Fall season brings autumn leaves, the smell of pumpkin spice and everyone’s favorite fall comfort show: Gilmore Girls! At the heart of the show lies Lorelai Gilmore (Lauren Graham), a witty single mother with a profound love for coffee, and her daughter Rory (played by Alexis Bedel), a bright, academic-weapon with big dreams.
The show, having first aired in 2000 ran till 2007, accumulating a total of 7 seasons along with a revival series released in 2016. Gilmore Girls takes place in Stars Hollow, Connecticut, a fictional small town with its own quirky traditions and all the New England charm one could possibly imagine. From grabbing the best coffee you’ll ever find at Luke’s Diner to stopping to see Miss Patty’s talented performers at the center of the town, Stars Hollow feels whimsical and comforting at the same time. This town is more than just a backdrop; it’s what makes Gilmore girls so bingeable, capturing the charm of small-town life and 2000s nostalgia.
Much of the show revolves around Lorelai Gilmore, a fast talking single mother as she raises her booking-loving daughter Rory. While the show focuses on their one-of-a-kind mother-daughter bond, it also thrives on the people and traditions that surround them. Lorelai, who despite clashing with her parents, Emily (Kelly Bishop) and Richard Gilmore (Edward Herrman) over tradition and class, attempts to mend her relationship with them in an effort to pay Rory’s school tuition at her haughty-taughty private school, Chilton. This begins the tradition of the infamous “Friday Night Dinners”, hosted by Emily at the Gilmore Residence in Hartford, fueling the many dramatic events to come. Along with her endless coffee runs, Lorelai runs the Independence Inn, before she ends up opening her own inn, the Dragonfly, alongside her homegirl/best friend, Chef Sookie St. James (Alex Borstein). Sookie brings comedic relief as the eccentric chef who helps Lorelai pursue her dreams of running the Dragonfly while navigating through her many mood swings. The grumpy yet lovable diner owner, Luke Danes (Scott Patterson), serves Lorelai her daily dose of coffee as her long-term love interest while becoming an inadvertent father figure for Rory.
Review: I would rate Gilmore Girls a 4 out of 5 stars. The constant banter between Lorelai and Rory keeps the energy light and fun. The countless pop-culture references mixed with references to classics gives Gilmore Girls its timelessness. One of the best parts of the show was the romance — both Lorelai’s and Rory’s. The slow burn of Lorelai and Luke’s relationship was very satisfying; it felt like a well earned pay-off. While we all knew Lorelai and Luke were destined for each other, Rory’s love life was a bit more complicated, bringing plenty of debate. Out of all of Rory’s boyfriends: her first love Dean (Jared Padalecki), and later Logan, her second boyfriend Jess stood out. Although he’s quite rebellious, he challenges Rory’s worldview and shows the most character growth than any of her other boyfriends.
Some of the plot twists in the later seasons diminished the watching experience. For example, the introduction of Luke’s daughter, April, whom he had no idea existed, took place right when his relationship with Lorelai was at its peak, making the twist seem very out of place. Rory’s character changed drastically after Stars Hollow for Yale, transforming from a self-driven, determined woman to a desperate people-pleaser. Her decision to leave Yale the summer before her junior year struck an unpleasant feeling among fans.
All in all, Gilmore Girls isn’t just about witty, fast-paced puns or romance; it’s about family, growth and finding your authentic self. Even with the characters’ realistic imperfections, the show has a special place in the hearts of many to this day, proving why it’s a fall favorite.
