Dean - Gilmore Girls (2000) Discussion

[–] rainbow26 8 years ago

He was of average intelligence his entire time on the show. Even before Jess came along, he told Richard that he earned Bs and Cs in school.

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[–] A_Llama_Drama 8 years ago

Well, he said that in Season 2 when they probably knew Jess was showing up. However, you are most likely correct. Just because he was savvy about culture and other things doesn't make him academically inclined

My teenage angst has a body count

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[–] rainbow26 8 years ago

Exactly. Knowing Rosemary's Baby doesn't make someone brilliant.

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[–] perfect_lover2012 8 years ago

Dena was never an academic but he could discuss Rory's books and movies with her. Then suddenly when Jess showed up he became very clingy and more simple. He was from Chicago and then he was a townie after living there for a year. They just changed him so Jess could come into the picture. Rory was going to leave Dean for Tristan anyway so they didn't need to change his character.

"When life gives you lemons"
Jessica D: sleep with their fathers and have secret lemon children

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[–] blackICE612 8 years ago

You're absolutely right. This was a classic case of ruin one character to make another (new) character look better (though I don't think Jess was good either way). You should never have to do that in writing. Blah.

Rufio! Rufio! Ru-Fi-OOOOOOOOOOOOOh!

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[–] bravelikethelion 8 years ago

I always thought it was a huge problem with this show, tearing down one character to build another one up. They did it more then once, too. In the first season Dean was actually giving Rory book and music recommendations, and then in the second season they made it so it seemed like he was some simpleton who only liked typical small town stuff. Yeah, he wasn't brilliant but in my opinion, Rory and Jess weren't truly brilliant either, just above average intelligence wise.

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[–] kathykato 8 years ago

Dean was intelligent enough to build a car (how many 16 year olds could do that on their own?). He was smart enough to finish high school. He was articulate and knew how to express himself. There was no reason to throw him under the bus for Jess. It would have been more interesting to have kept them on equal footing rather than
simplifying Dean to build up Jess.

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[–] perfect_lover2012 8 years ago

Yeah it was very annoying because they could've written it in a simple but effective way. Rory was more interested in Jess because he liked the same music and they had an undeniable connection or insert other reason here. They were still different enough character wise that Rory could choose one over the other.

"When life gives you lemons"
Jessica D: sleep with their fathers and have secret lemon children

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[–] sbyrne7 8 years ago

yep, the writers could have simply went in the direction of Rory wanting to "save" Jess or whatnot...that Dean was a safe good guy boyfriend, but Jess needed someone like her and he was a challenge for her or whatever. Something along those lines. A classic case of the writers having no long term planning.

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[–] fishpan 8 years ago

And look at the end result.

Sure they made Dean clingy but in the new show that gave us a Dean that had moved on from Rory and a Jess who is apparently still hung up on her when they are in their 30's.

I know it is to paint Jess as Rory's Luke and Logan her Chris but what does that mean for Dean - he's her Max or Jason, once given time was okay and got on with his life like a healthy person?

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[–] perfect_lover2012 8 years ago

Yeah I'm not sure who Dean is supposed to be in ASP's forced comparisons and she probably doesn't know either. It's also a little confusing because ASP kind of gave every guy Rory dated a hint of Christopher or tried to when these characters first appeared. Maybe Dean is her Max? He stayed around a little too long to be her Jason. I'm thrilled Dean escaped because he was never meant to stay in Stars Hollow and Rory waxing poetically about their relationship was cringeworthy.

"When life gives you lemons"
Jessica D: sleep with their fathers and have secret lemon children

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[–] fishpan 8 years ago

Rory waxing poetically about their relationship was cringeworthy.

It is a bit sad but can understand it seeing how she was at a crossroads and probably starting to feel hormonal in the revival scene.

But considering she did it in the show too when down, it maybe her go to thing. But how can any guy compete when at least mentally she is comparing them to how safe she felt with Dean when things get bumpy?

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[–] perfect_lover2012 8 years ago

Yeah she did it in season 3 when Lorelai told her to stop comparing Jess to Dean because they're two different people and then again in season 4. Rory just wants what she can't have. She was also complaining about losing a nice guy while dating and mistreating a nice guy.

"When life gives you lemons"
Jessica D: sleep with their fathers and have secret lemon children

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[–] super-staff 8 years ago

I think Dean was the original Christopher. There were too many hints and references to that comparison early on, even Lorelei points out how similar Dean was to Chris. Tristan/Jess, I think, were the 'Luke' who yearns for the unattainable Rory. Then when Jared Padalecki left, they shifted away from him and went with Logan being the Chris even though that still feels forced and dumb.

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[–] rachfite-43369 8 years ago

I personally think that Logan personality wise is quite different from Chris and I also don't think he would abandon Rory like Chris did. There isn't anything from history that suggests he would. I think the comparison is pretty loose. Other than the fact that they come from a wealthy background and they got a GG pregnant they are very different. I don't really get any of the ex-boyfriends being compared to Chris. The full circle thing was very forced. That being said, Dean might of reminded Lorelai of Chris physically and the fact that he had a morotorcycle and was popular etc. she felt like her and Rory had the same taste as teenagers. Tristian and Jess...don't think they had much in common. Rory was starting to like Tristian even if she was all into Dean season 1 she starts being nice to him in season 2. Also, CMM was offered a full time role as Tristian in season 2 but he turned it down to do an arch on Dawson's Creek. So they wrote him out. If he had stayed the idea was that he would of been the bad guy Rory fell for and Dean would of ended it. But he wasn't around so they wrote Jess for Milo and casted him. But if Chad had stayed there would of been no Jess. I think Amy and Dan liked the idea of Rory falling for a guy that was very representative of Lorelai's past. A rich guy. So they got to pursue that again with Logan. Logan and Tristian are the rich guys Rory found to be exciting.

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[–] DarcyBrandon 8 years ago

When Dean arrived he was a kid from Chicago who liked the music as Rory and suggested books to her. He also wore a leather jacket when he first met Rory. He was smart enough to build Rory a car. He was a great guy who was supposed to be the ideal boyfriend.

Then when ASP was getting ready to introduce Jess, Dean became so dumb that Rory was worried that Dean wasn't going to be able to graduate from high school. By the way, did you notice the similarities when Dean and Jess were introduced?

Jess was supposed to be from New York, wore a leather jacket and also suggested books and music to Rory? ASP totally has a type.

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[–] sbyrne7 8 years ago

Jess was supposed to be from New York, wore a leather jacket and also suggested books and music to Rory? ASP totally has a type.

I think Jess was supposed to be from Philly, actually...probably because that's where Scott Patterson is from. But you're right, ASP definitely has a type. Dean is from Chicago, Jess from Philly, (not sure where Logan is from...probably some Connecticut suburb close to NYC or Greenwich if I had to guess). Also if you remember, Rory's first date at Yale with the boring guy was also with a guy from Chicago. So apparently Rory only dates guys from one of the 4 or 5 major US cities who also must either share her interest in obscure bands, use obscure pop culture references, be into books, or basically share the same level of banter with her like Logan did.

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[–] nclpllm 8 years ago

Philly was S6. He was from NY, it's where Rory went to see him. And when Jess was asking Jimmy where he'd lived, he pointedly said New York. Yeah, New York was Liz.

So apparently Rory only dates guys from one of the 4 or 5 major US cities who also must either share her interest in obscure bands, use obscure pop culture references, be into books, or basically share the same level of banter with her like Logan did.

This is what I think any time someone says Rory would be totally open to dating someone from a culture different from her own. Because she's so worldly and open to all people. Sorry, not really. There are specific requirements to spark her interest. Not that someone from another culture couldn't also be into those things. Awkward conversations abound for anyone who doesn't like the same stuff.

ASP's type . . . tools?

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[–] perfect_lover2012 8 years ago

ASP's type? Faux bad boys with a world can bite my ass mantra and a shaky to bad relationship with his parents so he craves the attention from the "good girl" who can make equally obscure references to pop culture while mocking everyone else for being inferior.

Rory makes zero effort to understand anyone. Lorelai and Rory both spend their time mocking everyone and that one line when Jess says they used to make fun of guys like Logan. Lol when did that happen? Rory's family is loaded, she went to prep school, had a crush on Tristan, hung out with the rich kids, etc. Rory just changed based on her surroundings when she was the rich kids she didn't mock them for having money or try to avoid being around them and then when she's with Jess it's oh giggle they drive a Porsche. Pretending to reject the lifestyle isn't an actual rejection.

"When life gives you lemons"
Jessica D: sleep with their fathers and have secret lemon children

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[–] rachfite-43369 8 years ago

Agreed. I never understood that line. Once again grasping at straws to paint a picture that Jess knew Rory better than anyone...I think Rory tried to please everyone. She took note of who she was around. When she was with rich people she tried to fit into their world and be one of them. Which she pretty much was. When with Jess she tried to be the small town girl who was beating the odds. She went to a fancy school and was around all the privilege but wasn't really one of them and apparently on her down time with him they were making fun of it all. It would of been a nice thought if that was actually seen in the previous seasons. Never remember any Porsche jokes. Rory starts out an under dog and we do get the sense that her and Lorelai don't have a lot in comparison to her classmates. However as time goes on we see that change. The relationship with Richard and Emily changed their lives entirely.

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[–] melaniep-73085 8 years ago

I watched the Dean scene yesterday I'm glad he turned out better in the revival.

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[–] stayalivein85 8 years ago

I think Jess was supposed to be from Philly, actually...probably because that's where Scott Patterson is from.

Those things are not connected at all. Just because an actor was born there doesn't mean another actor who plays his relative comes from the first actor's birth town. Jess was from New York, we saw him and Rory there. He said he moved to Philadelphia because it was cheaper.

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[–] sbyrne7 8 years ago

no, they are connected in the same way Luke makes multiple references to buying baseball cards, is shown watching baseball games on TV, playing softball, and having Lorelei saying something to the extent of "Luke only cares about work, fishing and watching baseball." Because, you know, Scott Patterson played baseball professionally before becoming an actor. You really think those things aren't related? Or you think Luke's nephew just randomly winds up in Philly instead of Boston or Baltimore or Pittsburg or any other major East Coast-ish town? Probably just as likely as being a reference to Scott Patterson's hometown and former career as they are to random occurrences.

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[–] stayalivein85 8 years ago

The baseball thing is a reference for sure, but when Jess moves to Philly off-screen some time between s5 and s6, why would it be because Scott Patterson was born there? I assumed that ASP read some article about the Philly lit scene and that's why she put him there. This is such a minor detail, I really don't think it's connected to Patterson. I actually think it might just have been Philly because of April's school trip. Which, granted, could have been to any other east coast city. Liza Weil was born in Philadelphia as well. They probably didn't want to take Boston because of Christopher, or Baltimore because it may have been too shady somehow, I don't know.

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Still shopoholic, just wearing a new T-shirt

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