The day after Thanksgiving, Netflix had put up the reunion season of Gilmore Girls that many of us were longing for this entire year. We followed Rory, Lorelai, and Emily’s journey through 7 years of love, hate, loss and renewals. After almost 10 years, they finally came back. While this one dwelled on some of the more original aspects of the old Gilmore Girls, not everything was quite the same. Rory is definitely not innocent anymore. Emily loses a part of herself to a pair of jeans. Lorelai finally finds clarity. While each of these characters have their own individual problems, I think that it is safe to conclude that all of them were going through an existential crisis. In my opinion, the ending held no closure. Although the revival episodes felt like it was not enough to conclude its epic seven former seasons, Gilmore Girls was definitely back with its charm, wit, comedy, and heartfelt moments.
1. Kirk was back with his new love interest… Petal?
That darn pig was definitely one of the highlights of the show, and it definitely was fitting with Kirk’s antics. You have to give him credit; he seems to run Stars Hollow more than the town selectman, Taylor, ever did. While his “Ooober” business was a miss, Kirk definitely burst our hearts with laughter, especially with his artful yet strange short film. For once he finally did something right by making Lorelai’s wedding look spectacular.
2. Paul Anka
Speaking of more pet-related news, Lorelai’s dog, Paul Anka, was back. This dog was definitely one of Lorelai’s best companions in Gilmore Girls. Their relationship makes sense, since the only person really appreciative of Lorelai’s personality (other than Rory and Luke), is Paul Anka. May long mane reign buddy!
3. Emily in Jeans??!!
This was a sight that I thought I never had to see. When Emily was mourning her husband’s death, her life definitely took a toll on her. In fact, this character progression was the one I enjoyed the most. Emily finally left her former very aristocratic life-style and resorted to a more medial and comfortable. She finally had control over her life. While the jeans were only a temporary transitional phase, she undoubtedly found her middle ground.
4. Life And Death Brigade--Yale's most Dangerous Elite
This was probably the most exciting part about Rory and Logan’s relationship, and what more appropriate than to bring this group back during Halloween. The Life and Death Brigade definitely was audacious and though Rory initially felt unfit for the group, it later definitely shaped her fearless persona. That entrance in the “Fall” episode was completely bold and vibrant on the rather spooky Halloween night.
5. Lorelai’s < 100-Mile Journey
Lorelai made the decision to find the clarity in the midst of Pacific trail, and luckily that is exactly what she found. She has always been a facetious, head-strong, and stubborn woman, but her journey finally allowed her to let go and feel vulnerable. One of the most heart-warming moments was when she called Emily to share her most memorable time with her father. Lorelai finally succumbed to the way she has always felt for her family. Lorelai found her anchor and stability to finally settle down with Luke.
6. Rory’s Book… well her first three chapters
Rory has always been a writer and a reporter, and what better way to do that than to document her entire life? She finally wrote the transgenerational story that the Palladinos created for so long on this show. We knew this would happen at some point, but I was even more touched that Jess pushed for this idea. I am definitely a Jess and Rory fan, and for him to inspire her to share the Gilmore tale just demonstrates how much in depth their relationship was. The grandmother, the mother, and the daughter finally have shared with us the familial story we have all been waiting for. Guess what the title is? Gilmore Girls!
Many daughters wished their mother was like Lorelai, while many mothers wished their daughter was like Rory. On the surface, this is the idealism they portrayed, but beneath it all, they showed us their imperfections. Relationships, regardless of the context, need a lot of work. Emily, Lorelai, and Rory have exemplified that to us through their journey thus far. A few other characters have also helped the viewers cultivate this “Gilmore Girls” experience. Thank you Luke, Miss Patty, Michel, Sookie, Jackson, Taylor, Dean, Paris Logan, and Richard for shaping the woman we have seen transform so beautifully in the people they are today. Though the four seasons of “seasons” did not seem long enough, we know that a year in a life will continue on, especially with Rory’s last four words.
