Gilmore Girls 4.19 "Afterboom"

Gilmore Girls 4.19 "Afterboom"
Original Air Date: April 27, 2004 (Recap date: March 10, 2008)
Photos, Recap & Discussion

Discussion Questions:

• Is Luke hasty in signing the divorce papers?
• Why is Luke especially annoyed by Lorelai with comments about her being a lot of work?
• Should Lorelai talk to Emily & Richard to clear the air about Jason?
• Why does Mrs. Kim take in a student? To replace Lane?
• Do you think it rude that Richard has probably notified clients of the change before telling Jason?
• Was it cowardly of Richard to avoid telling Jason himself?
• Would Richard badmouth someone, Jason, in order to sway clients?
• Did Richard have to take all their clients? What does that serve?
• Is Paris Asher’s fling for the year? Is he using her?
• Does Richard not care about destroying someone’s life, and his own daughter’s happiness, in order to further his own?
• Does Richard dismiss what he’s doing because he thinks Lorelai only cares for Jason, not them? Is it all vengeance to Lorelai?
• Does Lane miss her old life, or just her mom?
• Do you believe Asher, that his grades are not biased? Or do you go with Rory’s gut?
• What drove Emily & Richard apart, and why are they hiding it from the girls?
• Is Lorelai asking too much of Jason, to drop the suit when his career is also at risk?
• Do you think that what Richard said about loyalty to the family had an impact on Lorelai’s decision to leave Jason?

Gilmore Girls Episode Recap & Photos:

Luke catches up with Lorelai on the street as they head to the Mailboxes, Etc. – Lorelai for stamps, Luke for his divorce (there is a notary). Lorelai doesn’t think that’s a very dignified place to finalize a divorce. Lorelai wants to make sure he’s not rushing into this decision. Luke begs Lorelai to let him get divorced. Kirk is the notary. Lorelai is trying to be polite to let Luke finish and have time to himself – all Luke can say is "oh God, the work", referring to Lorelai.

Kirk presents Lorelai with breakfast cereal stamps – dancing toast – and cartoon stamps. Lorelai asks if he has any Lucille Balls left. "Yes, I have some Balls," Kirk answers. They gush over the classic sitcom stamps. Kirk is dissecting an episode of Bewitched with Lorelai – and Luke says "trying to get divorced here." So Lorelai was right to offer to let him finish first! Respectful silence.

Luke is fixing the stubborn toaster. He can’t get the ink off his thumb from Kirk’s notary procedure. So each time he sees it he’s reminded of the divorce. Rory calls her cell to see where it is – Lorelai has it. Rory left it at home by mistake. Lorelai’s phone rings – Jason is on his way to work on his golf game. Luke feeds Lorelai a bite of Danish. Lorelai juggles the two conversations, then it’s back to just Rory.

Rory thinks Lorelai should talk to Emily & Richard. Regardless of the lawsuit, there is the whole secret dating situation. Rory says Asher Fleming’s class is hard, she struggled with her paper.

Brian and Zack are playing video games, Gil is tuning his guitar. Lane calls their band meeting to order. They need to put their set list in order, and Lane gets stuck making the guest list too. Most reliable. Gil shows them a poster idea – but the fact that it’s on a flyer for his sandwich shop makes everyone distracted and hungry. It’s not her turn, but Lane goes to get food. Lane sees a new Korean girl staying with Mrs. Kim.

Jason is practicing his swing. Says hi to a client who he’s been dealing with. The client blows him off, says he’ll call Richard about his contract tomorrow.

Michel is giving a history lesson about the Dragonfly to some travel agents. They are putty in his hands. They have a deer staged out there, released doves, and have a boy out in a straw hat. Michel has manufactured ‘quaint small town’. He then leads them to the orchestrated preparation of cookies. But Sookie is being carried out, having hurt her foot. She doesn’t seem phased. The accident simply means that Sookie is back in her kitchen!

Jason pays a surprise visit to Lorelai – a day for surprises. He couldn’t track down Richard all day. Eventually, Richard’s lawyer calls Jason to say that Richard is going back into business with Floyd. They forced him out, then welcomed him back in – Richard was easy to sway. A big office, no overhead, and he’s taking all their clients. All the ones Jason brought with him, all the new ones he got. They all went with Richard. The irony is that Jason has the business, just not the clients. Richard has been badmouthing him around town. Jason’s reputation is ruined.

Asher is doing a reading – Paris gazes on. Rory comes in.  Other young girls seem to be flirting with Asher. Asher has groupies. Rory is avoiding him, not wanting to see her paper any earlier than necessary. Refers to it stinking. Asher’s new novel is sort-of-maybe dedicated to Paris. Doyle points out all the single girls and says Fleming is an "intellectual dreamboat." Doyle tells Rory that Asher has a new young girl each year. Though this year is a mystery.

Lorelai confronts her father about Jason, saying he’s making it impossible for Jason to work. Richard says he did what he had to do, it was just business. Floyd threatened his livelihood and all they have – so, Richard went back to him. He doesn’t care that Jason basically has to move, and that it will crush his relationship with Lorelai. He says it’s Lorelai’s choice. Emily is listening from around the corner. Bur Richard never expected Lorelai to care about them, she only cares about her boyfriend [Richard's sarcasm].

After Lorelai leaves, Emily asks Richard if it’s really necessary to go after Jason like he is. Emily worries that Richard will drive Lorelai away again. And take Rory along with her. Richard says they cannot control Lorelai (dismissing his own role), Rory won’t go, and he’s doing what he has to do.

Lane thinks she’s been replaced. Rory won’t be able to make the gig – Friday night dinner. Rory goes to retrieve her paper from Asher Fleming’s class. Another student celebrates his B-, which is like an A in any other class. Rory got an A, and doesn’t seem happy about it.

Rory uses the broom to knock on the ceiling and tell the people a floor above to quiet their music. Lorelai was running Inn errands and pays Rory a visit. Lorelai says things got worse with her parents – Richard is going after Jason and said horrid things to Lorelai. Lorelai won’t go to dinner. Rory wants Lorelai there – it’s the only time they are all together and sometimes the only time she can see Lorelai. Rory asks Lorelai to give Richard a chance to make it up.

The band flyer ended up getting printed with the sandwich, which is confusing. Lane sees the other Korean girl and runs out to see who she is. She is an exchange student. Lane is mad at her for ‘stealing her life’ – she even accuses the girl of stealing her look.

Asher congratulates Rory on her paper. Rory questions her grade. Without saying anything specific, Rory says she wants to make sure the grade she got is what she deserves. She wants to earn her grades. The only way Rory can allude to Paris is by saying the "Wise, Willful, Wonderful Women" bit from his book dedication. Asher says Rory deserved that A, and tells her why.

Rory is literally pushing Lorelai into the Gilmore house. Lorelai is expecting to be attacked in some way. Richard seems chipper but oddly flustered. Emily comes home just then, also flustered. Richard is repeating questions, Emily happily starts dinner early when the maid makes it at the wrong time. Dinner is very silent. And there is no dessert. Emily calls Rory Lorelai. Emily and Richard jump to say goodbye when Lorelai suggests they go. Emily gives them chocolate to go. Everything about the night was wrong and out of character.

Lorelai is snooping at Emily’s car when Emily comes out with clothes. The girls hide in the bushes as Emily drives off. Lorelai tentatively asks Rory if perhaps Emily is not staying there that night.

Hep Alien plays to a very excited crowd – get huge applause. Lane is jazzed. Zack compliments Lane on how well she played – his first compliment to her. But Zack leaves Lane for two blondes. Lane is the only one without anyone there for her. Lane uses her key to go to her old home, to go look at the other girl, asleep in her bed. After some hesitation, she goes in to Mrs. Kim’s room. Gives her a kiss. And leaves just as silently as she came.

Lorelai, suspicious, called a bunch of hotels and found her mother registered at one, check out date indefinite. She thinks her parents are made for each other. She doesn’t understand. She can’t bring it up – so she has to pretend they are still together. Jason tells Lorelai that he’s suing Richard. He thinks it’s the only way to save his career. He promises to keep Lorelai out of it, but she tries to get him to reconsider. Lorelai says she cannot be with someone suing her family. Jason says his job is who he is, his everything. Lorelai walks out. 

Tags: gilmore girls, afterboom, gilmore girls episodes, gilmore girls recaps, gilmore girls season 4, 4.19, 4×19, jason, hep alien, richard emily, asher fleming