And last week's episode was very good -- I attribute that to Jane Espenson. I wonder how many other episodes she is writing this year?

I think it is grating now because Rory's older, and they've shown that it's not so much the two of them against the world. They're capable of making their own friends, having relationships, but Lorelai can't actually commit to someone new, because an actual husband might intrude her all-consuming relationship with Rory.

This season's going to bother me if we don't see Lorelai's money problems come crashing down on her. She's been out of work for months, and even then from her lifestyle it seemed she was living paycheck to paycheck. There is the fanwank that she got a child-support check from Rory's father, but since Rory's 18 and has moved out, that would stop. And now she's spending money like a new dictator's wife right after the revolution. If her inn isn't immediately profitable, she could get very broke very fast.

The money problems -- don't bother me but man -- her stupidity about her parents and particularly her mother is just grating. I knew that she was going to fuss about the decorator having worked with her mother and it's so incredibly stupid.

It is Season 4. Huh.

So it is. Well, that's what I get for only watching summer repeats for the first three.

Jane's listed as a co-producer, so hopefully she'll be writing a lot. But, given how disappointing this season has been, I'd rather have her on the O.C.

her stupidity about her parents and particularly her mother is just grating. I knew that she was going to fuss about the decorator having worked with her mother and it's so incredibly stupid.

After 3 seasons, I was hoping for SOME progress. I think that's why I wasn't feeling the love last night. No progress on the Lorelai-Rory co-dependence, no progress on the Emily-Lorelai stubbornness. It might as well still be the first season.

Although Michel has hair, which I'm really digging.

And, again, Sookie = pretty.

For a minute that storyline worked, because when one has a mother who enjoys the attack, you don't want any secret leaking of information. But then it did seem to get obsessive, and turn into just another thing for Lorelai and Emily to fight over. And Traci Lords' character seemed that she had no problem making the situation work for her. She could be the Mata Hari of interior decorators.

After 3 seasons, I was hoping for SOME progress.

There has been progress, but now, with the inn, Lorelai's regressed to "Doing something new! Must do it ALL BY MYSELF WITHOUT MOTHER!" mode. It's annoying, but I don't think it's out of character.

I think they've also had a set back in that Rory's starting Yale is a bit like when Rory started Chilton - both times Lorelai needed her parents' money to get her into the school, so she's feeling weakened and powerless and wants as much control over other things as she can get.

I fast-forwarded through an awful lot of last night's GG. Paused for the byplay during Casablanca, though. Mmmm, Luke.

Yes, I'm shallow. Don't hold it against me.

And yes, the Emily-Lorelai relationship really pisses me off.

I just want to go all Hec on her head and give her a nice pixie cut - she's got the features for it, and it'd cover up some of the forehead.

Such a good instinct.