“Please, please, please.” “How many cups have you had this morning?” “None.” “Plus?” “Five. But yours is better.” Those very same opening lines from the “Gilmore Girls” pilot started off its revival on Black Friday.
It has been almost a decade since we visited Stars Hollow with its circular pavilion, crazy Kirk and antiqued Luke’s Diner. Fortunately, Netflix welcomed us back with “Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life.” This new take on “Gilmore Girls” is split into four episodes, with one episode for each season. The first episode was simply titled “Winter,” which appropriately fits the cold weather approaching.
As soon as the opening scene appeared on the snowy town, nostalgia began to set in. It was like a high school reunion as each character was reintroduced to the viewers. Finally, the empty void from lack of Friday night dinners and junk food binges with the mother-daughter duo were filled.
It was good to see that some things never change. Taylor was still badgering the townies, Miss Patty still instructed dance classes and Luke and Lorelai were still together. The lasting relationship between this iconic duo was refreshing for “Gilmore Girls” fans everywhere.
But with the passage of nine years, change was inevitable. One prime example was Rory’s unorganized life. Instead of following a neatly drawn path, she lived a vagabond existence, moving from Stars Hollow to New York and even to London. It was disappointing to see someone like Rory with such great potential barely hanging on. But in the same sense, it made the show feel real and was more relatable to college students.
Rory’s wandering life provided a breath of inspiration with her rootless existence. Like a student fresh out of college, the world was at her fingertips. Her job options, while difficult to choose, were endless.
One aspect I did not like from the revival was that Rory seemed to be secretly dating Logan. I was never really a Logan fan so this was a major let down. I especially did not like the open relationship they had. It was like he had a switch for when he was with Rory and as soon as she was gone, he jumped to the next girl.
The constant back and forth between London and Stars Hollow practically gave me whiplash too. Just when one scene was getting good, I got pulled to another. I felt uneasy by Rory’s lack of a home.
Throughout the episode, Rory was on the hunt for her lucky outfit. Since her boxes of belongings were sprinkled across the homes of loved ones, this made the task rather difficult. I feel in a way, the lucky outfit resembled happiness and symbolized how Rory was looking in all the wrong places for it.
As expected, the show payed tribute to actor Edward Herrmann, who passed away in December 2014. In honor of Herrmann, “Gilmore Girls” featured a funeral for his character, Richard Gilmore. This was done through a flashback to the fictional funeral four months earlier and a large painting of Richard’s face in the sitting room.
Overall, I was satisfied with the “Gilmore Girls” revival and am looking forward to watching the remaining seasons.
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