A Meathead Watches Gilmore Girls (“Hammers and Veils”)

Notes

Oh, I get it: Lorelai is a sociopath.

“Hammers and Veils”

(I received a request to review episodes two-at-a-time, but to get the numbers right, I had to do this single episode here, then we’ll get back to going double-time.)

I would very quickly like to note the following: Richard’s apology to Rory was very well done, Rory being back in school despite it being summer was not thoroughly explained, Lane leaving for Korea is an odd stylistic decision, and Michel’s crankiness never stops being amusing. With that out of the way, let’s discuss Lorelai.

When I originally received enthusiastic recommendations to watch this show, I had assumed that my wife and her friends were being honest with me when they said that they loved it for its witty repartee, its heartfelt relationships, and a show that finally seems more substantive that the drivel usually offered up to women. This though was my mistake, because I’m now starting to suspect that the reason they really like the show is that it centers around slowly eviscerating Luke.

Luke, as you’ll remember, is the grumpy owner of Stars Hollow’s diner and one of Lorelai’s potential paramours. It has repeatedly been teased that something – something – exists between these two. Luke has been there for Lorelai when Lorelai’s father fell suddenly ill. Luke agreed to repaint his diner when Lorelai pressed for it. He came running when Lorelai accidentally lost an animal. His affections have been noted by literally everybody: Sookie has asked about it, Lorelai’s fiance and Luke’s one-time girlfriend have each noted it, Miss Patty was especially concerned about what would happen when Luke found out about Lorelai’s engagement, and even Lorelai’s own stonehearted mother Emily has repeatedly inquired. Lorelai though has plead ignorance for almost the entire time, except for the one brief moment in which even she acknowledged that yes, maybe there was something…

But that something has taken the backseat to Lorelai’s aggressive attempts to torture Luke to death.

In “Hammers and Veils,” Lorelai insists upon discussing her upcoming engagement with Luke, who can be charitably be described as hugely negative about the whole thing, something which Lorelai gets angry about. Yknow, because why WOULDN’T Luke want to discuss this particular wedding? Then, at her (absolutely over-the-top and positively ridiculous) engagement party, she notices that Luke isn’t in attendance and to fix this problem, she breaks away from Max Medina, walks over to his diner, and guilts Luke into attending because it is important to her.  He then arrives in just enough time to see Lorelai and Max Medina dancing together and when Lorelai realizes that he’s there, she waves at him while clutching her man.

Because fuck you Luke, that’s why.

Here are some serious questions: when fans watched this show, were they okay with Lorelai’s behavior here?  Is there any good reason why a man who is obviously pining for her has to be publicly taken to the emotional abattoir? Did I miss a moment when Luke did something to deserve being repeatedly tortured in this way? (Please feel free to answer them in the comments. People keep making really good observations that force me to check my reactions and I really like that about this project, even if I’ve been really slow about watching recently.)

And in case Lorelai hadn’t gone far enough this episode, she also gets into it with her mother.  Anybody who has read these reviews know that I’m often horrified by Emily’s behavior. Knowing more about why Emily is the way that she is – like when she admitted to being fearful at losing Lorelai yet again in the last episode – helps to contextualize things greatly. As does Lorelai’s behavior in this episode.

She finally tells Emily that she is engaged, something that Emily already knew but doesn’t reveal. Emily instead brushes her off and Lorelai is shattered by her dismissal. She argues about it with multiple people, including Max, until she inexplicably decides to drunkenly confront Emily,  repeatedly asking her mother why she has to be the way that she is.  Emily listens to it all, then replies coldly noting that she is the way that she is because she was apparently last on Lorelai’s list of people to tell.

Here’s video from the scene. You’ll see that Lorelai comes in with a scimitar. Emily has the gun.

Incidentally, the scene between these two, and the one wherein Lorelai returns with her tail between her legs and Emily relents on the issue? Those are good scenes. Those are the scenes that keep me coming back, even if I really do suspect that my wife and our friends are all in this to see Luke end up destroyed emotionally.

Other Stuff

-I should also compliment Richard’s apology to Rory.  Both of them acknowledge having hated getting into a fight with one another and both of them clear the air. Their love for one another is done really well.