Welcome to the Friday Night Readers podcast! In this Gilmore Girls podcast episode #8, we break down our pop culture rewatch of Season 1, Episode 8, “Love & War & Snow.” Listen below and get the full transcript.
Recap of Season 1, Episode 8: “Love & War & Snow”
In “Love & War & Snow,” Lorelai smells snow coming to Stars Hollow. Due to this weather, Rory stays at her grandparents’ home, where she teaches them the joy of eating frozen pizza. Lorelai sees Max and becomes snowbound at home with him until Lane interrupts with a teenage crisis– she touched the hair of a boy. Lane seeks Lorelai’s support after feeling left out by Rory, who’s been hot and heavy with Dean.
Lorelai arrives at the town meeting with snacks, as Taylor and Miss Patty bicker. I believe this is our first town meeting, and it’s also the first time we meet Andrew of Stars Hollow Books, played by Mike Gandolfi. He’s a familiar face to me especially because he remains very active in the Gilmore fandom, which I love.
The “mayor” Harry also appears, and he announces the reenactment of the legendary battle of Stars Hollow during the Revolutionary War. He’s played by David Huddleston, who only appears in two episodes. I don’t know why, but we obviously see Taylor take on a bigger role as town selectman as the show progresses.
Anyway, Luke isn’t having it because the 12 guys just stood in a row, and the redcoats never showed, like a prom date. He also wants to remind everyone that this is stolen land.
The next morning, Lorelai awakens with a huge grin on her face. Why, you ask? Because she can smell snow coming. Yes, this is the famous “I smell snow” episode. And I am so curious as to who thought of this for Lorelai, because as we know, it’s perfectly fitting.
Max, a/k/a Maaaaax Medina, leaves her a voicemail asking her out. Yes, recorded voicemails like his, which you could hear through the entire house, were how we communicated when a phone went unanswered in the olden days.
And did I mention, there were no texts? This means your whole family could hear your crush calling you. It also means teens spent a lot of time talking to moms who picked up the phone. Kids these days don’t know how hard we had it!
Rory thinks only Lorelai can smell snow, but I don’t. I get it. There’s just a fresh, clear, clean, calmness in the air before a snowfall. I asked my Instagram followers, and 67% said they, too, can smell snow. Here’s what a few of you said:
- “It’s a crispness in the air, like peppermint”
- “The air is ‘sharp’ and the usual smells … are gone”
Lorelai continues to gush that all the best things in her life happened when it snowed.
“I love snow. Everything’s magical when it snows. Everything looks pretty.”
On the other hand, Michel says, “It is cold and gray, like a fat, dead pigeon.” Same snowstorm, different perspectives.
Lane and Rory arrive at the Inn, and Lane, in her marching band uniform, announces that Rich Blumenfeld, a man with a mane, is her soulmate.
Sookie gives Rory Rocky Road cookies for Dean and sings probably my favorite line of hers throughout the whole show:
“Cookies for the Dean and the Rory and the cookies for the love and the Dean.”
It’s so Sookie, and it’s so cute.
Lane continues to try to get Rory’s attention about Rich, but she’s too busy talking about books and smooching Dean to care. Sookie was right!
The first snowfall of the season, and of the show, officially begins!
It’s soft and it’s beautiful, and… then Emily calls. Despite the treacherous conditions, she still expects Lorelai to come to Friday night dinner. They settle on just Rory staying over after school.
School apparently persists, and I think it’s true to the time. In Pennsylvania in the 90s and 00s, it wasn’t often canceled unless the snow got especially bad. And we had to wake up extra early to watch a lengthy, alphabetical ticker-tape scroll across our screen to see if our school was listed.
I can still picture those moments of waking up and jumping to the window to see what, if anything, had accumulated. Obviously, it felt best when you saw your school’s cancellation and could jump right back into bed.
The Revolutionary War reenactors take their place, and we see Luke be the “grumpy” to Lorelai’s “sunshine.” She just refuses to get past the idea that snow is nature’s present to her. I can’t say I disagree. These scenes, with her periwinkle scarf, berry lipstick, and knit hat amidst the snowflakes, are just about the prettiest she’s ever looked. Snow certainly suits her.
Next, Lane takes one look at Rich’s majestic blonde locks and can’t help but run her hand through them… then run away… like Rory did in “Kiss and Tell” after Dean kissed her.
And, what do you know, it’s Max in Stars Hollow again. Does anyone besides me think this may not have been serendipitous, but planned? Since Cinnamon’s Wake, there’s just something about Max I don’t totally trust.
Emily freaks out when she learns her maid can’t come to work, and she offers us this episode’s edition of “Emily’s savage burns:”
“These Friday dinners are the only proper food that child eats all week.”
Rory confirms she’s adequately nourished and finds a frozen pizza, which Emily says is food for a carnival or a Turkish prison. Nonetheless, they agree on heating it up.
Back in Stars Hollow, we learn that Max was once “close” to marriage, and that Christopher also once proposed to Lorelai, albeit when they were in high school.
Rory plays with Lorelai’s dollhouse, which I still think looks like her current house, and finds old pictures of her and Chris. Lane calls upset that Rory’s not around when she needs her most, including when she touched Rich Blumenfeld’s hair. She’s crashing out.
Then, Lorelai and Max watch a movie at Black, White, and Read. Has it occurred as odd to anyone besides me that Stars Hollow technically has two bookstores? Maybe not. I mean, Rory Gilmore lives there.
Back at Emily’s and Richard’s, Rory teaches her grandparents to grate Parmesan cheese over their frozen pizza, and even princess Emily grows to love this low-brow delicacy. I love Emily so much, and this scene gives me all the feels. She’s quintessentially herself while still allowing herself to show vulnerability with her granddaughter.
This scene got me wondering how you like to eat frozen pizza. Around here, my husband always requests that I cook mushrooms in truffle oil and add them. I asked my Instagram followers, and the most popular comments were olives and roasted veggies. No one said Parmesan cheese!
We learn of Emily’s sister, Hopie, and I’ve heard the picture they show is actually Kelly Bishop. She’s so pretty! I actually think she bears some resemblance to Rory here.
Back in Stars Hollow, Luke softens up and brings the war reenactors coffee. Then he sees Lorelai at her peak of beauty… with Max. Obviously, he’s jealous. Who wouldn’t be?! Lorelai is a “ten” in this episode.
Max wants to be invited inside, and his most persuasive argument is that “it’s fate.” Persuasive or pushy? I think he’s pushing it. He kisses Lorelai, but Lane appears, seeking her advice.
Lorelai offers these words to remember:
“Everybody screws up. That’s what happens, Lane. It’s what you do with the screwups, it’s how you handle the experience– that’s what you should judge yourself by.”
Consider that your free therapy session of the week.
She allows Max to stay on the couch while she sleeps upstairs in her monkey pajamas. Rory arrives home the next morning to find him asleep there. Lorelai blames it on snow being like catnip to her.
She and Rory make up, and Rory and Lane make up. However, Rory sneaks a glance at that old picture of her mother and her father, yearning.
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.
- Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Only one book is featured in this episode. Dean kind of admits he enjoyed the copy of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen that he borrowed from Rory.
Now, of course, Jane Austen is the unofficial founder of women’s romance novels. This English novelist was known for her social commentary and wit in portraying women’s lives in the early 19th century.
Pride and Prejudice is, undoubtedly, her most popular work. This 1813 love story of mistaken first impressions continues to resonate with readers, though I’ve heard that the advent of our smartphones and AI is making it harder for even Ivy League college students to read it— even though it’s considered for high school readers.
Y’all, this is why I do this reading challenge. Classic literature matters, and it makes us better at life. I hope you’ll read like Rory (and even Dean!) with us. Yes, while Dean gets a lot of hate, I do love the fact that Dean is willing to tackle a “woman’s” classic for Rory.
A few tips:
- I recommend reading the Audible Original of this book, which is beautifully narrated by Rosamund Pike, who starred as Jane in the 2005 movie adaptation.
- Speaking of, the 2005 movie adaptation starring Keira Knightley is excellent and one of my favorite adaptations of all time. Note, however, that many prefer the 1995 BBC miniseries starring Colin Firth. Also, stay tuned for an upcoming Netflix adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.
- The 2005 adaptation’s soundtrack makes for perfect focus music for reading this book.
- Pair it with the popular modern retelling, Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding, which is also on the Gilmore Girls book list.
Though there are no more books mentioned in this episode, a few authors are:
- Emily Dickinson: Max says he’s grading the paper “Emily Dickinson: Get a Life.” I, too, have heard that this mid-19th-century American poet is difficult, though I’ve only read her most popular poems.
- Hunter S. Thompson: This is the American journalist whose work Dean thinks Rory should read. Ironically, Jess is later seen bringing this author’s book Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas to Stars Hollow in Season 2, Episode 5 (“Nick & Nora/Sid & Nancy”).
- Charlotte Brontë: Rory suggests this English novelist, known for the Gothic classic Jane Eyre, which is still on my TBR list.
- Judy Blume: Lorelai says that Lane’s having a moment like this children’s author known for teaching kids about the birds and the bees in really relatable ways. We only get a few references to her in the series, which has always surprised me, as she has appealed to many generations, including Lorelai’s and Rory’s.
Curious about every single book mentioned in this Gilmore Girls episode—even the obscure references most people miss? Head to this episode’s page at Fridaynightreaders.substack.com. Paid members get printable episode guides for every Gilmore Girls episode, which are 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
Rory’s striped scarf is very well known to me. It was from the Gap, where I worked. These multicolored stripes were called “crazy stripes,” and every winter season, when we got the new version, they sold out almost immediately. So, our little Chilton girl was actually pretty hip to the times!
Next, we have to talk about Lane’s Fair Isle sweater. I can’t place the store for sure, but it feels very American Eagle to me. Since I spent so much time at the mall during those years, I know a lot of the stuff even beyond Gap. And, Rory wore it in The Deer Hunters!
Movies
Lorelai and Max watch House on Haunted Hill at the movie theater, which is actually a 1959 adaptation of a Shirley Jackson book that’s been on my list. It’s about a millionaire who invites several guests to spend the night in a supposedly haunted mansion, offering them a cash prize if they survive until morning. There’s also a much more recent Netflix series about the book.
Famous People
When trying to get out of Friday night dinner, Lorelai likens herself to the female comic superhero Wonder Woman.
Lorelai: “Well, uh, gee, Mom, I don’t know. Let me see… black ice, treacherous roads. I’ll just put on my red, white, and blue leotard, grab my golden lasso, and fly the invisible plane on over.”
Next, we also learn that Emily had a crush on Errol Flynn, whom I’ve never heard of before. Rory calls him “the pirate guy,” and indeed, he was an old actor known for his pirate roles.
Music
- The Beatles
- “Someone to Watch Over Me” by Rickie Lee Jones
- “Pictures of You” by The Cure
![Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band [Anniversary Edition]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51ObkoU+-PL._SL160_.jpg)
Lorelai calls Lane “Sergeant Pepper” when she’s dressed in her marching band uniform. She’s actually referring to The Beatles. Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band was their famous album about a fictional band. “Sergeant Pepper” himself is an imaginary bandleader. Please tell me you already know this! If not, I demand that you immediately go and binge-listen to The Beatles.
We hear Rickie Lee Jones’ rendition of the Gershwin Broadway classic “Someone to Watch Over Me,” when Lorelai is with Max in the snow. It’s a beautiful version.
Lane listens to “Pictures of You” by The Cure in Rory’s room, and it’s just a really solid song. Both of these songs made my “best of” music on 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 1.9, “Rory’s Dance,” and books like The Portable Dorothy Parker, which Rory and Dean famously fall asleep reading.
Frequently Asked Questions
Lorelai Gilmore first declares, “I smell snow” in Season 1, Episode 8 of Gilmore Girls (“Love & War & Snow”).
The quote “I smell snow” is from Gilmore Girls. Lorelai Gilmore says it first in Season 1, Episode 8 (“Love & War & Snow”).
