Welcome back to Stars Hollow!  

Lorelai is painting Rory’s toenails red because “everyone knows private school girls are bad and bad girls wear red nail polish!” They are promptly interrupted by Lane and a dance party and cue the opening credits on Gilmore Girls Season 1 Episode 2.  

(Which, I just noticed, Rory is wearing a Baby G watch and it totally brings me back to high school.)

Watch Gilmore Girls Season 1 Episode 2 Online

Rory bursts into Lorelai’s room to inform her that she’s late. Chaos ensues as Lorelai rushes to get ready and Rory is not amused as her mom comes downstairs in cowboy boots, jean shorts and a pink top looking like a deranged cowgirl.  

We get our first glimpse of the Chilton school, very WASPy Connecticut, full of gargoyles, brick archways and kids in matching blue blazers and uniforms. Rory insists on Lorelai coming in with her, despite her ridiculous outfit, to meet the headmaster.

 A man helps them find their way to the main office and shamelessly flirts with Lorelai, embarrassing Rory along the way.

The school is impressive, as private schools often are, with our first glimpse of the mean girl clique. When they get into the headmasters office, Emily Gilmore is waiting there to “wish Rory luck” and make sure the headmaster takes good care of her as they are old friends.  

An awkward moment happens when Emily bullies Lorelai into taking off her coat and revealing her ridiculous outfit. Emily and Lorelai engage in some verbal sparring on their way out.

Rory is asked what her aspirations are and she states to go study journalism and poitical science at Harvard to one day become Christiane Amanpour. She holds her own against the headmaster while explaining she wants to travel the world and report on the news.  

The headmaster reminds her that she will be a small fish in a big pond at Chilton, not the big fish in the small pond she was used to at Stars Hollow High.

When Rory goes to the administation office to get her schedule, we see the mean girl clique again steal her records.  Clearly, the head mean girl Paris sees Rory as a threat.

 Both are Journalism majors (you can have majors in high school?) and Paris’ friend keeps needling her about the new competition.  Paris complains about the new girl screwing up the curve. Rory receives all her school materials and is told if she has any questions, she can see her counselor who handles everything except for bulemia and pregnancy, in which case she should see the nurse or the gym teacher.  

Welcome to Chilton!

Chad Michael Murray aka Tristan makes his first television show appearance and 2000’s girls everywhere swoon. Obviously he takes an interest in our new girl Rory, who they keep referring to as “Mary.”  

Paris approaches Rory and demands to know if Rory is going out for The Franklin, the school paper. Paris taunts Rory about being in the top of the class, running the school paper and altogether being intimidating.

As we switch back to Chilton, Tristan is hitting on Rory, calling her Mary and offering to help her “study.” Awkward. We then get to see Lorelai diffusing a situation back at the Independence Inn. One of her employees comments on what a nice outfit she’s wearing and oh look!  It’s the gentleman from Chilton earlier, coming to ask Lorelai out, where she lets him down easy by saying she can’t get involved with people from Chilton.

Yay... the mean girl clique is back!  Rory has trouble opening her locker and destroys Paris’ huge diorama.  Of course she’s sitting next to Paris and is then assigned to help Paris fix her project.

Back in Stars Hollow, Lorelai finally picks up her clothes and begs Luke for coffee. Luke judges her outfit (they love their running gags on this show) and off to work she goes! I love when we get a glimpse of Miss Patty’s dance class, talking about perfect legs and tushies, although I am always confused why she holds classes for 10-year old girls during the school day.  And oh look!  Another joke about Lorelai’s ridiculous outfit!  

As she runs into her house, Emily calls her wanting to buy new Chilton clothing for Rory. As much as it pains Lorelai, she finally concedes.

We get to the Independence Inn and Sookie is going through the peaches with Jackson when Lorelai comes in, wearing the outfit she meant to be wearing that morning. More jokes about her ridiculous prior outfit and everyone who judged her.  

Sookie reassures Lorelai that everything is great with Rory. Emily now is calling Lorelai at work to say she bought Rory a parking space at school and hints at wanting to buy her a car. Needless to say, Lorelai is not amused.

Cue more references to Lorelai’s more appropriate afternoon outfit. Luke clearly seems jealous when Lorelai talks about the man who asked her out. Lorelai’s neighbor Babette calls her home because men are walking around her house. Turns out, Emily ordered a DSL line for the house which Lorelai rejects.

Rory is trying to help Paris who is still refusing so Rory stops holding back in class. Paris tells Rory to stay away from her or she will make her life a living hell. Lorelai then goes to Emily at the beauty shop and tells her that she and Rory will not accept her gifts.  

Lorelei states that Rory is her daughter and she will decide how they live. Lorelai picks up Rory and they both lament their terrible days. Lorelai explains to Rory that they keep calling her Mary like the virgin Mary (why she couldn’t figure that out, I’m not sure, she’s supposed to be smart.)

NOTE: For many more laughs, visit our Gilmore Girls quotes section!