Season One, Episode Seventeen: “The Breakup, Part 2”

Season 1, episode 2: “The Breakup, Part 2”
Original air date: 15 March 2001
Directed by: Nick Marck
Written by: Amy Sherman-Palladino

Summary: Rory keeps busy, refusing to indulge in self-pity following her breakup from Dean, while Lorelai tries to convince her to give in to the grieving process.

On this page: All References in Chronological Order | References Sorted by Category | Frequent References | Indigenous Land Acknowledgment

All References in Chronological Order

01:20 – 📖 reference + 🕊️ mention
LORELAI: Because I’ve read every Nancy Drew mystery ever written – the one about the Amish country twice. I know there’s more to the story than what you’re telling me.

Nancy Drew is a fictional teenage detective and the protagonist of “several mystery book series, movies, video games, and a TV show” (Wikipedia). She first appeared in the book series Nancy Drew Mystery Stories, which comprises 175 novels published from 1930 to 2003; a spinoff series called Nancy Drew Files was published from 1986 to 1997. The books were ghostwritten by multiple authors – notably Mildred Wirt Benson, who wrote 23 of the first 30 installments – and published under the pseudonym Carolyn Keene.
In the 33rd installment of the series, The Witch Tree Symbol (1955), Nancy’s sleuthing takes her to Pennsylvania, where she encounters the local Amish community. The Amish “are an ethnoreligious group…consisting of several Anabaptist Christian church fellowships” (Wikipedia). Over 98% of the world’s Amish population resides in the United States, with a majority living in Pennsylvania (Ohio had the largest Amish population at the time of this episode, now second largest). The rural areas in which they live may be referred to as Amish country.
The Amish were mentioned previously in the pilot episode and in episode seven.

03:20 – 🎥 reference
RORY: Far, far away from the house, okay?
LORELAI: Hey, it sleeps with the fishes.

“Sleep with the fishes” is a euphemistic phrase in US English. A murder victim may be said to “sleep with the fishes” if their body is weighted and disposed of in a body of water. Though the phrase has been in circulation since at least 1833, it is probably most associated with Francis Ford Coppola’s 1972 gangster film The Godfather, based on Mario Puzo’s 1969 novel of the same name. In the film, a dead fish is wrapped in a bulletproof vest to indicate that a character is dead; this device also appears in the book, though the accompanying phrase does not.

05:25 – 🏷️ mention + 🎥 mention
RORY: Or we could stuff our purses full of Sour Patch Kids and Milk Duds and go see the Stars Hollow Elementary School production of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Sour Patch Kids are a brand of gummy candies with a vaguely humanoid shape, coated in sour sugar. They were introduced in the early 1970s as Mars Men, but were renamed Sour Patch Kids in 1985, likely “to capitalize on the popularity of Cabbage Patch Kids at the time” (Wikipedia). They are currently produced by Mondelez International.
Milk Duds are a brand of chewy caramels with a chocolate coating. They were created in 1928 by Hoffman Company of Chicago and are currently owned by The Hershey Company. According to the Hershey website, “milk” refers to the milk content of the original product and “dud” refers to failed attempts by the Hoffman Company to give the candies a spherical shape. Milk Duds are a common movie theater snack, often sold at concessions.
In Edward Albee’s 1962 absurdist play Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, “middle-aged couple George and Martha receive unwitting younger couple Nick and Honey as guests, and draw them into their bitter and frustrated relationship” (Wikipedia) over the course of one long night. The play’s title combines references to the song “Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?” from Walt Disney’s Three Little Pigs (1933) and to the English writer Virginia Woolf, whose 1929 book A Room of One’s Own was featured in episode five. A film adaptation of the play, directed by Mike Nichols, was released in 1966.

05:40 – 🏷️ mention
RORY: Do you want to wear Docs or sneakers?

Dr. Martens, also known as Doc Martens or Docs, is a footwear brand known for its lace-up leather boots with air-cushioned soles and distinctive yellow stitching. The boots were developed in 1947 by German doctor Klaus Märtens, for whom the brand is named, and have been manufactured in the United Kingdom since the 1960s. The brand has a long history of popularity with subcultures like skinheads, goths, and punks.
In this context, “skinhead” refers to a working-class youth movement that originated in the UK in the 1960s. Dr. Martens have been popular among skinheads, regardless of political affiliation, since the subculture emerged, but in the 1980s, combat boots became increasingly associated with far-right white supremacists. Groups like Skinheads Against Racial Prejudice (SHARP) formed in the 1990s to combat racism within the subculture.

05:45 – 🕊️ reference
LORELAI: It is Saturday. The day of rest.
RORY: Sunday’s the day of rest.

According to the second book of the Bible, the Book of Exodus, God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh. Followers of Abrahamic religions may imitate this day by observing a Sabbath or Shabbat, “a day set aside for rest and worship” (Wikipedia), on the seventh day of the week. In Jewish and Eastern Christian tradition, Saturday is considered the seventh day, while Catholics and most Protestants consider it to be Sunday.

08:20 – 🎥 mention
LORELAI: I’ll rent Love Story and The Champ. An Affair to Remember. Ishtar.

Love Story (1970) is a US romantic drama film directed by Arthur Hiller and based on Erich Segal’s novel of the same name. It follows the romance between two college students who overcome socioeconomic differences and familial opposition in order to be together; however, tragedy strikes when one of them is diagnosed with a terminal illness. Although it ranks among the top fifty highest-grossing films in North America (adjusted for inflation), it received mixed reviews at the time of its release. Rotten Tomatoes describes it as “an unabashed tearjerker that will capture hearts when it isn’t inducing eye rolls.” It is the source of the now-famous phrase, “Love means never having to say you’re sorry.”
The Champ (1979) is a US neo noir drama film directed by Franco Zeffirelli. Jon Voight stars as a former boxer who seeks redemption and reconciliation with his ex-wife (played by Faye Dunaway) by returning to the ring. Like Love Story, the film has a tragic ending and is considered a tearjerker. Though it received negative reviews overall, Ricky Schroder became the youngest Golden Globe recipient for his portrayal of the boxer’s son. The film is a remake of King Vidor’s 1931 film of the same name.
An Affair to Remember (1957) is a US romantic drama film directed by Leo McCarey. After meeting on a transatlantic voyage, the two leads (played by Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr) agree to rendezvous in six months’ time at the top of the Empire State Building in New York City. (This plot point has been recreated in other media, including Nora Ephron’s 1993 film Sleepless in Seattle, which directly references and is partly inspired by An Affair to Remember.) An automobile accident prevents Kerr from making the rendezvous, and the pair are kept apart by further misunderstandings. The film is a remake of McCarey’s 1939 film Love Affair.
Ishtar (1987) is a US adventure-comedy film written and directed by Elaine May. Warren Beatty and Dustin Hoffman star as “a duo of talentless American songwriters who travel to a booking in Morocco and stumble into a four-party Cold War standoff” (Wikipedia). The film suffered an overwhelmingly negative reputation upon release, with some calling it the worst film ever made. However, it has received positive reappraisals over the intervening years, including defenses by filmmakers like Martin Scorsese, Quentin Tarantino, and Edgar Wright.

09:20 – 🎥 mention
LORELAI: So, should we rent Old Yeller, too, or is that just a guys’ crying movie?

Old Yeller (1957) is a live-action Disney drama film directed by Robert Stevenson and based on Fred Gipson’s 1956 novel of the same name. Set in post-Civil War Texas, it centers the bond between a boy and a stray dog he calls Old Yeller. (This is a dialectical pronunciation of the word “yellow.” The dog has a yellow coat, and his bark resembles a human yell.) The film is famous for its tragic conclusion in which Old Yeller contracts rabies, an incurable disease, leaving the boy no choice but to put him down.

10:10 – 🎥 reference
LORELAI: Ha! Jump back!
RORY: Excuse me?
LORELAI: Kevin Bacon, Footloose, reaction to the “no dancing in town” rule as revealed to him by Chris Penn, brother to Sean, sage to all.

Footloose is a 1984 US musical drama film directed by Herbert Ross. Kevin Bacon stars as Ren McCormack, a rebellious teenager who moves from Chicago to a religious small town where dancing has been banned. Chris Penn appears as Willard, a fellow teen who befriends Ren and acquaints him with the local culture. Chris was the younger brother of US actor Sean Penn, who was mentioned previously in episode three.

11:15 – 🎥 reference
LORELAI: It’s like G.I. Jane, but we get to keep our hair.

“G.I. Jane is a 1997 [US] action drama film directed by Ridley Scott… The film tells the fictional story of the first woman to undergo special operations training similar to the U.S. Navy SEALs” (Wikipedia). Demi Moore sports a military-style buzz cut in the lead role.

11:40 – 🎥 reference
LORELAI: You do know, honey, that trash doesn’t actually talk at all unless it’s on Sesame Street.

“Sesame Street is a [US] educational children’s television series that combines live-action, sketch comedy, animation and puppetry” (Wikipedia). In addition to adults and children, the show includes a cast of puppet characters, known as Muppets, created by Jim Henson. One such Muppet is Oscar the Grouch, a furry, green character who loves trash and resides in a metal trash can; Caroll Spinney performed the character from 1969 (when the series premiered) until 2018. I don’t recall the trash ever talking back to Oscar, but many animals, objects, and even numbers and letters do talk and sing on the show. Today, “Sesame Street remains one of the longest-running shows in the world.”

12:35 – 🏷️ reference
RACHEL: Oh, believe me, it wasn’t easy to get him to agree to it, but in the end, little sweet talk, couple of Excedrin PMs, he finally caved.

Excedrin is a brand of over-the-counter headache pain medication containing acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine. (Outside the US and Canada, acetaminophen may also be known as paracetamol.) Excedrin PM contains acetaminophen and diphenhydramine citrate, making it a combination painkiller and sleeping pill. It was introduced in 1969.

14:00 – 📖/🎥 reference
LORELAI: Good morning, Sleeping Beauty.

“Sleeping Beauty” (French: La Belle au bois dormant, or “The Beauty Sleeping in the Wood,” German: Dornröschen, or “Little Briar Rose”) is a European fairy tale “about a princess cursed by an evil fairy to sleep for a hundred years before being awakened by a handsome prince” (Wikipedia). The earliest iteration of the story is found in Perceforest, a French narrative written between 1330 and 1344, with later versions recorded by Charles Perrault and the Brothers Grimm. The 1959 Walt Disney film adaptation of the tale was mentioned in episode seven.

14:50 – 🗺️ reference
LUKE: All right, well, forget it. Okay? Good riddance, adiós, bienvenidos, hasta la vista.
LORELAI: Can we get off the Small World ride and get cooking, please?

It’s a Small World is a boat ride located “at various Disney theme parks around the world… The inaugural version of the ride premiered at the 1964 New York World’s Fair before permanently moving to Disneyland” (Wikipedia) in Anaheim, California in 1966. “The ride features over 300 audio-animatronic dolls in traditional costumes from cultures around the world, frolicking in a spirit of international unity, and singing the attraction’s title song, which has a theme of global peace.”
Luke’s Spanish translates to, “Goodbye, welcome, see you later.”

20:50 – 📖 reference
LORELAI: You’re going to a Chilton party?
RORY: Yes, I am.
LORELAI: Honey. Why don’t you just stay home and read The Bell Jar? Same effect.

The Bell Jar is the only novel by US author and poet Sylvia Plath. It was published first in the United Kingdom in 1963 (under the pseudonym Victoria Lucas), and in the United States in 1971. The story follows Esther Greenwood, a Boston undergraduate who struggles with feelings of malaise and social alienation when she wins a summer internship at a New York City magazine. “The book is often regarded as a roman à clef because the protagonist’s descent into mental illness parallels Plath’s experiences with what may have been clinical depression or bipolar II disorder” (Wikipedia). Though the book was an instant bestseller in the US, Plath did not live to see its success, dying by suicide only a month after its UK release.
Rory reads The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath (2000), and alludes to Plath’s struggles with mental illness, in episode twelve.

24:40 – 🏷️ mention
SOOKIE: Could you peek inside the kitchen for me and tell me if the orange Le Creuset is on the far left burner?

Le Creuset (English: “the crucible”) is a French-Belgian cookware manufacturer founded in 1925. They are known for their enameled cast-iron cookware, with single items costing well over $100 USD. Their products come in a range of colors, including orange.

26:50 – 🎧 feature
“What Do I Do” by Sam Phillips plays as Lorelai parks in front of Max’s apartment and continues during their conversation at his front door.

This song comes from the 1988 album The Indescribable Wow. Phillips composed the Gilmore Girls score, and her own music has been featured in the pilot and in episodes two, three, and twelve.

28:30 – 🎧 feature
“Where It’s At” by Beck plays as Lane and Rory arrive at Madeline’s party.

This song comes from the 1996 album Odelay by US musician and singer-songwriter Beck. Another of Beck’s songs was featured in episode nine, and Beck, himself, was mentioned in episode twelve.

28:40 – 🗺️ reference
LANE: Is this what your grandparents’ house looks like?
RORY: No. I mean, it’s big, but it’s not this Hearst Castle-y.

Hearst Castle (officially La Cuesta Encantada, Spanish for “The Enchanted Hill”) is “a historic estate in San Simeon, located on the Central Coast of California. Conceived by William Randolph Hearst, the publishing tycoon, and his architect Julia Morgan, the castle was built between 1919 and 1947” (Wikipedia). Today, it is a registered National Historic Landmark and operates as a museum.
Hearst’s life story served as the basis for the 1941 Orson Welles film Citizen Kane, referenced in episode fifteen. Hearst’s on-screen proxy, Charles Foster Kane, builds himself an estate called Xanadu, the fictional equivalent of Hearst Castle. Hearst was an unwilling subject, forbidding any mention of the film in newspapers he owned.

28:45 – ⭐ reference
LANE: I mean, there should be a map or a tour guide or Robin Leach or something.

Robin Leach (1941-2018) was a British entertainment reporter best known for hosting the television series Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous (1984-1995), which showcased “the extravagant lifestyles of wealthy entertainers, athletes, socialites and magnates” (Wikipedia). Leach concluded each episode with his farewell to viewers, “Champagne wishes and caviar dreams.”

28:55 – 🕊️ reference
LANE: Oh, my god! There’s a pool table.
RORY: And a DJ.
LANE: It’s like a teenage Sodom and Gomorrah.

“In the Abrahamic religions, Sodom and Gomorrah were two cities destroyed by God for their wickedness” (Wikipedia). Though religious scholars disagree over what particular transgressions provoked God’s wrath, the names of the cities have become generally synonymous with debauchery and sin.
Some argue that God destroyed the cities as a punishment for homosexual sex (the name Sodom lies at the root of the term “sodomy,” referring to anal sex) and use the story to justify their own homophobic attitudes.

29:10 – 🗺️ mention + 📖 mention
LOUISE: So, where is he?
MADELINE: My stepfather? He’s in Japan.
LOUISE: No, not your stepfather. Prince Charming.
RORY: He didn’t come.
LOUISE: Why?
RORY: Uh, his white horse was in the shop.

“Japan is an island country in East Asia, located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asian mainland. … The Japanese archipelago consists of four major islands–Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu–and thousands of smaller islands, covering 377,975 square kilometres” (Wikipedia).
Prince Charming is a fairy tale stock character who serves as the romantic counterpart to the fairy tale heroine. He is generally depicted as handsome and heroic (see: Dean’s confrontation with Tristan in episode nine), and he may ride a white horse, a symbol of his goodness and nobility. Iterations of Prince Charming appear in Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty, both of which are mentioned in episode seven.

30:25 – 🏷️ feature
The beverage table at Madeline’s party features an assortment of soft drinks: Coca-Cola, Diet Pepsi, Orangina, Perrier, and Tŷ Nant. Contrary to Lane’s observation, not all of these brands are French.

“Cola is a carbonated soft drink flavored with vanilla, cinnamon, citrus oils, and other flavorings” (Wikipedia). Coca-Cola, or Coke, is the brand-name cola manufactured by the Coca-Cola Company. It was invented in the late 19th century by John Stith Pemberton as a temperance drink, an alternative to alcoholic beverages. Its name comes from two of its original ingredients: coca leaves (from which cocaine is derived) and kola nuts (the drink’s original source of caffeine). Coca-Cola has been mentioned or featured in episodes seven, nine, thirteen, and sixteen.
Pepsi is a cola-flavored soft drink manufactured by PepsiCo. It was created in 1893 as “Brad’s Drink,” named for its inventor Caleb Bradham, but was renamed Pepsi-Cola in 1898; the name derives from its advertised use as a treatment for dyspepsia and from its cola flavor. Pepsi is the second-most valuable soft drink brand in the world after its chief rival Coca-Cola. It was featured previously in episode five.
Orangina is a carbonated citrus beverage created in 1933. It was developed in Algeria (a former French colony and, at that time, a jurisdiction of France) by Spanish chemist Augustín Trigo, who originally called it Naranjina, naranja being Spanish for “orange.” The beverage was sold to French businessman Léon Beton in 1935.
Perrier is a French brand of mineral water “known for its carbonation and its distinctive green bottle” (Wikipedia). The brand was introduced in 1898 and acquired by Swiss multinational corporation Nestlé in 1992.
Tŷ Nant is a Welsh brand of mineral water launched in 1989.

30:50 – 🏷️ mention
SUMMER: Oh, now he’s a caveman. What are you gonna do, knock me on the back of my head with a club and then drag me back to your Porsche?

Porsche is a German automobile manufacturer best known for its high-performance luxury sports cars. Today, base prices for different models range from about $70,000 to over $110,000 USD. The brand was mentioned previously in episode fifteen.

30:55 – 🎧 feature
“Ms. Jackson” by Outkast begins to play at the party. Summer comments on the song and leaves Tristan to go dance to it.

This song was released as the second single from the 2000 album Stankonia by US hip-hop duo Outkast, consisting of rappers André 3000 and Big Boi.

31:25 – ⭐ reference
PARIS: I doubt highly that Madame Curie was voted Most Likely to Dress Like Jennifer Lopez.

Maria Skłodowska-Curie (born Maria Skłodowska, 1867-1934), commonly known as Marie Curie, was a naturalized-French physicist and chemist born in present-day Poland (then part of the Russian Empire). She is known for her “pioneering research on radioactivity [a term she coined]. She was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, the first person to win a Nobel Prize twice, and the only person to win a Nobel Prize in two scientific fields” (Wikipedia).
Jennifer Affleck (born Jennifer Lopez, 1969), also known by the nickname J.Lo, is a US “actress, singer, dancer and businesswoman” (Wikipedia). At the time this episode aired, her album J.Lo and romantic comedy The Wedding Planner had just been released, making her “the first woman to simultaneously have the number one album and film in the United States.” She had previously gained recognition for her roles in films like Anaconda and Selena, both released in 1997. As for her public image, she has been credited with challenging Eurocentric beauty standards, “often wear[ing] revealing outfits to accentuate her curves” (Wikipedia).

31:50 – 🗺️ reference
HENRY: You can put the conversation on hold for one dance, right? Unless this is a Mideast peace talk kind of conversation.

The Middle East (sometimes referred to as the Mideast) “is a geopolitical region encompassing the Arabian Peninsula, the Levant, Turkey, Egypt, Iran, and Iraq. … Most Middle Eastern countries (13 out of 18) are part of the Arab world” (Wikipedia). The term is an exonym coined in English by Westerners to refer to the region; it assumes a European geographical perspective and, as such, has been criticized as Eurocentric and colonialist.
Henry is likely referring to Palestine, which was then in the midst of the Second Intifada (Arabic: الانتفاضة الثانية, Hebrew: האינתיפאדה השנייה), “a major uprising by Palestinians against the Israeli occupation, characterized by a period of heightened violence in the Palestinian territories and Israel between 2000 and 2005. … The violence is estimated to have resulted in the deaths of approximately 3,000 Palestinians and 1,000 Israelis, as well as 64 foreign nationals” (Wikipedia).
The Middle East and the Israel-Palestine conflict were mentioned previously in the last episode.

32:40 – 🎧 feature
The party crowd dances to “Every Day I Write the Book” by Elvis Costello and the Attractions.

This song comes from the 1983 album Punch the Clock.

33:20 – 🏷️ reference
MAX: I mean, I don’t see you for months, and then all of a sudden–
LORELAI: Ding dong, Avon lady.

Avon Products, Inc. (commonly known as Avon) is a multinational personal care company founded in 1886 and headquartered in the United Kingdom. As a multi-level marketing company, it recruits sales representatives, known colloquially as Avon ladies, to go door to door within their communities. Avon representatives can be seen selling cosmetics, perfume, and skincare products in vintage advertisements from the 1960s and 1970s.
Dianne Wiest’s character in Edward Scissorhands (dir. Tim Burton, 1990) is an Avon representative.

33:35 – 🗺️ feature
Max and Lorelai sit in Max’s living room, where a map of the British Isles hangs on the wall.

The British Isles are a group of islands comprising Great Britain, Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Hebrides, the Northern Isles, and more than 6,000 smaller islands. Two sovereign nations exist within this group: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland. Great Britain, the largest of the British Isles, is home to England, Scotland, and Wales, all of which are part of the United Kingdom. Ireland, the second-largest island, is home to Northern Ireland (also part of the United Kingdom) and the sovereign Republic of Ireland. The British Isles are located in the North Atlantic Ocean off the northwestern coast of continental Europe.

34:55 – 🎧 feature
Lane and Henry slow dance to “From Red to Blue” by Billy Bragg at Madeline’s party. The song continues in the background of Tristan and Summer’s fight.

This song comes from the 1996 album William Bloke by English alternative folk artist Billy Bragg.

35:45 – 📖 feature
Rory pulls a copy of The Art of Eating by M. F. K. Fisher from her bag and begins to read.

M. F. K. Fisher (born Mary Frances Kennedy, 1908-1992) was a US writer best known for her prolific food writing. “Fisher believed that eating well was just one of the ‘arts of life’ and explored this in her writing” (Wikipedia). She wrote 27 books over the course of her career, including The Art of Eating, a 1954 collection of her earlier works Serve It Forth (1937), Consider the Oyster (1941), How to Cook a Wolf (1942), The Gastronomical Me (1943), and An Alphabet for Gourmets (1949). She was respected, even outside culinary circles, for the quality of her writing.

38:25 – 🏷️ reference
LORELAI: What? Soup is good food.

The Campbell Soup Company (often referred to as Campbell’s) is a US processed food company featuring canned soup being a flagship product. They used the advertising slogan “Soup Is Good Food” from the mid 1970s through early ’80s, as seen in these television commercials from 1981 and 1983.
US punk rock band Dead Kennedys used the slogan as the title for the opening track of their 1985 album Frankenchrist.

39:35 – 🎧 feature
“The Crystal Lake” by Grandaddy plays faintly in the background during Rory and Tristan’s conversation at the piano. After they kiss, Rory becomes upset and goes to find Lane and pull her out of the party.

This song is a single from the album The Sophtware Slump by US indie rock band Grandaddy. The album was featured on screen and the band was mentioned in dialogue in episode twelve.

42:55 – 🏷️ + 📖 feature
Rory sits on the couch eating from a jumbo tub of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. A copy of Elle magazine sits on the coffee table.

Ben & Jerry’s Homemade Holdings Inc. (commonly known as Ben & Jerry’s) is a US ice cream company founded in 1978 in Burlington, Vermont by Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield. Two of the brand’s ice cream flavors are visible in this scene: a tub of Cherry Garcia (named for Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia) sits on the coffee table, and Rory eats from a tub of Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough. Ben & Jerry’s ice cream is typically sold in pint sizes.
Elle (stylized ELLE) is a worldwide magazine “that offers a mix of fashion and beauty content, and society and lifestyle. The title Elle means She in French” (Wikipedia). The magazine was founded in Paris, France in 1945. A copy was featured previously in episode twelve.

References Sorted by Category

🏷️ Brand Names

05:25 – Sour Patch Kids (candy)
05:25 – Milk Duds (candy)
05:40 – Dr. Martens (apparel), Docs (also known as)
12:35 – Excedrin PM (over-the-counter drug)
24:40 – Le Creuset (cookware)
30:25 – Coca-Cola (soft drink)
30:25 – Pepsi (soft drink)
30:25 – Orangina (citrus beverage)
30:25 – Perrier (mineral water)
30:25 – Tŷ Nant (mineral water)
30:50 – Porsche (automobile)
33:20 – Avon (personal care)
38:25 – Campbell Soup Company (food), “Soup Is Good Food” (slogan)
42:55 – Ben & Jerry’s (ice cream)

⭐ Famous Figures

10:10 – Sean Penn (actor and filmmaker)
28:45 – Robin Leach (television host)
31:25 – Marie Curie (physicist and chemist)
31:25 – Jennifer Lopez (actor and singer)

🎥 Film, Television & Theater

03:20 – The Godfather (1972 film), “sleeps with the fishes” (phrase)
05:25 – Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1962 stage play)
08:20 – Love Story (1970 film)
08:20 – The Champ (1979 film)
08:20 – An Affair to Remember (1957 film)
08:20 – Ishtar (1987 film)
09:20 – Old Yeller (1957 film)
10:10 – Footloose (1984 film), Kevin Bacon (actor), Chris Penn (actor)
11:15 – G.I. Jane (1997 film)
11:40 – Sesame Street (television series)
14:00 – Sleeping Beauty (1959 film)

🗺️ Geography & Politics

14:50 – Disneyland (theme park), It’s a Small World (attraction)
28:40 – Hearst Castle (historical landmark)
29:10 – Japan (Asian country)
31:50 – Middle East (geopolitical region), Mideast (also known as)
33:35 – British Isles (group of islands)

📖 Literature

01:20 – Nancy Drew Mystery Stories by Carolyn Keene (book series), Nancy Drew (character)
- The Witch Tree Symbol by Carolyn Keene (book)
14:00 – Sleeping Beauty (fairy tale)
20:50 – The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath (book)
29:10 – Prince Charming (fairy tale character)
35:45 – The Art of Eating by M. F. K. Fisher (book)
42:55 – Elle (magazine)

🎧 Music

26:50 – “What Do I Do” by Sam Phillips (song)
28:30 – “Where It’s At” by Beck (song)
30:55 – “Ms. Jackson” by Outkast (song)
32:40 – “Every Day I Write the Book” by Elvis Costello and the Attractions (song)
34:55 – “From Red to Blue” by Billy Bragg (song)
39:35 – “The Crystal Lake” by Grandaddy (song)

🕊️ Religion

01:20 – the Amish (religious group)
05:45 – Sabbath or Shabbat (holy day), “day of rest” (also known as)
28:55 – Sodom and Gomorrah (Biblical narrative)

Frequent References

A few things come up so routinely in the show, I am not going to include an entry for them every time they do. I wrote about the following people, places, and things when they first appeared or were mentioned.

Christmas, Easter, Halloween (holidays)
Hartford, Connecticut (US city)
Harvard University (academic institution)
Herman Beeftink (piano and string composer)
Independence Inn (named for the American War of Independence)
Jeep (automotive brand)
New York, New York (US city)
Sam Phillips (series composer)
“Travel to Historic Brazil” (poster in Rory’s bedroom)
“Where You Lead” by Carole King and Louise Goffin (series theme)

Indigenous Land Acknowledgment

In beginning my work on this guide, I’ve come to realize just how many references (however subtle) the show contains to the Revolutionary War and the colonial history of the United States. It is important and necessary to acknowledge the people whose lands were usurped when these events took place, though this is not a simple matter. Please visit my land acknowledgment page to view the results of my research.

Episode citation: “The Breakup, Part 2.” Gilmore Girls, created by Amy Sherman-Palladino, season 1, episode 17, Dorothy Parker Drank Here Productions, Hofflund/Polone, Warner Bros. Television, 2001.

Posted 12 August 2024