Those Are Strings, Pinocchio

Season 3, Episode 22, Aired
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Episode Summary

Rory finally learns her mother can't afford to buy the Dragonfly Inn since financial aid for Yale didn't come through. She decides to take matters into her own hands with a quick visit to her grandparents right before graduation. Luke has second thoughts about a trip with Nicole after something Lorelai tells him. Jess makes silent contact with Rory after her graduation ceremony from Chilton.moreless
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Fan Episode Reviews (22)

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  • Rory graduates from Chilton, Sookie and Lorelai get the dragonfly inn. An excellent, heart-warming season three finale.

    10
    "Perfect"
    By stewie1423, Jun 14, 2008 Report Abuse
    I'll start by saying that this was without a doubt my favourite Gilmore girls finale so far and probably is up in my top five episodes to date. The whole graduation was sad but brilliant, it as sad because you knew Rory's youth was coming to a conclusion but was brilliant due to humour and the speech made by Rory.

    The Gilmore's are getting ready for there pack backing trip around Europe and it was amusing with Rory bringing too many books and Lorelai too much toothpaste. Dean and Rory had better closure in there relationship, as Rory shows that she is supportive of his engagement to Lindsey. It was good to see them getting along and Dean not mad at her.

    Then we had Lorelai finding out that the inn has to close, when she went to Sookie and Jackson's to break the news, that was enjoyable. They were doing toasts to bad things and all pretended to be okay with it. Sookie and Michel's little argument was enjoyable, both irritated with there jobs.

    It was nice of Rory to go to her grandparents and it showed how much she cares, I was glad that they were happy that she asked and was even more happy to see Friday night dinners back on the table. Emily and Richard assuming that Lorelai didn't want to see them though the whole episode was a nice touch.

    It was also great to see people come for Paris, very amusing when she greeted the kid. I loved when she said to Headmaster Charlton when getting her diploma 'No hard feeling's' classic Paris, brilliant. Plus Brad singing was funny, everyone was disgusted. Sookie pushing passed people to get out of the chairs was funny, the comments she made.

    The highlight probably was Rory's speech at the end of graduation, it really was a brilliant speech, that was sad and nearly a tearjerker. It was nice to see her talk about Lorelai like that and her grandparents, heart-warming stuff. Seeing Lorelai cry with joy was obviously a good moment but it was funny to see Luke tearing up.

    Another Paris moment when they were getting ready to receive there diplomas and she said to a classmate 'Hey what's your story?' and she's been going to school with her for however many years, so funny. Lorelai was obviously jealous of Luke and Nicole and Luke's dream at the end was great but I was obviously hoping it was real, now we know that he loves her.

    Emily and Richard unveiling of the car was funny, 'It's the one with the bow on it' and they all had bows, amusing. I liked how Emily just slipped in Friday night dinners and it looks like Lorelai is welcome as well. It was a great end with Lorelai wanting to carve there names in the Chilton walls, it was funny when they pretended to talk about the architecture. When they found out they got the inn and Lorelai wrote a message to Rory, another brilliant moment.

    So this really was an excellent finale and I am can't wait to see how Rory handles college life and to see Lorelai and Sookie open there own inn. Will Jess return? Will Luke and Lorelai and Luke ever get together? Bring on season four!moreless

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  • rory graduates chilton and luke tells the gilmore girls he's taking nicole on a trip. rory brings people to tears from her valedictorian speech and once again theres emily and richard to complicate things BUT also buy rory a car!!moreless

    9.8
    "Superb"
    By gilmoregirls007, May 24, 2008 Report Abuse
    a VERY gilmore episode...excatly why i even bother to watch this series is from episodes like this where one minute youre crying from rory's exceptionally sad/true valedictorian speech to complpete histerics when she and lorelai exchange a round of stickiing out their tongues at each other and completly horrifying emily. one minute im sad becuase of the meaningful words that rory says when jess calls but says nothing and the next im jumpimg up and down for joy when sookie and lorelai get the dragonfly inn!! and of course another classic lorelai moment when she wants to carve their intials in the walls of chilton! and then a very luke loves lorelai secretly moment when he dreams that shes tells him not to get engaged on the trip...it was full of once again_wonderful acting_ and great writing the gilmore girls pull out ANOTHER,fabulous episode!! i LOVED it!!moreless

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  • An absolutely fabulous episode!

    10
    "Perfect"
    By th77, Mar 06, 2008 Report Abuse
    Yay!! Rory graduates Chilton!! While I am a huge fan of television, rarely has there been a show that has been able to draw me in and make me feel like I was right there, that is until Gilmore Girls. This episode was no exception. For three years we followed Rory in her journey through Chilton. We were with her as she struggled to catch up, as she had difficulties fitting in.. From the difficulties early in her sophmore year to watching her become a well liked,well respected member of the school newspaper,the student body vice president and finally the valadictorian. Rory's graduation was a long awaited event,not only for her and Lorelai but for us as well. This episode is an absolute classic and possibly the best episode of the series. There was not a dry eye in the house when Rory delivered her speech on the inspiration that her mother had been. Despite her recent breakup with Jess, Rory stood tall and did not allow it to ruin her day. There are many excellent episodes in this series but this one by far out does them all!moreless

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  • A great episode, full of love and powerful emotion

    10
    "Perfect"
    By leo23dc, Feb 14, 2008 Report Abuse
    Rory graduates from Chilton, but not before some drama with Lorelei and her grandparents. It seems that because of the 75 thousand dollars that Lorelei got from Richard, Yale cancelled Rory's financial aide. Sookie finally lets this slip to Rory, causing Rory to go to her grandparents to pay for Yale. They agree, and Richard modifies Rory's harsh payback terms on her self to agree that she will pay them back not until at least five years after she graduates, and with no interest. Later, there is Rory's speech, incredibly heart-warming and well spoken, at her graudation, as she is the Valdectorian. She thanks her grandparents but most of all she thanks her mother for inspiring her, and everyone dissolves into tears, as did I. It was beautiful.moreless

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  • I just loved that speech!!!

    10
    "Perfect"
    By karatiz, Dec 21, 2007 Report Abuse
    It's the season finale and there are lots of things going on.
    Some are bad some are good.
    The graduation is close and so is the trip to Europe. The Independence Inn is closing, Sookie and Lorelai are without work and so is Jackson. That was a weird celebration...

    Taylor is crazy lol and so is Kirk!! deer eaten by woofs lol
    I liked to see Rory reaching out to Dean, helping him with tips for the wedding.

    When Rory finds out that Lorelai is not buying the Dragonfly because of Yale, she gets mad. I liked that, she loves her mother so much that she she would take a loan from a bank, one of those that you take your whole life to pay.

    I knew that she would ask her grandparents, it had to be. She offered a deal...
    When she told Lorelai, that was hard for her to deal with.

    Paris' important people are her maid and her kids, that is sweet. They are like family.

    The graduation ceremony was amazing, the speeches, Sookie with the photos, Rory's speech was amazing too. I liked it and see Luke crying was great lol

    This is a turning point episode, Rory graduated, she told Jess what she thought, she get a car, they are going to Europe, everything ended well.

    This part of their lives is over, season 4 is coming!!moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

    ADD TRIVIA
    • We learn that Dean has an older sibling, when he says his nephew is three. Edit
    • Unfortunately, Rory getting turned down for financial aid wouldn't have happened this year, FAFSA uses the previous year's tax records and income. Rory wouldn't have had a problem until her sophomore year at Yale. Edit
    • The season started with Lorelai dreaming about Luke and ends on a dream of Luke about Lorelai. In both cases, they reveal their feelings for each other. Edit

  • Notes

    ADD NOTES
    • German episode title: "Ein starker Abgang", meaning "A Strong Exit". French episode title: "Qui Tire Les Ficelles ?", meaning "Who Is Pulling The Strings?" Edit
    • Music: "Peace Train" by Cat Stevens "Mexican Shuffle" by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass "Pomp and Circumstance" by Edward Elgar "Cherish by The Association" (sung by Brad) Edit
    • Milo Ventimiglia (Jess) appears in this episode, but doesn't have a line. Edit

  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • Lorelai: (about her parents) Just once in my life, I'd like for you to get exactly what you want, and me to get exactly what I want, and them to get nothing! Rory: Well, we'll see if we can't arrange that sometime. Edit
    • Lorelai: (about the money Richard and Emily are giving Rory for Yale) Rory, my parents do nothing altruistically. There are always strings attached. Rory: There's no strings. I just have to pay them back five years after I graduate and have dinner with them every Friday night. Lorelai: Um, hey, Pinocchio, those are strings. Edit
    • Lorelai: (still upset because Rory went to her grandparents for Yale tuition money so Lorelai could open her inn) So explain this win-win-win thing to me again. Rory: Everybody wins. That's what it is. Edit

  • Allusions

    ADD ALLUSIONS
    • Rory: I don't want you to defer your dream. This is an allusion to the Langston Hughes poem "A Dream Deferred" in which he asks what happens to dreams that fail to come true. Edit
    • Lorelai: We're the Chilton equivalent of 50 Cent's posse. 50 Cent is a well-known gangsta rapper who is known for traveling with a large entourage. Edit
    • Kirk: I did tell you about the dangers of mold, right? And Ed McMahon's dog? Ed McMahon, of "Johnny Carson's Tonight Show" and Star Search fame, was involved in one of the most publicly noted cases of toxic mold after water pipes in his house burst and the clean up crews were less than efficient. The severe mold problem which ensued was claimed in a subsequent lawsuit to have killed the family dog, Muffin, as well as sickened numerous family members and staff. Edit

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