other. Mommy Dearest asks Lorelai about her business class. Lorelai says that she takes it twice a week: "I'm sure I told you." "Well, if you're sure then you must have," snips Mommy Dearest. Uncomfortable silence. "Would you like some tea?" Mommy Dearest asks. "I would love some coffee," Lorelai replies.
Dad walks in and gives Lorelai's mother a name: Emily. Lorelai says hello to her father. He asks if it's Christmas already. Emily mentions Lorelai's business class and says she was stopping by to see them. "What business class?" Emily says that Lorelai told them about it already. He says he doesn't remember. Lorelai says she came for a reason. "You need money," Dad says. "I have a situation," Lorelai stammers. "You need money," Dad repeats. Lorelai asks if he'll sit down and listen. She says that Rory got accepted to Chilton. Emily says it's a wonderful school and just five minutes from their home. Lorelai explains that she needs to pay the tuition fee immediately or she loses her spot. "So," Dad sing-songs, "You need money." "Yeah," Lorelai says, defeated. She defends by saying it's not for her, it's for Rory, and that she doesn't usually ask for favors. Emily says she knows that she doesn't ask for favors, and says they'll give her the money. And then they lay down the condition: Emily says that to have the money, Lorelai will have to come to dinner with Rory every Friday night and call once a week to tell her what's going on in their lives. She says that if Lorelai thinks that's a reasonable offer, then she can show up tomorrow night to pick up the check. Otherwise she can't have the money. Lorelai says she doesn't want Rory to know she borrowed money. Emily asks if seven is an okay time. "Perfect." As Dad goes to the paper, Lorelai stares at the family painting on the wall as we fade to commercial.
I really want something to pick on at this point, as it feels like I'm letting you guys down. Is this what it's like to recap The West Wing? Okay, it's not like this show is The West Wing or anything, but I'm not used to dealing with natural plot progression. Sure, it's a bit hokey, and the plot's not entirely original, but compared to what I've been dealing with over the past year, it's quite jarring. Maybe the Family Friendly Forum's Script Development Fund is lulling me into a Stepford Wife kind of serenity.