Love & Snow & War originally aired on December 14, 2000.  It was written by Joan Binder Weiss and was directed by Alan Myerson.

In Love & Snow & War, the first snowfall of the year happens.  Lorelei has her first date with Max while Rory spends the night at her grandparents.  Lane slightly complicates Lorelei’s night with Max.

Opening Scene: The first of many town meetings.  I love these town meetings…and yet again, I totally want to live in a place like Stars Hollow, where everything is run by town meetings and full of really fun things like the Autumn Festival.  We meet Andrew, the owner of the bookstore, and the mayor of Stars Hollow.  Oddly, he doesn’t seem to be around much…and Taylor pretty much takes over that role.  But anyway, Luke doesn’t want to hear the story about the anniversary of the Battle Of Stars Hollow and the reenactment.

Lorelei’s excited about the first snowfall.  She has the uncanny ability to smell snow.  And she listens to a message from Max Medina over and over in the middle of the night.  She loves the snow because that’s when good things happen.  I prefer sunshine, 70 degree weather, and the ability to wear flip-flops year-round myself, but whatever.

Lorelei’s definitely excited about the different activities the guests at the inn can do, but Michel isn’t.  Lane is telling Rory about her crush on Rich Bloomenfeld is, and Rory is too distracted to listen.

Dean shows up at the bus stop, and Rory is excited that Dean seems to like Jane Austen.  He tells her she needs to read Hunter Thompson.  This is one reason why I don’t like Rory and Dean.  She loves reading and school and learning.  And that seems pretty opposite of Dean.  Opposites attract and all, but they just seem too different to really be a good match.

Lorelei skips Friday night dinner because of the weather, so Rory spends the night at Emily and Richard’s.

While taking a walk in the snow, she runs into Max, and they have dinner and a movie.  Lane runs her hand through Rich Bloomenfeld’s hair, and runs off as her band-mates laugh.

At Richard and Emily’s, Emily has no idea what to do for dinner, because the cook can’t get to the house, and they can’t go out to a restaurant.  Rory promises to whip up a frozen pizza.  It’s a pretty funny scene, and it really is interesting how much Richard and Emily depend on their servants.  Must be nice.

Rory looks around her grandparent’s house, and comes across a photo album that belonged to Lorelei.  She finds a picture of her parents, and puts it in her pocket.  Don’t worry, we’ll meet her dad.  Lane calls her, and is feeling jealous of Rory’s life.  Lane just needed her best friend, and Rory wasn’t there.  While they’re talking, the power goes out and they can’t finish their conversation.

Emily is freaking out about the oven timer, and can’t turn it off because she doesn’t know how.  Emily seems pretty sheltered though.  They do enjoy the pizza more than they expected- and Richard even hopes to have it again.

Lorelei invites Max in, because he really doesn’t have anywhere else to go.  But you can tell it’s hard for her, because she keeps her love life very separate from her life at home with Rory.  Admirable but Max brings up a good point when he says that at some point, a guy will be important enough to bring home, and Rory’s just going to have to deal with it.

Lane and Lorelei talk about touching Rich’s hair, and she spends the night at Lorelei’s house.  It definitely changes the night that Max and Lorelei were going to have.

Rory finds Max sleeping on the couch, she and Lane work things out, and the episode ends as Rory looks at the picture of her parents.

Pop culture References: American Revolution, USSR, Sergeant Pepper, Star Trek, Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte, Hunter Thompson, Judy Blume

Favorite Lines/Scenes: From Taylor: “There is no use for a lava lamp, unless you’re on drugs.”

From Richard: “Rory, are you in any way malnourished or in need of a relief organization to recruit a celebrity to raise money on your account?”

Final Thoughts: Cool episode.  I liked but it doesn’t really stand out.  I can’t rememer when her dad shows up, but I think it’ll be a while before we do.  It gets 2 out of 5 mugs.