While recovering from post holiday travel and a the hard choice of whether to have another piece of pumpkin pie, I was faced with another choice, should I watch the four episode season of Gilmore Girls: A Year In the Life. I held off for a couple days, due to academic responsibilities, but when I did cave, I watched all four hour and a half long episodes in one afternoon.
Netflix has basically taken over the revival, starting with the final episodes of Arrested Development, then Fuller House and now Gilmore Girls. Some things such as wine and cheese, usually age well, but television shows are usually it or miss. Especially television shows such as Gilmore Girls that rely on topical jokes.
Fuller House, for example, was decidedly a failure, but the pay off for a successful show is high enough that Netflix decided to take the risk yet again.
Gilmore Girls ran in the background of my childhood. I would watch it every week with my mom. I wished my mom would never cook and I could eat pizza and forever. My third-year at New College, my viewing took a different turn. I would watch Gilmore Girls and grimace at the privilege. Lorelali Gilmore had access to everything, even if she did reject it. Rory, was uber capable and really did not have to worry about anything in college. Rory’s success was inspiring but also stressful to live up to as a student with economic and mental illness restrictions.
The best parts of the revival were the portrayal of grief after Richard Gilmore’s death and Paris Geller. Although, sprinkled with some played out racism and classism, Emily Gilmore’s grief rang true. I believe this was due to the real sadness actress Kelly Bishop felt after actor Edward Hermann’s death.
I also loved Paris Geller, actress Liza Weil’s, performance. Weil had the best grasp on her character throughout the series. Her growth makes sense. The fact that she is in a career, fertility counselor, that is totally modern and has only existed in this form recently is perfect. It is revealed that Geller has multiple advance degrees, but yet she someone ends up interactive positions. Gelller is as abrasive as ever, but yet my heart is warmed by her.
The revival addresses the issue of “Rory’s perfection,” but at the same time paints millennials as delusional.The Rory in the series does not align with this revival Rory. Although, it may be appropriate for her to fall from grace, the way it happens is just not believable. Often when a non-millennial writes about millennials it comes off as whiny. There is a group of 30 somethings that have moved back to Stars Hallow and spend their time making online videos of seemingly arbitrary things. Rory has some major success, but she is portrayed as entitled and incompetent many times. The Rory I know would not of come to a interview ill prepared, even if she did not want the job.
For me, Gilmore Girls is a thing of the past, no longer is it appropriate to have a television world basically devoid of black people. I was hoping this trend would die with the end of the HBO show Girls. Still, I find myself hoping that she Netflix show continues if only to address the final scene. I will not spoil it for everyone who hasn’t watched, but if the show is supposed to be set in 2016, this revelation should illuminate all the choices that women have.