Gilmore girls: Season 1 Episode 4 References Explained
Gilmore girls is known for its quick dialogue, sharp comebacks, and endless pop culture references that make every scene worth pausing. That’s exactly what inspired me to start this series—going through every episode to catch all the cultural shout-outs I’ve missed after countless rewatches.
Now we’re onto one of the most memorable episodes of the first season—The Deer Hunters.
In this episode, Rory struggles to keep up with Chilton’s intense workload and oversleeps before a big test. When she’s not allowed to take it—after being hit by a deer—she finally reaches her breaking point, leading Lorelai to storm into “Il Duce’s office.” It’s also the episode where Max Medina asks Lorelai out for the first time.
It’s the perfect mix of fun, stressful, and emotional moments—and, as always, packed with pop culture references that make every scene even better (once you’re in the know, that is).
In this series, I go through each reference I could find, explaining what it means, where it comes from, and how it fits into the story. You’ll also find a list at the end of all the books, movies, and music mentioned, so you can keep track—or add a few to your own list.
Gilmore girls is available to stream in most countries on Netflix and Disney+, so whether you’re rewatching or discovering it for the first time, you can easily follow along with every reference.
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Looking for another episode? You got it:
Season 1, Episode 1 “Pilot”
Season 1, Episode 2 “The Lorelais’ First Day at Chilton
Season 1, Episode 3 “Kill Me Now”
Season 1, Episode 4 “The Deer Hunters”
Season 1, Episode 5 “Cinnamon’s Wake”
Season 1, Episode 6 “Rory’s Birthday Parties”
Season 1, Episode 7 “Kiss and Tell”
Season 1, Episode 8 “Love and War and Snow”
Season 1, Episode 9 “Rory’s Dance”
Season 1, Episode 10 “Forgiveness and Stuff”
Season 1, Episode 11 “Paris is Burning”
Season 1, Episode 12 “Double Date”
Season 1, Episode 13 “Concert Interruptus”
Season 1, Episode 14 “That Damn Donna Reed”
Season 1, Episode 15 “Christopher Returns”
Season 1, Episode 16 “Star-Crossed Lovers and Other Strangers”
Season 1, Episode 17 “The Breakup: Part 2”
Season 1, Episode 18 “The Third Lorelai”
Season 1, Episode 19 “Emily in Wonderland”
Season 1, Episode 20 “P.S. I Lo…”
Season 1, Episode 21 “Love, Daisies and Troubadours”
Okay, let’s get into it! Here are all the references explained from Gilmore girls Season 1 Episode 4 “The Deer Hunters”
1. “Back off Chevalier.”
Context:
At the Independence Inn, Drella is walking with her harp and accidentally bumps into Michel. He yells, “You imbecile!” and she responds, “Back off, Chevalier.”
Explanation:
Drella is being sarcastic. She’s poking fun at Michel for being unhelpful and not chivalrous, while also referencing his French heritage—she frequently calls him by the names of famous French figures as nicknames throughout the series. The name Chevalier is a nod to Maurice Chevalier, the famous French actor and singer known for his charming, sophisticated style
2. “Fresh in my first lifetime as Joan of Arc.”
Context:
At the Independence Inn, Lorelai walks into the kitchen and asks Sookie if there’s coffee. Sookie says there’s fresh coffee over there, and Lorelai responds, “Fresh in my first lifetime as Joan of Arc.”
Explanation:
Joan of Arc was a French heroine and military leader from the early 15th century, famous for leading French forces during the Hundred Years’ War and later being canonized as a saint.
Lorelai is being sarcastic—she’s pointing out that the coffee isn’t fresh at all. By referencing Joan of Arc, she points out how long the coffee has likely been sitting.
3. “Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and a camel. This is really bad coffee.”
Context:
Lorelai is late for Rory’s parent-teacher conference and walks into Mr. Medians’ classroom. While the other parents are discussing an upcoming test, she grabs some coffee, takes a sip, and exclaims, “Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and a camel! This is really bad coffee.”
Explanation:
Her line is an exaggerated, funny way of saying something instead of just saying “Jesus Christ.” It emphasizes her dramatic reaction to how bad the coffee tastes.
4. “Bard with a beard – love it!”
Context:
At Luke’s, Lorelai and Rory are discussing Rory’s D on her last English paper. Lorelai asks how she can help, and Rory explains she has a test next week that will count for 20% of her final grade. When Rory mentions the test is on Shakespeare, Lorelai says, “Bard with a beard – love it!”
Explanation:
Lorelai’s line shows she knows that Bard was Shakespeare’s nickname, signaling to Rory in a cheeky way that she can actually help her study.
5. “Hey what do you think about Pat Benatar?”
Context:
Earlier in the episode at the Independence Inn, Drella had been playing Black Sabbath on her harp, and Lorelai told her she wasn’t allowed to play it. Later, Drella asks, “Hey, what do you think about Pat Benatar?” Lorelai replies, “Great idea, can she play the harp?”
Explanation:
Pat Benatar is an American rock singer who rose to fame in the 1980s, known for hits like Hit Me With Your Best Shot and Love Is a Battlefield. Lorelai’s line is a witty way of pretending she doesn’t know what Drella is talking about, turning a simple “what about her?” into a playful, sarcastic joke.
6. “Wouldn't want you to get in trouble with Il Duce here.”
Context:
Rory missed her big test after getting hit by a deer. When headmaster Charleston still wouldn’t let her make it up, Lorelai threw a “fit” in his office, yelling at Max Medina about how unfair it was. Max protests, “I didn’t call this place a ‘rathole.’” Lorelai replies, “Oh no, that’s true. I added that. Wouldn’t want you to get in trouble with ‘Il Duce’ here.”
Explanation:
Il Duce was the nickname of Benito Mussolini, the Italian dictator from the early to mid-20th century. Lorelai is calling Headmaster Charleston Il Duce to highlight that he is the one in charge, and what he says goes. It’s her way of pointing out his strict, authoritarian control over the situation.
Honorable Mentions In This Episode:
Literary Writers/ Historical Figures:
Shakespeare
Marlowe
Bacon
Ben Jonson
John Webster
Music:
Black Sabbath
Steely Dan
Boston
Queen
Mozart
Artie Shaw
B-52
I hope this was helpful in understanding some of the references from Gilmore girls and that we are one step closer to decoding our ultimate comfort show.
If I missed something or you have another interpretation of a reference, let me know—I’d be happy to add it!
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