As an aspiring TV writer and general fan of television, I’m always looking for new shows. There are many of the biggies I’ve seen, love, and watch on the regular (e.g., “Friends,” “The Office,” “Full House,” “Parks and Rec,” etc.), but there are so many more that I haven’t. Lately, I’ve been getting into “Mad Men,” which is so freaking fascinating and straight entertaining, but I generally like a dose of funny to go along with the more dramatic part of my boyfriend TV. So, at spring break at my mom’s insistence and with the much-anticipated reunion in the midst, I started “Gilmore Girls” and joined the crowd. My jacket is being made.
When the show first come out in 2000, I wasn’t even 10, and by the end, I was just in middle school, so it makes sense that I didn’t get into it from the get-go. Watching it now, as a young adult with high aspirations, a close relationship with my mom, relatable family troubles, and a love for TV, it probably wouldn’t have had as much an impact on me had I started it years ago.
Now, bear with me — I’m only in early season two and am taking 18 hours, so I’m a newbie and moving through the series slowly, but surely. But here’s what’s really struck me about the show so far.
Just Me And My Mom
Really, this is the perfect show for me, as far as reliability. I’m young and barely taking on the world and my mom is basically my bestie and always has been. Sometimes, we have family issues, sometimes, we have friend issues — we share most major life struggles and have each other to cope with them. It’s a really fresh look at the mother-daughter dynamic, which has never been portrayed quite like this. Both women are young, pizza and pop culture loving, and are really best friends, but not without the mother-daughter respect. You can’t watch this show without wanting to call your mom, if not curl up on a couch and watch it with her until the pizza comes.
Pumped-Up Kicks
I’m contrary and always have been. When I see something become a sensation without a hitch, I assume it’s merely a cliche crowd pleaser and nothing more. I’ll admit that I’ve blindly hated things without investigation, but I’m also pretty easily impressed. Friends of my mom and I have a similar mother-daughter dynamic to ours and are big fans of the show (I mean, among the rest of America). When I first watched, I felt the same way I did when I heard “Pumped Up Kicks:” I can’t believe people like this so much. It’s totally up my alley and kind of different. That’s what’s beautiful about the popularity of the unconditional: it has an even bigger impact than the crowd pleasers for the better.
Jenji
Okay, this one goes without saying: I will watch anything Jenji Kohan writes ever. My love letter to “Weeds” is coming — I think it is one of the most brilliant shows ever written. “Orange Is The New Black” is a summer staple in my house and never fails to amaze with its quippy wit and star power performances. Moral of the story: if Jenji touches it, it’s gold. She was a producer on the entire first season of “Gilmore Girls” and wrote episode seven- you know, the one with the infamous grocery store kiss? Yeah, she’s the best, and that’s reason enough for me to get into a series.
Watching Real Life
As with the residents of Pawnee, Scranton, South Park, Bikini Bottom and many other fictional or fictionalize versions of TV towns, I feel like the good people of Star’s Hollow are my friends. The show is so real and relatable, with a few more fanciful elements and romantic gestures that are just too lovely for words. A good show sucks you in and makes you feel for the characters and want to just call out to them when they do something stupid. Again, I’ve barely started the show, and I already feel like a Luke’s regular.
So, bottom line: I love this show and will cry my eyes out once I finally finish. Until then, I’ll be immersed in the world of Star’s Hollow. I’ll likely post a follow up article once I finish as a recap. If you haven’t taken the Gilmore plunge, I highly recommend it.
