Onimisi Barton contributed to this piece.
“Where you lead, I will follow”
We all have that one favorite show, that show we watch over and over even after it’s gone off the air. Gilmore Girls concluded in 2007 and I am still as obsessed as I was when it first aired in 2000. My mother bought me the series on DVD and I was delighted. However, over the years they have mysteriously disappeared. Then Netflix happened.
October 1, 2014 was a beautiful day for me. I was 4 months pregnant, hormonal and cried actual tears of joy when I clicked on my Netflix profile and say Gilmore Girls in the spotlight. Since that day, I have countlessly watched the series to completion at least a dozen times, give or take.
A lot of people don’t understand this obsession. It’s just a show right? In the words of Donald Trump, WRONG.
It is so much more than just a show, it is home and family and everything in between. Every time the theme song “Where You Lead?” by Carole King comes on, I get the warm and fuzzies. There’s something about this show that has made it such a security blanket for me. Whether it be the witty writing, the pop culture references or the lively characters, it is such a wonderful experience and I love the wave of comfort I get whenever I watch it. If there’s anything I could watch over again for the first time, this show would be it.
On with the poodles already.
1. Stars Hollow
Growing up in a small town myself, I think this is what initially made it feel like home to me. Where I grew up, you couldn’t pass a person on the street or in the store without my mother stopping to talk for 20 minutes. Incidentally, it seemed to be fall year round in Stars Hollow, as a person in love with autumn, this is a dream.
2. The Coffee Obsession
This is probably the thing I relate to most when it comes to this show and as a coffee connoisseur, I appreciated that they made it a central theme. Just like I start my morning with as much coffee as I can get before 8am, each episode starts with Lorelai and Rory at Luke’s drinking a cup of coffee. Lorelei said it best, “I can’t stop drinking the coffee. I stop drinking coffee, I stop doing the standing and walking and the words-putting-into-sentence-doing.”
3. Jess
Milo Ventimiglia portrayed the role of bad boy very well. From the minute he arrived in Stars Hollow, you knew he was going to cause trouble, mostly with Rory. Although I loved Dean, he was a great first boyfriend for Rory, but I still to this day root for Jess & Rory. They had so much in common and complimented each other well with their differences, I was sad that the series built their relationship up over the course of 2 seasons just to have them together for what it seemed like a few episodes and then it was just over. I’m hoping, like any smart and true Gilmore Girls fan, that the revival that airs in November puts them back together. Can't forget that thing he does with his lip when he talks either. You know.
4. The Friendships
One of the greatest parts of entering the world of Stars Hollow is how friendly everyone is. From the very beginning you see just how strong friendships in this town are. There's the constantly supportive friendship like that between Lorelai and Sookie or the theatrical pairing of Babette and Miss Patty. There are the friendships that last throughout all of the changes each person goes through, like with Rory and Lane. From changes in schools, dying Lane's hair purple (then back to black), many love interests and so much more, they manage to always come back to each other. Then there are more unlikely friendships like Paris and Rory or the bond that grows between Mrs. Kim and Lorelai that also creep into the story line to touch your heart. It seems everyone in Stars Hollow has at least one person they can always count on.
5. Food Appreciation
As a lover of food in general but especially junk food, I connect with Gilmore Girls on a deep level. From Friday night dinners at the grandparents', many meals at Luke's and the nights of tv and takeout, Lorelai and Rory make it clear that they know how to eat(not healthy but a lot). Their ability to put away as much food as they do is as impressive as their skills in ordering takeout. From the very beginning Lorelai showcases her skills and its very clear that she passes them down to Rory as well. Their knowledge of junk food, delivery speeds and quality and ability to plan out attending four Thanksgiving meals can make the average person feel inadequate but at least it gives us a goal to work toward.
6. Luke
Even from his first moments on screen, Luke, played by Scott Patterson, grabs your attention with his sarcastic sense of humor and his never-ending supply of flannels. He warms your heart in so many ways throughout the seasons. From his clear but patient love for Lorelai to his unwavering support for Rory, he makes it clear that the Gilmore girls are his family. He takes in his nephew after his sister is too overwhelmed to raise him, and though he complains about it the entire time, he helps the town whenever he can. Luke comes off as grumpy and difficult when it comes to things he finds silly, but he always pulls through for those he cares for. In the series finale when he stays up all night sewing a tarp to make sure Rory's going away party goes on even with the rain, he proves once again that his heart is much bigger than his sarcasm and grumpiness would lead you to believe. And for that reason, Luke Danes will always have a place in our hearts.
From the homey feel of Stars Hollow, to the wonderful people that reside there and the banter and shenanigans they all bring, Gilmore Girls provides a sense of warmth that I never expected to feel from a tv show. When the show ended I was extremely sad about it. I felt such a deep connection with this show that it has always felt like home. Luckily for us die-hard Gilmore Girls fans, the reboot will be here in a little less than two months. Let the countdown to more laughter, tears and all the feelings begin!
