That Damn Donna Reed

Season 1, Episode 14, Aired

Episode Summary

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9.2
out of 10
EPISODE RATING: Superb
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An evening of "The Donna Reed Show" reruns infects Dean and both Gilmore Girls -- Dean expresses a longing for the type of family represented by the show, Lorelai helps Luke spruce up the diner with a fresh paint job and new curtains, and Rory dresses up like Donna and fixes a 1950s style dinner for Dean while petsitting Babette's new kitten; when the baby chick that's the subject of Rory's midterm project gets loose in the house, Lorelai frantically calls Luke to help her search the house; both Sookie and Emily force Lorelai to confront her feelings for Luke; Christopher roars into town on his motorcycle, and agrees to stay at Lorelai's and Rory's during his visit.moreless
  • Christopher returns (Part 1) and Rory plays subject of Dean.

    8.5
    "Great"
    This episode should have been called 'That damn Christopher', I mean: COME ON! That guy arrives totally out of the blue in his handsomeness and on his roaring motorbike and there Lorelai goes... Swoosh! I know he's Rory's father and they had a thing (well a huge thing since they had a baby together), but give me a break! People move on. Apparently, they don't. Not even after 16 years! I get it, and I like an ever-lasting love, but you can just FEEL that this will end wrong and they can't ever possibly end up together. And yes, this bugs me. I mean, look at Luke: he's the right guy for Lorelai and that's why they waited so long to put them together (4 seasons!), and I know that's series-rules, but jeez! I don't like Christopher. And where's Max? I mean, she did not get over him yet! Good thing she painted Luke's diner, but it should've been the two of them together. They already had an almost-kiss while hiding for Taylor's crazy photographers, so please! Let's continue with Rory: she's too good for Dean. And I don't mean that in an arrogant way; I'm just saying she would never give up her studies and career to be with him and prepare him dinner every evening. I know she has the talent to handle a household, but she has so many talents! In this episode I really saw it: they will never end up together. So you could also call this episode revealing. In a sad way then, for Rory/Dean-fans, and definitely for Luke/Lorelai-fans.

    I did like this episode, I REALLY adored the first scene a classic (dean and his salad :))moreless
  • Someone from the past returns. A good episode but at times it was boring.

    8.9
    "Great"
    This was good, probably my least favourite in a while but it was still great. I think I preferred Lorelai's story here, with Luke. We get to see there chemistry even more and there like for each other is so obvious. Enjoyed Emily confronting Lorelai about why Luke was at Lorelai's house. She then admits, she might have feelings for Luke.

    The whole Donna Reed thing was alright, not the most exciting storyline. Rory's disgust at Dean was amusing and how they started arguing over it was entertaining. Rory dressing in that apron, okay I guess. I liked how Lorelai was looking for the bird with Luke. They nearly kissed a few times n this episode.

    Lanes room continues to amuse me, how the cds are under the floor boards. Oh, Christopher's return should make the show even more interesting. But sometimes, I was just bored!moreless
  • Lorelai has fun getting the diner painted with Luke, and Rory goes on a Donna Reed kick

    9.1
    "Superb"
    The show starts off with Lorelai, Rory and Dean watching an episode of "The Donna Reed show." Dean makes some comments about how he thinks Donna Reed was an exemplary wife, and Lorelai and Rory jump on him. Finally, he just decides to shut up. Then Lorelai is at the diner with Luke, when Taylor asks him to paint the diner. At first, he says no, but when Lorelai asks him too, he agrees to paint it. Luke and Lorelai spend a lot of time in this episode looking at paint samples, gathering painting supplies, etc. Their attraction to each other is obvious. Rory brings up a chick in a birdcage for a science project. When the bird gets out, Lorelai calls on Luke to help. Luke makes the comment "Oh, you really do have a chick here" which Lorelai is puzzled by. Later, when she talks to Sookie about this, Sookie says that maybe Luke thought her asking for help finding the chick was "code for 'I'm not wearing any underwear." She pins Lorelai down on why she called Luke, rather than Sookie or anyone of a number of other people she could call. Later, Emily pins her down about Luke, too, and Lorelai admits she might have feelings for him.

    Rory dresses up like Donna Reed and fixes Dean dinner. She does a fantastic job and Dean is overwhelmed. As he goes to take out the trash he meets Luke coming out with a broken lamp. Then Lorelai sees Rory in an apron and pumps and teases her. At Friday night dinner, Rory doesn't want Lorelai to reveal why she was wearing an apron, so Lorelai tells Richard and Emily that Rory was planning on becoming a maid, like she was. They don't think this is funny.moreless
  • Luke and Lorelai plan to paint the diner, rory dresses up like donna reed for dean

    9.8
    "Superb"
    This is an awesome episode. I am a huge javajunkie (hence the name :P ) and this episode is one of the greatest luke and lorelai episodes of the show. Lorelai convinces luke that the diner needs a spruce, he doesnt want to agree, then she sings her infamous painting song, and he of course, does what she wants him to. She goes to the diner to choose paint samples, and they almosy kiss. Lorelai calls luke to her house to help find stella, rory's chick for school, and luke seems surprised that she was actually calling about a chick lol. Emily makes lorelai that she actually does have feelings for luke :)moreless
  • It was okay.

    8.5
    "Great"
    Rory agrees to help cat-sit for Babette. Lorelai convinces Luke to paint his shop. Emily accusses Lorelai of having feelings for Luke. Rory and Dean have an argument after watching the Donna Reed show. Dean thinks that the wife should cook for her husband and Rory disagrees. Rory invites Dean over and they make up. Rory has prepared a home-cooked meal and is wearing an apron. Lorelai accidentally loses Rory's chick and asks Luke to help her.

    This was an okay episode. I didn't like it that much. I think Luke and Lorelai are good for each other! This episode gets an 8.5 out of 10 from me!moreless
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  • TRIVIA (15)

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    • In this episode, Luke and Lorelai almost kiss; this foreshadows their future relationship.

    • In this episode, the phone at Luke's is a cordless, but the phone has a cord in all the other episodes.

    • In this episode, Lorelai tells Sookie she and Rory found Apricot in the piano. In the book novelization, Rory narrates that they found Apricot curled up in one of Morey's slippers.

    • When Rory runs out and tells Lorelai that she can't find Apricot, she leaves the door open. When the shot goes to Lorelai as she runs up the stairs to Babette's house the door is closed and Rory has to open it.

    • When Lorelai and Rory are in the kitchen talking about how Rory almost never spends nights without Lorelai, Rory asks what she's going to do when she goes away to college. Lorelai says she'll sleep in Rory's dorm, on the floor, next to Rory's bed. That's exactly what happened on Rory's first night at her university.

    • When Lorelai and Rory are telling Dean what The Donna Reed Show is, Dean's salad container goes from being closed to opened between shots.

    • When Luke and Lorelai are sitting on the floor behind the counter, Lorelai has a beer in her hand. However when she gets up to go home, it disappears.

    • In the sequence right after the opening credits (when Lorelai convinces Luke to paint the diner) she, Rory and Luke are wearing the same outfit (including hair and make-up) as at the end of the episode when presumably two days have passed.

    • In the beginning of the scene where Dean and Lorelai are arguing about the Donna Read Show, the paper in the cage is in the front, later it's in the back.

    • When Taylor and Kirk go ask Luke if it really is true that he is re-painting the shop, Luke puts napkins into the styrofoam box twice.

    • When Lorelai and Rory arrive for Friday night dinner, Richard and Emily are talking on a speakerphone, but the model of the phone they are using does not have a speakerphone function.

    • If you look closely, you can see that it isn't Christopher who is driving off with Rory at the end of the episode.

    • Babette calls Apricot a boy and Rory calls Apricot a girl. However, this goof can perhaps be attributed to the fact that some people are just ignorant when it comes to the sex of animals.

    • When Lorelai, Rory, and Dean are eating pizza, the pizza changes as the shots change. After the camera shifts from Lorelai and Rory eating pizza to Dean and then back again, the pizza is miraculously back in the box, and Rory picks up a slice from a whole pizza. Also at one point there is an entire pie in the box and both Lorelai and Rory have a slice in their hands.

    • Lorelai tells Rory that it would be the second night that they were apart if she sleeps over Babette's house. This is not true because they were apart in "Love, War, and Snow" and in "Rory's Dance" so this would be at least the third time.

  • QUOTES (20)

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    • (Richard and Emily have finally managed to secure a place on Martha's Vineyard) Emily: The two of you must come up for the weekend. It is so lovely. Rory would just love it. Rory: (speaking to Lorelai) Can we go for a weekend? Lorelai: We'll see how much Valium Auntie Sookie can lend Mommy, OK?

    • Lorelai: So you're saying Luke thought I made up a crazy story about a chick being loose in the house just to get him in bed? Sookie: Not just to get him in bed, but maybe he thought you wanted to see him and you didn't know how to say it. Lorelai: That's nuts. Sookie: A woman asking a man to come over late at night to her house. Come on. Lorelai: Yeah. But this is Luke we're talking about. Sookie: Uh-huh. Why did you call him? Lorelai: Because I needed help. Sookie: Yeah. Why didn't you call me? Lorelai: Because I assumed you would be with Jackson. Sookie: Uh-huh. Lorelai: Well I did. Sookie: Why didn't you call Rory? Lorelai: Because she would have been furious to find out that Stella was missing. Sookie: Why didn't you call Patty? She raises chickens. Lorelai: Sookie. Sookie: Or Andrew? He lives right around the corner, doesn't he? Lorelai: What is your point? Sookie: My point is that you called Luke. Out of all the people in town that you could have called that would have come over and dropped what they were doing, you called Luke. Lorelai: Because I had just been with him. We were picking out paint samples. He was on my mind. It was purely a timing thing. Sookie: Picking out samples. Lorelai: Yes. Sookie: For Luke's place. Lorelai: Yes. Sookie: So you could paint together. Lorelai: Once again, yes! Sookie: Mm-hmm. Which I believe was your idea. Lorelai: OK, so now the fact that I suggested painting Luke's diner also means that I wanted to get him in bed. All of a sudden I'm trying to get any poor, unsuspecting person in bed with me. I'm like... I'm Michael Douglas! Sookie: Lorelai. This... Lorelai: Just... thanks for the omelette. Sookie: No, honey, I'm sorry. I don't want you to be mad. Don't be mad at me. Lorelai: I'm not mad, I'm not mad. I'm tired. Sookie: OK. You know, Luke is a really nice man. Lorelai: Bye, Sookie.

    • Richard: We always go to the Vineyard at this time of year. Lorelai: Well, you know, you could break the chain, Dad. Go to Paris. Rory: Yes, Paris! Lorelai: Impressionism, poodles. Rory: Crème brûlée. Lorelai: Oh, that's great! Richard: Impossible! Lorelai: Pourquoi? (speaking to Rory) French. Emily: We only go to Europe in the fall. Lorelai: You know, Mom, I heard a rumor Europe's still there in the spring. Rory: I heard that too. Emily: We know that it's there in the spring but we never go in the spring because we always go in the fall. Lorelai: It's getting a little too Lewis Carroll for me. Richard: Well what is so interesting about Europe in the spring? Lorelai: Spring vegetables. Emily: You want us to go to Europe to eat a vegetable? Lorelai: No, Mom. I don't know. There's all kinds of stuff. There's festivals and, you know, Europe. Emily: In the fall. Richard: It costs a fortune to travel first class in Europe. We only do it every two years. Emily: In the fall. Richard: It's just not in the budget this year. Lorelai: You don't have to fly first class. (Emily and Richard both look stunned) Lorelai: 'Cause there's always coach. (Richard looks even more stunned) Lorelai: (taken aback) Or business class is slightly less. There's deals on the Internet. (Richard and Emily remain silent) Hmm. (to Rory)Pass the potatoes.

    • Lorelai: Rory just dressed up in a cute apron the other day, and so I was just teasing her about it. Richard: Why did you get dressed up in an apron? Lorelai: W..well, we decided to give up on that pesky Harvard dream and focus on something more realistic. Mom, dad, Rory's decided to become a maid, just like I was. Emily: Is that funny? (to Richard) Did you think that was funny? Richard: What would have possessed you to say such a thing?! Emily: And in front of Rory?! Lorelai: I was kidding. Emily: God, my heart stopped! Lorelai: (To Rory) Why don't you tell them about your bird? That seems like a safe subject.

    • Emily: (about Luke) And how did he know that the bird was missing? What, was he strolling by your house and he heard your plaintive cries for help? Lorelai: Mom. Emily: Or the helpless cheep of a chick in trouble? Lorelai: I called him, Mom. OK? I called him and asked him to come over and help me look for the bird. OK? Emily: It seems like this man is always around when you're in trouble. Lorelai: He's a good friend. Emily: Oh, please. Lorelai: Do we have to discuss this? Emily: Lorelai, I'm getting a little tired of being lied to. Lorelai: Apparently we do. Emily: This man was at Rory's birthday party, he came to the hospital with you, he's the male lead in every story you tell, you go to the diner every single day. I've seen the way he looks at you, the way you look at him. I'm not a fool. Lorelai: Mom, please. Emily: Why do you treat me like I don't have a clue in the world as to what is going on in your life? Now I'm asking you, as a favor, if you have any respect for me at all as your mother, just tell me. Do you have feelings for this man? Lorelai: I don't know. Maybe I do. I haven't given it much thought. Maybe I do. Emily: Thank you. I'm glad you were finally honest with me. Now we can discuss what on earth you could possibly be thinking. Don't forget the ice.

    • (Lorelai is trying to convince Luke to paint the diner) Lorelai: Come on. We'll drink a couple beers, we'll sing painting songs! Luke: Painting songs? Lorelai: Yeah, painting songs like, um, you know, the song that goes: Grab your brush and grab your rollers, all you kids and all you bowlers - We're going paintin' today! Say yes or there's another verse! Luke: Well, I guess maybe if I had help. Taylor: Really? Oh my God! That's wonderful! Hurrah! Luke: Taylor, it's not for you, it's for me. Taylor: I can't wait to tell the rest of the committee, they're not going to believe this! Luke: I hate that he's pleased. Lorelai: Ahh, you'll drop a gum wrapper on the street in front of his store later. Luke: Yeah, good idea!

    • Lorelai: (to her parents) You're both going to hell, I hope you realize that. Richard: At least we'll be well rested.

    • (dinner at Emily and Richard's) Lorelai: Mmm, kickass wine. Emily: How poetic! Lorelai: It's got a nice smell. Earthy, vibrant, you can taste the Italian's feet. Richard: Well, it's a Bordeaux, it's French. Lorelai: Ha, what's an Italian's foot doing in a French wine?

    • Rory: Where are you going? Lorelai: To Luke's. We're picking out paint colors tonight, so it's gonna be hours of "yes, no, yes, no, yes, no," until my world-famous perseverance wears him down and he winds up in a ball on the floor crying like a girl. Wanna come watch?

    • (Rory sets a bird cage down on the table) Lorelai: What is that? Rory: It's for school. Lorelai: Aww, he's so cute! What's his name? Rory: Case Study Number Twelve. Lorelai: Is that hyphenated?

    • Christopher: Nice shirt. Take it off. Lorelai and Rory turn around staring at the guy on the motorcycle (Christopher takes off his helmet) Lorelai: Christopher. Rory: Dad!

    • Rory: My favorite episode -- Lorelai: Mm, mm...tell me, tell me. Rory: -- is when their son, Jeff, comes home from school and nothing happens. Lorelai: Oh that's a good one. One of my favorites is when Mary, the daughter, gets a part-time job and nothing happens. Rory: Another classic.

    • Dean: (about Donna Reed) She seems happy. Lorelai: She's medicated. Rory: And acting from a script. Lorelai: Written by a man. Rory: Well said, Sister Suffragette.

    • Rory: Can brains hurt? Lorelai: Yes, it's hypochondria hour. Rory: No, I'm serious. Last night when I was reading my biology chapters I distinctly heard a ping in the vicinity of my brain. Lorelai: Your brain pinged? Rory: Yeah. It just went like 'dink.' Lorelai: Well then, honey, your brain dinked. It didn't ping.

    • Taylor: When standards slip, families flee and in comes the seedy crowd. You got trouble, my friends. Lorelai: Right here in River City! Taylor: This is not funny, Lorelai.

    • Lorelai: Ok, how about this? I'll help you. I love to paint. Luke: You do? Lorelai: Yes, I do. Luke: You love it? Lorelai: I want to marry it. Luke: You have strange passions. Rory: She likes washing dishes too. She's multi-faceted abnormal.

    • Rory: What's in there? Dean: A salad. Rory: Salad? Dean: Yeah, it's a quaint dish sometimes used to precede large quantities of pizza. (Lorelai and Rory give him strange looks) Dean: It's for me. Rory: Clearly.

    • Sookie: Well, you call someone and say "Can you come over and help me look for my loose chick"...it's a little... Lorelai: A little what? Sookie: Sounds a little like code for "I'm not wearing any underwear".

    • Lorelai: (to Luke) I mean, if I didn't have a chick here, why did you think I was calling?

    • Lorelai: So, dinner, thoughts? Rory: Let's have some.

  • NOTES (3)

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  • ALLUSIONS (13)

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    • Rory and Lorelai are watching The Donna Reed Show at the beginning of the episode. This 1958 show is about a close family, the Stones.

    • Lorelai: She's medicated. Rory: And acting from a script. Lorelai: Written by a man. Rory: Well said, Sister Suffragette When she says Sister Suffragette she is talking about the suffragists who fought for many years trying to get women's rights.

    • Babbette: (To Rory) And Morey just got cable so you can watch those 4 girls talking dirty if you want to. This is a reference to HBO's Sex and the City.

    • Sookie: Wow, that's very Wild Kingdom of you. Wild Kingdom is a television show that features wildlife and nature and is credited for increasing ecological awareness in the U.S.

    • Lorelai: All of a sudden I'm trying to get any poor, unsuspecting person in bed with me. I'm like -- Michael Douglas. Michael Douglas is an Academy Award winning actor known for his womanizing.

    • Lorelai: I'm like the Marlin Perkins of Stars Hollow. Marlin Perkins is a zoologist and host of the TV show Wild Kingdom.

    • Lorelai: All day long, just chirps like a maniac at the top of her lungs. Now, nothing. Silence. Marcel Marceau chicken. Marcel Marceau is a famous mime from France.

    • Sookie: Vivian Leigh or Jessica Tandy? Vivian Leigh won an Academy Award for her part as Blanche Dubois in the film version of A Streetcar Named Desire. Jessica Tandy won a Tony Award for her role as Blanche Dubois in the original Broadway production of A Streetcar Named Desire.

    • Rory: Everything has to be logged. Eating habits, sleeping habits. Lorelai: Houdini habits. Harry Houdini is one of the most famous magicians and escape artists of all time.

    • Lorelai: It's getting a little too Lewis Carroll for me. Lewis Carroll was a famous English author. His work include Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass and what Alice found there.

    • Lorelai: Luke, Stella got out and I don't know -- do I put seed on the floor? Do I make cheeping sounds? Or do I pull a Lucy Ricardo and walk like a chicken so she thinks I'm her mother? Lorelai is referring to episode # 171 of the series I Love Lucy titled "Lucy Raises Chickens" in which she and Ethel try to hide chicks in Lucy's house until the coop is ready.

    • Lorelai: Stella!! When baby chicken Stella is missing, Lorelai refers to the classical scene in A Streetcar Named Desire, when Marlon Brando stands yelling outside in the street.

    • Taylor: You've got trouble! Lorelai: Right here in River City. These are lines from a song in the movie The Music Man, which was filmed on the set that Gilmore Girls now uses.

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