The Deer Hunters

Season 1, Episode 4, Aired
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Episode Summary

Max Medina gives Rory the first "D" of her life on an English paper. Lorelai spends the week helping Rory study for an important Shakespeare test but they sleep in on the big day. Sookie gets a rave review in a magazine, but fixates only on the critic's use of the word "fine" to describe her famous risotto.moreless
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Fan Episode Reviews (20)

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  • Deer on the loose

    9.0
    "Superb"
    By IsisIsabella, Dec 26, 2008 Report Abuse
    How on earth did the writers manage to create practically a whole episode around Rory hitting a deer? Excuse me, Rory got hit BY a deer. It must have been a deer on prozac. Anyhow, I l-o-v-e-d this episode! Finally Rory uses her strenght and humour (well, not that anyone appreciated it) by telling off Paris and Tristan. I mean, Paris totally deserved it because she is such a b*tch and Tristan... oh my God I have to admit that I'm in love with Chad Michael Murray's performance, so I will not say a bad word about his character. Fine, the guy is annoying and cocky. And did I mention that he's irresistible too?

    When Lorelai had the same outburst, I was like... hm. Not sure what to think about that, I wasn't sure wether it was necessary or so successful. I was moved though (actually, 'irritated' is a more accurate term) when Charleston just kicked her out and Medina didn't do anything to help her. And the guy liked her soooo bad. By the way, typically Lorelai: falling in love with Rory's teacher -> I love her :) Off course everything turned out to be fine, but I was so freaking happy that there wasn't a complete Hollywood-fuzzy ending, meaning: 'She can retake the test because she's such a pretty girl'. That would've been awful. Great, funny and moving: what else does a girl need?

    Maybe Literati!moreless

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  • I'm glad Rory spoke her mind to Paris and Tristan, another great episode.

    9.3
    "Superb"
    By stewie1423, May 27, 2008 Report Abuse
    This was another great episode, it was once again, very funny and had a light hearted feel to it. Lorelai is a really good character and her humour is brilliant. The start, when they were shopping, what she said was really funny. Drella and Michel are both funny characters, love how they seem to clash, when she pushed the harp on his shoe, hilarious.

    The parents evening was also funny, how she walked in late and banged into the globe. I wonder if she and the teacher will get together. Sookie worrying about the review of the risotto was a good storyline, it was cool to see her find him and give him the real dish.

    Paris is a real cow, Tristan is the male equivalent. Was glad to see Rory being more vocal with him. Lane's little parts were good, funny how she was in the closet and her room turned out to be perfect, the 12 calories thing was funny too. Good how Dean was mentioned, that's obviously who lane was talking about.

    Loved both Lorelai's and Rory's rants, couldn't stop smiling when Rory shouted at Paris, then Tristan. Lorelai's was amusing but showed just how much she cares. The whole deer thing was crazy, then they went looking, strange. Still. This was another great episode, look forward to more.moreless

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  • I loved it!

    10
    "Perfect"
    By VGFreak8, Nov 19, 2007 Report Abuse
    Rory gets a D on her English paper, which causes her to study very hard for her Shakespare test. Lorelai and Rory wake up late and Rory is late to school, which means that she cannot take the test. Sookie gets a good review on her food, except for one item, her magical risotto. Lorelai meets Max Medina, Rory's English teacher at the parent teacher meeting. Rory gets upset at Paris and Tristan in class.

    This was a great episode! It was funny and pretty good! I would hate to be late for that test. This episode gets a 10 out of 10 from me!moreless

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  • A great episode.

    9.2
    "Superb"
    By karatiz, Aug 27, 2007 Report Abuse
    Rory gets her first "D" and doesn't tell Lorelai about it
    She starts studying like a crazy so she can pass the test on Friday

    Sookie is crazy, 40 recepies for risotto? All just because a "fine"?
    Well she seems to be the best and the wine really can change the taste,
    Only her to track down the critic just to make him taste the magic risotto with the perfect wine

    The fact that, after finding about Rory's "D", Lorelai spends the week studying with her means a lot
    But like always, people shouldn't study so much the night before, Rory found out the worst way
    Wakes up late, loses her notes, gets hit by a deer, enters the 10 minutes after time and can't do the test
    I really like the all Lorelai's attitude she gave to the class...
    And the one from her mother to the director....

    At least she gets a chance to make up the test
    Let's see how she does that

    And I like the fact Rory is still worried by the deer...moreless

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  • Another classic episode that truly sets up a great series.

    9.0
    "Superb"
    By KiwiElle, Jul 25, 2007 Report Abuse
    I can see why this show is so popular, if episodes like this are the norm! Even though I could tell that the late night studying was going to mean Rory would sleep in and jeapordise the all-important test the next day, I was still hoping she'd make it in time. With her struggle to make the grade and with having more enemies than friends at Chilton, I was certainly kept guessing if she would want to stay there. Even more so after her outburst at Paris and Tristan, then with Lorelai's raving at the principal, would she even be allowed to stay? It would have been so easy for her to leave and go back to Stars Hollow High. I look forward to seeing her stick it out and turn the situation around for herself.moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

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    • The sonnet that Paris recites in Rory's ear is Shakespeare's "Sonnet 116". Edit
    • Goof: At the end of the episode, the girls come home from Chilton. When they go into the house, you can see a person's elbow stick out from the right side of the screen. Edit
    • During this episode, Lorelai mentions that Rory is sixteen. However, "Rory's Birthday Parties" takes place after that episode, and Rory turns sixteen in it. Explanation: A parent will often round up their child's age as their birthday nears. Edit

  • Notes

    ADD NOTES
    • German episode title: "Mit Pauken und Trompeten", meaning "To Fail Miserably". Edit
    • This is the final appearance of Alex Borstein as Drella on the series, although the actress returns as a new character, Miss Seline in season three episode 21 and in season 5, episode 12. Edit
    • Kelly Bishop (Emily) and Edward Herrmann (Richard) do not appear in this episode. Edit

  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • Rory: (enters Mrs. Kim's) Lane? Lane: Go to the left! (Rory almost runs into Mrs. Kim) Lane: Sorry, I meant my left. Your right! Rory: This isn't working! Marco! Lane: Polo! Rory: (walking around) Marco! Lane: Polo! Rory: (finds Lane) Hello, Marco! Lane: Hello, Polo! Edit
    • Lorelai: Sweetie you're never gonna find the deer. Rory: Well I'm gonna try. Lorelai: Well I'm in heels! Rory: Well stay in the car. Lorelai: It's dangerous in the car with all the kamikaze deer running around... (getting out of the car) Rory: I have to find it. Lorelai: Alright, wait up! So what does the deer look like? Huh? Does it have any distinguishing marks - besides the word 'Jeep' imprinted on it's forehead? Edit
    • Rory: I'm not stubborn. Lorelai: Yes you are. Rory: No I'm not. Lorelai: Fine, you're not. Rory: Thank you. Edit

  • Allusions

    ADD ALLUSIONS
    • Max: So are you a B-52's girl? The B-52's were a popular rock band in the '80s from Georgia and were early pioneers of alternative rock. Edit
    • Drella: I am the Artie Shaw of harpists. Artie Shaw is a jazz artist known as an innovator of big band music. Edit
    • Title: The Deerhunters. This is a homage to the movie The Deerhunter which tells the stories of Vietnam vets who have difficulty adjusting to civilian life, creating a parallel to Rory's difficulty adjusting to Chilton. Edit

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