Welcome to the Friday Night Readers podcast! In this Gilmore Girls podcast episode #5, we break down our pop culture rewatch of Season 1, Episode 5, “Cinnamon’s Wake.” Listen below and get the full transcript.
Recap of Season 1, Episode 5: “Cinnamon’s Wake”
In “Cinnamon’s Wake,” Max and Lorelai start dating. Babette’s and Morey’s cat, Cinnamon, dies, and the townspeople of Stars Hollow attend the wake. There, Rory connects with Dean.
The episode begins at a Richard-less Friday night dinner. Now, I mentioned last episode that I’m going to start featuring Emily’s savage burns. Here, she doesn’t have one, but she does trick Lorelai into believing she socialized with a “nice Nazi.” Good one, Emily!
Rory gets on Lorelai’s case about the Chilton bake sale. And when I hear of bake sales, I always think of my friend’s genius hack for when you’re under a time crunch– it’s one that Lorelai would love. She buys store-bought baked goods like brownies, then cuts them up and puts them into little cupcake papers to give them a homemade feel! You’re welcome.
Babette and Morey walk their cat, Cinnamon, in a little wagon stroller, and I’ve got to say, this custom contraption is practically fit for royalty. Also, Cinnamon is such a cute cat name! I want to share my own cat’s names with you, since they have pop culture references like true Gilmores:
- Minnie was, of course, Minnie Mouse, but also the name of Sharon Osbourne’s dog on The Osbournes, rocker Ozzy Osbourne’s early 2000s reality show. I just loved how she called the dog in her British accent, and I made a mental note of it.
- Romeo (Row-MAY-oh) is the Italian way of saying Romeo (ROW-me-oh), who everyone knows from Romeo and Juliet. He’s named after a charming boy cat we met in Italy on our honeymoon.
- Lillian (a/k/a Lil or Lilly) is named after the hilarious movie Bridesmaids, ironically starring Melissa McCarthy. We were stuck on a name, and I recalled that we both said we loved that name once while watching it.
As we celebrate the life of Cinnamon, I also want to celebrate your cats. I asked my Instagram followers to share their cats’ names, and I’m shouting out: Theo, Allie, Felix, Marley, Gigi, and Lola!
Next, Dean, in an attempt to flirt with Rory on the bus, scares her. And I am immediately transported back to the days of being nervous around my crush.
Michel struggles with some French guests at the Inn, with whom he, a French man, refuses to speak French. Can Michel pull off Texas origins? In the words of Macaulay Culkin in Home Alone, I don’t think so.
At the bake sale, Sookie creates a culinary landscape of goodies, including a watermelon swan. Then, in true Sookie fashion, she lights the table on fire.
Who doesn’t love a bake sale?! I asked my Instagram followers what their favorite bake sale baked good is, and they called out lemon squares, cinnamon rolls, dirt, and brownies. I think I’d personally go with a vanilla cupcake with buttercream icing.
Max creeps up and puts the moves on Lorelai. Yes, I said, “creeps.” There’s something nefarious to me about his appearance.
I asked my Instagram followers if his asking Lorelai out was inappropriate, and they were pretty split. 45% said yes, and 55% said no. Shoot your shot, Max!
Here, Lorelai offers up one of her most famous coffee-lover quips:
Max: “You like coffee?”
Lorelai: “Only with my oxygen.”
Lorelai doesn’t exactly agree to the coffee date, but let’s Max know where she’ll be–if he happens to show up.
Lane and Rory bounce about town, and Cinnamon’s situation is becoming dire after eating bad clams at Al’s Pancake House.
Then, Rory sneaks into Doose’s Market to see Dean, and Miss Patty promises not to tell.
Kirk announces he’s the new assistant manager while scolding Miss Patty. And this, friends, is the first time we meet Kirk. Back when we discussed The Lorelais’ First Day at Chilton, he was Mick, the DSL installer, and I promised to reveal what’s behind this discrepancy.
Here it is: The showrunners simply kept thinking of him when they were casting Kirk. They ended up deciding it would be funny to have him back and make it a “thing” that he plays so many roles in the town. (Source: The Gilmore Girls Companion)
Lorelai and Max meet in a coffee shop that has an actual bar. Max isn’t interested in foam, so he ends up drinking plain coffee, which is actually quite fitting for his boring personality. Sorry, Max. He continues to love bomb Lorelai, and her walls begin to crumble.
At Luke’s Diner, Lorelai and Sookie discuss whether Lorelai should date Max, until Rory summons Lorelai to Cinnamon, who has sadly died.
A bewildered Morey then utters one of the most philosophical lines of the show:
“This is life, Rory. It breaks your heart.”
The town gathers at Morey’s and Babette’s for a celebration of Cinnamon’s life, and this scene is why so many fans of the show consider this episode to be the unofficial start of the series. Nothing captures Stars Hollow more perfectly than an entire community dropping everything at a moment’s notice to support a grieving member at a cat funeral.
I asked my Instagram followers, and a majority, 56% of you, said this is where the show begins for you.
There, Rory pretends to Lorelai that she doesn’t know Dean, then nervously blows him off. As a formerly awkward teen myself, I totally get it.
Max shows up for his date with Lorelai, who has forgotten all about it in the midst of the Cinnamon drama. I’ve been kind of tough on Max this episode, but I’ll give him credit for understanding.
In Babette’s gnome garden, Dean tells Rory he “gets” her cold shoulder, which prompts her to finally indicate her interest– and run away. This won’t be the last time Rory has a “first” with Dean, then runs away. Hint, hint!
Rory and Lorelai quibble about Max, and I’m leaning towards Rory’s side on this one. It is what it is, but at the same time, it would be really weird to have your parent date your teacher.
Emily bookends the episode with an angry phone call that Lorelai skipped her cousin’s funeral for a cat funeral. And here, we finally get one of Emily’s savage burns:
“I don’t leave messages. If I wanted to talk to a machine, I’d talk to my VCR.”
Richard’s absence in this episode is noticed and very much missed.
Finally, Rory gives in and offers Lorelai her blessing to date Max.
Books and Authors Referenced
Let’s break down the Gilmores’ world of books– this episode’s most iconic literary references for those taking the Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge with us on Fridaynightreaders.substack.com, where we read from the list of books mentioned on Gilmore Girls.
- Finnegan’s Wake by James Joyce
- A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf
- Henry VIII by William Shakespeare
- Hamlet by William Shakespeare
- Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann
The episode title sneakily references Finnegan’s Wake by James Joyce. This is his famously complex 1939 novel, written in a dreamlike, multilingual style. It follows the Earwicker family in Dublin through language, myth, and cyclical themes. I’ve never summoned up the courage to read it myself, as I’ve heard it’s very difficult.
On the bus, Rory reads A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf. This 1929 extended essay argues for women’s financial independence and personal space to create literature. Yes, please! A foundational feminist text, it’s a very good book for literature-loving women, especially, to read. It’s short, and it’s very popular with readers in our book club. I very much enjoyed it and am glad I crossed it off my list!
Max says Sookie’s bake sale spread was “very Henry VIII.” Not just a political figure, he is also the titular character in a play by William Shakespeare. This King of England from 1509 to 1547 was best known for his lavishness– and also his six marriages and his break from the Roman Catholic Church.
Lorelai says the question of dating Max is a crossroads, like “to perm or not to perm.” This is a riff of “to be or not to be” in Hamlet’s speech in Hamlet by William Shakespeare. Written around 1600, this is one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays–and one of my personal favorites. It reminded me of a true crime episode of Dateline. Tensions, motivations, and tragedy all run high in it.
It follows Prince Hamlet of Denmark as he seeks to avenge his father’s murder by his uncle, Claudius, who has seized the throne and married Hamlet’s mother. Wild and crazy times, right?!
The play explores themes of revenge, madness, and morality, especially through Hamlet’s introspective, conflicted nature.
It’s also a book Taylor Swift loves to reference. I can’t blame her! In one of my favorite songs, “But Daddy I Love Him,” Taylor sings, “‘Stay away from her’ / The saboteurs protested too much.” This lyric directly quotes Act 3, Scene 2 of Hamlet, in which Prince Hamlet’s mother famously says, “The lady doth protest too much, methinks.” And “The Fate of Ophelia” is literally all about the tragic character suffering from grief and heartbreak. Have I convinced you to pick it up yet?!
On a side note, does everyone here know what perms are? These hair curling treatments had their heyday in the 1980s. Since my mom is a hairdresser, I am highly familiar and have had many myself. Your hair is wrapped in tiny curlers, and chemicals are added to permanently curl it for a few months.
Next, Lorelai says Cinnamon’s medicine cabinet is like a scene from Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann. This 1996 book follows three women as they navigate fame, ambition, love, and heartbreak in the entertainment industry from the 1940s to the 1960s. By the way, “dolls” refers to the pills they use to cope with pressure and personal struggles. I haven’t read it, but it’s very high on my list. Sounds juicy!
Curious about every single book mentioned in this Gilmore Girls episode—even the obscure references most people miss, like Sookie’s astute philosopher reference? Head to this episode’s page at Fridaynightreaders.substack.com. When you upgrade to a paid membership, you’ll get printable episode guides for every Gilmore Girls episode—perfect for tracking your own Rory-inspired reading journey.
Pop Culture References
Oy with the pop culture already! Now, because I want you to understand even more of the Gilmore Girls’ fast talk, here’s what some of this episode’s best pop culture references mean.
Fashion
We have yet to talk in detail about Rory’s Chilton uniform, and now seems as good a time as any to do so. It typically includes a blue plaid skirt, a navy blue sweater vest or blazer, and a collared shirt. I’ve worn this for Halloween before and share updated costume links each and every Halloween. It’s always a hit with Friday night readers!
Food
- Dolly Madison Chocolate Cupcake (3.17oz)
Rory says the bake sale goods should be homemade by someone other than Dolly Madison. This is a packaged snack cake brand I’m not personally familiar with. I actually thought Rory was referring to the former First Lady of the United States, which she sort of was– the name of the company was inspired by her.
Movies & TV
Lane says she wants to move to Philadelphia because M. Night Shyamalan, the writer and director of The Sixth Sense —a popular, Oscar-nominated 1999 thriller where a kid can see dead people —lives there.
And, do I have a story for you! I live in the Philly suburbs and once sat at the table next to him at a restaurant! It worked out really well because our movie buff friend ran into him while walking to the bathroom and got to talk to him. Otherwise, I probably wouldn’t have even noticed him! By the way, this particular movie of his has my absolute favorite plot twist– a jaw-dropper that gives you chills! Definitely worth a watch.
Famous People
- M. Night Shyamalan
- Sally Struthers
- Dalai Lama
- Iran-Contra Scandal
- Oliver North
- Fawn Hall
- Angelina Jolie
- Billy Bob Thornton
We haven’t talked about Babette in detail yet on this podcast, and I think we should. She’s played impeccably by Sally Struthers, who was actually already a household name at the time. Her claim to fame was playing Gloria Stivic on the classic TV sitcom All in the Family from 1971 to 1978, a role that earned her two Emmy Awards. I saw her star in Grease on Broadway in the late 1990s and still remember how excited I was to see a star of her caliber.
Also, Luke tells Sookie you can’t do yoga on the Dalai Lama’s mat–or stand behind the counter at Luke’s Diner. The Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism and, traditionally, the political leader of Tibet, believed to be the reincarnation of a long line of enlightened teachers.
Next, when Lorelai and Rory argue about Max, we get a few references to unpack.
Lorelai: “Information that would’ve come out eventually, like the Iran-Contra Scandal.”
Rory: “So you’re Oliver North.”
Lorelai: “No, I’m Fawn Hall.”
This one had me scratching my head! My research tells me it was a major U.S. political scandal in the 1980s. Senior officials in President Ronald Reagan’s administration secretly sold weapons to Iran, despite an arms embargo, in hopes of securing the release of American hostages. The money from these arms sales was then illegally funneled to fund the Contra rebels in Nicaragua, who were fighting the socialist Sandinista government, even though Congress had banned U.S. aid to them. Oliver North was a Marine officer, and Fawn Hall was the secretary who famously helped shred and smuggle documents. That’s a mouthful, isn’t it?!
Let’s move on to a more fun reference.
Lorelai says,
“You can’t always control who you’re attracted to, you know. I think the whole Angelina Jolie /Billy Bob Thornton thing really proves that.”
Both are famous actors, though she was deemed by the public as far too beautiful for him–a notorious bad boy, who you may know best as playing the U.S. President in Love Actually. They were married from 2000 to 2003 and famously wore each other’s blood in a vial around their necks. Yes, really!
Music
- “Time Bomb” by Rancid
- The Bangles
- “Truly, Truly” by the town troubadour Grant Lee Phillips
At the beginning of the episode, Lane “skanks to Rancid.” I’m not super familiar with this punk band, but I do want to note, first, that punk music like this had a big moment in the 1990s, and second, that Hep Alien later performs this song, “Time Bomb,” in the series during Season 4, Episode 19, “Afterboom.”
Lorelai tells Max she wants to be in The Bangles. Is this a subtle hint that we’ll actually see this 1980s girl band perform on the show in a few episodes, during Episode 13, “Concert Interruptus”?
Later, the song “Truly, Truly” by the town troubadour Grant Lee Phillips plays while Rory and Dean chat in Babette’s and Morey’s garden, and this song, to me, is the perfect representation of both the show and the time. Melodic, romantic rock songs played by male, guitar-playing singers were totally in at the time. This particular song reminds me of working at the casual American retailer Gap, known for its music selections, during the same period as the show. I included it on my Gilmore Girls playlist.
Up Next
Lastly, the time has come for me to be what Jess called Rory—a book tease. Tune in next week, when we dive into episode 1.6, “Rory’s Birthday Parties,” and books like Freaky Friday, which actually doesn’t stand the test of time. You’ll learn why the movie is better than the book in this case!
Frequently Asked Questions
Cinnamon is the cat of Lorelai’s and Rory’s neighbors, Babette and Morey, on Gilmore Girls. He dies during Season 1, Episode 5, “Cinnamon’s Wake.”
Rory’s teacher, Max Medina, and her mother, Lorelai, have their first coffee date on Gilmore Girls Season 1, Episode 5, “Cinnamon’s Wake.”
Kirk, played by Sean Gunn, first appears as this recurring character in Gilmore Girls, Season 1, Episode 5, “Cinnamon’s Wake.” He previously appeared as Mick, a DSL installer, during Episode 2, “The Lorelais’ First Day at Chilton.”
