Nobody doesn’t like “Gilmore Girls.” Firstly, it’s a series filled with more witty references to movies, art, history and politics than you could possibly understand in a lifetime. Secondly, it’s one of the most feminist TV shows of all time (almost every single lady character is an intellectual of some sort). And thirdly, well – it’s cozy and comforting. Perfect for the holiday season and for these dark and troubling political times.
“Gilmore Girls” creator Amy Sherman-Palladino left the show after its sixth season in 2006, and though it ran for a seventh, nobody liked how that turned out (terrible narrative decisions were made and the writing was comparatively poor). The show ended post-seven, to the competing relief and chagrin of fans everywhere; but now Netflix is reviving the series with four movie-length episodes, and Sherman-Palladino has directed them all. Talk about being grateful on Thanksgiving. The new “season” debuts Nov. 25, leaving you plenty of time to binge-watch seasons one through seven now (they’re all on Netflix).
This is a good show to watch stoned because the stakes aren’t high. Unlike your favorite HBO epics or many of Netflix’s recent originals, there is no murder, rape or intrigue on “Gilmore Girls.” The only battles waged are those of daily, quiet, privileged life. The pain of being in love with a close friend but feeling unable to express it. Parents who don’t understand your choices or share your values. Losing your virginity, applying to college, fighting with your best friend. This all takes place in Stars Hollow, a fictional small town in Connecticut; in such an idealized hamlet, the townsfolk are quirky and appealing, everyone knows each other and most businesses are covered in sparkly Christmas lights year-round.
“Gilmore” centers on Lorelai and Rory, a mother-daughter team who share pretty blue eyes, dark hair and big vocabularies. The show’s dialogue happens at breakneck speed, and the actors’ fast-talking became a famed hallmark; where a normal screenplay page accounts for one minute, the “GG” pages lasted about 20 to 25 seconds each. And that’s not due to pensive glances or long meaningful silences, because those are few and far between.
Lorelai gave birth to Rory at age 16, and Rory is 16 herself when the show begins. Because of their closeness in age, the duo are best friends and confidantes (probably one of the few pop culture examples of teenage pregnancy turning out well). Lorelai is similar to Carrie Bradshaw from “Sex in the City” in many ways, though she’s much less materialistic; these are women who don’t dream of marriage, who don’t cook or like to play house, who are feminine to the extreme but also financially independent, opinionated and saucy. If you could use some positive fictional role models in your life, these are the girls to watch.
Anya Jaremko-GreenwoldDGO Staff Writer
