It has now been a little more than a week since the mini revival of ‘Gilmore Girls’ was released on Netflix. ‘Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life’ offered fans plenty of answers, nostalgic moments, heartbreaking moments, and posed new important questions (i.e. those last four words!!). After watching the revival twice, and the original show more times than I can count, I can honestly say I loved ‘A Year in the Life’. But in saying that there are aspects of it that need to be discussed for fans for the show. Warning there are spoilers ahead.
Starting with Winter was perfect, especially with the way they introduced the first episode. The black screen, with all of the quotes from the original show and the cast we fell in love with. It was sheer perfection, and was a perfect little recap of the seven seasons that came before this revival. Some may have found the voices coming from nowhere to be creepy, but I believe they were a nice little reminder of where the show was coming from and a little walk down memory lane before creating new memories through the revival. Ending with Lorelai saying, “I smell snow” and then transitioning into the present day was again perfect. Then there was the opening scene with the town sign, the la la la’s, and Lorelai and Rory sitting under the gazebo. It hit me that this was actually happening when the mother and daughter share ‘I’ve missed you’s’ and then, Lorelai asks Rory how long its been since they saw one another and Rory responds “It feels like years.” That moment right there, it sums up how much this show and this revival meant to its cast and how they were truly a family.
There are some issues with the revival though. First Rory’s boyfriend Paul. Literally no one remembers who this man is, to the point where it is kind of ridiculous. Especially when Rory keeps forgetting to break up with the guy. Why would anyone be in a relationship with someone if they are invested to the point where they literally forget the other person’s existence? More importantly, what is this guy’s purpose? We already knew Rory’s three ex-boyfriends would be involved in the revival so why couldn’t she be with one of them? At least that would have made sense over this random character.
Another issue is Rory’s career, or lack thereof. Rory has always been driven and beyond organized, so why wasn’t she still like that in the revival? Those are not just traits that disappear. She is a freelance journalist who does not seem too eager to have a job stick. If she was as desperate for money as she appeared to be then she should have come to her interview with Conde Nast or with the online site that was pursuing her with more ideas. She was going to prove herself to Conde Nast by writing a piece on waiting in long lines, but fell asleep while interviewing someone and then she just all of a sudden gave up! Then the way she just blew off the website as if it was beneath her was horrible, she was being interviewed and treated it as if the job was owed to her and she shouldn’t need to put effort into the meeting. She was supposedly desperate for work but was not putting much effort into getting work, something that the Rory we all came to love would never have done. The fact that she is broke also confuses me. With all the money her grandparents have I find it hard to believe she lived in such a run down apartment in Brooklyn and is now struggling for money.
Speaking of Rory’s grandparents, there were many heartbreaking scenes dealing with Richard’s death. As ‘Gilmore Girls’ fans all know Edward Herrmann, who played Richard Gilmore, passed away a couple of years ago. His death was highly present in the revival, especially in scenes showing his wife Emily Gilmore and her struggles following his passing. There were the flashbacks to his funeral, showing a grief-struck Emily standing by his coffin while also grief-stricken Lorelai and Rory stand back watching her. There were even heartbreaking scenes between Emily and Lorelai dealing with Richards death that often turned into a who is hurting more struggle that was often hard to watch. Taking it all into consideration, I believe the revival payed appropriate homage to Richard, even if it was heartbreaking to watch at moments.
Then there were those infamous final four words. For years fans have wondered how Amy Sherman-Palladino, the shows creator, had intended to end the original series. What were those final four words that it was all supposed to end with? Well we all found out because that’s how she ended the revival.
Rory: “Mom?”
Lorelai: “Yeah?”
Rory: “I’m pregnant.”
WHAT!!!!! Fans have waited a decade for this revival and that is how they end it?! No saying who the father is, no indication of what will happen next, nothing. Watching ‘A Year in the Life’ one can pretty much assume that the father is Logan Huntsburger, Rory’s college boyfriend who she reignites a friends with benefits type relationship with in the revival, even though Rory is supposedly dating that Paul guy and Logan is engaged to some rich French girl. But we do not know for sure he is the father, we do not even know if Rory tells him, how he reacts if she does, what Lorelai’s reaction is, etc.
Hopefully all of the fans shock and demand for answers to these final four words and all they imply will lead to another revival. Currently this is where they plan on ending things, but many cast members have said they would be open to doing more. Let’s all hope Amy Sherman-Palladino and Netflix are listening to all of the fans pleas for answers and grants us more ‘Gilmore Girls’, and hopefully we do not have to wait another decade before we find out.
