Jane After Dark: Five Cool Things About Gilmore Girls

Gilmore Girls, Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel
Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel of 'Gilmore Girls' | Warner Bros.

I started writing Jane After Dark over at TV Squad a couple years ago, and it was so much fun that I decided to continue it over here. It’s all about the TVshows I watch on my own time, cool shows that have scored lots of buzz over the years, like ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer,’ ‘Six Feet Under,’ ‘Firefly,’ ‘The Wire,’ ‘Human Target‘ and ‘The Larry Sanders Show.’

My 14-year-old daughter and I started watching ‘[amazon_link id=”B000U0F7RG” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Gilmore Girls[/amazon_link]’ last winter and just finished it up a few days ago. First things first: I love this series. Fell in love with Lorelai, Rory, Luke, and the town of Stars Hollow, and thought it ended on a good note. And — warning Will Robinson! — there are spoilers in my five cool things below. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Gilmore Girls, Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel1. Fast-Talking Lorelai Gilmore. I’m a lot like Lorelai, though not nearly as cool. I talk fast, spout random bits of pop culture trivia at inopportune moments, and have a daughter who is shockingly similar to Rory. But I must confess, I have nowhere near the fashion sense as Lorelai, played so winningly by Lauren Graham. And I have NO idea how she manages to stay so thin eating all that junk food. I gain five pounds just by looking at a marshmallow. Ah, the magic of TV.

2. Brainy Rory Gilmore. What a great illustration that kids from single-parent households can turn out well. Lorelai would do anything for Rory, even if it means having Friday night dinners at her stodgy parents’ house. And Rory somehow manages to bring everyone together, which shows the power one optimistic person can have over a dysfunctional family. The show has also made me a fan-for-life of both Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel.

3. Luke and Lorelai. I always knew they were meant to be together. I waded through the last season, because it seemed like the writers sort of threw Lorelai and Christopher together just for the sake of keeping the story going in different directions. But they say opposites attract — my parents are a good example of that — and Luke and Lorelai are complete opposites who are totally meant to be together.

4. Lovely Stars Hollow. My friend Mike Moody, whom I met at TV Squad and now writes for The Human Solution, once told me that he loves ‘Gilmore Girls,’ even though it’s really sort of a chick-show. That’s partly because of the quirky charm of Stars Hollow, and I totally agree with you, Mike. Who wouldn’t love that lovely little village with the likes of Kirk, Sookie, Taylor, Lane, Miss Patty and all the rest?

5. The Gilmore Girls’ Guys. Let’s face facts — they’re all pretty interesting and not hard to look at either. From the rough-hewn Jess to boyish Dean to well-meaning Christopher to wealthy Logan and, of course, sweet Luke … not a bad love history there, girls. And I’m glad Rory — DOUBLE SPOILER ALERT!!! — didn’t end up marrying Logan. If they’re meant to be together, it’ll happen, but she should go out and explore her dreams for a while first.

Gilmore Girls Cast
The Cast of 'Gilmore Girls' | Warner Bros.

Any word on a ‘Gilmore Girls’ movie? I sort of like how it all ended, right back in Luke’s diner with both girls looking forward to a bright future. On the other hand, I’d definitely be psyched for a feature film, too. Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel comment on that rumor in the 2010 clip from Entertainment Weekly below.

Any Gilmore Girls fans out there? What did you like best about the show? Please share in the comments below.

Be sure to check out Gilmore News, written by Arieanna Schweber.

Comments

  1. Mike Avatar

    Started reading this post because I’m a huge fan of the show, and I was surprised to see my name pop up in #4! Yes, I love, love, lurve this show, and for all the reasons you listed here, Jane. I think anyone who loves good writing and TV with real heart (not the saccharin ‘Seventh Heaven’ type stuff) would love Gilmore Girls. It’s TV with personality that’s not trying to win over a broad audience, it just does its own thing, and brilliantly. I’ve been looking for a show as good and touching as GG since the series went off the air several years back. So far, only Parenthood fits the bill, and not only because Lauren Graham is a cast member. Parenthood has a different tone, but it has personality, great writing, heart, and solid performances — just like GG!

    1. Jane Boursaw Avatar

      Thanks for the note, Mike! Yes, you’re so right – it’s all about the “heart” a show has. So many shows are just one punchline after another, but it’s clear that viewers want more. Give us a show with heart and life to it. Don’t dumb it down – we’re smart enough to get little references like Lorelai’s random pop culture comments.

      And I, too, love Parenthood. Can’t wait for it to return.

  2. Mike Moody ( Avatar

    Jane After Dark: Five Cool Things About Gilmore Girls http://t.co/rhmtwkR via @reellifejane

  3. Casey Avatar

    Oy with the poodles already! As much as I love, love, LOVE GG, I wouldn’t be interested in a film (nor do I really want an Arrested Development, Party Down, or Veronica Mars movie). Have we not learned from the lessons of Sex and the City?

    1. Jane Boursaw Avatar

      Yeah, you’re probably right, Casey. I just have trouble letting go!

      I *did like the first Sex and the City movie; the second one, not so much. I’ve yet to get through Arrested Development, for some reason. It’s good… I dunno… I think I fizzled out somewhere in season two.

      I’m on season three of Veronica Mars. It took me a LONG time to get into that show. Like, I started watching it 3 or 4 times, and then something finally clicked, and I was able to get through season one. Then dove into season two with gusto. Just recently bought season three, and yeah, I see what people are saying about the show dying off somewhere in season three. I think if they’d had a better storyline, something we could sink our teeth into, it might have worked. They were relying too much on Kristen Bell’s snappy comebacks.

      1. Jane Boursaw Avatar

        And thanks for the “oy with the poodles” chuckle. 🙂

  4. Jane Boursaw ( Avatar

    Jane After Dark: Five Cool Things About Gilmore Girls http://t.co/ZxCUD2U #gilmoregirls @laurennews #wsbr

  5. Kerry Dexter Avatar

    only watched GG on rare occassions, but liked both the acting and the writing when I did. now I want to see that Living Art episode, which is not one I ever ran across…

  6. Roxanne Hawn ( Avatar

    You a fan? Add to the list RT @reellifejane Jane After Dark: Five Cool Things About Gilmore Girls http://t.co/ZxCUD2U #gilmoregirls

  7. Jeanine Barone Avatar

    I have to admit that I’ve never watched the Gilmore Girls. But your reviews here have always been so on target that I’m thinking of watching it now. Thanks.

  8. Susan Avatar
    Susan

    I love, love, love GIlmore Girls. I didn’t think Logan was right for Rory but I do kinda like that character (even though he’s irresponsible and kind of pompous). That actor plays a very similar character on The Good Wife.

    Several years back, my family and I visited the WB studio and we got to tour the set for Stars Hollow, which was very cool.

  9. […] or interesting. Still, I’m determined to get through it before I move onto something new with Jane After Dark.Keith McDuffee, my bud over at CliqueClack.com, is a big fan of Veronica Mars and wrote up a nice […]

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