Rory's Dance

Season 1, Episode 9, Aired
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Episode Summary

After being pressured by her grandmother into "making the most of her high school experiences," super-shy Rory reluctantly decides to attend a Chilton formal--her very first dance--with Dean. Emily is on hand the night of the big event to see Rory off, but she ends up staying all evening to take care of Lorelai, who is suffering from back problems. All seems to be going beautifully as Rory and Dean discuss the next step for their relationship, and Emily and Lorelai enjoy some rare bonding time back at home, but a major blow-up is about to erupt when Dean and Rory make an unwise decision after leaving the dance.moreless
9.3
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Fan Episode Reviews (14)

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  • Rory attends her first Chilton Dance & asks Dean to accompany her despite neither of them being too excited at the prospect of attending a Chilton Dance!

    10
    "Perfect"
    By swanstoon, Dec 03, 2008 Report Abuse
    A wonderful episode that highlights the fragile relationship between Lorelai and Emily which explodes into outright hostility as the episode draws to its tumultuous close.

    And as is so often the case with Gilmore Girls it is in the closing few minutes that some of the shows best dialogue takes place as we witness a heated exchange between Loralai and Emily and,as a consequence of that encounter,Lorelai and Rory.

    Rory makes a good fist of her feisty exchange with Lorelai and this viewer found himself in total agreement with Rory's spin on the evenings events.If anything Lorelai was merely reacting to the barbs Emily had landed,somewhat unfairly it must be said.Any trust that had been established between Emily and Lorelai evaporated in an instant.

    And what about the exchange between Dean and Tristan? As we will discover,Tristan's home life certainly impacts upon his attitude to everything and everybody but it's ultimately no excuse for being such a prat!moreless

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  • Great Lorelai humour and more on Rory and Dean's relationship, makes this episode brilliant!

    9.5
    "Superb"
    By stewie1423, May 09, 2008 Report Abuse
    Best episode to date, it had its humour back with Lorelai, which if you've read my other reviews, you by now, know that I love. Her trying to make the dress was funny, loved the line 'Rory's dress just tried to make a pass at me' very funny. Sookie's brief appearances were great, think her character is brilliant. Was glad to have no Max, don't know how others feel about, I'm not a fan.

    Rory and Deans relationship was a good storyline. The dance was really entertaining, from Paris's cousin, the awkwardness, to the Tristan/Dean confrontation, which was really well done. It was great how it lead up to them telling each other that they were now boyfriend and girlfriend. Dean is a good character now, I think we've gathered that.

    The two arguments at the end were really engrossing. For some reason when they slept at Patty's, I didn't think it would turn out that way. It was interesting to see Lorelai and Emily getting on, but then, panic sets in about Rory and it all goes downhill. The arguments are also really well done on this show, especially between these two.

    Then to see Rory and Lorelai fight, your kind of thinking, no - don't fight. What Rory said was true I think. Its good because I am now warming to Rory as a character. This will only make the show better for me. Wonder if they'll be talking in the next episode.moreless

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  • Great episode!

    10
    "Perfect"
    By VGFreak8, Nov 22, 2007 Report Abuse
    There is a dance at Chilton High and Rory doesn't want to go. Lorelai convinces her and Rory asks Dean if he wants to go. He says yes. Tristan also asks Rory to the dance. Rory goes and finds out that Paris took her cousin and that Tristan has a thing for her when Dean and Tristan fight. Emily comes over to see Rory before her dance and stays the whole night to take care of Lorelai, who has a bad back. Rory and Dean accidentally fall asleep in Miss Patty's studio. Emily and Lorelai think the worst and there is lots of argueing with Emily and Lorelai and then Rory and Lorelai.

    This was a great episode! All the fighting was great! I mean, it was entertaining! This episode gets a 10!moreless

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  • Rory does not know whether Dean is her boyfriend or not. She however decides to ask him to a dance Chilton was having. Emily is at home taking care of Lorelai who has a back spasm. Rory comes home at 5:30 in the morning and Lorelai is worried.moreless

    10
    "Perfect"
    By spursbabe21, Nov 20, 2007 Report Abuse
    Wow! I really like this episode a lot! especially love the ending. This by far is a great episode. This episode showed a development between the relationship of Dean and Rory. It was also showing a develpment between Lorelai and Emily. The ending was really intense. Lauren Graham acted really well and i felt as if i was in her place. This episode shows that being a mother isn't just fun and games but there is responsibility. The ending of the episode just wants you wanting more, and makes you wonder what will happen next. Will Lorelai trust Rory? Will there still be Friday night dinners since Emily and Lorelai got in an argument?? By far, a great episode.moreless

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  • Rory has her first dance

    9.7
    "Superb"
    By karatiz, Aug 28, 2007 Report Abuse
    Rory's school is having a dance and first she says she doesn't want to go.
    Later we find out that she wants but she is afraid and she doesn't has a dress, Lorelai offers to make one.
    Then she asks Dean to be her date.
    When making Rory's dress, Lorelai hurts her back and when Emily comes to see Rory's dress she finds out about it and stays to help her.
    Rory goes to the dance with Dean, they dance a slow music and when they are leaving, Tristin makes a scene and Dean defends Rory. They later agreed to the boyfriends status.

    Meanwhile, Emily and Lorelai spend a good evening and the bond.
    The problem starts when Dean and Rory fell asleep at Miss Patty's studio and are woken up by Patty at 5.30 am.
    Emily notices Rory isn't at home, wakes up Lorelai and she panics. They have a big fight and Emily leaves without seen Rory, who got home.
    Then Rory goes to the kitchen and the fight continues but with her now, Lorelai was really worried...moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

    ADD TRIVIA
    • When Rory and Dean sit down on the beanbag chair and start reading she is on the left. However, when they fall asleep she's on the right. Edit
    • This is the second time Emily and Lorelai have gotten along only to have a falling out due to something Rory has done or said. The first time was at Rory's birthday party when Rory refused to speak to the guests at her party. Edit
    • This is the only episode in the series where Lorelai calls Emily, "Mommy". Edit

  • Notes

    ADD NOTES
    • At over 49:00 before final credits, this is the longest running Gilmore girls episode. Edit
    • German episode title: "Kopfüber in die Nacht", meaning "Headlong Into The Night". Edit
    • On the DVD set of the first season, this episode is featured with trivia and facts as you watch the episode. Edit

  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • Rory: Are you my boyfriend? Dean: In the broadest sense of the word way? Rory: No, in the real, 'Hi, this is Dean, my boyfriend' kind of way. Dean: Well, I am if you want me to be Edit
    • Dean: You said 'boyfriend'. Rory: No! I just meant boyfriend in the sense that the whole defending me thing was very boyfriendy, but only in the broadest sense of the word, which doesn't even apply at all here. Edit
    • Dean:He has a thing for you. Rory:No he doesn't. It's just a game to him or something Dean:He has a thing for you. Rory:He does nothing but insult me and make me miserable. Dean:He has a thing for you. Edit

  • Allusions

    ADD ALLUSIONS
    • Lorelai talks about the Turkish prison in the film "Midnight Express". This 1978 movie is about the story of a man who is caught attempting to smuggle drugs out of Turkey. The Turkish courts decide to make an example of him, sentencing him to more than 30 years in prison. Edit
    • Dean: So, ah, what are you reading? Rory: The Portable Dorothy Parker. Dorothy Parker was one of the most quotable females in history, one of the leading members of the Algonquin Round Table, a well-known 1920s luncheon group of writers, critics, and others known for being a collection of some of the sharpest, most biting wits in history. For more information, there are any number of quote collections, as well as the documentary The Ten Year Lunch and the 1995 film Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle, starring Jennifer Jason Leigh as Dorothy Parker. One of the production companies for Gilmore Girls is titled 'Dorothy Parker Drank Here'. Edit
    • Emily: (watching TV with Lorelai) Oh, look! Barbara Stanwyck. I just love Barbara Stanwiyck. Lorelai: Yeah, she's good. Emily: She had that wonderful voice, that husky, deep voice. I just love that voice. Lorelai: You know, Mom, you have a Barbara Stanwyck-y voice. Emily: Oh, I do not. Lorelai: I mean it. You could have gotten Fred MacMurray to off Dad if you'd really wanted to. Emily: You do enjoy teasing me, don't you? Lorelai: You know, I really do. Barbara Stanwyck was one of the great classic actresses of early film, noted for playing strong, powerful women. The film being watched is clearly the definitive film noir classic, Double Indemnity, in which Stanwyck seduces insurance agent Fred MacMurray into killing her husband for her, and making it look like an accident so that they can collect double on the policy (hence the name). Edit

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