Gilmore Girls 4.16 "The Reigning Lorelai"

Gilmore Girls 4.16 "The Reigning Lorelai"
Original Air Date: March 2, 2004 (Recap date: March 5, 2008)
Photos, Recap & Discussion

Discussion Questions:

• Why doesn’t Emily assert herself when Richard says he can’t go to the funeral – is this like her?
• Does Doyle realize he picks a new target each month?
• Why does Emily want to make Trix’s funeral perfect?
• Do you think Richard was disrespectful?
• Shouldn’t Emily be proud that Richard loved her enough to defy his mother?
• Do you think Trix left the letter there on purpose for Emily to one day find?
• Why is Emily acting out in this particular way?
• Why does Rory initially lie to Doyle about her Gran?
• Did Luke sabotage his relationship with Nicole by not moving in with her?
• What is it about buying the underwear that triggers Lorelai’s breakdown?
• Why does Richard decide to defy his mother’s cremation / burial wishes?

Gilmore Girls Episode Recap & Photos:

Lorelai is skittish about eating her escargot. Food should not have pronouns. Rory agrees. Emily’s friend, Melinda aka Sweetie, has passed away. Emily makes up (I think) a story of how Sweetie got her nickname. Richard can’t make the funeral, and Emily pretends to be ok with that.

Kirk thinks his eggs smell like fish. Lorelai comes in yelling she needs something with cheese. Luke is not there, so Lorelai’s jack to cheddar ratio may be off in her breakfast quesedilla. Luke is outside on a bench having a serious talk with Nicole. Kirk thinks he can read lips, but he can’t. Nicole is gesturing angrily. Luke seems to give up and walk away. Kirk is sure the "I’ll see you later" is actually "I’ll feel your taters." Lane brings him new eggs – they were cooked in the fish pan. Kirk wonders why everyone always thinks he’s crazy. Lorelai looks out at Luke.

Doyle is accusing Rory of plagiarism, but she isn’t taking it seriously. He is upset with her use of common descriptive phrases. Doyle is upset at the lax attitude at the paper. Rory is Doyle’s target for the month. 

Time to budget for the Inn. Michel is trying to set the VCR to tape his dog show. He talks baby talk at the television when the Chow’s are on show. Emily calls – Trix has had a heart attack and died. Emily says Richard has fallen apart, is incoherent. Is asking for Turtleneck Soup, which Emily doesn’t know – something he has as a kid. Sookie comes to the rescue, suggesting it is perhaps Mock Turtle Soup. Sookie will try to make the soup while Emily organizes the funeral, which Trix has detailed out very specifically. Lorelai accepts a hug from Michel – it was weird.

Lorelai brings the soup to Richard, who is slumped back drunk on the couch. The offer of soup makes him cry. He says Trix was a saint. He learned that life is a battle, thanks to her. On his 10th birthday, Trix told him that – to either enter life armed or surrender immediately. Richard has regrets – their last words were in anger. The fight. He thinks he was disrespectful – speaking to her like he owed her nothing. She raised him, alone. Richard reminds Lorelai that you only have one set of parents. Richard asks for a spoon for the soup.

Emily is stressed because the funeral arrangements are 20 years out of date and she’s having trouble tracking down the preferred vendors. Richard comes out furious about Trix’s obituary. He thinks it too short and informal. Emily says they’ll take care of it. Lorelai offers to help, but Emily refuses. Reconsiders on Lorelai’s way out – asks her to come to sort papers at Trix’s the next day.

Lorelai calls Rory to tell her about her Gran. The funeral is on Friday. Rory is sad, just getting to know Trix. Rory panics because she doesn’t feel the need to cry.

Lorelai and Emily are sorting Trix’s legal files. Emily is taking some of Trix’s things home – family heirlooms. Someone in Richard’s family tends to make things disappear, so she’s preparing ahead. Emily tells Lorelai about Trix’s funeral and cremation plans – half of her is supposed to sit in an urn on their mantle. Lorelai asks what Trix’s maiden name was – it was Gilmore. She and her husband, Charles, were second cousins. "Keeping the bloodlines close."

Emily comes across a carbon copy of a letter to Richard. It was a letter to Richard to "reconsider his impending marriage" to Emily. She even suggests Pennilyn is better suited for Richard. The letter was sent to Richard the day before his wedding! Emily can’t believe how much she’s doing for a woman who didn’t want her in the family. Emily says she’s done planning the funeral, Richard or no Richard. Emily has not forgotten that he missed her best friend’s funeral to play golf. It’s left to Lorelai to organize the final arrangements.

Rory helps Lorelai with the papers – though Lorelai is as possessive of her system as Emily was! Lorelai suspects Trix left the letter there for Emily to eventually find. Then tells Rory about the inbreeding. Rory wonders if their eyes are too alike – creepy, she says. Rory offers to be the one to re-write the obituary – Lorelai is swamped with things to do.

The Gilmore house is swamped with flowers. A condolence moat. Emily sent the maid home for the day - Emily is sitting in her robe smoking and drinking in the living room! Lorelai asks who they hell she is – stumped by someone so not like her mom. Emily asks for a refresh on her drink and continues reading.

Jason comes to get Richard to sign papers. Richard is still a mess – even more so. Richard hugs him and cries. Emily continues chain smoking. Emily turns out to be quite bitter about Pennilyn Lott being the one Trix wanted to marry Richard and to eventually plan the funeral for her. Jason tells Lorelai he’s not good with funerals. Family members died like flies one year as a child, now the funerals freak him out.

Rory had a good time doing the obituary, researching all about her Gran. Doyle catches Rory doing personal stuff while at the paper. Rory tells him about her Gran, and how they were so close. Doyle is sympathetic. Doyle’s grandmother died recently and he was very close with her – he tells Rory all about how hard it’s been. Rory breaks down and admits she and her Gran were not that close. He then tells her to finish - to get to know her grandmother. A special thing.

The whole diner is staring at the door to Luke’s apartment upstairs – you can hear Luke and Nicole yelling. Miss Patty just asks, "again?" Luke comes to take an order, but Nicole barks at him. They take the argument outside. But they realize they have nothing left to say. Says "huh, funny" when Luke refers to "our place".

Richard is a little distracted with his tie and forgot his shoes. Emily is still in her robe and does not sound sober. She hands Lorelai a book on a Victorian prostitute. Lorelai talks to Emily like a child, to go get ready. Rory leads Richard upstairs to sit down. Both are very nutty. Lorelai has to finish up the errands – and suddenly remembers she forgot to get Gran underwear. Lorelai isn’t comfortable knowing Gran is going commando.

Lorelai breaks down a bit when buying the underwear for Trix. Bares her soul to the lingerie sales person. Lorelai grabs what’s in front of her – a strawberry print pair of underwear. 

Rory has printed out instructions on how to tie Richard’s bow tie. Richard confesses to Rory that he never could wear the suit from his father’s funeral again. His first custom suit, brand new. He expects the end of this suit too. Rory offers to do the eulogy if Richard is not up to it.

Richard steadily got through his eulogy and they are now holding the wake. Richard praises Rory "inside and out" as she leaves. Apparently Lorelai put a Hello Kitty bracelet on Gran. Marilyn, the thieving cousin, dotes on the girls, whom she’s never met. She hints about the bar glasses.

Emily takes over some orchestration at the wake. Lorelai is sure to tell Rory that she’s flirting with her second cousin. The reverend, a little on in years, asks if he didn’t just bury Lorelai? Marilyn corrects him, saying this is her grand daughter, the "reigning Lorelai."

Lorelai checks on Emily, and reminds her that Gran may have written that letter, but that Richard picked her. Emily resumes criticizing Lorelai then goes to make sure Richard is ok. Richard tells Emily that the mantle does not seem an appropriate place for his mother’s ashes – he suggests burying her entirely with her husband. He kisses Emily’s hands and holds her close.

Rory is feeling more sad about Gran, which makes her feel less guilty. Things are looking up. Lorelai tells Rory about being the reigning Lorelai. Jokes that there is a cape. 

Tags: gilmore girls, the reigning lorelai, gilmore girls season 4, 4.16, 4×16, gilmore girls recaps, gilmore girls episodes, trix gilmore, trix, gran