This article contains spoilers from the Gilmore Girls Revival. Read at your own risk!
As the camera slowly backed away from Lorelai and Rory at Luke’s Diner, we didn’t realize that that would be the last time we would see the Gilmore Girls for 9 years.
The original writer, Amy Sherman-Palladino, wasn’t involved with the final season of Gilmore Girls and told fans her vision for the show’s ending was not what was portrayed.
We begged the writers for the final 4 words, prayed for a movie, a reunion, something, and they finally listened, giving us, Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life.
The reboot featured four episodes starting out with Winter, and then moving to Spring, Summer and concluding with Fall.
When I first heard about Gilmore Girls having a revival I was ecstatic. The last season didn’t provide us with the closure that we needed. Binge watching the seasons over and over again on Netflix wasn’t going to cut it. We not only wanted, but needed more.
Because I wasn’t able to watch the Revival the day it came out, I had to avoid social media like the plague. I was scared of stumbling onto any potential spoilers. When I returned to campus after Thanksgiving break, I devoted six hours of my Sunday to heading back to Stars Hollow.
It’s been a few days I’ve had time to process, and absorb and reflect on the emotions that the last episode has left me, and now, I’m able to write.
I had a lot of expectations going into it, how could I not? There has been no show that has made me feel the same way that Gilmore Girls has. It’s a feeling that I don’t think I can put into words. How do you come up with a sentence to describe something that fills you with so much happiness, bliss, comfort, and sadness while simultaneously, consistent laughter? The closest sensation to that is magic- and even that doesn’t encapsulate it. Not even the Revival had the same feeling, which was a bit of a let down.
But as much as it was different, it also was the same. I really appreciated how the original cast came back. The success of Gilmore Girls was not just the relationship between Rory and Lorelai but also the quirky townspeople that made up Stars Hollow. (But seriously, how did not one person age???) The set was quite remarkable as well. They crew was able to recreate Stars Hollow only going off memory and stills from the show.
When I watched the first episode, and the first exchange between Lorelai and Rory, I was skeptical. It wasn’t the Lorelai and Rory fast talking banter I was used to. It seemed to take a few episodes for them to get back into the swing of things.
I absolutely loved the growth that they gave Emily. It’s hard to lose someone and not come out unscathed. Of course, it wouldn’t be Emily Gilmore unless she had her comebacks and fierce personality, but it was satisfying to see the kind, nurturing woman she became in the end.
The reboot was four, 90 minute episodes, and honestly it could have been shorter. Don’t get me wrong, I would be thrilled if there was a 24 hour feed of the show, but because of the length it seemed to me that some of the material was just filler. Like the musical? That scene, I could have done without.
On to Rory. WHAT IS SHE THINKING?? We know she cheated with Dean in the original series and you would think she would have learned, right? Logan is involved so, naturally, Rory is acting out of character. I’ll be honest, I’ve never been much of a Logan fan but the Revival completely solidified my stances on him.
Jess. We saw Jess in all his beautiful glory and it was amazing. Dean also came back but again, #TeamJess.
The limbo that Rory is in was actually kind of comforting. A lot of people viewed her to be acting privileged and stuck up in the Revival by turning her nose up at decent jobs. But you look at Rory and view this perfect girl that has it all together and to see her just as unsure of herself and lost is relatable. You don’t know what the future has in store, especially as a journalism major. We all go through life scared and not sure where our next success is coming from but it all seems to come together somehow.
We got the wedding. One of the few things we all expected from the reboot was Luke and Lorelai getting married and we finally got our prayers answered.
“Mom?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m pregnant.”
The final 4 words. My mouth was on the ground when I heard them and just recently I’ve been able to pick it up. The theories of Logan being Christopher and Jess being Luke is mind blowing and completely full circle. A twist that many were not expecting and that I enjoyed. The fact that Rory is 32 and double the age Lorelai was when she had Rory is another nod to life repeating itself.
Though I voiced some of the aspects of the reboot that I didn’t care for, I very much enjoyed it. As a fan of a show, it’s rare for the writers and cast to care so deeply about us to create a whole four part series to appease our curiosity. Gilmore Girls can do no wrong in my eyes. Even though they could have done more with the revival, I’m still thankful!
Amy Palladino answered many of the questions we so desperately and patiently waited 9 years for, but she also created more. After watching the Revival, I feel more empty than ever. Who is the father of Rory’s baby? Will she be a single mother? How is married life for Lorelai and Luke? Was Rory’s book a success? Who wrote the letter that Emily brought up in therapy? Did Lorelai end up expanding the Dragonfly Inn? SO. MANY. QUESTIONS.
But Amy, I think my biggest question yet is, will there be more?
HCXOXO, Imani
Photo Resources:
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