I like Christopher; I no longer like Rory

[K]

Spoiler space



























Unlike most people here, I like Christopher. I liked him in his few
appearances in Season 1 and I loved him in Season 2. I found his character
very sympathetic as he finally began to grow up and become more responsible.
I loved his comfortable rapport with Lorelai that showed they'd known each
other all their lives. By the end of Season 2, I very much wanted Lorelai
and him to get back together. Christopher was very credible as Lorelai's one
true love. However, the Sherry pregnancy changed everything, of course. He
made the responsible decision to stick by Sherry since she was keeping the
baby. That made him a good person, even if it hurt Lorelai very much, and
indirectly, Rory. However, I feel that they changed the character of
Christopher because the actor was unavailable, and his virtual disappearance
from Rory's life starting in Season 3 was because David Sutcliffe was
unavailable and not because Christopher was a bad person. I realize that
they referred to him as not around a little last season and at the beginning
of this season, but the Christopher they developed in Season 2 would NOT
have done that, however absent he had been in most of Rory's youth.

Therefore, I am enjoying the return of Christopher. I don't think I want him
to break up Luke and Lorelai, but L&L have far less chemistry than Chris and
Lor had in Season 2, so maybe I wouldn't even mind that, although I don't
expect it to happen. My point is that I enjoy having Chris around and want
Rory to spend time with her father and sister. I liked how Lorelai and he
related in this recent episode and I like their friendship now. I don't want
him to be just a plot device as someone to complicate L&L. He can be a
valuable character as more than that.

That being said, Rory has treated him inexcusably abominably. I understand
her concern that he might complicate Lorelai's relationship with Luke and I
also understand that he has been very unreliable in the past. However,
nothing justifies how she acted in either episode with him this season.
Telling him to stay away from Lorelai was completely out of line. Her
behavior at the Dragonfly was completely outrageous.

I was sympathetic to Rory when she was first involved with Dean. That bad
judgment did not make me dislike her. However, the cowardly way she treated
him first by running off to Europe without a word and then continuing to see
him when she obviously didn't care about him anymore, made me like her less
and less each week. I kind of like Logan and I like that Rory is into the
Yale scene, but I also feel that she is turning into a terrible elitist,
more like her grandparents than her mother.

I love this season in general and GG is still my favorite show, but it's
pretty sad to have an increasing dislike for one of the main characters. I
blame the writers for turning her into the sort of person I no longer want
to watch. I found the argument between Christopher and Rory in the Dragonfly
to be the single most unpleasant scene in all of GG history. It wasn't
dramatic intensity, but just uncharacteristic ugliness. I truly hope they
get Rory back on a likeable track.

I also hope that they use Christopher in a positive and well-rounded manner
in the rest of his episodes. I'm enjoying having him around.

Karen

* * * * *
We must learn to reawaken and keep ourselves awake, not by mechanical aids,
but by an infinite expectation of the dawn, which does not forsake us in our
soundest sleep. I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable
ability of man to elevate his life by a conscious endeavor. -- Henry David
Thoreau

[Michael Ikeda]

Post by K
Spoiler space

(snipped)

Post by K
That being said, Rory has treated him inexcusably abominably. I
understand her concern that he might complicate Lorelai's
relationship with Luke and I also understand that he has been
very unreliable in the past. However, nothing justifies how she
acted in either episode with him this season. Telling him to
stay away from Lorelai was completely out of line. Her behavior
at the Dragonfly was completely outrageous.

Her telling Christopher to stay away from Lorelai was based on her
past experience of how Christopher and Lorelai tend to act when
they get in each other's vicinity. Her behavior at the Dragonfly
was based on her experience of how Christopher has acted in the
past. I'm not suggesting that Rory was right in either case, but
her actions were very understandable.

Post by K
I was sympathetic to Rory when she was first involved with Dean.
That bad judgment did not make me dislike her. However, the
cowardly way she treated him first by running off to Europe
without a word and then continuing to see him when she obviously
didn't care about him anymore, made me like her less and less
each week.

Rory left for Europe because she knew she wasn't going to be able
to think through her situation if she was anywhere near Dean. Not
exactly admirable, but probably the right thing to do.

And she continued to see Dean later because both she and Dean were
trying to convince themselves that they were supposed to be
together. It was obvious to US that Rory and Dean shouldn't be
together, it wasn't obvious to either of them until the 11/10
episode.

(snipped)

[Heidi In hiding]

Post by Michael Ikeda
Rory left for Europe because she knew she wasn't going to be able
to think through her situation if she was anywhere near Dean. Not
exactly admirable, but probably the right thing to do.
And she continued to see Dean later because both she and Dean were
trying to convince themselves that they were supposed to be
together. It was obvious to US that Rory and Dean shouldn't be
together, it wasn't obvious to either of them until the 11/10
episode.

I'm disappointed in the way this was handled. I wish there had been more
fallout for Rory for having been involved with a married man. The only fall out
she got was a very short scene in which Lindasay's mother yelled at her on the
street. Dean seems to have been the one who suffered all the fall out.

They sleep together at the end of last season and act like they are the loves
of each other's lives. This season she runs off to Europe, breaks up with Dean
in a letter, they sleep together again, he breaks up with her for ruining his
marriage and then bailing, they get back together for God knows what reason
because they did not seem to enjoy their time together. He breaks up with her
last week and she looked a little sad. That was it. Now, on to something else
or someone else, with no angst at the Dean break up? Thus continuing the
Gilmore Girl tradition of "boys on the side".

Bad writers, bad, bad.

[LAYATES]

Post by Heidi In hiding
They sleep together at the end of last season and act like they are the loves
of each other's lives. This season she runs off to Europe, breaks up with Dean
in a letter, they sleep together again, he breaks up with her for ruining his
marriage and then bailing, they get back together for God knows what reason
because they did not seem to enjoy their time together. He breaks up with her
last week and she looked a little sad. That was it. Now, on to something else
or someone else, with no angst at the Dean break up? Thus continuing the
Gilmore Girl tradition of "boys on the side".
Bad writers, bad, bad.

Great summary of a relationship that has made no sense all season in the way
the writers have handled it. There's little reason for viewers to regret the
breakup, for reasons that go back to Season 2 (where Rory unceremoniously dumps
Dean for the more intellectually challenging Jess) and were brought out in the
breakup episode this season, when Dean had clearly not read her story (or if he
had, couldn't or wouldn't discuss it). But Rory's performance in front of
Richard and Emily's was pathetic. Now she's claiming that she broke up with
him; hell, she just stood there, let him drive off, and rejoined her newfound
buds. Lousy way to treat someone you've known for four+ years. As for Dean, a
guy known for his exits (a huff, a snort, a sigh, followed by "I gotta go"), he
actually showed some class this time. Presumably he'll be around for another
episode to wrap this up properly, but the way it was handled still leaves a bad
taste.

[Sharpe Fan]

Post by K
Spoiler space
Unlike most people here, I like Christopher. I liked him in his few
appearances in Season 1 and I loved him in Season 2. I found his character
very sympathetic as he finally began to grow up and become more responsible.
I loved his comfortable rapport with Lorelai that showed they'd known each
other all their lives. By the end of Season 2, I very much wanted Lorelai
and him to get back together. Christopher was very credible as Lorelai's one
true love. However, the Sherry pregnancy changed everything, of course. He
made the responsible decision to stick by Sherry since she was keeping the
baby. That made him a good person, even if it hurt Lorelai very much, and
indirectly, Rory. However, I feel that they changed the character of
Christopher because the actor was unavailable, and his virtual

disappearance

Post by K
from Rory's life starting in Season 3 was because David Sutcliffe was
unavailable and not because Christopher was a bad person. I realize that
they referred to him as not around a little last season and at the beginning
of this season, but the Christopher they developed in Season 2 would NOT
have done that, however absent he had been in most of Rory's youth.

To be honest I have always disliked Christopher.

Although I agree that part of the reason for Christopher's absence last year
was the actor's other commitments, I don't think it was the only one. He
has never been portrayed as reliable. He has gotten better than he was in
the years before the series started when he was entirely absent from Rory's
life (other than a few calls or cards). But he was at such a poor level
that almost anything was an improvement. When Lorelai told Rory that
Christopher was absolutely, positively going to escort Rory at her debutante
ball, Rory said then it is at least 50-50 he will show. That shows he has
never consistently come through for Rory, or Lorelai. I consider his having
no role, financial or otherwise in Rory's life for the first 16 years or
more inexcusable.

Post by K
Therefore, I am enjoying the return of Christopher. I don't think I want him
to break up Luke and Lorelai, but L&L have far less chemistry than Chris and
Lor had in Season 2, so maybe I wouldn't even mind that, although I don't
expect it to happen. My point is that I enjoy having Chris around and want
Rory to spend time with her father and sister. I liked how Lorelai and he
related in this recent episode and I like their friendship now. I don't want
him to be just a plot device as someone to complicate L&L. He can be a
valuable character as more than that.

Part of the problem of Christopher is how Lorelai reacts to him. She has
historically become emotional reinvested in him every time he reappears - no
matter how often he disappoints her. This may not be all his fault, but it
is a possible problem in the L/L relationship.

Post by K
That being said, Rory has treated him inexcusably abominably. I understand
her concern that he might complicate Lorelai's relationship with Luke and I
also understand that he has been very unreliable in the past. However,
nothing justifies how she acted in either episode with him this season.
Telling him to stay away from Lorelai was completely out of line. Her
behavior at the Dragonfly was completely outrageous.

I think two things were at work here. One is her worry about Christopher's
impact on L/L and the other is her resentment at his past actions in regards
to her (Rory). Also her mistaken belive that he initiated contact fuel her
anger. She was a little over the top, but she is being protective of her
mother, who has always been there for her, as opposed to a father who never
was.

Post by K
I was sympathetic to Rory when she was first involved with Dean. That bad
judgment did not make me dislike her. However, the cowardly way she treated
him first by running off to Europe without a word and then continuing to see
him when she obviously didn't care about him anymore, made me like her less
and less each week. I kind of like Logan and I like that Rory is into the
Yale scene, but I also feel that she is turning into a terrible elitist,
more like her grandparents than her mother.

Yes she did continued to see Dean when she no longer had feelings for him.
But the show showed he was equally uninterested in continuing to see her,
but continued to do so, sporadically. Neither one was willing to call it
quits, but neither was willing to make much of an effort to keep the
relationship going either. The problem with the break up is that they both
new the relationship was dead, but TPTB used the excuse of the fancy party
and dress as the reason. That was false.

I also hope that Rory doesn't embrace her grandparents life style, even if
she embraces Logan. :) I honestly don't know what ASP has in mind for this
area, but given her political leanings I find it hard she would have Rory
become a society matron.

Post by K
I love this season in general and GG is still my favorite show, but it's
pretty sad to have an increasing dislike for one of the main characters. I
blame the writers for turning her into the sort of person I no longer want
to watch. I found the argument between Christopher and Rory in the Dragonfly
to be the single most unpleasant scene in all of GG history. It wasn't
dramatic intensity, but just uncharacteristic ugliness. I truly hope they
get Rory back on a likeable track.
I also hope that they use Christopher in a positive and well-rounded manner
in the rest of his episodes. I'm enjoying having him around.
Karen

Sharpe Fan

[Michael Ikeda]

Post by Sharpe Fan

Post by K
Spoiler space

Yes she did continued to see Dean when she no longer had
feelings for him. But the show showed he was equally
uninterested in continuing to see her, but continued to do so,
sporadically. Neither one was willing to call it quits, but
neither was willing to make much of an effort to keep the
relationship going either. The problem with the break up is
that they both new the relationship was dead, but TPTB used the
excuse of the fancy party and dress as the reason. That was
false.

I don't think they "knew" the relationship was dead. At least not
consciously. Both Rory and Dean were still managing to convince
themselves that the relationship was working. The fancy party and
dress was simply the last straw that finally broke through their
mutual denial.

[Sharpe Fan]

Post by Michael Ikeda

Post by Sharpe Fan

Post by K
Spoiler space

Yes she did continued to see Dean when she no longer had
feelings for him. But the show showed he was equally
uninterested in continuing to see her, but continued to do so,
sporadically. Neither one was willing to call it quits, but
neither was willing to make much of an effort to keep the
relationship going either. The problem with the break up is
that they both new the relationship was dead, but TPTB used the
excuse of the fancy party and dress as the reason. That was
false.

I don't think they "knew" the relationship was dead. At least not
consciously. Both Rory and Dean were still managing to convince
themselves that the relationship was working. The fancy party and
dress was simply the last straw that finally broke through their
mutual denial.
--
Michael Ikeda

I agree they did not consciously know their relationship was dead, but they
did unconsciously. And I would have preferred an awaking that did not imply
their problems were class related.

Sharpe Fan

[SIPort27]

I still like Rory and have never liked Christopher.

It's always been a little unrealistic for Rory to have been so good natured
towards Christopher.

The man was a Rolling Stone, and she never harbored any resentment towards him
just dropping in and out of her life like that? It HAD to have had some impact
on her.

I think Rory's trying to help her mother. Rory's a sophomore in college and her
mother's relationship has NEVER resulted in anything but BAD tidings (and that
includes her conception).

Sure, she loves being here, but taking a step back and looking at it
objectively, Christopher has not contributed anything positive to Lorelai's
life, and now that she believes her mother TRULY is on the right path -
romantically - she doesn't want those bad times to repeat.

I totally understand Rory's objections to Christopher. Cause I share them.

SIP

[darius]

Post by SIPort27
It's always been a little unrealistic for Rory to have been so good
natured towards Christopher.

I've always found her lack of resentment toward Christopher for his
absence in her young life unrealistic and unconvincing. Now I find her
turnaround equally unconvincing. What brought this on?

[Michael Ikeda]

Post by darius

Post by SIPort27
It's always been a little unrealistic for Rory to have been so
good natured towards Christopher.

I've always found her lack of resentment toward Christopher for
his absence in her young life unrealistic and unconvincing. Now
I find her turnaround equally unconvincing. What brought this
on?

I find both attitudes realistic. Rory loves her father and enjoys
spending time with him, but realizes that he isn't ever going to be
dependably there for her. There may be some buried resentment mixed
in there but mostly Rory enjoys whatever time she has with
Christopher and doesn't waste time hoping for him to become something
he's not.

Rory's recent attitude is simply Rory being protective of Lorelai.
Rory's attitude towards Christopher hasn't basically changed, she's
just trying to make sure Christopher doesn't cause problems for
Lorelai's relationship with Luke.

[E Brown]

Post by darius
I've always found her lack of resentment toward Christopher for his
absence in her young life unrealistic and unconvincing. Now I find her
turnaround equally unconvincing. What brought this on?

The turnaround was Sookie's wedding, when Chris broke his promise
to not hurt her and Lorelai by leaving again. Rory recovered somewhat
after he dumped them for Sherry, but she hasn't been the same since -
that was when she gave up on her parents getting together and lost
faith in Christopher. We're just now seeing the fallout because he
disappeared for "I'm With Her" so it seems disjointed, but that's the
progression.
Emanuel

[Gactimus]

Post by K
Spoiler space
Unlike most people here, I like Christopher. I liked him in his few
appearances in Season 1 and I loved him in Season 2. I found his character
very sympathetic as he finally began to grow up and become more responsible.
I loved his comfortable rapport with Lorelai that showed they'd known each
other all their lives. By the end of Season 2, I very much wanted Lorelai
and him to get back together. Christopher was very credible as Lorelai's one
true love. However, the Sherry pregnancy changed everything, of course. He
made the responsible decision to stick by Sherry since she was keeping the
baby. That made him a good person, even if it hurt Lorelai very much, and
indirectly, Rory. However, I feel that they changed the character of
Christopher because the actor was unavailable, and his virtual disappearance
from Rory's life starting in Season 3 was because David Sutcliffe was
unavailable and not because Christopher was a bad person. I realize that
they referred to him as not around a little last season and at the beginning
of this season, but the Christopher they developed in Season 2 would NOT
have done that, however absent he had been in most of Rory's youth.
Therefore, I am enjoying the return of Christopher. I don't think I want him
to break up Luke and Lorelai, but L&L have far less chemistry than Chris and
Lor had in Season 2, so maybe I wouldn't even mind that, although I don't
expect it to happen. My point is that I enjoy having Chris around and want
Rory to spend time with her father and sister. I liked how Lorelai and he
related in this recent episode and I like their friendship now. I don't want
him to be just a plot device as someone to complicate L&L. He can be a
valuable character as more than that.
That being said, Rory has treated him inexcusably abominably. I understand
her concern that he might complicate Lorelai's relationship with Luke and I
also understand that he has been very unreliable in the past. However,
nothing justifies how she acted in either episode with him this season.
Telling him to stay away from Lorelai was completely out of line. Her
behavior at the Dragonfly was completely outrageous.
I was sympathetic to Rory when she was first involved with Dean. That bad
judgment did not make me dislike her. However, the cowardly way she treated
him first by running off to Europe without a word and then continuing to see
him when she obviously didn't care about him anymore, made me like her less
and less each week. I kind of like Logan and I like that Rory is into the
Yale scene, but I also feel that she is turning into a terrible elitist,
more like her grandparents than her mother.
I love this season in general and GG is still my favorite show, but it's
pretty sad to have an increasing dislike for one of the main characters. I
blame the writers for turning her into the sort of person I no longer want
to watch. I found the argument between Christopher and Rory in the Dragonfly
to be the single most unpleasant scene in all of GG history. It wasn't
dramatic intensity, but just uncharacteristic ugliness. I truly hope they
get Rory back on a likeable track.
I also hope that they use Christopher in a positive and well-rounded manner
in the rest of his episodes. I'm enjoying having him around.

Rory is naive. And a dirty slut to boot.

[onemarathon]

Post by K
Spoiler space

<some stuff snipped>

Post by K
I was sympathetic to Rory when she was first involved with Dean. That bad
judgment did not make me dislike her. However, the cowardly way she treated
him first by running off to Europe without a word and then continuing to see
him when she obviously didn't care about him anymore, made me like her less
and less each week. I kind of like Logan and I like that Rory is into the
Yale scene, but I also feel that she is turning into a terrible elitist,
more like her grandparents than her mother.

true, Rory IS becoming what her grandparents want her to be. sort of.
she didn't exactly fall in with the "good" boys that she was introduced
to at the party, but she did end up fast friends with Logan and his crew
by the end of their drunken evening. as an aside, i wonder what Lorelai
thought when she saw a drunk Rory stumbling out of a limo full of guys.
i really really wondered what Lor thought there. could have been
disturbing.

Post by K
I love this season in general and GG is still my favorite show, but it's
pretty sad to have an increasing dislike for one of the main characters. I
blame the writers for turning her into the sort of person I no longer want
to watch. I found the argument between Christopher and Rory in the Dragonfly
to be the single most unpleasant scene in all of GG history. It wasn't
dramatic intensity, but just uncharacteristic ugliness. I truly hope they
get Rory back on a likeable track.

well, i just keep reminding myself that Rory is still a kid... she's
what... 19 or 20? either way, she is still immature in many respects,
yet to learn more about the world and learn some life lessons, and how
to act properly with people. she was being protective of her mom in her
exchanges with her dad, but she just didn't know that her way wasn't the
most effective and tactful way.

Cam