Lorelai and Rory smile on a sunny day in Stars Hollow. Photo courtesy of People Magazine.
SAMANTHA RITTENBERG | STAFF REPORTER | srittenberg@butler.edu
Huge cups of coffee, hundreds of pop culture references and the magical town of Stars Hollow are just a few things that make up the hit television show, “Gilmore Girls”. As of Oct. 5, the iconic show is 25 years old.
“Gilmore Girls” is not just a show; it is a cultural phenomenon. Written by Amy Sherman-Palladino, the series follows mother-daughter duo Lorelai Gilmore — played by Lauren Graham — and Rory Gilmore — played by Alexis Bledel — through the ups and downs of their lives in Stars Hollow. The show is filled with a sense of tight-knit community, way too many love interests and every small town festival one can think of, making it the perfect cozy drama packed with sarcasm and witty humor.
“Gilmore Girls” first aired on the Warner Bros. network — now called the CW — on Oct. 5, 2005. The show originally did well, but surged in popularity with its debut on Netflix in 2014. A new generation of viewers fell in love with it and became avid rewatchers. There are a few key reasons why the show continues to do as well as it does and has never gotten old.
Family dynamics
“Gilmore Girls” brings all of the classic family dynamics to the show. From the best friend-like relationship between Lorelai and her daughter, Rory, to the estranged relationship between Lorelai and her mother, Emily — played by Kelly Bishop — the two are vastly different.
Part of what makes Lorelai’s relationship with Emily so strained is that she ran away from home at 16 after having Rory to start a new life.
Junior marketing major Grace Schwertfeger has watched the show countless times now and feels a sense of familiarity when it comes to the close-knit relationship between Lorelai and Rory.
“I have a similar relationship with my mom [that Rory has] with hers, especially since I’m an only child,” Schwertfeger said. “The bond that she and Lorelai had really resonated with me, as well as the friendship struggles [and] ups and downs of high school [and college].
“Gilmore Girls” also featured nontraditional relationships that are more normalized today, such as the strained relationship between Rory and her dad, Christopher — played by David Sutcliffe. The show did not shy away from depicting his flaky and inconsistent role in Rory’s life.
Unproblematic storylines … mostly
The storylines in “Gilmore Girls” have stood the test of time. While many shows from the early 2000s, such as “How I Met Your Mother”, have not aged well due to questionable episodes like “Ducky Tie” and “How I Met Everyone Else”, Sherman-Palladino’s storylines remain relevant.
However, not all episodes were rainbows and sunshine; there were many real-world issues discussed. Class differences were a common topic from the start, beginning in episode one when Lorelai asks her parents for money to pay for Rory to attend Chilton, a highly prestigious college-preparatory school. This theme is further expanded when, at Yale, Rory meets her trust-fund-entrenched boyfriend, Logan Huntzberger — who is portrayed by Matt Czuchry.
A show for all ages
A key component of timeless shows is their ability to serve a wide demographic. Even though Rory and Lorelai have the most screen time, there are still plenty of other characters featured for viewers to connect with. From grumpy diner owner and love interest of Lorelai, Luke Danes — played by Scott Patterson — to uptight devout Christian Mrs. Kim — played by Emily Kuroda — there is someone everyone can relate to.
Over the show’s seven seasons, viewers see rich character development. Rory goes from being a naive 15-year-old girl in high school to a 22-year-old Yale graduate, and Lorelai from a manager at the Independence Inn to opening The Dragonfly Inn — a dream she and Sookie talked about from episode one.
The characters go through relatable phases of life throughout the series, and fans have a chance to grow alongside them.
Sophomore biology major Sophia Mitchell takes away something different each time she watches the show.
“In high school, I liked [‘Gilmore Girls’] because there is a very clear, defined aesthetic that is nice to watch, and the characters are really likable,” Mitchell said. “I did not understand a lot of the deeper stuff that was going on [then]. Now, I find I can look at it and appreciate a little more in-depth what the interpersonal relationships are trying to get at.”
“Gilmore Girls” is one of the most rewatched series of all time, a show people tend to hit restart on every year when the leaves start changing colors.
Cozy autumnal culture
“Gilmore Girls” would not be what it is without the quaint town of Stars Hollow. The fictional location, set right outside of Hartford, Connecticut, is the quintessential fall spot. It has all of the small-town feels and festive activities, such as the Autumn Festival, where Rory and Lane dress like pilgrims. In the infamous Thanksgiving episode, Lorelai and Rory’s love for their neighbors and food is showcased when they attend four different Thanksgivings — because, as Lorelai exclaims, “What are we if not the world’s champion eaters?”
Junior psychology-sociology major Lily Bea Foster discusses how “Gilmore Girls” infiltrates everyone’s lives in the fall.
“[‘Gilmore Girls’ has influenced] the aesthetic of cozy autumn, which is really trendy, especially on TikTok and Pinterest,” Foster said. “A lot of people pull inspiration from the sleepy, cozy, small town [feel], and cable knit sweaters and coffee [are] a huge aesthetic that’s always trending on popular apps.”
Fall continues to be a favorite season among many, and there is no question as to why. Watching “Gilmore Girls” is the perfect place to start when the air turns crisp.
Whether it is the classic autumn feel, the quick-wit banter or the lovable characters, “Gilmore Girls” is not going out of style for the foreseeable future. The show is constantly drawing in new viewers, so there is always someone different to discuss iconic plot points with.
“Gilmore Girls” is available to stream on Netflix.
