Rory’s Birthday Parties originally aired November 9, 2000.  It was written by Amy Sherman-Palladino and directed by Sarah Pia Anderson.

In Rory’s Birthday Parties, we celebrate Rory’s birthday, twice!  Emily has a posh birthday party for Rory Friday, while Lorelei throws her a really cool birthday bash on Saturday.

The opening scene: At Friday night dinner, we learn Emily and Richard’s lawyer is coming over the next day.  They want Rory and Lorelei to pick out what they want after they (being Richard and Emily) die.  Lorelei wonders why she doesn’t bring a tape recorder to dinners.  That is really creepy but it is funny.  They also have pudding, which is a strange thing for Emily to serve.

Lorelei and Emily make plans to go shopping for a birthday present for Rory and they’re actually getting along for once.  And Rory learns that her grandmother invited a bunch of her Chilton classmates to her birthday party.  I don’t blame Rory for freaking out, because a lot of people see it as an obligation party.  Oh, the joys of private school!

While shopping, Emily keeps finding things Rory wouldn’t really go for.  She eventually settles on a $12 bracelet, which Emily doesn’t think is an acceptable amount for a present.  Luke gets invited to Rory’s party, and Lorelei shows Rory the dresses for her party.  Rory considers telling her mom about the invitations, but changes her mind because her mom was happy that she and Emily were getting along.

I was amused that cops shut down her 8th birthday and arrested the clown.  Not surprising, but still funny.

The scene were Lorelei comes into Rory’s room and talks to her is a great scene.  All about how fast she’s grown up and what she wants.  It seems like a yearly tradition but I think we only see it once more as a dream.

At Emily’s house, she’s getting the house decorated.  I just love seeing Emily in charge and being demanding.  And Lorelei knows her mother too well- including the fact that the candles are 6 inches apart.  The party doesn’t seem Rory, but then again, Emily planned it, and she definitely turns it into something that’s not completely about Rory.

Of course, we see Paris and Tristan at her party…it just keeps getting worse for Rory.  Until she finally just snaps at Emily, who pushes her to say a few words.  It’s definitely more Lorelei than Rory.  Emily’s not happy, and blames Lorelei.  Who promptly wonders why it’s her fault.  They have this great bonding moment after Rory snapping.

Rory tries to apologize to Emily, who’s still mad because of how Rory acted.  She invites Emily to the party Lorelei is throwing, but Emily pretty much says no.  And then Lorelei and Emily fight because Emily says no.

Rory goes to the college fair before her party, and runs into Paris at the Harvard table.  They’re both horrified to learn that the other wants to go to Harvard.

Rory’s second party: It’s pretty loud and it seems like so much fun.  There’s a picture of Rory on the cake.  I’d love to go to a party thrown by Lorelei.  Or just live in a town as colorful as Stars Hollow.  Lorelei gives a toast and then invites everyone to eat Rory’s face.

Emily and Richard show up, to Lorelei’s lovely welcome: “it’s a party, get your asses in here.”  They meet some of the people from Stars Hollow and hear some of the stories of Rory and Lorelei’s life in Stars Hollow.  We learn they’ve never been to the house, but have visited the inn.

The episode ends with Emily admitting that she doesn’t know Lorelei at all.  And the party clean-up, of course.  Plus, Dean gives Rory a present.

Pop culture references: Like A Virgin by Madonna, Barbara Streisand, the pope, Elvis, Shirley Temple, Freaky Friday

Favorite scenes/lines: Friday night dinner, where they’re putting sticky’s on everything

Lorelei and Emily: “Mom, I want to talk to you.”

“Should I sit down?”

“Yes, but not there.  We have a sticky on it, so we want to keep it nice.”

Final thoughts: It’s a fun episode.  We see 2 very different parties, but I really liked it.  We see more of the relationship between Lorelei and Emily and how different it is from the relationship between Rory and Emily and the one between Rory and Lorelei.

It gets 3.5 mugs of coffee.