Episode Report Card Al Lowe: B- | 1 USERS: A+ YOU GRADE IT Not So New, Not Especially Improved
By Al Lowe | Season 6 | Episode 1 | Aired on 09.12.2005
Paris finds a suitable dress and tells Rory that she and Doyle have decided to move in together, and would like Rory to move in to their extra room. Rory says that's very Bob and Carol and Ted and Alice, minus Bob, but has to drop the bomb: she can't move in with them, because she's not going back to school. Paris pauses, and then declares, "You're pregnant." Rory says no, that's not the case. Ah, Paris jumps to the next obvious conclusion. "Sick," she says, narrowing her eyes. "You look pasty." Exasperated, Rory says no again. Paris is now frustrated -- I mean, more than usual. "Well," she says, "I know your National Guard unit didn't get called up, so what's the story?" May I take a moment and say how very much I love Paris? How Liza Weil has not been snatched up to play "funny friend at the office" in every romantic comedy à la Joan Cusack in the '80s, I don't know, but I'm kind of glad, because, well, for one, they don't even make good romantic comedies anymore, and secondly, I don't want her to leave this show, because she elevates the quality of every scene she's in, not unlike Edward Herman does, whenever they give him something good to say. Anyway. Paris is the friend everybody needs. You've got to have someone around to call bullshit on the dumb things you're always saying. Rory repeats that she's just taking time off, and stomps out into the empty living room with the incredulous Paris trailing behind, asking what happened. Rory goes into defense mode. "People take time off," she says. "Einstein took a year off." Paris ain't buying it: "Yeah, after he discovered three laws of physics." Rory has had enough, and says not very convincingly that she is a grown-up, independent and on her own. Paris points out to this alleged grown-up that she has no furniture. Rory tries, but fails, to come off all casual and repeats Emily's earlier words about customizing the place to Rory's tastes. Paris, again, is on the case. "I get it," she says. "I know what this is all about..." But, no, Rory says she doesn't and, annoyed, tries to shoo Paris out...
...just as Logan oils in the door. Let me put it on front street: I don't like Logan. I hate all the "Ace" stuff; hate his dumb dad; hate his frosted tips with accompanying painstakingly arranged "tousled" look; loathe his "friends"; can't stand his cringingly hip fratty/metro clothes; and wish he would shut up. I am most happy when Paris clocks him a sideways look, here. Only giving him a single, accusing "You," she stomps out. He says something lame about vacation coming at just the right time for Paris, and he and Rory head off, as well.