Rory's Birthday Parties

Season 1, Episode 6, Aired
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Episode Summary

It's Rory's birthday, and her grandmother and mother each plan a party representative of their respective styles. Emily's elegant party so discomforts Rory that they argue. To make peace, Emily and Richard attend Lorelai's informal bash the next evening.
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Fan Episode Reviews (24)

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  • First great episode of Gilmore Girls.

    9.4
    "Superb"
    By FriendsSvuLost8, Jul 11, 2008 Report Abuse
    Rory's 16th birthday (kinda wrong because she says she's 16 in the pilot). Lorelai and Emily both plan a party for her. Emily invites the whole countryclub including all the mean rich kids from Chilton, and Lorelai just trows a good old fun Stars Hollow celebration. This episode was a great mix of comedy and drama. Lorelai has some of her best dialogue here, of course Emily and Lorelai fight but there was just so much power in Lorelai's "then you could pay for this party, couldn't you" line. The ending was kinda sad with Emily realizing she doesn't know her daughter.moreless

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  • Rory has two very different birthday parties. A really good episode, how can you not enjoy the arguments and humour.

    9.5
    "Superb"
    By stewie1423, May 28, 2008 Report Abuse
    I'd say this was my favourite episode so far. It had its humour, which I love and the arguments were interesting and engrossing. The start was amusing, with the will and notes.
    I couldn't believe that Emily invited Tristan and all Rory's Chilton classmates, so unfair. I really don't like Tristan, but that's the point, so they've done this well.

    Emily's party was a good watch, you kind of felt sorry for Rory and I was glad to see her snap at Emily, there shock was brilliant, then she turned it round on Lorelai. Liked Rory's reactions to both Tristan and Paris at the party 'Oh God' Paris's like for Tristan was interesting, but why the hell would she? who knows.

    Rory and Dean have chemistry and I still like Rory's slight awkwardness around him. Lorelai's party was great, it made the episode more light hearted, with Sookie, Luke and the others. Was funny to see the grandparents actually turn up and we saw a few mother/daughter chats, which are always interesting in this show. Thought it was a good idea to have Emily mention Luke liking Lorelai.

    I was wondering, where's Dean and then came the end. This means that they are together, an expensive gift is a huge sign. Lorelai seeing this was a good end, can sense an argument or two about Rory keeping this a secret. It was also revealing to see Emily say 'I don't know my daughter' finally realising.

    Another great episode, it is getting better and I can't wait for more. I really do love its humour.moreless

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  • Great episode!

    10
    "Perfect"
    By VGFreak8, Nov 20, 2007 Report Abuse
    It's Rory's birthday! Emily insists on having it at her place. She invites people that Rory doesn't even know and also, some kids from Chilton that Rory doesn't even like. Lorelai plans a second birthday the day after. Rory invites Emily and Richard. They do come. Everyone has a great time!

    This was a great episode! I do think that Luke has a thing for Lorelai. The second party looked kind of fun! I'd hate to have been Rory at the first party though. The fight between Emily and Lorelai in this episode was intense. This episode gets a 10 out of 10!moreless

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  • Rory has two birthday parties because Emily refuses to give up Friday night dinners. She throws her an uptight party with the Chilton crowd. Then she shows up at Rory's home birthday party.moreless

    10
    "Perfect"
    By Ashley_382, Oct 03, 2007 Report Abuse
    This episode is one of my favorites. I thought the interaction between Emily and Lorelai was quite interesting. They have a lot to work out. That is for certain. The Chilton party was entirely too formal for a sixteen year old. I thought I was rather ridiculous myself. The fact that Rory is not even friends with those kids does not help either. Heck, Lane was not even invited and she is Rory's best friend. The home party was much more like Rory and Lorelai. I really enjoy episodes of this type. I like birthday episodes of shows. They are some of the best episodes of various shows. I also like Christmas and Thanksgiving shows. They are definitely some of my favorites.moreless

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  • Love this one

    10
    "Perfect"
    By karatiz, Aug 27, 2007 Report Abuse
    This episode shows how is the relationship between Lorelai and Rory and Lorelai's parents.

    We can see two different worlds.
    Rory turns 16 and her birthday is on a friday, the dinner day.
    Emily doesn't want to change the dinner and decides to trow a party. She invites all her friends and Rory's classmates. Needless to say, at a point Rory freaks out, she doesn't like them. She yells at her grandmother and goes to her mother's old room. She later invites Emily to the party on Saturday, but she says she's busy. Lorelai says to Emily that she doesn't even know her on daughter.

    At Saturday we have a great party, lots of fun people and all of them love Rory, they are her friends. Her grandparents show up and Rory loves it.
    this party is the better one.

    We can see how different worlds and Emily realizes that she really doesn't know Lorelai at all.moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

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    • While Lorelai is talking with Emily on the phone about shopping for Rory's birthday, she's eating an apple. However, in season 5, episode 21 she tells Rory that she might be pregnant, because she only ate apple when she was pregnant with her. Edit
    • Miss Patty introduces herself to Richard and Emily as Patricia LaCosta. Edit
    • This is the first of only 2 times in the series where Rory's birthday is commemorated. The two birthdays shown in the series were the big milestones--16 and 21. Edit

  • Notes

    ADD NOTES
    • German episode title: "Alptraum Geburtstag", meaning "Nightmare Birthday". Edit
    • Music: "Happy Birthday" by Altered Images "This Old House" by Brian Setzer Orchestra "What A Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong "Why Does It Always Rain On Me?" by Travis "The Lathe of Heaven" by Scott Abels, Aaron Owens, Matthew W. Parker, David Fuentes, and Brian Dixon Edit
    • This episode was filmed during Alexis Bledel's actual birthday. Edit

  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • Emily: (About Rory) I spent days planning this party, making sure everything was perfect. Making sure the food, the music, the guests, everything was perfect. And she humiliated me in front of my friends. Lorelai: You don't know her! You've never tried to know her! Like you never tried to know me! Emily: Oh, you'd like to think that, wouldn't you? I know you perfectly. Do you think I sit going "Why does Lorelai do this? Or that? I don't know. She's such a mystery to me." Lorelai: That's it. I give up. Emily: Oh, if I had a dollar for every time you gave up- Lorelai: (In tears) You could pay for this party, couldn't you? Edit
    • (Lorelai and Rory are in Lorelai's room in Emily's house) Rory: I guess I should go downstairs and apologize to Grandma. Lorelai: Oh, give it a minute... Emily:(appearing in doorway) There you are! Lorelai: She'll find us. Edit
    • Luke: That's the wrong table. Rory: Since when is there a right table? Luke: Since the coffee cake I baked for you and the stupid balloons I blew up for you are at that table over there. Edit

  • Allusions

    ADD ALLUSIONS
    • Lorelai: Well, you know what they say when you assume things. Emily: No, I don't, what do they say? Lorelai: That you...shouldn't. Emily: Very clever. The expression is, "When you assume, you make an 'ass' out of U (you) and ME." Edit
    • Lorelai: (about Emily's plans for Rory's birthday party) She did agree to make the string quartet learn "Like a Virgin". "Like a Virgin" is a song by Madonna. Edit
    • Lorelai: (sighs, hands Rory a drink) Here. Rory: What is it? Lorelai: A Shirley Temple Rory: What are you drinking? Lorelai: A Shirley Temple Black. Rory: (sniffs at it) Wow. Lorelai: I got your Good Ship Lollipop right here, mister. In 1950, at the age of 22, Shirley Temple, retired from film, married businessman Charles Black, taking his name. A "Shirley Temple-Black" is a Shirley Temple with a shot of Kahlua, an "Adult version" of the children's bar drink made with 7-Up and Grenadine. Good Ship Lollipop, of course, is the trademark song of actress Shirley Temple from the movie Bright Eyes, but clearly also a reference to the state enough ST-B's would put you in, too, singing and dancing. Edit

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