Gilmore Girls ran through the cell phone evolution from pagers to flip phones to Sidekicks, faxing, texting and more. What will smartphones do to the show?
The Black-White-Read theater may need to borrow a catchphrase of Luke’s when Gilmore Girls returns to Netflix this fall. “No smartphones in the theater” might get the job done. Regardless of the rules set in place, there is always one person who will break them– Lorelai Gilmore.
TV Line’s release of this image from the revival refers to it as a “maybe-bombshell,” but chances are Lorelai is fielding a call from the only person who makes the no cell phone rule worth having– her mother.
The last movie Luke saw at the Black-White-Read theater was Pippi Longstocking and we all know how that evening turned out. (Never forget The Great Bop-It Incident of 2004.) Maybe they are finally viewing the gruesome drivers education videos that survived the fire.
History does have a knack for repeating itself and so maybe the answer to our questions are buried in Luke and Lorelai’s previous cell phone interruptions. Here are a few of the best.
1. Disgusting Santa
Way back in season 1, when cell phones were the size of bricks and were still on pay by the minute plans, Lorelai received a call informing her that Richard collapsed during the Gilmore Christmas party.
Caller ID: Rory
Incident: Emergency
Effect on relationship: Shows early on how much Luke cares for Lorelai. It also sets up a series of circumstances that lead to Lorelai giving Luke his signature blue baseball cap.
2. ‘And when I need you, nowhere’
Lorelai sets up shop in Luke’s diner, spreading out her work across tables or running phone chords across the counter to the fax line, quite a few times over the series. Sometimes calls come through and result in a scolding, other times, Luke is too preoccupied to even notice, much to Lorelai’s dismay.
Caller ID: Emily
Incident: Inquiry
Effect on relationship: Lorelai’s attempt to cash in on Luke’s strict adherence to the rules of his diner fails, but she does gain points for mystic as Luke ponders why she threw leftover food and suddenly wanted a no cell phone policy.
3. Fay Wellington and Art Brush
Kirk has some charts that can explain what affect the cell phone interruptions are truly doing to this relationship, but hey, I’m trying my best here. “Written in the Stars” is a two-for-one deal that sends Emily running to Yale.
Caller ID: Emily
Incident: Complaint
Effect on relationship: The first cell phone interruption of the official relationship allows Lorelai to blame Luke for distracting her enough that she did not screen the call from her mother. It’s nice to have someone around for that and someone who will defend your relationship to the town on public record.
4. ‘I’m number one’
Sometimes Lorelai just needs to break a rule and be the one causing the interruption.
Caller ID: Lorelai
Incident: Sexy speed dial
Effect on relationship: Saves Luke and Lorelai: Part II from Emily’s wrath. Also gives incentive for Luke to check his voicemail.
5. My daughter, my sister
The future is a major question for the couple who exists in the right now. Richard’s call to set up a meeting with Mike Armstrong sets out a few “what-if” scenarios in Luke’s brain.
Caller ID: Richard
Incident: Business Opportunity
Effect on relationship: Before the infamous, “what about the kids” line broke free from Luke’s mouth, this cell phone pickup planted the seed of the idea that Luke’s two day rule — never plan for anything more than two days in advance, because when you make plans, then you have expectations, and when you have expectations, then you will get disappointed — may not be something he wants to keep with Lorelai.
The future is now, Luke!
Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life premieres on Netflix Friday, November 25.