Let Me Hear Your Balalaikas Ringing Out

Season 6, Episode 8, Aired
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Episode Summary

Rory is pleasantly surprised when her old flame Jess appears at her grandparents' house and reveals an amazing development in his life. Rory agrees to go to dinner with Jess, and when Logan unexpectedly joins them, an ugly confrontation develops, leaving both Rory and Logan to face the choices they have made, and Jess finally encourages Rory about going back to Yale. Emily is concerned about Rory's sudden evasiveness and tries to exert some parental discipline. Meanwhile, Luke agrees to sponsor a local girls' soccer team and Lorelai channels all her concerns about Rory into caring for her dog, Paul Anka.moreless
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Fan Episode Reviews (76)

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  • OMG!!! This has been what I have been waiting for!

    10
    "Perfect"
    By ILuvRocknRoll, Feb 24, 2011 Report Abuse
    I cannot express how much I am loving Jess right now! I'm not sure if the whole fight with Logan meant that they are broken up and if they are then they may still get back together, but I'm so glad everything came out. What Jess said to her was exactly what I was feeling and I'm exstatic the ASP brought Jess back to say that.

    The whole thing with Luke and his soccer team was cute but it was kind of a fiiller, and so was the whole thing about the paint color. However, Lauren Graham gave an excelent performance in that last scene when she and Luke and Paula Anka were in Rory's old room. I think everything she was saying about not knowing what to do about Paul Anka was really about Rory's situation.

    And although this episode was so exciting, I cannot wait till next week. If you saw the preview you know that Rory and Lorelai reunite!!! Plus Luke and Lorelai can set a wedding date. But I cannot begin to imagine what Luke's secret is that could hold back the relationship. All I know is that I will not be able to wait until then!
    moreless

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  • Jess comes to town to show Rory his book. Logan is jealous and intrudes on their plans to go to dinner. Luke sponsers a girl soccer team and him and Lorelai are shocked to see the girls use physical violence and win their game.moreless

    10
    "Perfect"
    By CopelandP, Sep 08, 2010 Report Abuse
    Jess has returned! After going out and drinking, Rory gets to the Gilmore Mansion to find Jess waiting for her. Jess tells her that he has written a book and they make plans to go out to eat. Logan comes home from a business trip early and invites himself along on their plans. Logan drinks too much and belittles Jess's accomplishments. Rory and Jess talk and he asks her why she dropped out of Yale and she doesn't seem to have an answer. Logan and Rory have a shouting match, and we start to see how hard Logan's dad is pushing him. After Rory won't leave with him, Logan leaves the bar. Emily and Rory haven't been getting along since she was forced to move into the Mansion, and they also have an argument, after Rory doesn't go to the Mansion after her fight with Logan. Luke sponsers a girl soccer team and is shocked at their soccer moves.moreless

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  • Jess returns to visit Rory and she finally sees what a mess shes made with her life. Thank god, it seems we have the old Rory back. Excellent episode!

    10
    "Perfect"
    By stewie1423, Aug 22, 2008 Report Abuse
    I think everyone must be thinking, thank god for Jess! This is the episode we've been waiting for, Rory realises what she's become and starts to question her life as it is. Throughout we can see she is irritated by Emily's annoying behaviour as she seems to always follow her around.

    Jess arrives and Rory is happy to see him. We hear that he has written a book which delights Rory. But Jess seems confused about her new life but not much is said in there first meeting. It is obvious that Jess has grown up. Later, they have dinner but Logan arrives and is obviously not comfortable with the situation.

    He invites himself along and is the biggest jerk you could know at dinner, mocking Jess and putting him down. This makes Jess leave, Rory runs after him and this is where it all goes down. Jess tells her she's being stupid, dropping out of Yale, dating a jerk like Logan etc.

    He is horrified and she says she doesn't know what has happened. He leaves but then she gets it, she has a huge row with Logan because she complains about her life, I loved this scene, it just clicked with her. But then she appears to have left her grandparents, she's staying with Lane.

    She attends a DAR function which Emily forced her to and Emily confronts her and Rory isn't having any of it, she stood up to Emily - pure brilliance. Highlight of the season so far - I think Rory's back!??

    Paul Anka is sick which upsets Lorelai but it is clearly Rory that is saddening her - this was a sad scene. Brilliant episode.moreless

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  • Jess convinces Rory to go back to Yale.

    9.6
    "Superb"
    By Tomboy127, Jul 05, 2007 Report Abuse
    Jess convinces Rory to go back to Yale. Only he could do that, no one else. She wasn't who she used to be. She was living a life that wasn't hers. Hence the alternate reality. So, thank you jess for making Rory see the error of her ways. Rory/Jess forever.

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  • Jess comes back to tell Rory he's written a book, which makes Rory put her own life in perspective, questioning what she's been doing with her life. Luke sponsers a girls soccer team, while Anka gets sick and Lorelai worries how good of a mother she ismoreless

    10
    "Perfect"
    By gilmoregirl222, Apr 20, 2007 Report Abuse
    I love how Jess knows Rory so well, and just like how she knows what he's capable of, he know what she can do as well. His reappearance awakens a part of Rory that she lost when she found her dream of becoming a journalist slip through her figners. Lorelai uses Paul Anka's sickness as a way to get in touch with her feelings for Rory.

    Goof: At the girls' soccer game, when Luke is talking to two of the girls, the coach is standing beside them on the sidelines, but in the next shot, he's already in the middle of the field talking to the rest of the team.moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

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    • Lorelai tells Luke that Paul Anka has never been sick, but that is not true. In season 6, episode 3, "The UnGraduate", he was sick when he ate chocolate while Luke was taking care of him. Edit
    • In this episode we find out that Finn is Australian. During their drunk talk at the pub, they mention INXS, and Finn says that they are his countrymen. Edit
    • When Rory returns to her grandmother's just in time to see Jess arrive, she had just come back from dropping off Logan, Finn, and Colin after the bar in New Haven had closed. Bars close very late at night, so it would be around three in the morning when Jess arrives for a surprise visit. Now why would he come so darn late? Edit

  • Notes

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    • French episode title: "Une Rory, Deux Prétendants", meaning "One Rory, Two Suitors". Edit
    • Young actress Kyle Chavarria, who plays soccer-playing Megan in this episode, is well-known for her portrayal of Laura Ingalls in the 2005 Disney miniseries Little House on the Prairie. Edit
    • Edward Herrmann(Richard) does not appear in this episode. Edit

  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • Lorelai: Wow, they can make a movie about this someday! You know, the reluctant, handsome diner owner sponsoring a team that goes all the way to the national finals, and you know who would play you? Luke: Who? Lorelai: Tobey Mcguire! Luke: He's way younger than me. Lorelai: But his career is hot, go with Tobey. Luke: What about that Vito Morganstern? Lorelai: Sure... Or Viggo Mortensen. Or Donald Sutherland. Luke: Too old. Lorelai: We'll dye his hair. Luke: He's got jowls! Lorelai: You're picky! Edit
    • Emily: Young Lady I insist that we go somewhere and talk right now. Rory: Grandma, I am sorry, I can't. Emily: There's a kitchen here. We'll go there. Rory: No, I'm not going to the kitchen with you. We'll talk later. Emily: Must they play those damn guitars? Rory: They're balalaikas. Emily: They're too loud. Rory: They're Russian and they're not miked. That's their volume. Edit
    • Lorelei: Bobcats 37, Humanity nothing. Edit

  • Allusions

    ADD ALLUSIONS
    • Lorelai: I think the Lollipop Guild wants to speak to you. This is a reference to the Munchkins in the Wizard of Oz who sang a song to Dorothy proclaiming that they represented the "Lollipop Guild." Edit
    • Rory: It's one thing to be forced to live in the big house, but now the big house is feeling Tom Thumb tiny. My grandmother is everywhere. Tom Thumb is the name of a traditional hero in English folklore who was no bigger than his father's thumb. The name is often adopted for people or objects of small stature. Also, General Tom Thumb was the stage name of Charles Sherwood Stratton, a dwarf who achieved great fame under circus pioneer P.T. Barnum. Edit
    • Rory: I think she's a Cylon. Rory refers to her grandmother as a Cylon, from the TV show Battlestar Galactica. Cylons are "robots" that look and act like humans -- there are multiple identical copies of each Cylon model. Edit

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