Authored by Megan Foxx
Grab a cup of coffee from Luke’s Diner or walk down to Al’s Pancake World. Say “Good morning,” to Miss Patty as you walk by her dance class preparing for the “Annual Autumn Festival.” This might sound like any small town in America but in reality it is a fictional town that is full of intriguing people from the television series “Gilmore Girls,” by far the best T.V series I have ever watched.
Stars Hollow is a fictional town in Connecticut, a close-knit community with many quirky characteristics. The most absurd character in town is Kirk Gleason; he has held many jobs such as mailman, financial coach, and a skin care salesman. To be exact, sixty-two jobs, which are different each episode. This makes Kirk very well rounded and well known to the audience. He is an adult who lives with his mother and works at many different jobs around the town. Although very odd, i Kirk is dedicated and passionate about his work which makes him so lovable. Alongside Kirk there is Taylor Doose, the Town Selectman and owner of Doose’s Market. Taylor is in charge of keeping order and he takes his job very seriously- sometimes too seriously. When he butts heads with Luke Danes, owner of Luke’s Diner, the results can be very comical. For example in one of the episodes Taylor had just built his candy store that was next door to Luke. Taylor warns Luke that his hand was “dangerously” close to some of the items, and in a split second Luke has his hand shoved inside the bucket of candy, and continues to contaminate whatever candy he could get.
In developing this eccentric town, the director Amy Sherman-Palladino makes you feel as though you’re in Stars Hollow and you become immersed within the show. The main focus of the show is between a mother, Lorelai Gilmore, and daughter, Lorelai (Rory) Gilmore. The series explores many topics in depth that include romance, family, education, and friendship. This makes this show so relatable to its largely female audience.
Personally I felt a strong bond with the character Rory played by Alexis Bledel because, like me, she is a budding young adult just trying to make it big in life. Her aspirations as well as mine are quite grand and we both have nerdy tendencies. Rory since a young age has always known what she wants to be and where she wants to go. Rory has always seen Harvard in her future and knows that she wants to be a journalist. Likewise I have always wanted to be a nurse and definitely college.
The one thing that made me fall head over heels for the show was the bond that Lorelai and Rory have, it is very similar to my own relationship with my mother. Lorelai a single mother and executive manager of the Independence Inn alongside her partner in crime Sookie St. James, the Inn’s chef, and her biggest frustration, Michel the desk clerk. Lorelai and Rory share a special bond over coffee which is definitely something my mom and I share. We each have a cup or two on weekend mornings and talk about the days to come or you can find us getting Starbucks after grocery shopping. During the weekdays we don’t have much time to do so but when we have time to be together that is where you will find me.
This show cannot compare to any other. For example “Sister, Sister,” is a series that also had a largely female fanbase. Yes there is a special bond between twins Tia Landry, Tamera Campbell, and mother Lisa Landry we just never get to see it as often as we see Lorelai and Rory bond. Lisa is barely apparent in the television series because the series is simply not based around their bond.
There are seven seasons in “Gilmore Girls,” and then there is “Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life,” which is one season. The first seven seasons are the young adulthood stages of Rory’s life and Lorelai is learning how to cope with having a teenage daughter with a little bit of help from her parents who she struggles to find peace with. Personally I prefer the first seven seasons because it has more of a story line versus the last season which is a continuation of the first. The last season really wraps up the whole story by coming full circle.
If you ever are looking for a show that will make you laugh until you can no longer breathe and cry until your eyes dry up, this is the show for you. Whenever I hear this tune my ears perk up and I have a smile on my face: “If you’re out on the road Feelin’ lonely and so cold All you have to do is call my name And I’ll be there On the next train…” Gilmore Girls has really hit home with me and many other mother daughter duos across the world.