The Big One

Season 3, Episode 16, Aired
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Episode Summary

Rory and Paris compete for the honor of speaking at Chilton's Bicentennial; Sookie and Jackson get some very good life (and diaper) changing news; Paris and Rory reconcile; Lorelai runs into Max and it's apparent that they're not quite over each other yet; Paris sleeps with Jamie and then has a meltdown on national television when she fails to get into Harvard, thinking her sleeping with Jamie is the cause; Rory's college acceptance letters finally arrive; Paris isn't sure what to think about the latest development in her relationship with Jamie.moreless
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Fan Episode Reviews (13)

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  • College acceptance and rejection letters start to arrive. Lorelai runs into Max. Great episode.

    9.6
    "Superb"
    By stewie1423, Jun 07, 2008 Report Abuse
    Firstly I'll say how glad I was that Paris and Rory made up, because I like them as friends. it was good how Paris just asked for advice from Rory, for her opinion. I can't believe she didn't get into Harvard, that really shocked but her meltdown was very entertaining and fairly amusing, a bit sad if you think about it though.

    Lorelai and Max, they kissed at the end of the episode, I don't really care for this and would prefer if he just left the show for good, I guess we do need closure on the wedding - or lack of a wedding. It was funny how they kept running into each other. I do wonder if we'll see more of him, maybe an episode or two.

    Kirk and the post was funny, very irritating for the townspeople though, how many jobs can he get? Richard was amusing when he appeared, running off to the phones, saying how good Rory and Paris were with the speech. Strange to have Emily not in an episode and Richard being in one, never happened before.

    Sookie's pregnancy was enjoyable, how she told people to ban them from the inn for sending the food back. Jackson's reaction was amusing and slightly crazy, wanting to get rid of everything harmful for the baby. I'm glad he told her how happy he was at the end though, this should be a great storyline for them both.

    Paris scaring her classmates at the start was very good and funny. So, Rory got three acceptance letters, interesting ... which will she choose. Can't wait to see the outcome!moreless

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  • Rory gets into the colleges of her choice, and Paris has a meltdown

    9.2
    "Superb"
    By leo23dc, Feb 05, 2008 Report Abuse
    Lorelei runs into Max twice, and they end up kissing in a closet. Rory has a chance to write an essay that will get her on C-Span. Paris, of course, competes for it too. The Headmaster decides their two essays will be combined into one, and both of them must work together. Paris finally apologized to Rory for treating her so badly, and they reconcile. Paris sleeps with a boy (I forgot his name) and tries to get Rory to analyze it. Lorelei overhears Rory say that she is still a virgin. Lorelei is pleased and tells Rory she is going to take her shopping. At the public speaking event, Paris has a meltdown because she didn't get into Harvard, which she blames on having sex. Rory gets into Harvard, Princeton and Yale, and doesn't know how to decide between them. Both Gilmore Girls have some decisions to make.moreless

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  • Well-written!

    10
    "Perfect"
    By bmlv29, Feb 04, 2008 Report Abuse
    Lorelai and Max meet again and keep bumping to each other. Rory and Paris try to work together on an essay but Paris has a meltdown in front of national cable television telling the whole world that she had sex and did not go to Harvard. Rory comfort her and they become friends again. On the other hand, Jackson is going crazy that Sookie is pregnant. But the episode ends as the Gilmore girls find out that Rory is accepted to Harvard, Princeton, and Yale.

    Brilliantly plotted, though I wanted to see Jess and an arguement between Lorelai and Emily, but still a great episode!moreless

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  • Today is the big news day!!!

    10
    "Perfect"
    By karatiz, Nov 27, 2007 Report Abuse
    Today Rory is going to find out about Harvard, Brad is back again lol, Max is back, Rory and Paris prepare a speech and Sookie is pregnant!!!! The way they let us know about Sookie was really fun. The food tasting bad, the change of subject and suddenly Lorelai and Sookie have the same thought and run to each other. It was really funny.

    There is going to be an important speech and Paris is running for it, so is Rory. They both win and they have to work together to prepare the speech. TV is going to be there.
    The way Paris threw the news about her and Jaime was really a Paris thing lol

    Lorelai got worried about Rory...

    And on the day of the speech, the way Paris got there, it only could end up like that. She didn't got into Harvard...

    For who is over someone, that kiss Max gave to Lorelai is nothing but that...

    Rory got into three universities!! The hard part now is to decide which are gone and the one that stays...moreless

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  • Paris! Gotta Love Paris!

    10
    "Perfect"
    By Prowler86Kid, Aug 22, 2007 Report Abuse
    Paris is my favorite character, hands down. This episode just made me like her more. What she said, on live tv none the less, I was speechless the first time I saw this. The second time I saw this episode I laughed, because it was classic Paris in a way. She was just that crazy, hurt emotionally or not. She didn't get in to Harvard, but she had sex. Well, I'm happy she didn't get into Harvard, because then she wouldn't have went to Yale with Rory, and there would be no more Paris. I loved all of Paris' moments, like when she began dating thatold guy and he died, and when she was throwing a ceremony for his death they had a keg, at the graduation, when she had that best friend, enemy relationship with Rory, and when she was dancin with Doyle to Hot In Here by Nelly. Plus more. She literally made the whole staff at the inn run away, including Michel and Sookie! Gotta love Paris!moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

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    • We learn that Sookie is pregnant in this episode. Edit
    • When Kirk is in Doose's trying to clean up the spilled mail, he tells everyone not to touch the mail on the floor because it is the property of the U.S. government. It's not. While it is a federal offense to read or open someone else's mail without their permission, the mail is not the property of anyone except the intended. The U.S. Postal Service is not a government sanctioned business branch. It is private and the employees can be considered government employees if they're in a county post office. But the U.S. Postal Service in general is not part of the U.S. government. Indeed it is a felony to interfere with the delivery of the U.S. Mail, so he does have the right idea, just the wrong reason... which sounds about right for Kirk. Edit
    • If the headmaster called Rory and Paris on 3-way line, wouldn't the girls have gotten disconnected when the headmaster hung up his phone? Explanation: No not necessarily. The call to Rory may have been long distance (Hartford to Stars Hollow) in which case the Operator would have set up the call. In this situation, any one of the participants may hang up while the others continued their conversation. Edit

  • Notes

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    • French episode title: Le Grand Déballage", meaning "The Big Jumble". Edit
    • Music: Prologue from Into the Woods (sung by Paris) Edit
    • Lorelai's Book List: I'm with the Band by Pamela Des Barres Edit

  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • Max: How's Rory? Lorelai: She's good. Max: Same boyfriend? Lorelai: Different boyfriend. Max: Oh, you hate him. Lorelai: No, I-I don't. Max: You really hate him! Lorelai: I smile, I let him take the good cookies. Max: You want him killed! Lorelai: Only if I can get a good price! Edit
    • Lorelai: I've got the good kid. Edit
    • (Paris and Rory are reading each others speeches) Paris: Why did you use this font? Rory: Because I was on the crack... Paris: Did you check these facts? Rory: Yes, I did. Paris: And the spelling of these names? Rory: Yes, I did. Paris: Rory? Rory: What Paris? Paris: I slept with Jaime. (Rory looks shocked) Last night, after we talked. Rory: Was it something I said? Paris: I went over there to study and he lid a fire and we did it. What are you thoughts on that? Rory: My thoughts? Paris: Because I'm not exactly sure how I feel about it myself yet. Edit

  • Allusions

    ADD ALLUSIONS
    • Lorelai: Cobble yourself a new pair, Daniel Day Lewis. Outside of the movie industry, actor Daniel Day Lewis is a talented cobbler and carpenter. Edit
    • Lorelai: I had made little doodles with my name hidden in them on each one of the old menus, just like Hirschfeld. The late Al Hirschfeld was a prolific caricaturist who specialized in theater illustrations for The New York Times. Every one of his intricate drawings contained at least one, and often several, occurrences of the name "Nina" hidden in the linework. Edit
    • Paris: Even if I was the Billy Carter of the family, the name was supposed to carry some weight. Brother of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, Billy was a self-professed "redneck" who had his own brand of beer, and was often a mild embarassment to the Carters when he was in office. Edit

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