Gilmore Girls 5.10 "But Not as Cute as Pushkin"

Gilmore Girls 5.10 "But Not as Cute as Pushkin"
Original Air Date: November 30, 2004 (Recap date: March 27, 2008)
Recap & Discussion

Discussion Questions:

• Why didn’t Lorelai know about Luke’s dark day?
• Is Rory uncomfortable telling Lorelai about Logan because he’s wealthy?
• Why was Luke hesitant to tell Lorelai about his ‘dark day’?
• Do you think Luke should get rid of the boat?
• Is Rory being a boring host with Anna?
• Why does Logan pull that stunt in the class? To impress Rory?
• Do Paris & Doyle make a good pair? Why?
• Are you surprised Luke & Lorelai have not exchanged ‘I love you’s’ yet?
• Is Luke happy to have the boat, in the end?
• Was it out of character for Rory to prank Logan like that?

Gilmore Girls Episode Recap:

Miss Patty runs into Lorelai in the streets and talk turns to Pasquale, who is feeling unappreciated despite their Pasquale Day last week). Miss Patty invites Lorelai to her showbiz 40th anniversary party. Lorelai says sure, and she’ll bring Luke. Miss Patty says Luke won’t come – the party is on November 30th. Luke’s ‘dark day.’ A day he disappears every year. Lorelai didn’t know about it. Lorelai goes to drop compliments to Pasquale.

Paris and her life coach (who has been out of the picture for a while – apparently in rehab!) are talking about Paris’ social life, and not getting back on the dating scene. Paris is very busy, a double major! Political Science and Bio Chemistry. Paris has neglected some of her projects, like her pretty thoughts journal, too.

Rory, meanwhile, is searching for her notebook. Rory finds a note that Headmaster Charleston from Chilton called. She calls him back. He wonders if Rory would be interested to host a prospective Yale student for a couple of days. Rory says she’s honored to host the student, whose name is Anna Fairchild. She’ll be there Monday.

Rory shares her excitement of hosting the Chilton student with her grandfather. He thinks Rory’s ideas for showing Anna around Yale are great – Lorelai thinks they are not fun. Richard says that fun is a part of a well-rounded education, and suggests touching the lucky toe of a statue on campus as the ‘fun.’

Richard asks Rory if she’s making good friends at Yale. Specifically Logan Huntzberger – a fine boy from a fine family. Richard noticed they were ‘hitting it off’ the other night. Lorelai has a lot of questions for all that. Rory looks uncomfortable and says Logan is nice. Richard says they would make a handsome couple. Rory says Logan, aka limo boy to Lorelai, is the one who gave her a ride home from the Male Yale Party. Richard is nearly gloating at the fact that Rory is now connected to Mitchum Huntzberger and his powerful newspaper empire.

Lorelai pumps for dish about Logan – Richard knowing more about her is not fair, she enjoys it more. Rory says Logan is just a friend. Lorelai asks how close a friend. Rory says she needs a boy break after Dean to concentrate on school. If it changes, Lorelai will be the first to know.

The true advantage of dating a diner owner – Lorelai is never more than 10 feet away from pie. Lorelai, in Luke’s plaid shirt, has brought up an evening snack. Lorelai says Luke is like a sexy Willy Wonka. Sitting in bed eating pie, Lorelai looks down at Luke and says:

"This is nice… I think it’s going really well, you and me."

Luke has very few complaints. Lorelai then brings up Miss Patty’s party, and gets him to agree. As soon as he hears the date, he backs out. Luke says he has a standing banking appointment in Woodbury. Kisses her and goes immediately to sleep.

Rory has bought a series of Yale mementos for Anna. Paris is surprised Rory is spending all that money when she has no part-time job. Rory wants Anna to be welcome. Paris, meanwhile, thinks girls under the age of 17 are their enemies – coming to take their jobs and starter husbands. Anna arrives, and Rory just bubbles over with excitement. Marty comes by with leftover caviar. Yale is a magical place, Rory says later to Anna.

Rory knows her Yale history! Even down to who benches are dedicated to. Many facts later, Rory brings Anna to the newspaper office. But, it’s dead in the office, not the hectic environment Rory described. Doyle and Paris come in fighting – Rory assumes about journalistic integrity, but it was about a pen.

Lorelai calls Rory to see if she knows about the ‘dark day’, which she does not. Rory’s diary, however, will contain information about where they ate last November 30th to see if Luke was there. Rory keeps a detailed diary.

Kirk comes to the Inn to propose decorative decals for the showers. Being that Kirk only has one catalogue, Lorelai has to look over it then. She asks Kirk about Luke’s ‘dark day’ too. He knows about it, but not the details. Only that it has been going on a long time. It turns into a story of Kirk wearing capes to school as a kid.

Rory continues her Yale tour and history lesson. Anna is more interested in how people are dressed. And how many guys Rory has dated. Rory then has Anna smell a book. Logan comes over after seeing Rory smell the book. Logan suggests Rory take Anna to the pub for coffee, it being a cool scene. He leaves, and Anna says Logan is cute.

"Yes he is. But not as cute as Pushkin"

Luke is arguing with an old woman. Apparently Luke’s dad was building a boat in her garage and, after he died 15 years ago, Luke took over payments. And now she’s moving away to a nursing home and his boat cannot stay there. Luke is not being nice. He yells just to throw it out then storms off.

Lorelai drives Luke back to the diner. But he doesn’t get out of the car. Luke tells Lorelai that tomorrow is the anniversary of his father’s death. He takes off every year for his dark day. He gets in a funk. And will not be around or answer his phone. Even Lorelai’s hair flip and black dress won’t help, though Luke says it could make him be her backup dancer. Luke says he’s never shared this with anyone. He reminisces about the boat, and he’s never looked at it in 15 years. Lorelai says he may regret trashing it. Luke says it’s time to move on.

Rory takes Anna to the pub for coffee. Anna gets invited to a party. Rory says their schedule is full. Anna gets pouty that Rory can talk to boys, like Marty, and she cannot. Rory says it’s different, Marty is just a friend, nothing romantic. His face falls.

Anna is high on too much caffeine. And giddy with the love of college and no rules. Paris comes out all dressed up – at 11pm, she’s decided to ‘put herself out there’.

Rory is at a philosophy lecture with a sleepy Anna the next day. Colin bursts into the lecture hall and dramatically comes up to Rory saying she can’t just leave him like that, not after everything they’ve been through. He yells ‘I love you’, despite the teachers protestations for him to leave. Then Logan bursts in and says Rory is with him now, Colin has to let it go. Then Logan and Colin get into a physical fight on the floor of the lecture hall. Then Finn, dressed and acting the part of a London police officer, a Bobby, comes in and tells Rory she should be ashamed for toying with the boys and telling her to "give them back their balls." Rory is humiliated – but at least the class realizes it’s a skit. They clap. The boys come in and bow.

Lorelai has bought the boat from Mrs. Thompson, the old lady. But she’d sold it, so Lorelai had to bargain to take all of Mrs. Thompson’s other crap too. Lorelai tries to disguise the boat poking out of her garage. She’s not sure how or when to tell Luke.

Both Paris and Doyle make an appearance at a speed dating group! Paris is very critical of the guys she sits with. She is unimpressed by guys who start their one-minute "sell" with information about their majors. She doesn’t even give the drama major a chance to fulfill his minute. Paris moves on… to Doyle. He is just as unimpressed, and it’s his third time there. They then move on to recent news and ancient civilizations. Paris doesn’t move when the bell dings.

Anna is impressed with the skit, more so than the lecture. There probably are no consequences for Logan and Colin, money talks, but now Rory thinks Anna is getting the wrong idea of college life. Crazy and hedonistic it is not. But, spoken too soon, Doyle comes out of Paris’ room in her bathrobe! Paris comes out too. Admits she and Doyle had sex, they skipped dinner and went straight to the sex. Now Anna is looking forward to her own random sex.

Logan stops by at the dining hall. Anna invites him to sit. Rory is pulling the silent treatment. Rory suggests Anna run ahead to the Fro-Yo social. Logan is "not sure how well he’ll be walking in a minute", expecting perhaps quite the response from Rory.

"Jerk, ass, arrogant, inconsiderate, mindless, fratboy, lowlife, buttface miscreant."

Rory asks why he’d do something like that. Logan gets hung-up on the "buttface miscreant". Rory is worried her teacher thinks she’s ridiculous and that Anna was shown the wrong type of college life – his version, not hers. Rory says that Yale means something to her and that Logan blew one of the lectures in a six-week course. Logan says his dad knows the professor and he can arrange some personal time. Rory doesn’t want Logan to continue talking. Logan looks quite sorry that he upset Rory so much. And says that if Anna spent at least five minutes with Rory, and thinks Yale is a joke, then she always was going to think that.

"You and me… very different people. I have to go."

Paris and Doyle are on speaker phone with Paris’ life coach, trying to determine if their night means a one night stand, a relationship, or… ? Doyle is unsure why this is being moderated.

Rory comes back to the dorm upset, she couldn’t find Anna at the Fro-Yo social. Rory calls Marty for help. He runs right down to help Rory find her. Rory calls Lorelai to ask where a 16-year-old would go for a good time. Lorelai suggests checking the parties and the pub.

Luke has smashed his leg on a Thigh-master that’s part of the junk in Lorelai’s yard. He drops off Lorelai’s glasses, which she forgot at his place. Lorelai offers again to see if he wants to come to Miss Patty’s. He says he’s still doing his dark day. Luke notices that the garage is ajar and goes to fix it. A suspicious number of trees block the door. Lorelai tries to stop him, but he pulls the trees away and sees the boat.

Luke gets mad that Lorelai bought the boat when he said he wanted it gone. Lorelai thought he may want it some day. Luke takes this to mean that Lorelai was thinking about how she felt, not about how he felt. He thinks Lorelai has no respect for what he wanted. Luke says it was his decision, and his alone. Lorelai tries to keep Luke from leaving then, but he asks what the point is if she doesn’t listen to anything he says. And walks off.

Rory and Marty are still looking for Anna. Rory is mad at herself for sending her off so she could yell at Logan. Rory doesn’t understand why Logan is coming after her, or why she’s on his bad side. Marty tells Rory to stop it – that Logan likes her. That’s why. Marty says attention like that from someone like Logan means she’s "in", has been anointed. She’s welcome to Logan’s group. Marty asks Rory to stop being naive, that it’s annoying.

The Headmaster calls to see how Anna is doing – Rory lies. He knows full well how she’s doing - Anna is with the campus police, after a big party was broken up. He is curt and wishes Rory luck at Yale. He has angry parents to deal with. Rory is amazed at her crappy day. She offers to pay for a cab back with Marty, but he declines and says he needs a walk.

Lorelai is a little distracted at Miss Patty’s party. Miss Patty is up on stage and cues Kirk to ask her to do a number, but Kirk misses the cue because he’s reading Yoga for Dummies. Miss Patty performs. Lorelai notices that Luke is hovering by the door.

Luke tells Lorelai there’s a reason he stays away from people on this day. Lorelai apologizes for thinking like her, not like him. Luke kisses Lorelai and tells her to keep thinking like she thinks. He just had to make sure they were ok before returning to complete his funk.

Luke goes to see the boat. Sees it, and touches it, for the first time in 15 years. There is sadness, but also a small smile.

Richard pays a visit to Logan at Yale. Richard said he just heard about the ‘incident’, that he professed his feelings for Rory. Logan seems confused, but Richard won’t be interrupted. Richard says there is a proper time and place to show affection. But, now that it’s out… Richard says that he has spoken with Logan’s father. Drew up property agreements, pre-nups and the such. Richard says they’re setting up a dinner in a week to finalize the engagement and to talk about the ceremony. Logan looks increasingly confused and at a loss for words. Newspaper announcements are on their way! He hopes Logan will make sure Rory is happy. Then welcomes Logan to the family and goes.

Richard leaves and taps his nose to Rory, who is waiting in the hall. Rory taps her nose back. They meet further in the hall and Richard says he hopes Logan’s friends know CPR. Rory says Richard is the best. 

Tags: gilmore girls, gilmore girls season 5, gilmore girls episodes, gilmore girls recaps, but not as cute as pushkin, logan huntzberger, paris doyle, prank, chilton