Ep 18. Tick, Tick, Tick, Boom!

In "Gilmore Girls" season 4, episode 18, titled "Tick, Tick, Tick, Boom!," Rory is experiencing a lot of stress as she tries to prepare for finals at Yale. She's not sleeping well and is constantly worrying about her grades. Lorelai tries to offer her support by making her her favorite meal, but Rory is so consumed with anxiety that she can barely eat.

Meanwhile, Luke is upset that Lorelai hasn't yet finished work on their new apartment above the diner and is becoming increasingly frustrated with her lack of motivation. Lorelai promises to get it done, but when Emily shows up unexpectedly at the inn, she gets distracted.

Emily has come to town to confront Richard after finding a receipt for a hotel stay in his wallet. Richard explains that it was a business trip, but Emily is convinced that he's having an affair. Lorelai tries to talk Emily out of her suspicions, but Emily is too upset to listen.

Back at Yale, Rory is struggling to stay focused during her exam and finds herself zoning out. When she gets her grades back, she's disappointed with her performance and starts to wonder if she's cut out for Yale after all.

At the inn, Emily is preparing to leave when Richard shows up to try to make amends. They argue, but eventually, Richard apologizes for his behavior and they hug it out.

In the end, Lorelai finishes the apartment and surprises Luke with a fully decorated space. Rory decides to take a break from studying and surprises Lorelai by showing up at the inn. They spend the evening drinking champagne and reminiscing about old times.

Overall, "Tick, Tick, Tick, Boom!" is a tense episode that deals with the theme of anxiety and stress. It also explores the complicated relationship between Emily and Richard and their struggle to maintain their marriage.