Well. It happened. Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life finally graced our TV screens on November 25th and it was a definitely an experience. I found myself going through a whole rainbow of emotions while witnessing the magic that is Gilmore Girls. However. I have to say that I wasn't quite as satisfied with the four-part season as I had hoped. Please don't send me threatening emails. I swear- I have my reasons. Below is my reaction to Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life.
P.S. It's obviously about to be spoiler central, so precede with caution.
Luke and Lorelai
THEY'RE TOGETHER!!! YES!!!!
Okay- I'm good, I'm good. I'm so incredibly happy with this. The fact that they've been together for nine years is so amazing. They were always meant for each other. I liked some of Lor's other boyfriends like Jason, and I've always had a sweet spot for (please no torches and pitchforks) Christopher, but Luke was always my favorite. Their little impromptu wedding at the end was also warmly welcomed in my eyes. Everything about it was flawless (except for the fact that Sookie wasn't there, so almost flawless).
Speaking of Sookie...
Okay, I'm going to be a brat for just a second and say that while I was thrilled that Melissa McCarthy was able to grace us with her presence, I wanted more. She was in like, one scene. In the last episode. At the end of the last episode... Now, I understand that due to scheduling conflicts this was the best she could do. Do I care? Absolutely not, due to the aforementioned detail that I'm just being picky. Still, though. Sookie was a huge fan favorite and I feel she deserved more time. Also, the story-line explaining her absence was weird. "She was off on some farm learning the super secret ways of agriculture". Okay, so maybe that's not a direct quote, but still, that is just not Sookie. I feel like there were so many other ways they could've toyed with that story and I just wasn't sold.
The Musical
So. Many. Mistakes. Why would they waste such precious time on a musical that affected the plot in no way- shape or form? Why? I understand that the last number was to give Lorelai a sense of revelation and send her on her almost-camping journey which leads to her revelations about Luke and so on and so forth, but why keep the other songs?? I know more about the history of Stars Hollow than I ever really wanted to! Giving so much time to the useless musical numbers just seemed like a filler to me. They needed to reach the 90 minute limit and went, "oh, why not. Throw in a musical number. Hell! Throw in seven!". This bothered me on so many levels. They could've used the time to develop Rory an acceptable conclusion instead of focusing on incestuous Stars Hollow settlers from God-knows-when. If they had skipped the musical entirely, they would've had plenty of time to work in Rory's decision to go back to school and get her Masters degree so she could teach at Chilton; that of which was the only rational next step as the job was practically promised to her. Like I said before, so many mistakes.
Paris
Paris was the best part of the original show and she was, by far, the best part of the revival. I have no complaints other than wishing she got more screen time. I was in tears when she slammed the bathroom door with her foot, aka, this scene:
While this scene was a blessing, Paris made every scene better. I especially loved the scenes between Luke and Paris. Luke doesn't seem like a man who's scared of much, but he's definitely scared of Paris and I love that. . She's a boss and I adore her. Her sense of fashion has also significantly increased and I appreciate that, as well. Keep slaying, girlfriend.
Richard Gilmore
I loved Richard, and I was devastated to hear of Edward Hermann's passing. I think the show portrayed his loss very well. It was classy and dignified, just like Richard, himself.
Rory's and Logan and The Wookie and... Wait, was his name? Pete?
Rory's love life was definitely taken to a new level for the revival. We see her participate in a long-standing affair with Logan (TEAM LOGAN, FTW!) and have a one-night-stand with a man in a Wookie costume, all while being in a long-term, seemingly committed relationship with... Patrick? Was that it? Even during the original show, Rory's love life seemed... complicated. I suppose being raised by a teen-mom, with a complicated love life herself, would produce such results. However, in the revival, we see Rory really grow into her confidence and become a tad more unapologetic (except for that time with the Wookie) in accordance to her love life. I just feel sorry for... Parker? Nope, that's not it. Rory treated him terribly and dragged him along for three years! Poor Paul! Paul! That's it... right?
The Last Four Words
*Sigh* I just... I... *sigh*
I was looking forward to the last four words since I found out they were gonna be a thing. But once I heard them, I wanted them to take it back. This was supposed to be the "final season", it was supposed to give us closure and answer all our questions from the original ending. THAT DID NOT HAPPEN. Now I'm just unsatisfied and left with even more questions. While I'm so happy with so many other aspects of the revival, I think I am the most disappointed in this. They left it on a cliffhanger and I've really been a fan of those for numerous obvious reasons. However, it is kind of exciting that Rory's pregnant. I hope the stars align once more and we get to see what Rory as a mom looks like. Fingers crossed!
I loved this revival, I really did. If I we're running the show, things would have been a bit different- but that applies to all aspects of life, not just Gilmore Girls. I am so happy they decided to bring the show back, and I hope they continue the trend! I could never say no to the amazing Gilmore girls, anyhow.
