Lorelai and Rory return from their whirlwind tour of Europe. Mother and daughter get caught up in a flurry of activity after Rory realizes that she wrote down the wrong date for freshman orientation, and she only has two days to get ready for Yale.

While Luke is willing to lend Lorelai his truck to help Rory move into her dorm, he's not too thrilled when the project turns out to take all day. Rory meets her new roommates.

To help meet the expenses of opening the inn, Lorelai and Sookie decide to become caterers on the side, with their first assignment being a "Lord of the Rings" theme party. At Yale, Rory returns from class to find that Emily has redecorated the apartment. Meanwhile, Richard ponders a proposal to take on a new business partner.

Back home for the weekend, Rory has an uncomfortable encounter with Dean, her ex, and ends up getting invited to his wedding the next day. Meanwhile, Lorelai and Sookie visit Michel at his trendy new workplace, but run into problems getting the permit they need to begin construction on the inn.

Rory accepts a classmate's invitation to go out on her first date since breaking up with Jess, while her roomates engage in a war of wills. Lorelai invites Luke over to share the traditional Gilmore movie night she used to have with Rory, although she is somewhat disturbed after discovering that the designer she just hired to decorate the inn used to work for Emily.

Emily offers Lorelai and Sookie the job of catering the party to launch Richard's new business venture, then runs them ragged with demands. At school, Rory finds that her roommates' activities are preventing her from studying.

When Stars Hollow mounts a festival of living pictures, Kirk goes way overboard in getting into character for his role as Jesus in "The Last Supper". Lane, Zach, and Brian finally find an awesome guitarist to replace Dave.

Spurred on by her editor, Rory writes a strongly opinionated dance review that leads to a dining hall confrontation. When she learns that Nicole and Luke have put their divorce on hold and have resumed dating, Lorelai becomes so flustered that she has an argument with Luke.

Rory and Paris have lunch at Yale with Richard, who introduces them to his friend, Professor Asher Fleming. Emily is upset when she discovers one of Richard's secrets. Lorelai takes Jason up on his earlier offer of a dinner date.

Luke becomes overwhelmed by Lane's work ethic when he hires her to work at the diner; Rory is less than thrilled with the new man in Paris's life. Richard becomes intensely irritated when the Chez Gilmore walking tour benefitting the Historical Society overstays its welcome.

Lorelai is distressed when she learns that Luke has moved to Litchfield to live with Nicole. Lane and her mother have a long-overdue talk with life-changing consequences after Mrs. Kim discovers her daughter's secret life.

Luke has his hands full as family members return to Stars Hollow. Jamie's in town, and Paris keeps avoiding him. Rory becomes concerned that her mother is having financial problems.

Jess's attempts to keep a low profile but keeps bumping into Rory all over town. Emily is in a dither about filling a table at a benefit and enlists the help of Lorelai and Jason, whom she encourages to pretend that they're a couple. Luke is less than impressed by Liz's latest business venture and newly-arrived boyfriend.

Lorelai and Sookie explore ways to ease their financial crunch and raise money to pay their construction crew, one of whom is now Dean. Rory is distraught when one of her professors tells her to drop a class because she can't handle her course load.

Lorelai and Rory decide to play hooky and go window shopping in the mall, where they run into Emily in the middle of a shopping binge meltdown.

Stricken with grief and guilt, Richard is inconsolable after loosing someone dear to him. Emily finds an old letter addressed to her husband and has a meltdown.

Rory, Paris, Janet and Glenn escape a Dickensianly cold winter in Connecticut and head to Florida, where they run into olds Chilton friends. Luke and Nicole's relationship takes its final turn.

All of Stars Hollow is amused when Taylor returns from his Caribbean cruise with a drastic change in his appearance. Richard resolves his problems with Floyd at Jason's expense. Dean and Rory agree to continue their friendship.

Luke finalizes his divorce. When Jason decides to sue Richard after discovering his treachery, Lorelai breaks up with him.

Liz returns to Stars Hollow to announce that she's getting married in the town square in a week. Rory tries to hide her discomfort when Lorelai tells her about overhearing a fight between Dean and Lindsay. A self-help tape helps Luke clarify his thinking, and a talk with Jess gets him started on the path to having the relationship he's been looking for all along.

Stars Hollow prepares for the Renaissance-themed wedding of Liz and T.J.. Jess expresses his gratitude to Luke before saying goodbye.

The Dragonfly Inn approaches opening day. Rory and Dean take a major step forward in their relationship, to Lorelai's dismay. Two suitors go after Lorelai.