Warning: Serious spoilers ahead!
Despite impending finals, the debut of the Gilmore Girls Revival is the only thing that’s been on my mind for the past week. If you watched the iconic television series, I’m sure it was the only thing on your mind as well. The revival was pretty much everything I hoped it would be and more, so it’s only fair to give a brief rundown of everything we now know.
Besides all the best OMG moments, such as the highly regarded ‘Stars Hollow Musical’, the wall of Richard, Michel finally coming out of the closet, Paris scaring high school students, the look Jess gave Rory that made us all squeal, etc., here are the core themes of the highly anticipated revival.
Rory is disenfranchised with adulthood.
Despite going to a quality private school, as well as a top tier Ivy League college, Rory still finds herself unemployed and moving back in with her mom for the revival season. Although this wasn’t what fans expected for Rory’s future, I believe it was a perfect statement on what life is truly like for college graduates today.
Considering Rory’s stellar academic performance, impressive resumé, and charismatic personality, she appeared to be headed for a very successful career in journalism. However, Rory found that having qualifications doesn’t always pan out; this realization is entirely relatable to young adult fans watching the revival now who are either worried about job opportunities or who can’t find any, in addition to the hoards of college graduates who have to move back in with their parents.
Luke and Lorelai’s “happily ever after” isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
The series finale left Luke and Lorelai back together, leaving fans to believe that they lived happily ever after. The revival demonstrated that “happily ever after” doesn’t mean rainbows, butterflies, and sunshine forever.
While Luke and Lorelai both feel they are meant for each other and are able to acknowledge it, they go though a very rough patch to get there. Lorelai and Luke’s love story involves secrets, separation, and a resistance to most things deemed “new.” While the characters work out their relationship troubles, their love story holds true to real life in the sense that there is no such thing as a perfect couple, and love is very messy.
Strong friendships, as well as family, are everything.
Gilmore Girls has always been big on deep friendships and lasting connections. Stars Hollow is arguably the most connected town on television, and Gilmore Girls has shown time and time again that blood doesn’t make a person family; long-lasting positive relationships make a person family, regardless of drama and distance.
The revival continued the series’ initial theme of the importance of non-romantic relationships in healing throughout painful times, such as with Richard’s death, Lorelai’s relationship woes, or Rory’s quarter life crisis. Whether that be Lane and Paris for Rory, Michel and Sookie for Lorelai, or Berta’s family and Lorelai for Emily, healing is done best in good company.
What was so realistic of the revival’s portrayal of friendship is the way distance is taken into account. Regardless of how infrequently Rory sees Paris, Lane, or the boys of the “Life and Death Brigade,” as well as Lorelai not seeing Sookie for two years, their relationships are meaningful and lasting throughout their lives, no matter how long they lose touch for.
As The Beatles famously said, “I get by with a little help from my friends.”