Ep 13. Wedding Bell Blues

Lorelai's deep feeling of missing something in her life has been a recurring theme throughout the Gilmore Girls series. In this episode, titled "Wedding Bell Blues," the feeling resurfaces, and both Lorelai and Rory confront it in different ways.

The episode kicks off with Lorelai and Rory on their way to Lane's wedding shower. Lane's mother, Mrs. Kim, made her presence felt by dictating a long list of guests who were invited to the shower. The Gilmore girls are surprised to see a lot of people they do not recognize. Mrs. Kim imposes a long list of rules, and everyone is forced to play several games, including the egg race and the balloon bursting competition. The competitiveness erupts, and Lorelai becomes intense while playing the games despite not knowing any of the guests very well.

Meanwhile, Rory volunteers to write a review of The Yale Daily News' theatre critic in the hopes of ending her dry spell in reporting. She attends a play where she meets her ex-boyfriend, Dean. Dean was cast as Marty's replacement when he dropped out of the play, and Rory is surprised to see him as she was not aware of his inclusion in the cast. Dean is in a relationship with his new girlfriend, and Rory feels a bit uneasy, fearing that Dean will post derogatory comments in the theatre review that she is writing.

Lorelai's feeling of loneliness is brought to the forefront of her mind when she is introduced to a man named Alex, who shares the same interests with her, including hiking and coffee beans. They hit it off and make a plan to go out on a date while they are in the coffee bean shop. Lorelai even exchanges numbers with Alex and is excited to have found someone who shares her interests.

However, after the shower, Lorelai is left feeling empty yet again, realizing that even with all her friends being married, and despite the fact that she has dated a lot of men, she has not been able to find someone to share her life with meaningfully. She tries, unsuccessfully, to reach out to Luke, whom she sees at the Independence Inn. Lorelai had been avoiding Luke because she thought he was getting too involved in their relationship. But at seeing him, she tries to reconnect, but Luke is unsure if he is ready to try the relationship again.

Later, Rory and Logan, her new friend, go to the Independence Inn to catch a glimpse of the proposed Dragonfly renovation. They encounter Luke, and Logan notices Rory’s awkwardness around him. Finally, Lorelai catches up with Luke, and they have an intimate talk, but it doesn't seem like they are on the same page. Luke confesses his problem is not Lorelai's doing but with him, and he needs time to think.

The central theme of the episode is the feeling of loneliness. Lorelai is shown seeking a relationship, and Rory is unable to get over her past relationship. As the episode ends, both Gilmore girls are left to confront their loneliness and search for answers.

Overall, "Wedding Bell Blues," is an episode that beautifully continues the central theme of the show and develops it even further. The episode keeps the audience engaged and curious about what will happen next, without giving anything away. It is an episode worth watching for any Gilmore Girls fan or for those who want to explore the idea of loneliness in a light-hearted and humorous way.