Whenever I’m having a bad day and I need some comfort, I know there’s one place I can always go to that makes me feel whole again – Stars Hollow; a fictional town where being nice is not a shocker and being weirdly wonderful is celebrated. So, you can imagine my delight when it was announced that Gilmore Girls, after nearly a decade of being off our televisions, would come back – this time with four feature length episodes, perfectly titled, “Winter”, “Spring”, “Summer” and “Fall”, as a nod to Carole King and reminding fans that “You’ve Got a Friend” in Lorelai, Rory and all the crazy characters that make Gilmore Girls so special.
Last time we left Lorelai and Rory – the quick-witted, coffee-chugging, pop culture referencing mother-daughter duo who seem more like friends than family – things felt more sour than sweet. The show’s creator, Amy Sherman-Palladino, had left due to disagreements with the studio, making the original ending seem incomplete – especially due to the endless speculation over Sherman-Palladino’s “final four words” she had intended for the show. Fans have been waiting nine years to hear these last words but also to make our beloved show feel complete, the way it should have been. As soon as the first episode of the new series started with the snow-covered gazebo and the show’s signature “la-la-la’s”, you know you’re not just watching a normal TV show, you’re coming home.
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Of course, things have changed over the years since its original. Rory is no longer the 16-year-old we knew from when the show started, she’s now downing a lot more scotch which weirdly felt very uncomfortable to watch. Then again, she is 32 now. Rory’s storyline felt the furthest away from the original, treading more into “Gossip Girl” or even “Girls” rather than the Gilmores we’re used to – but I’ve never been a fan of Rory. Luckily, Emily (my favourite “Gilmore Girl”) and Lorelai, with their volatile relationship were there to save us from Rory’s irritating phone usage and elitism.
The biggest change and ultimately the thing that has driven the drama this time around is the passing of Edward Herrman, who played Richard Gilmore – the patriarch of the family. His character’s absence hangs over them literally by the eighteen-foot portrait Emily accidently gets commissioned, and through the journey of the three women who must confront their lives after their loss. One of the most moving parts was seeing Emily Gilmore, in jeans (one of the biggest shockers) talking to Lorelai about her struggle with coping with her grief: “I don’t know what to do or where to go. I forgot which side of the bed to sleep on. I was married for 50 years, half of me is gone.” And just like that, every Gilmore fan began to weep.
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But life continues and joy is still found in Stars Hollow as all the faces we used to love are back. Luke is the same as ever; having not changed any of his wardrobe or thrown out that baseball cap. Kirk is still botching up businesses and Taylor continues to harass the town with new campaigns and performances – this time around we were given the “Stars Hollow Musical.” Paris was back, slamming doors with her feet and quoting Stalin to a bunch of freaked-out school kids and of course, Gilmore fans were pleased to see their favourite “Rory boyfriend” come back (Jess deserves better!).
It all became the embodiment of the pivotal Carole King song associated with the show “Where You Lead.” Despite its absence as the opening credits, you felt its presence throughout each episode. If you’ve never watched Gilmore Girls, now is the time: it’s getting colder outside and the world feels like it’s about to end – start from the beginning and your faith in humanity will be restored.
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