Plot Details: This opinion reveals major details about the movie's plot.


When the fifth season of Gilmore Girls ended, audiences were in shock when the idea that the Gilmore Girls, Lorelai and Rory Gilmore, not together and in a huge rift seemed impossible. Yet, Rory's own emotional downward spiral over career aspirations led by a performance review from Mitchum Huntzberger and dangerous antics with Mitchum's son Logan led to Rory dropping out of Yale after stealing a yacht. When Lorelai turned to her to her parents for help to get her daughter back on track, Richard and Emily Gilmore decided to have Rory move into the pool house next door and give her a break from Yale. Lorelai becomes upset as she realize the only person she can trust is her boyfriend Luke, who had known Lorelai and Rory for more than eight years. Luke's passionate response to help Rory get her back on Yale led to an emotional Lorelai proposing to him leading to a cliffhanger ending for his response coming in the show's sixth season.

The sixth season of Gilmore Girls is a more dramatic-driven season than in previous episodes. While the show's creator Amy Sherman-Palladino and husband Daniel continued to lead the show as its executive producers with its team of writers and directors. The show also brought in producer David S. Rosenthal as an executive producer and writer whose arrival would bring a change of tone to the entire series. In the sixth season, Lorelai and Rory Gilmore become estranged as Lorelai focuses on plans for her wedding to Luke Danes while Rory wanders around aimlessly working with her grandmother on DAR parties and hanging around with Logan Huntzberger. Yet, when the truth over the Huntzberger family treatment of Rory is revealed, Richard immediately regrets his actions as he tries to make peace with Lorelai.

With Lorelai and Rory starting to miss each other, more drama unfolds when Rory's father Christopher Hayden returns with a huge inheritance as he hopes to be more involved with Lorelai and Rory's life. Luke meanwhile, receives a bombshell when a 12-year old girl comes into his diner as he learns that he has a long-lost daughter that would send his relationship with Lorelai upside down as the two deal with news leading to a breakdown in their relationship. Amidst all of the drama, Rory gets help from the last person she expects while supporting characters like Sookie, Michel, Lane, Paris, and Kirk also deal with their own individual lives in this funny yet also dramatic-driven season of Gilmore Girls that includes an explosive ending that would mark the beginning of the end for the entire series.

6.01-The New & Improved Lorelai Gilmore-5/5

Written & Directed by Amy Sherman-Palladino

Luke answers Lorelai's proposal as they celebrate and make plans for the future. Yet, Luke is embarrassed over the news of the proposal when word spreads that it was Lorelai who proposed. Rory meanwhile, starts her new life at the pool house as Paris learns that Rory has dropped out of Yale turning to Lorelai and Luke for help. Logan throws Rory a party for her as he suddenly regrets about what she is going to do now that she's not going to school. When Richard and Emily turn to their attorney (Robert Foxworth) to help Rory get an easy sentence, the judge instead gives Rory 300 hours of community service leaving the Gilmores in shock. Hurt by Rory's decision and her grandparents move, Lorelai decides that her parents should now take care of Rory the way they wanted to with no involvement from Lorelai.

The episode reveals some major events that happen in this episode. With Luke and Lorelai set to plan their future, Lorelai is still fuming over her parents' decision on how they're handling Rory's situation. Yet, the trial that Rory receives show that since Rory is turning to her grandparents for help. Lorelai won't be there as the trial reveals some harsh truths to not just Rory but also Richard and Emily as they learn about their own upper-class status proving that money can't buy things. A lesson they would have to learn about in this season. The episode has funny moments where Paris reveals about her plans with Doyle. Yet, the episode overall is a sad one with Lorelai extremely hurt over losing Rory to her parents while revealing that despite all of her problems with them, she doesn't hate Richard and Emily.

6.02-Fight Face-5/5

Written & Directed by Daniel Palladino

With Lorelai and Luke making plans for the future, Lorelai decides to adopt a dog she named Paul Anka. With Rory now on community service, she finds herself in a new, tough world while Emily gets her a job working for the D.A.R. After being begged by his own sister, Luke reluctantly hires T.J. as a contractor to remodel Lorelai's house. When Rory makes a visit to Luke's, Luke tells her about the news that he and Lorelai are married leaving Rory angry and upset prompting Luke to have Lorelai deal with her issues with Rory. Lorelai tries to meet Rory but the tension between mother and daughter escalates.
 
A light-humored episode that revolves around T.J. being a contractor while a new member of the Gilmore family arrives in the form of a dog named Paul Anka. Paul Anka is revealed to be just as eccentric as the entire Gilmore family. Yet, the episode is mostly about the tension between Lorelai and Rory as they're now separated. When Rory meets Luke to ask about her mom, what she would learn prove to be extremely upsetting. During Rory's community service, the already upset young girl gets into a shoving match with another person. Yet, Rory's meeting with Luke gets Luke angry at Lorelai revealing that he doesn't want to be in whatever problems the two girls have since he cares about them both. Yet, Lorelai and Rory's meeting at the end of the episode shows that they're both hurt and angry at each other.

6.03-The UnGraduate-5/5

Directed by Michael Zinberg. Written by David S. Rosenthal

With the excitement over Luke-Lorelai's wedding, Lorelai becomes reluctant about setting the date as Sookie starts to pressure her. Lorelai however, reveals to Luke why she's hesitant in setting a date. Rory meanwhile, gets hired by the DAR while figuring out how to schedule her community service hours. Yet when Logan returns from Europe and is about to attend Yale for his final year, he tries to confront Rory about her not attending Yale as he regrets over what his father did to her. Lorelai invites Paris to lunches to know information about Rory as Paris feels lost without Rory. Lane and her band returns to Stars Hollow after a successful tour as they make plans for the future while Luke's attempts to take care of Paul Anka goes wrong.

While the episode has some very funny moments involving T.J. believing that he's a contractor only to realize he isn't along with an earlier incident in which Lorelai is seen naked by five men. The episode mostly revolves around Rory's disintegration from the once confident, driven school girl who has now become a member of the DAR and not really thinking about her future. Lorelai meanwhile, goes to Paris to find information on Rory despite the staff at the Dragonfly Inn's fear of the high-octane young girl. Yet, Lorelai's revelation into why she doesn't want to set to date which is understandable for Luke as far as Rory is concerned.

6.04-Always a Godmother, Never a God-4/5

Directed by Robert Berlinger. Written by Rebecca Rand Kirshner.
Lorelai makes an attempt to contact Rory but is unable to reach her when Rory's phone is no longer in service. Sookie makes an attempt for the girls to reconcile as she has them both be godmothers to her children. At the ceremony, things go bad when Lorelai and Rory fight over Rory's new number that she gave to Sookie but not to Lorelai. When Logan learns of what his father expects from in his final school year and afterwards, he asks Rory to go on a trip with him.

The episode that features Sookie and Jackson's family coming over putting the couple into a frenzy is funny while an appearance from Jackson's brother Bo makes Lorelai uncomfortable. A subplot of Zach and Brian spending the tour money for recording equipment is funny along with Colin being followed by his new Dutch girlfriend. Yet, the episode reveals that Lorelai and Rory are still having trouble trying to reconcile. Even as Lorelai gets upset about Rory changing her number. What is revealed that there's a lot more trouble going for the Girls as a reconciliation seems long in the works as Rory continues to do DAR duties for Emily.

6.05-We've Got Magic to Do-5/5

Directed by Michael Zinberg. Written by Daniel Palladino.

When a small fire at the Dragonfly Inn occurs, Lorelai calls her father to help in the insurance matter leaving the two to an argument into what Richard is doing for Rory's future. With Lorelai wanting Luke to go camping by himself, he reluctantly does only to realize that some of his old hobbies aren't fun anymore as Lorelai and Sookie attend a play with Kirk doing a performance. With Rory leading the DAR party and helping Paris, who is broke after her parents flee the U.S. over tax matters, things go well until Mitchum and Shira Huntzberger arrive. When Richard talks to Mitchum about Rory's performance review, he becomes extremely upset over what Mitchum and the Huntzbergers did to Rory as he begins to regret pulling Rory out of Yale. Emily meanwhile, has an uglier confrontation with Shira Huntzberger over Rory's relationship with Logan.

The episode is largely a funny one due to Kirk's unique Birth & Death of Man performance and Paris becoming a communist due to her financial status. Yet, the episode mostly revolves around Rory's own status as she is now working on the DAR, which turns out to be a bunch of rich people getting drunk and such. With Lorelai still fuming over her father's decision about Rory's future, Richard admits that Rory shouldn't do the DAR thing and return to Yale. Yet, the big moment is the truth about the Huntzbergers that Lorelai had been telling her parents about. For Emily, she begins an ugly confrontation with Shira in the nastiest way about Shira's own stature and how she became rich making Shira uncomfortable. Yet, it's Mitchum's words about Rory that leaves Richard extremely upset as the ending sees him looking at Rory where his face is filled with sadness and regret. The big revelation is Richard understanding why Lorelai had left the world he set her up for and how he's doing the same to Rory.
 
6.06-Welcome to the Dollhouse-4.5/5

Directed by Jackson Douglas. Written by Keith Eisner.

Richard tries to talk to Logan about Rory's future that leaves Logan confused as Emily smooth things over. Yet, Emily becomes distracted by a present Logan bought for Rory as she tries to get rid of things in her home. Taylor meanwhile, puts the old street names back to preserve its history as Lorelai, Sookie, and Michel are upset at the old street name they're given. With Luke trying to be cool about what Taylor does, he later explodes when Taylor gave him a fine over an antique stuck in his diner. Rory makes a declaration to Logan while Richard arrives at Lorelai's house wanting to talk about Rory's future.

A part-comical episode that involves the street name the Dragonfly is given which is Sores & Boils Alley. Lorelai, Sookie, and Michel are upset by all of this as Lorelai tries to get Luke to do something. Yet Luke, who has had his issues with Taylor decides to let things unfold. Instead, an antique that Lorelai gets from Emily lands in his diner as the Zen Luke now becomes Nuclear Luke. The other half of the episode is about Richard trying to figure out about what Rory is doing with herself now. It shows that Richard is becoming increasingly concerned as he now regrets letting Rory quit Yale. Emily meanwhile, becomes distracted by Logan's gift to Rory, which is a Birkin Bag by Jane Birkin. Things get worse when Emily decides to throw away things including Lorelai's old dollhouse that Lorelai cherished as a child. The ending has Richard bringing the dollhouse to Lorelai where he reveals that he wants to talk to her about Rory.

6.07-Twenty-One is the Loneliest Number-5/5

Directed by Bob Berlinger. Written by Amy Sherman-Palladino

Rory's twenty-first birthday is coming up but not everyone is excited as Lorelai and Rory start to miss each other. Richard meanwhile, tries to convince Lorelai his plans to get Rory back to Yale but Lorelai says no. When Emily learns about what Rory does at the pool house, Rory suddenly finds herself at the mansion as Emily plans an elaborate party with friends and family. At the party, the guests including Lane, Zach, Paris, Doyle, Luke, and Lorelai all agree that the drink Emily made for Rory sucks, as Luke gives Rory a special gift. Not attending the party is Richard as he's sunk in regret over what he's done to Rory as Lorelai tries to comfort him until Emily arrives where Lorelai realize it's now Emily's mess as the party ends in sadness.

Featuring a special guest appearance from former Secretary of State leader Madeline Albright in a dream sequence as Rory's mother. The episode is a unique yet melancholic episode about the estrangement between mother and daughter as Rory aks Luke if her mother is coming to the party. The episode has some funny moments like Paris and Doyle revealing their status at the Yale Daily News that makes Rory a bit sad. Another funny moment is when Rory is forced to see a priest about her own sex life that shocks her grandparents. Yet, the party reveals some touching moments as Luke gives Rory his late mother's pearls while telling one of her DAR members that Luke is her future stepfather. Another moment that is shocking is Richard trying to tell Emily that they're repeating the same mistakes they did with Lorelai as Emily refuses to believe these statements with Lorelai watching all of this. Yet, the ending is sad as it's clear that Lorelai and Rory want to do things but couldn't.

6.08-Let Me Hear Your Balalaikas Ringing Out-5/5

Directed by Kenny Ortega. Written by Daniel Palladino.

With the remodeling of the Crap Shack nearly complete, Paul Anka starts to act strangely while Luke sponsors a girl's soccer team to his own regret. With Lorelai's concerns for Paul Anka, she becomes emotional as she tells Luke that she failed Rory. Rory meanwhile, finally becomes bored of her partying lifestyle and working at the DAR while living under the control of Emily Gilmore. Then a surprise appearance from her former boyfriend Jess Mariano who reveals what he has done since he last saw her. Yet when Jess learns about what Rory is doing and seeing her with Logan, Jess confronts Rory over her choices prompting her to realize what she's doing leading to a fight with Logan and later having a spat with her grandmother.

A mostly dramatic episode with some funny moments, the funny parts of the episode involves Luke sponsoring a girl's soccer team with Lorelai's help that ends up scaring both of them. Another funny moment involves the drunken antics of Colin and Finn that makes Rory realize how bored she's become. Yet, two big revelations happen in this episode as Lorelai's concerns for Paul Anka makes her realize the mistakes she made with Rory. Yet, it's Jess' surprise visit that makes a huge impact on Rory's life. Revealing that he wrote a short novel that's been published, Jess also sees the new life Rory lives in as well as Logan. It's Jess new maturity in his observation of Logan that surprises Rory leading to her own confrontation with Logan, who is revealed to be a coward. Rory also begins to understand why her mother left Richard and Emily nearly 20 years ago as Emily is doing the same thing over again with Rory that she did to Lorelai those years ago.

6.09-The Prodigal Daughter Returns-5/5

Written & Directed by Amy Sherman-Palladino

A phone message left by Lorelai's former flame & Rory's father Christopher Hayden leaves Luke upset and jealous. Lorelai and Luke suddenly make a vow about trust that's suddenly put the test when a 12-year old girl named April Nardini arrives at his diner asking for his hair for her science project on DNA. Luke arrives at a science fair where he meets the girl and has a shocking revelation as he becomes unsure on how to tell Lorelai. After boiling tension with Emily, Rory leaves the mansion to move in with Lane as she learns about her performance review from Mitchum Huntzberger's editor prompting her to get herself back on track. With Richard and Emily shocked by Rory's sudden departure, Lorelai tries to ensure them that it wasn't their fault as she later gets an unexpected call from Rory.

The episode that fans had been waiting to see since the fifth season ended where its ending has a big moment of ambiguity that would change the face for the series. One ending is a happy one while another would cause chaos. Yet, the episode is really about Rory leaving the Gilmore estate as she also gets herself back into the world of journalism after learning that Mitchum Huntzberger is the last person whose opinion she should've heard. There's also a poignant scene where Emily becomes guilty over what happened as Lorelai ensures her mother that she didn't really do anything with Rory or Lorelai. Yet, the other big story is Luke's vow about trust that is put to the test when he makes a shocking discovery over the realization that he has a long-lost 12-year-old daughter that he never knew about.

6.10-He's Slippin' ‘Em Bread... Dig?-5/5

Directed by Kenny Ortega. Written by Daniel Palladino.

Back at home and reconciling with her mother, Rory is happy while helping Lorelai set a wedding date. Lorelai learns the full contents of Christopher's message as he revealed to both Lorelai and Rory a huge inheritance he received from his grandfather. With Christopher wanting to share the money with Lorelai and Rory, Rory finds a way to use the money to get out of the contracted debt she has with her grandparents. Luke meanwhile, tells Liz about the new person in his life as he tries to tell Lorelai. With Hep Alien set to play a huge gig for a recording contract, the band implodes when Zach brings in a new member while being jealous of a song Brian wrote about Lane.

Part of the episode's title refers to the 2004 Ondi Timoner documentary DiG! about the love-hate rivalry between the Dandy Warhols and the Brian Jonestown Massacre. Featuring a guest appearance from former BJM tambourine player Joel Gion as a new member of Hep Alien, the episode also includes a fight sequence and scene that is similar to a scene from that film. Yet, the episode is more about Christopher wanting to make up for lost time as Rory decides to use part of his inheritance money for Yale. The episode also reveals a big revelation where once Luke learns what Christopher is doing, he feels even more guilty over his own recent discovery. Yet, the ending where Rory learns about what Logan has been doing has both Luke and Rory not feeling happy as Lorelai is happy unaware of what her daughter and fiancee are feeling at the moment.

6.11-The Perfect Dress-5/5

Directed by Jamie Babbit. Written by Amy Sherman-Palladino.

With Lorelai and Sookie making plans for the wedding, everything starts to come into place making Lorelai feeling that things are coming way too easy. Rory moves in with Paris and Doyle as she returns to Yale while angry over Logan's claims that he broke up with her as she's forced to see a shrink. Depressed over her break-up with Zach, Lane moves back in with Mrs. Kim who helps her cope with the break-up in a unique way. Luke meanwhile, meets his former girlfriend Anna Nardini as he learns about his daughter where he makes a surprise declaration about being in her life while trying to tell Lorelai about April's existence.

A light-hearted episode that involves funny moments from Paris and Doyle learning self-defense, Lorelai's reaction to Rory's new apartment with Paris and Doyle, Rory's sessions with the school shrink, and how Mrs. Kim help Lane deal with her break-up with Zach. The episode mostly revolves around Lorelai preparing for the wedding where everything goes to easy for as well as Logan's attempt to win Rory back. Yet, it's Luke's meeting with his former flame Anna Nardini that's the most startling. The most poignant moment of the series as Luke is overcome with emotion when he sees April's website with pictures prompting Luke to make a big decision. Yet, his attempt to tell Lorelai about April is thwarted by Lorelai's happiness about the wedding. The episode is also notable for the return of Sherilyn Fenn who plays Anna Nardini as she had previously appeared in the series back in Season 3 as Jess Mariano's father's girlfriend in one episode.

6.12-Just Like Gwen & Gavin-4.5/5

Directed by Stephen Clancy. Written by Daniel Palladino

Logan tries to win Rory back through unusual means as he even goes to Lorelai for help. Rory meanwhile, deals with Paris' sense of disorganization as editor of Yale Daily News as the news staff starts to rebel. With Taylor out of town, the locals work on planning the Winter Carnival as Zach becomes jealous of a man accompanying Lane around. With Luke spending time with April, she shows up at the diner to hang out but when Lorelai shows up. Luke is forced to tell Lorelai about April as she is upset for not knowing about this for months. With Lorelai now realizing that she is going to be April's new stepmother, she and Luke reluctantly agree to postpone the wedding as well as decisions that would cause trouble with their relationship.

The second half of the season starts off funny when Taylor, via satellite TV talks to the town in an emergency, late-night town meeting about the Winter Carnival. Yet, the episode reveals that trouble is brewing between Luke and Lorelai. Even when Luke is afraid to tell Lorelai where he realize that he might get in trouble with Anna. It took an innocent moment between Lorelai and April that would cause trouble. Logan's meeting with Lorelai revealed the tension as they both found something in common, hatred for Mitchum Huntzberger. While the Winter Carnival scenes were funny including Zach making a comment that relates to the show The O.C. in a throwing match where the guy with Lane is revealed to be her uncle. Yet, the episode ends with Luke and Lorelai making a decision that would be catastrophic and leaving Lorelai very hurt.

6.13-Friday Night's All Right For Fighting-5/5

Directed by Kenny Ortega. Written by Amy Sherman-Palladino

With Luke wanting to focus on his attention to his daughter, Lorelai agrees to step aside only to be saddened by the decision she made. With Paris losing control and locking herself in a bunker, Rory and Logan take over the Yale Daily News. With Richard and Emily learning that their money has been returned to pay for Rory's education, Lorelai tells them about Christopher's inheritance. Rory and Lorelai attend Friday Night Dinner for the first time in months as the boiling tension between all four Gilmores finally reach a breaking point with years of tension and such finally said.

Small subplots about Paris' attempts to control the paper and Lorelai dealing with Luke's focus on April are excellent. Rory ends up taking control with help from Logan that would heal their relationship. Yet, Luke and Lorelai's relationship is starting to crumble with Lorelai deciding to watch from the sidelines as she sees Luke with his daughter with great sadness. Yet, the big moment involves the Friday Night Dinner where all of the years of tension and dirty laundry unfolds with lots of shouting, screaming, laughter, and chaos till all four Gilmores finally have nothing left to say. The dinner is also one of the funniest moments to show that when it comes to dysfunction, no one is more dysfunctional than the Gilmores.

6.14-You've Been Gilmored-4.5/5

Directed by Stephen Clancy. Written by Jordan Nardino

After the previous Friday Night Dinner, things are still tense with the Gilmores as they're all careful in what they say to each other. With Richard and Emily wanting to get to know Luke more, Lorelai reluctantly agrees to have him attend the next Friday Night Dinner. The dinner leaves Luke overwhelmed as Richard talks about insurance matters and such making Luke dizzy. Paris is ousted as editor with Rory being the new editor of the Yale Daily News. Paris kicks Rory out over the news as she moves in with Logan while Christopher makes a visit as he gets to know Logan.

The episode reveals that while Lorelai hadn't told her parents about the wedding being postponed, Richard and Emily still want to get to know Luke. Luke reluctantly attends the dinner knowing that Emily hates him and that Richard always will asks a lot of questions. Yet, the dinner turned out to be overwhelming with questions about insurances and how it affects everyone connected with Luke and Lorelai. With Paris ousted as editor, Rory gets voted in as she realize that she's capable of the job though it does bring a wedge into her friendship with Paris. While there's a nice subplot about Michel feeling neglected over the fact that him and Lorelai's monthly lunches at Weston's aren't happening as he takes his anger at Luke. One nice surprise reveals Christopher getting to be in Rory's life more while finding common ground with Logan over their own prep school shenanigans.

6.15-A Vineyard Valentine-5/5

Written & Directed by Daniel Palladino

It's Valentine's Day as Logan and Rory invite Luke and Lorelai to a weekend at Martha's Vineyard. Luke however, isn't having a good time as he has an unfriendly attitude towards Logan until he realize he doesn't have a present for Lorelai. With Lorelai worried that the wedding won't happen, Luke tries to reassure her. Yet, Mitchum Huntzberger arrives at the house where he berates Logan in front of everyone prompting Lorelai to sympathize with Logan's situation.

A mostly romantic episode despite Luke's attitude is one of the rare moments that Luke acts as an unlikeable character. Yet once his frustrations are revealed, it's clear that he wants to do right with Lorelai but is struggling about his own relationship with April. Yet, the episode's big moment is Mitchum Huntzberger's arrival where Logan gains unexpected sympathy from Lorelai. Yet, the ending shows despite Luke's insistence that he and Lorelai will get married. It's clear that Luke is starting to lose focus on that while Lorelai sees something that Emily has posted that also involves her various relatives.

6.16-Bridesmaids Revisted-4/5

Directed by Linda Mendoza. Written by Rebecca Rand Kirshner

With Luke busy spending time with April, Lorelai takes Christopher to an event in Yale where Rory is part of a journalism panel with other schools where she ruled the event. Rory attends Logan's sister Honor's wedding where she hears news of what Logan did during their break-up that leaves Rory angry. Rory's night gets worse when she meets a drunken Doyle who's upset when Paris decides to break-up with him as Paris lets Rory in where the two make up. Lorelai meanwhile, watches Christopher's daughter Gigi as she's in shock of her stepdaughter's spoiled behavior as she questions Christopher's role as a parent. Zach meanwhile, tries to make amends with Gil and Brian while making a shocking declaration to Lane.

With Luke and Lorelai seemingly lost, Lorelai accompanies Christopher to a press event at Yale where Rory managed to wow the crowd during a journalism panel making her parents proud. Yet, when Lorelai takes care of Gigi and is shocked by her behavior. She starts to question Christopher who reacts angrily until he reveals that Lorelai is right and the person he should be angry at is his ex-wife Sherry for leaving him and Gigi a year ago. Rory's own story where she attends Honor's wedding where bridesmaids reveal their time with Logan leaves Rory very upset. Rory's own night gets worse when she encounters a drunken Doyle who makes a pass at her as he's surprised by his own behavior. The end has Rory and Paris making up declaring that men suck. One great subplot is Zach trying to make amends to Zach and Brian, who both formed a band to play parties and Bar Mitzvah while he makes a surprising declaration to Lane.

6.17-I'm OK, You're OK-4/5

Directed by Lee Shallat Chemel. Written by Keith Eisner

With Rory and Paris angry over their boyfriends, Logan tries to apologize to Rory as she reluctantly forgives him. With Luke tells Lorelai he's going away for a few days to chaperone a field trip with April, Lorelai pretends not to be upset while learning that her parents are thinking of getting a home in Stars Hollow. With Zach wanting to get the approval of Mrs. Kim, he tries to write a song that would be a hit with surprising help from Mrs. Kim herself. Rory meanwhile, sneaks in to see Anna's vintage store just to see who the woman is much to Lorelai's chagrin.

After her fight with Logan, Rory reluctantly makes up with him as she decides to stay at Stars Hollow for a few days. Yet, the episode's surprising moment is Mrs. Kim's knowledge of rock where she helps Zach write a hit song in order to prove that he's good enough for Lane. Another light-hearted moment is a rare dinner at the Crap Shack with all the Gilmores where they see the new remodeling of the house. Rory's visit to Anna's store reveal the stuff Anna has that Rory likes but Lorelai gets upset about Rory's visit and even more with the bag Anna gives Luke.

6.18-The Real Paul Anka-5/5

Written & Directed by Daniel Palladino

With Logan set to do another Life & Death Brigade stunt with Colin and Finn, Rory receives an invitation to attend an open house party for Jess' publishing house. Lorelai meanwhile, is upset that Anna gave Luke a bag for the trip as she deals with Richard and Emily walking around Stars Hollow. Emily gives Lorelai advice about needing to get to know Luke's daughter. With Luke chaperoning April on her trip, Luke takes April to Jess' party as Luke is amazed at how much Jess has turned things around. Rory meanwhile, meets April for the first time as she and Jess rekindle old feelings only to realize that she's still in love with Logan. Lorelai meanwhile, is given the task to alter Mrs. Kim's old wedding dress that Lane would wear for her wedding.

In what is probably the last great episode of the entire series, it leaves one notable character with a happy ending and a resolution about how his life has changed. While small stories about Lorelai needing to meet April from Emily's advice and Richard and Emily trying to find a house in the town. The episode also has a guest appearance from the real Paul Anka meeting the dog Paul Anka in a weird dream. Yet, the episode's big moment revolves around Jess as he has finally accomplished something where he shares it with the two most important people in his life, Luke and Rory. Joining them is April as Rory meets her for the very first time. Despite Rory and Jess' feelings for each other, Rory admits she's still in love with Logan with Jess being understanding. Jess gives Rory some kind words leaving the former bad boy on good terms with the people in his life. For Luke, the ending leaves him hopeful about his relationship with April as he becomes oblivious about what's happening with him and Lorelai.

6.19-I Get a Sidekick Out of You-4.5/5

Written & Directed by Amy Sherman-Palladino

Lane's wedding is set to go underway but Lane and Mrs. Kim are nervous by the sudden arrival of Mrs. Kim's mother. When Michel is unable to escort Lorelai to the wedding, she calls Christopher to help. With two big wedding ceremonies around, one Buddhist and the other Seventh Day Adventist, the wedding becomes a blast until Rory shows Lorelai pictures of April at Jess' party leaving Lorelai upset and drunk. Lorelai's drunken, emotional breakdown finally leads to chaos with Christopher and Rory watching as Rory leaves when she hears Logan got into an accident.

A big episode that features a lot of funny and joyful moments involving Lane's wedding. Yet, the big surprise is the arrival of Mrs. Kim's mother where it reveals how similar Lane and Mrs. Kim are. Lane, who had for years been hiding her rock n' roll paraphernalia in floorboards and closet learns that her mother is the same thing in being a Seventh Day Adventist. With a pre-wedding party featuring Kyon wearing an Avril Lavigne t-shirt and claims you can't dance to Joy Division. The actual wedding party starts off great with all of the frenzy while Lorelai learns that she can't come to the wedding without an escort as Luke is still on his trip with April and Michel cancels to go to a Celine Dion concert. With Christopher available, it goes all fun until Lorelai sees Rory showing pictures of Jess' party where a picture of Rory and April finally got Lorelai on the edge. Thus would create one of the show's saddest moments as a drunken Lorelai makes a speech about not getting married as Christopher and Rory watch with concern.

6.20-Super Cool Party People-4.5/5

Directed by Ken Whittingham. Written by David S. Rosenthal

Luke returns from his trip with April but doesn't know about what happened at Lane's wedding as he plans April's birthday party at the diner. With Lorelai wanting to help out, Luke isn't sure until the party almost becomes a disaster. Lorelai steps in as the party becomes a blast while Luke is relieved that Lorelai and April are having fun with each other. Rory meanwhile, tries to learn what happened with Logan with help from Paris as he is seriously injured from a stunt with the Life & Death Brigade. With Honor contacted and trying to reach her father, Rory finally calls Mitchum Huntzberger and stands up to him leaving him scared. When Anna learns that Lorelai was at April's party, she gets very angry at Luke leaving him scared as Lorelai meets Anna for the first time.

The episode shows Luke and Lorelai starting to drift as Luke continues to focus his attention on April oblivious on what happened at Lane's wedding with the rest of the locals covering up for Lorelai. Yet when Luke needed Lorelai's help with April's birthday party, Lorelai steps in as she gives April an amazing party. Yet, Anna's appearance at the diner the next day would only further the wedge between Luke and Lorelai as Lorelai meets Anna. Their meeting showed that despite Anna's calm appearnce, Lorelai would unknowingly find herself becoming more insecure about her relationship with Luke. The subplot of Rory trying to take care of Logan showed growth as she gets help from Paris in one of the episode's funny moments. Yet, it's Rory confronting Mitchum Huntzberger through a phone call and his appearance that showed that Rory has a real bad side proving that Mitchum never should've messed with her in the first place. Another poignant moment for Rory is laying the smack down on Colin and Finn for their immature behavior.

6.21-Driving Miss Gilmore-4/5

Directed by Jamie Babbit. Written by Amy Sherman-Palladino & Daniel Palladino

After an unsuccessful minor eye surgery, Emily couldn't see as Lorelai is accompanying her to run errands. With Rory in charge of Logan's recovery, Paris and Doyle help out as Rory becomes upset over an article about Mitchum Huntzberger that mentions her. Liz reveals to Luke that she's pregnant but T.J. is missing as Luke confronts his brother-in-law as T.J. reveals what's going on as Luke tries to help some family matters. When Emily reveals what she wants to give Luke and Lorelai, Lorelai has an emotional breakdown. Amidst all of this drama, Jackson and Sookie deal with a huge crop of marijuana that's near their garden as they try to hide it.

An episode that reveals that the show is starting to crumble. The one subplot that really doesn't work and feel completely out of place involves Jackson and Sookie trying to hide a huge crop of marijuana. In many ways, the humor is forced and out of place with what's really going on in the episode. Aside from Rory's anger over Mitchum Huntzberger taking credit for making Rory successful, one of the funniest moments is Paris and Doyle watching out for Logan that reveal their own quirkiness. Luke's own story in helping Liz reveals her insecurities as a mother as he assures her that she's going to do great since Jess is fine now and she's got T.J. to help out. Yet, the episode's big story is Emily's present to Lorelai that has Lorelai feeling really sad as she is convinced that she and Luke will never get married.

6.22-Partings-4/5

Directed by Amy Sherman-Palladino. Written by Amy Sherman-Palladino & Daniel Palladino.

With the town's local troubadour picked up to go on tour with Neil Young, a horde of troubadours overrun Stars Hollow leaving Taylor angry and asserting control. Logan learns he has to go to London to work with his father as Rory throws him a wild farewell party. Lorelai hides from Luke as she ponders the status of their relationship. During a Friday Night Dinner where Christopher is a guest, Emily tries to set Christopher with a psychiatrist (Melora Hardin) for a date. Lorelai ends up having a conversation with the woman leading her to give a tearful ultimatum to Luke about the postponement of the wedding, April, and everything else. The result would lead to Lorelai making a decision that would ruin everything.

The episode that can be described at best as the beginning of the end. Not just for Luke and Lorelai but for the entire series as it would become the final episode to have any writing or directing involvement from its creator Amy Sherman-Palladino and her husband Daniel. Yet, it's an episode that many feels divided audiences. While there's a comical moment involving numerous troubadours with cameos from the band Sparks, Daniel Palladino (with David S. Rosenthal & Dave Rygalski), Mary Lynn Rajskub, Sam Phillips, Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon with their daughter Coco, and Yo La Tengo. A lot of drama involves Logan's departure to London as Rory reluctantly understands what Mitchum Huntzberger is trying to do. Yet, the episode really revolves around the disintegration between Luke and Lorelai. The scene where Lorelai talks to a psychiatrist in a car feels a bit too personal for audiences leading to a scene with Luke and Lorelai where Lorelai makes a crazy ultimatum. That scene would describe everything that the show isn't as it becomes almost a soap opera. The episode's final scene would be a shock and mark an ending that would upset everyone.

The sixth season of the series marks the show in another transition but one that would divide its audience. Leaning more towards drama than its mix of humor and light-drama, the sixth season revolves into two major plotlines that would be shown in each half of the season. The first half of the season in its majority is about the estrangement period between Lorelai and Rory Gilmore. When the fifth season ended, Rory drops out of Yale and seeks help from her grandparents after Lorelai refuses to let Rory drop out. What happened was Lorelai Gilmore being betrayed by her own parents as they let Rory take a break from Yale. For Lorelai, she turns to Luke as his passionate rant in trying to help Rory prompt Lorelai to propose to him. Luke goes along unaware that he would drive a wedge between mother and daughter after telling Rory that they're engaged.

For Rory, the loss of her confidence, the lack of desire for goals, and her devotion to Logan would put her into the secure world of her grandparents and take part in working in the D.A.R. while doing community service. When Richard Gilmore finds out the truth of what Lorelai had told him about Mitchum Huntzberger did to Rory. Richard is struck with regret over letting Rory quit Yale as he becomes aware that he's making the same mistakes he did with Lorelai years ago that would lead to Lorelai's own departure back when she was just 17. Richard would turn to Lorelai for help which she refuses because she wants Rory to make her own decision. Lorelai's reaction to the estrangement leaves her and Rory exchange bitterness with Lorelai hesitant to set a date for her wedding to Luke because of Rory.

With both girls desperate to want to talk to each other and it's getting harder, nothing really drives them to get back together. Even Logan, who is trying to make her feel happy, doesn't really do anything to push her to get back to Yale or reunite with her mom. Instead, Logan kind of enables Rory to party and drift aimlessly where eventually, Rory would become bored. With Rory living under her grandmother's eye at the house, doing D.A.R. parties, and not striving for any kind of goal. Something had to give in getting Rory back on track as her grandfather realized he failed in his intentions. Lorelai also is convinced that she failed Rory by not protecting her enough from the real world and taking more notice into her change in behavior ever since her first year in Yale. If Lorelai, Richard, or any of her friends couldn't convince Rory to get out of her funk. It would take the most unlikely person in Rory's life to finally get her back on track and that unlikely person would be none other than Jess Mariano.

When audiences last saw Jess, Luke's nephew and Rory's second boyfriend has finally admitted to himself the guilt he created over his relationship with Rory as he desperately tries to get Rory to give him another chance. Instead, Rory rejects him after going through too many unpredictable moments in her life and fears that she would be hurt by Jess again. Jess would disappear for more than a year as he returns as a more mature, stable person already achieving something by writing a short novel, getting it published, and running a small publishing company. Rory couldn't believe that her former bad-boy boyfriend had finally made something of himself but when he confronts Rory over her new lifestyle and Logan. Rory finally realizes the mistake she had made as she confronts Logan where he had been forced to reveal that he's a coward. When Rory meets Jess later on in the second half of the season, it brought a sense of closure for the two as Jess has now achieved a happy ending with thanks to Rory and most of all, Luke.

When Rory gets herself back on track, she realizes that she can't take criticism too seriously nor take the opinion of someone like Mitchum Huntzberger. Driven and ready to return to Yale, Rory would finally take a big step into reconciling with her mother. Yet, on that moment of reconciliation. Something major is happening at the same time when Luke Danes makes a shocking discovery as he learns that he has a long-lost 12-year old daughter named April. Now whenever a new young character is introduced, it's a sign that the series is in trouble and it's often one of those moments where the show starts to decline. What the writers try to do is show how Luke Danes would react to this new situation and how it would affect in his relationship with Lorelai.

That event would inspire the show's second half which is about the disintegration of Luke and Lorelai. April's sudden appearance and Lorelai's own discovery about her would reveal trust issues between the two as they would make a decision about this new situation and the postponement of the wedding. This decision would prove to be costly. Luke, known for using his actions in situations and Lorelai, known for speaking her mind has the two not really doing anything. Luke devotes his full attention to his daughter hoping to bond with her without Lorelai's advice while Lorelai is forced to watch in the sidelines keeping everything to herself. The new situation would prove troubling as Lorelai, who had been waiting for the right man to be in her life now feels that she is unloved.

This period would also mark the return of Christopher Hayden, Rory's father and Lorelai's former flame as Christopher wants to make up for his years of neglect and absences with his newfound wealth. Christopher and Rory start to hang out as she also fixes her relationship with Logan as well despite some problems. Christopher also reveals his own troubles in being a father to his daughter Gigi as he's upset over his ex-wife's departure. Without Luke, Lorelai finds herself hanging with Christopher more as their relationship starts out friendly until Lane's wedding reception. When Lorelai saw Rory show pictures of her at Jess' publishing house that included a picture of April. Lorelai loses it as Christopher sees that Lorelai's relationship with Luke is in trouble. Christopher, who had always wanted to be with Lorelai, starts to make his move into getting Lorelai back from a guy he felt, is unworthy of her.

For Luke, he is completely oblivious to what's going on as he understands that Christopher is trying to do something for Rory despite his issues with him. Yet, he becomes distracted in his role of trying to fix things as he's done with Lorelai's house, Lorelai, Rory, Jess, and his sister Liz. With April, Luke wants to build a relationship with her as he feels guilty for never being around this girl he never knew. Yet, April would bring a new dimension to Luke as he tries to be a father where slowly, a relationship develops. While some might feel that April is a clone of a younger version of Rory, that's not exactly true as like Rory, she's driven and smart. Yet, she's more of a nerdy kid who is more interested in science while also trying to get used to the idea of having a father.

With Luke feeling like he's making progress with April, he is unaware that Lorelai is hurting over this neglect until he calls for her help in throwing April a birthday party where things start to get back on track. That's until April's mother Anna is angry over the fact that Luke brought Lorelai to help making Luke feel more insecure about his new role where he's convinced that he has to choose. With Lorelai knowing that she's about to become a stepmother to April, she tries to calm things down with Anna but Anna's comments about marriage and her own daughter even gets Lorelai to back away. Finally, it took Lorelai's own realization that she and Luke will never get married that prompted her to get desperate.

The season finale has a scene where Lorelai finally wanting to speak her mind about April and her conversation with Anna as Luke starts to push himself away. What happened are some harsh decisions made as Luke would unknowingly make mistakes that would make his relationship with Lorelai implode. Yet, what happened afterwards is Lorelai Gilmore making a move that would ultimately destroy everything.

Other subplots reveal some thematic quality as Richard and Emily Gilmore learn a harsh lesson about their upper class lifestyle. They learn that not only money can't buy everything but also reveals that money doesn't even give you respectability when you have a lot of it. Rory's trial and Shira Huntzberger's comments about old money vs. new money reveal these harsh lessons. While Emily continues to live this lifestyle that Richard now believes was never good for Rory. It causes some moments of insecurities for Emily as Richard regrets some of the decisions he made for both Lorelai and Rory in their goals realizing he shouldn't have interfered.

Other characters have their developments like Lane, Paris, and Logan as they each go through changes. Lane's dreams to reach her rock n' roll dreams nearly crumble due to Zach's jealousy over Brian's song for Lane until Zach apologizes and wants to marry her. It reveals that Lane takes a big step into adulthood while Zach tries to gain the approval of Mrs. Kim with some surprising success. Paris learns that she can't control everything as she learns that she can't run a newspaper while also learning about not having money. Paris also learns that she needs Rory to better herself as she also gains new ground in her relationship with Doyle. Logan gets a big development as his character is revealed to be someone afraid of getting into his father's footsteps where he gains some unexpected sympathy from Lorelai.

While the development of those characters definitely made the sixth season interesting, not everything worked as some characters don't really get much to do where Sookie is put into strange situations that aren't funny. Some of Kirk's own shenanigans start to wear thin and Michel also is given less to do. While the show's humor is still intact, there's moments where it gets a bit forced and at times, disjointed making some of the episodes not as enjoyable to watch. It reveals that the show is starting to come into its latter-day period where the end is nearing. What was going on behind the scenes was that it was the beginning of the end for the series. Right after the season finale, Amy Sherman-Palladino and her husband left the series because of contract negotiations and disagreements with the networks of the CW just as the WB and UPN networks were merging into the CW. Therefore, it would leave David S. Rosenthal to take over the show for its seventh and final season.

The music by Sam Phillips and the theme song co-written and co-performed by Carole King, who also makes a guest appearance, definitely is filled with more ode to indie music with appearances from Grant Lee Phillips as the troubadour along with Joel Gion of the Brian Jonestown Massacre making a couple of appearance. Most notoriously in a reference to the documentary DiG! that he appeared in. One hilarious appearance comes from Paul Anka as himself in a bizarre dream sequence where he would meet the dog named after him. Other appearances from Sonic Youth, Sparks, Sam Phillips, and Yo La Tengo from the season finale showed the show's devotion to indie music as it was an extravaganza that included Grant Lee Phillips saying what happened to him when he opened for Neil Young.

The casting is unique as it features guest appearances from Robert Foxworth as Richard's attorney Charlie Davenport, Melora Hardin as a shrink Lorelai talks to in the season finale, Mary Lynn Rajskub of 24 as a musician, John Kapelos as a community service supervisor, Leann Hunley as Shira Huntzberger, Nick Offerman as Jackson's brother Bo, and Madeline Albright as herself. Other recurring appearances from Rona Benson, Lucy Butler, Dale Dickey, and Devon Michaels as staff members of the Yale Daily News and Jane Carr as a member of the D.A.R. are definitely memorable along with Mark Harelik as Mitchum Huntzberger's editor who helps Rory realize more about Mitchum's opinion. Joining the cast as new recurring characters for the season are Nicolette Collier as Gigi Hayden and Sherilyn Fenn in her role as Anna Nardini, the former flame of Luke Danes who reluctantly reveals that he's the father of his long-lost daughter while providing a side that would help put a wedge between Luke and Lorelai.

Another new recurring character that joins the series is Vanessa Marano as April Nardini, Luke's long-lost daughter who reluctantly forges a relationship unaware that she would drive a wedge between her father and the woman who is supposed to become her stepmother. Marano's performance is very good as she has some quirks and speaking very fast as a brainiac who is amazed by the new man in her life. Other famed recurring actors like Alan Loayza and Tanc Sade are hilarious in their respective roles as Colin and Finn while Devon Sorvari is fun as Logan's older sister Honor. Gregg Henry is excellent in his role as the slimy Mitchum Huntzberger who insults Richard over what happened with Rory while proving to be just as bad to his own son. In his final appearance for the series making two appearances is Milo Ventimiglia as Jess Mariano as Ventimiglia proves a mature yet relaxed approach to Jess in which the character is given a new mature persona as well as a closure for his character.

Recurring actors like Liz Torres as Miss Patty, Sally Struthers as Babette, Ted Rooney as Babette's husband Morey, Rini Bell as Lulu, Susanne Lee as Kyon, Mike Gandolfi as Andrew, Rose Abdoo as Gypsy, Jackson Douglas as Jackson Belleville, Emily Kuroda as Mrs. Kim, Jim Jansen as Reverend Skinner, and Michael Winters as Taylor Doose all provide the usual quirks and humor as the local townies of Stars Hollow. John Cabrera is good as Brian while Sebastian Bach is hilarious as Gil as the two provide some great musical moments in the series. Todd Lowe is very good as Zach as he nearly loses control of his band until he realized he messed up and grows up for Lane. Danny Strong is great and funny as Doyle McMaster, Paris' boyfriend and former Yale Daily News editor who helps Rory give advice in running the paper while dealing with Paris' control problems. David Sutcliffe is excellent in his appearances as Christopher Hayden, Rory's father and Lorelai's former flame who inherited a lot of money hoping to make up for lost time. Yet, when he sees Lorelai heartbroken over her relationship with Luke, he would make a move that would reveal that would change everything.

Sean Gunn is wonderfully hilarious as Kirk Gleason, most notably in a performance art scene that is full of hilarity though the character of Kirk is seemingly running out of ideas despite Gunn's funny and quirky performance. Yanic Truesdale also gets to have some funny moments though at times, he is underused and not given much to do than in previous seasons. Liza Weil is great as usual as Paris Gellar where she's given some great one-liners while learns a few things about not having money, not having Rory at her side, and realize that she can't control everything while relieved that Rory is always with her. Keiko Agena is superb as Lane Kim, Rory's best friend whose rock dreams nearly come true until a blown gig where she seems to lose all until she gets a different dream in becoming someone's wife. Matt Czuchry is great as Logan Huntzberger, Rory's boyfriend who is aware that he has to grow and tries to escape only to realize that his days of partying and doing dangerous stunts are becoming a thing of the past as he gets closer to Rory.

Melissa McCarthy is wonderfully funny and sweet as Sookie St. James, Lorelai's best-friend and Dragonfly partner who always give Lorelai some great insight though finds herself in some moments that aren't really funny in which, McCarthy looks very uncomfortable and frustrated. Edward Herrmann is excellent as Richard Gilmore, the family patriarch who suddenly deals with regrets in the decisions he made for Rory as he learns he's making the same mistakes he did with Lorelai as learns a harsh lesson about his own privileged world. Kelly Bishop is also excellent as Emily Gilmore as she becomes unaware of making the same mistakes with Lorelai that she was doing with Rory while facing that she failed her while wanting to do something for Lorelai. Scott Patterson is great as Luke Danes, Lorelai's love interest who is suddenly hit with reality as he has a long lost daughter as he becomes oblivious to the fact that he's hurting Lorelai with the decision they made about April.

Alexis Bledel is superb as Rory Gilmore in providing the sense of loss in direction and drive that audiences knew and loved about Rory in creating a character dealing with anger and frustration only to realize that the people in her life are doing something and she hasn't. It's a remarkable performance for Bledel who provides new layers for Rory while showing new layers to Rory even as she has a scene where she angrily confronts Mitchum Huntzberger. Lauren Graham is amazing in her role as Lorelai Gilmore, Rory's mother who is dealing with unexpected loss. First, being estranged with Rory and then suddenly faced with the fact that with April around, Luke wouldn't care for her anymore. Graham shows more of dramatic side as she brings more complexity to Lorelai Gilmore.

While it's doesn't reach the heights of its earlier season, the sixth season of Gilmore Girls is still a stellar season for the series though it would be the last that would carry episodes that matched its early years. With some great performances from Lauren Graham, Alexis Bledel, Scott Patterson, Kelly Bishop, and Edward Herrmann, the journey of Lorelai and Rory starts to enter a new world. While some might not like the overly-dramatic moments or some of the forced humor that happens in this season. The season still packs all of the quirky humor, pop culture references, catchy one-liners, and moments that makes this a memorable yet bittersweet season that features a shocking ending some said marked the beginning of the end for the show. Despite its flaws, the sixth season of Gilmore Girls is an excellent season that brings some new worlds and layers to Lorelai and Rory Gilmore from its creator Amy Sherman-Palladino.

Gilmore Girls Reviews: Season 1 - Season 2 - Season 3 - Season 4 - Season 5 - Season 7 - Virtual Season 8 - Virtual Season 9 - (Virtual Season 10)

Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Good for Groups
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older