I can't deal with jam hands.
September 30, 2014 1:07 PM Subscribe
293 Thoughts I Had While Watching “Gilmore Girls” For The First Time. Gilmore Girls begins streaming on Netflix tomorrow.
Gilmore Girls is heavily inspired by Twin Peaks.
posted by maxsparber at 1:25 PM on September 30, 2014 [9 favorites]
posted by maxsparber at 1:25 PM on September 30, 2014 [9 favorites]
I wonder if you identify with a different character depending on what age you are when watching Gilmore Girls. Like, do teens think Lorelai overreacted and thirtysomethings see Rory as incredibly irresponsible? Also, who takes Emily’s side? My bubbie?
I don't even remember which episode this is, but the correct answer is Rory is being irresponsible. Rory is just the annoying glue that holds together all the awesome secondary characters.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 1:25 PM on September 30, 2014 [5 favorites]
I don't even remember which episode this is, but the correct answer is Rory is being irresponsible. Rory is just the annoying glue that holds together all the awesome secondary characters.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 1:25 PM on September 30, 2014 [5 favorites]
Emily Gilmore is one of the best characters on TV, like, ever. I always take Emily's side just because I love her so much.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:27 PM on September 30, 2014 [8 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:27 PM on September 30, 2014 [8 favorites]
I feel your pain. I can't deal with Jam Handy. His water polo, his "Australian crawl,"... his... his... organization. It just makes my skin crawl.
posted by Naberius at 1:29 PM on September 30, 2014
posted by Naberius at 1:29 PM on September 30, 2014
I had been a fan when it was on originally, but my wife and I re-watched the series when it was on ABC family a few years ago. It really is a great show. I saw this link yesterday and I thought it was terrific.
Part of what I loved about the show was what the author pointed out, the fights that Emily and Lorelei would have always felt real, and very true to their characters.
posted by bove at 1:30 PM on September 30, 2014
Part of what I loved about the show was what the author pointed out, the fights that Emily and Lorelei would have always felt real, and very true to their characters.
posted by bove at 1:30 PM on September 30, 2014
Emily Gilmore is one of the best characters on TV, like, ever. I always take Emily's side just because I love her so much.
This is because you did not actually meet my grandmother in real actual life. If you had, you would not take Emily Gilmore's side. Oh no. Oh dear me no. I loved my grandmother but, um, gracious me no.
Yes I WAS given books of etiquette for Christmas as a child and encouraged to have a debutante ball. My cousin went for it. I did not, but at least I got to stay at the Plaza like Eloise.
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 1:32 PM on September 30, 2014 [6 favorites]
This is because you did not actually meet my grandmother in real actual life. If you had, you would not take Emily Gilmore's side. Oh no. Oh dear me no. I loved my grandmother but, um, gracious me no.
Yes I WAS given books of etiquette for Christmas as a child and encouraged to have a debutante ball. My cousin went for it. I did not, but at least I got to stay at the Plaza like Eloise.
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 1:32 PM on September 30, 2014 [6 favorites]
My thoughts:
Nice to see Sebastian Bach getting some work.
Ditto Sally Struthers.
That guy who plays Rory's grandpa has been in just about every TV show ever, I think.
Melissa McCarthy is hot.
posted by jonmc at 1:33 PM on September 30, 2014 [2 favorites]
Nice to see Sebastian Bach getting some work.
Ditto Sally Struthers.
That guy who plays Rory's grandpa has been in just about every TV show ever, I think.
Melissa McCarthy is hot.
posted by jonmc at 1:33 PM on September 30, 2014 [2 favorites]
Ugh, Kirk is just the worst.
WHAT THE FUCK YOU STUPID WRONG ON THE INTERNET PERSON!?
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 1:34 PM on September 30, 2014 [25 favorites]
WHAT THE FUCK YOU STUPID WRONG ON THE INTERNET PERSON!?
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 1:34 PM on September 30, 2014 [25 favorites]
I think a big part of the show was the unique writing of Amy Sherman-Palladino, but I still feel like she intentionally sabotaged the show. They did not renew her contract and so she wrote the show into a corner at the end of season 6 when she had Lorelei sleep with Christopher immediately after having a fight with Luke. That plot point was my least favorite of the entire show (#2 was Rory sleeping with married Dean). Now, I thought it was terrible that they thought they should keep making the show without her, but I also thought it was terrible you would do that to your show and your characters.
posted by bove at 1:34 PM on September 30, 2014 [6 favorites]
posted by bove at 1:34 PM on September 30, 2014 [6 favorites]
Early Kirk was the worst, then he became awesome. This person was just reviewing the first season.
posted by bove at 1:35 PM on September 30, 2014
posted by bove at 1:35 PM on September 30, 2014
This is because you did not actually meet my grandmother in real actual life. If you had, you would not take Emily Gilmore's side. Oh no. Oh dear me no. I loved my grandmother but, um, gracio
But here's the thing. The author of the Buzzfeed article is totally wrong on #219. Regifting is absolutely something Emily Gilmore does, because she's not an archetype. She's a real person with some very real character.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:35 PM on September 30, 2014
But here's the thing. The author of the Buzzfeed article is totally wrong on #219. Regifting is absolutely something Emily Gilmore does, because she's not an archetype. She's a real person with some very real character.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:35 PM on September 30, 2014
"Gilmore Girls" encapsulated in two bullet points:
263. Someone explain this weird wandering guitarist to me.posted by Johnny Assay at 1:36 PM on September 30, 2014 [11 favorites]
264. Now there’s another wandering guitarist.
"And in its whirlwind tour of several different Thanksgiving feasts, 'Deep-Fried' will give you a quick appreciation for why so many fans of the show want to move to Stars Hollow."
I think the escapist facets of Stars Hallow are a great contribution to why the show maintained its popularity. There was so much trust in the community and its members, and upon rewatching it, I'd noticed there being an almost unnoticeable shift in the show's tone - or Stars Hallow's, more importantly - after 9/11.
Thoughts?
posted by ourt at 1:36 PM on September 30, 2014
I think the escapist facets of Stars Hallow are a great contribution to why the show maintained its popularity. There was so much trust in the community and its members, and upon rewatching it, I'd noticed there being an almost unnoticeable shift in the show's tone - or Stars Hallow's, more importantly - after 9/11.
Thoughts?
posted by ourt at 1:36 PM on September 30, 2014
Gilmore Girls is heavily inspired by Twin Peaks.
Also several parallels with Grey Gardens.
posted by paulcole at 1:36 PM on September 30, 2014 [2 favorites]
Also several parallels with Grey Gardens.
posted by paulcole at 1:36 PM on September 30, 2014 [2 favorites]
This is also one of those threads where I also know I'll need to contain myself because I just love Gilmore Girls SO MUCH. It's a really, really good show and I just want to talk about it. It's really just so good. The characters are good, the writing is good, the acting is appropriate (which is to say Alexis Bledel can't keep up with Lauren Graham in exactly the same way that Rory can't keep up with Lorelei) and there are just layers and layers of characters and pain and bad choices and people hurting each other no matter how much they care about each other and no matter how hard they try.
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 1:37 PM on September 30, 2014 [6 favorites]
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 1:37 PM on September 30, 2014 [6 favorites]
I'm really torn on Gilmore Girls: Is it a high-water mark of witty American television, or is it something they've got playing on a continuous loop in Guantanamo Bay?
It'll be interesting to see how far I can make it through the series via binge streaming. I first got into the show when it was in daily reruns, and even spaced out like that I think I only made it three seasons before developing a violent allergy to the double-barrel barrage of banter. Just way, way too much of a good thing.
posted by Sys Rq at 1:37 PM on September 30, 2014 [2 favorites]
It'll be interesting to see how far I can make it through the series via binge streaming. I first got into the show when it was in daily reruns, and even spaced out like that I think I only made it three seasons before developing a violent allergy to the double-barrel barrage of banter. Just way, way too much of a good thing.
posted by Sys Rq at 1:37 PM on September 30, 2014 [2 favorites]
Ugh, Kirk is just the worst.
Human Kirk or Cat Kirk?
posted by Johnny Assay at 1:40 PM on September 30, 2014 [12 favorites]
Human Kirk or Cat Kirk?
posted by Johnny Assay at 1:40 PM on September 30, 2014 [12 favorites]
I'm going to stop dating and watch it for the first time! Can't wait! "Only me October" and "No man November!" I'm excited! Yay!
(Ok maybe a couple of dates. I'm a snuggle bunny.)
posted by discopolo at 1:43 PM on September 30, 2014 [3 favorites]
(Ok maybe a couple of dates. I'm a snuggle bunny.)
posted by discopolo at 1:43 PM on September 30, 2014 [3 favorites]
Once, when Gilmore Girls was playing in the background, I caught a glimpse of Luke wearing my favorite flannel shirt (mine has frayed cuffs and is ridiculously large on me, but lives on in a closet at my parents house). One of my biggest regrets in life is that I never made note of in which episode it appear, so at least I know what I'm doing for the next 3 weeks!
posted by casualinference at 1:44 PM on September 30, 2014
posted by casualinference at 1:44 PM on September 30, 2014
My 20-something daughter is a huge Gg fan, and used to OD on the reruns constantly. She'll be thrilled about Netflix streaming.
For me, the show is made unwatchable by the simple presence of Luke, a.k.a. the-man-who-is-old-enough-to-know-better-than-rocking-the-backward-ballcap. It wasn't a great look for teenage boys, and it's a sad, sad thing for middle-aged men to be wearing.
posted by Thorzdad at 1:46 PM on September 30, 2014 [3 favorites]
For me, the show is made unwatchable by the simple presence of Luke, a.k.a. the-man-who-is-old-enough-to-know-better-than-rocking-the-backward-ballcap. It wasn't a great look for teenage boys, and it's a sad, sad thing for middle-aged men to be wearing.
posted by Thorzdad at 1:46 PM on September 30, 2014 [3 favorites]
I heard Scott Patterson is very difficult to work with, according to rumor and the wonderful Amy Pietz. He seems like a really good actor. He should learn how to get along with people.
posted by discopolo at 1:46 PM on September 30, 2014
posted by discopolo at 1:46 PM on September 30, 2014
I think a big part of the show was the unique writing of Amy Sherman-Palladino, but I still feel like she intentionally sabotaged the show. They did not renew her contract and so she wrote the show into a corner at the end of season 6 when she had Lorelei sleep with Christopher immediately after having a fight with Luke. That plot point was my least favorite of the entire show (#2 was Rory sleeping with married Dean). Now, I thought it was terrible that they thought they should keep making the show without her, but I also thought it was terrible you would do that to your show and your characters.
DISAGREE! I absolutely see why you think that, but look at how things always go wrong for Lorelei, either through self-sabotage or because the point of the show is that they JUST CAN'T GO RIGHT. Remember when Dean and Rory go to that party and the whole episode is about how everything is great and perfect and they have a nice time and Emily and Lorelei get along and Dean and Rory have like an adorable picture-perfect moment where they fall asleep innocently on the hay in Miss Patty's barn and it's a beautiful end to a lovely night for everyone?
Only then they wake up and it's morning and they're still there and Lorelei freaks out and Emily freaks out and they get in a fight and then Rory comes home and she and Lorelei get in a fight because really nothing goes right. There is no happy, fairy-tale ending. God, that's a hard episode to watch, because we have the pleasant, sweet conclusion we're all expecting and then it ISN'T, it's just this horrible misery with no background music and people screaming at each other and that one happy night didn't fix it, it's just as bad in the morning.
Remember Max? Remember what happens there, when Rory keeps being like "why are we going on a road trip? Why are we going on a road trip? Aren't you getting married?" and Lorelei finally is like "no" and they leave and get stuck at that fucking traffic light that takes forever because nothing goes right.
There's a fight at some point where Emily and Lorelei start saying lines they've said before in previous episodes and it's basically just this whole huge big long montage of people fighting and passing each other the newspaper and re-treading the same tired ground because it never goes right and it doesn't get better.
I totally understand how you feel like this is Amy Sherman-Palladino sabotaging the show and how you feel angry about that. I feel angry too because I just want a happy moment for everyone and instead my hopes are dashed and I am hurt and disappointed over and over again but I think, in that final moment of the series (YES IT IS THE END OF THE SERIES), it's really not Amy Sherman-Palladino sabotaging the show, it's Lorelei sabotaging the show, and her life, just like she always does.
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 1:47 PM on September 30, 2014 [10 favorites]
DISAGREE! I absolutely see why you think that, but look at how things always go wrong for Lorelei, either through self-sabotage or because the point of the show is that they JUST CAN'T GO RIGHT. Remember when Dean and Rory go to that party and the whole episode is about how everything is great and perfect and they have a nice time and Emily and Lorelei get along and Dean and Rory have like an adorable picture-perfect moment where they fall asleep innocently on the hay in Miss Patty's barn and it's a beautiful end to a lovely night for everyone?
Only then they wake up and it's morning and they're still there and Lorelei freaks out and Emily freaks out and they get in a fight and then Rory comes home and she and Lorelei get in a fight because really nothing goes right. There is no happy, fairy-tale ending. God, that's a hard episode to watch, because we have the pleasant, sweet conclusion we're all expecting and then it ISN'T, it's just this horrible misery with no background music and people screaming at each other and that one happy night didn't fix it, it's just as bad in the morning.
Remember Max? Remember what happens there, when Rory keeps being like "why are we going on a road trip? Why are we going on a road trip? Aren't you getting married?" and Lorelei finally is like "no" and they leave and get stuck at that fucking traffic light that takes forever because nothing goes right.
There's a fight at some point where Emily and Lorelei start saying lines they've said before in previous episodes and it's basically just this whole huge big long montage of people fighting and passing each other the newspaper and re-treading the same tired ground because it never goes right and it doesn't get better.
I totally understand how you feel like this is Amy Sherman-Palladino sabotaging the show and how you feel angry about that. I feel angry too because I just want a happy moment for everyone and instead my hopes are dashed and I am hurt and disappointed over and over again but I think, in that final moment of the series (YES IT IS THE END OF THE SERIES), it's really not Amy Sherman-Palladino sabotaging the show, it's Lorelei sabotaging the show, and her life, just like she always does.
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 1:47 PM on September 30, 2014 [10 favorites]
Stars Hallow can't have a tech school, because it'd probably be called "Stars Hallow Institute of Technology" and the acronym is problematic.
Wow. You must have waited a reeeeally long time to bust that one out, huh?
posted by discopolo at 1:48 PM on September 30, 2014 [4 favorites]
Wow. You must have waited a reeeeally long time to bust that one out, huh?
posted by discopolo at 1:48 PM on September 30, 2014 [4 favorites]
I think a big part of the show was the unique writing of Amy Sherman-Palladino, but I still feel like she intentionally sabotaged the show. They did not renew her contract and so she wrote the show into a corner at the end of season 6 when she had Lorelei sleep with Christopher immediately after having a fight with Luke.
I still want to know what her vision for the show's ending was.
posted by jeather at 1:48 PM on September 30, 2014 [2 favorites]
I still want to know what her vision for the show's ending was.
posted by jeather at 1:48 PM on September 30, 2014 [2 favorites]
I did love the fact that the show often showed the characters making mistakes. I just felt like that particular mistake was one that felt out of character for Lorelei.
posted by bove at 1:50 PM on September 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by bove at 1:50 PM on September 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
Word in Hollywood is that Lauren Graham is nuts. Extraordinarily difficult to deal with. There's a reason she didn't go on from Gilmore Girls to become the outright star of anything.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 1:52 PM on September 30, 2014
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 1:52 PM on September 30, 2014
As a viewer, are we supposed to like any of Rory's boyfriends? Dean seemed so bland at the time (though I'm curious as to how he fares on rewatch), early Jess was awful (though I liked Philly Jess), and Logan was the absolute worst person in the entirety of the show.
On the other hand, with the exception of Christopher, Lorelai always seemed to date people I thought were way too good for her (Max, Jason, Luke).
posted by casualinference at 1:53 PM on September 30, 2014 [5 favorites]
On the other hand, with the exception of Christopher, Lorelai always seemed to date people I thought were way too good for her (Max, Jason, Luke).
posted by casualinference at 1:53 PM on September 30, 2014 [5 favorites]
I think we're supposed to like Marty. Until he's a dick.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:55 PM on September 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:55 PM on September 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
(And yeah, technically Marty doesn't count. But Duck Soup!)
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:55 PM on September 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:55 PM on September 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
Does anyone know if Gilmore Girls retained the rights to their theme song? My mind was blown away when someone told me that when you watch Dawson's Creek via DVD & streaming, you are not greeted with "I Don't Want to Wait". I'm not sure I want to watch GG without the Carole King theme. It would feel wrong.
posted by mhum at 1:55 PM on September 30, 2014
posted by mhum at 1:55 PM on September 30, 2014
Oh, I forgot about Marty! And I did like him until he became a dick!
posted by casualinference at 1:56 PM on September 30, 2014
posted by casualinference at 1:56 PM on September 30, 2014
mhum, can confirm that the theme song is on the DVDs.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:57 PM on September 30, 2014
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:57 PM on September 30, 2014
As a viewer, are we supposed to like any of Rory's boyfriends?
IMO, you're supposed to always wonder how far Rory's apple will fall from the Lorelai tree.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 1:57 PM on September 30, 2014 [2 favorites]
IMO, you're supposed to always wonder how far Rory's apple will fall from the Lorelai tree.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 1:57 PM on September 30, 2014 [2 favorites]
Also several parallels with Grey Gardens.
The Gilmore Girls realized this themselves (with horror).
posted by joan cusack the second at 1:58 PM on September 30, 2014 [3 favorites]
The Gilmore Girls realized this themselves (with horror).
posted by joan cusack the second at 1:58 PM on September 30, 2014 [3 favorites]
As a viewer, are we supposed to like any of Rory's boyfriends? Dean seemed so bland at the time (though I'm curious as to how he fares on rewatch), early Jess was awful (though I liked Philly Jess), and Logan was the absolute worst person in the entirety of the show.
On the other hand, with the exception of Christopher, Lorelai always seemed to date people I thought were way too good for her (Max, Jason, Luke).
Whoa there friend, are we watching the same thing? I agree about Dean being the world's blandest person ever, Jess is trying a bit too hard but not terrible, and Logan gets a LOT better and I end up liking him although I see your point. That said, Rory doesn't really deserve much better, does she? I mean, she and Dean are basically perfect together because he has the same dumb hero worship for her that her family does while having the same very low amount of personality she does. You're right on Rory, her boyfriends are terrible.
Lorelei, though? How are they too good for her? She is a fighter and a survivor and she loves deeply and like crazy and brings joy and interestingness to the world. What do they do? I understand not thinking she'd be a good romantic partner, that's almost certainly true, but she is a worthwhile PERSON and compared to her they're all just boring and safe and DULL (I mean, not dull like Dean but pretty dull). They're not too good for Lorelei, Lorelei is too good for them.
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 1:59 PM on September 30, 2014 [8 favorites]
On the other hand, with the exception of Christopher, Lorelai always seemed to date people I thought were way too good for her (Max, Jason, Luke).
Whoa there friend, are we watching the same thing? I agree about Dean being the world's blandest person ever, Jess is trying a bit too hard but not terrible, and Logan gets a LOT better and I end up liking him although I see your point. That said, Rory doesn't really deserve much better, does she? I mean, she and Dean are basically perfect together because he has the same dumb hero worship for her that her family does while having the same very low amount of personality she does. You're right on Rory, her boyfriends are terrible.
Lorelei, though? How are they too good for her? She is a fighter and a survivor and she loves deeply and like crazy and brings joy and interestingness to the world. What do they do? I understand not thinking she'd be a good romantic partner, that's almost certainly true, but she is a worthwhile PERSON and compared to her they're all just boring and safe and DULL (I mean, not dull like Dean but pretty dull). They're not too good for Lorelei, Lorelei is too good for them.
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 1:59 PM on September 30, 2014 [8 favorites]
Two hundred and ninety-three?!
We have reached peak listicle.
posted by TypographicalError at 2:00 PM on September 30, 2014 [3 favorites]
We have reached peak listicle.
posted by TypographicalError at 2:00 PM on September 30, 2014 [3 favorites]
Lorelei is not too good for Luke. They were equally good for each other. I agree about the rest of her boyfriends.
posted by bove at 2:01 PM on September 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by bove at 2:01 PM on September 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
As a viewer, are we supposed to like any of Rory's boyfriends? Dean seemed so bland at the time (though I'm curious as to how he fares on rewatch), early Jess was awful (though I liked Philly Jess), and Logan was the absolute worst person in the entirety of the show.
Dean is bland in a way that makes sense for a first boyfriend, but I can't imagine anyone over the age of 15 liking him. Jess is fine as a foil for Dean, but he's not the best, either. I liked Logan by the end, though.
Honestly, I never found myself caring too much about any romantic relationship other than Paris and Doyle; the best parts were always the non-romantic relationships.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 2:02 PM on September 30, 2014 [3 favorites]
Dean is bland in a way that makes sense for a first boyfriend, but I can't imagine anyone over the age of 15 liking him. Jess is fine as a foil for Dean, but he's not the best, either. I liked Logan by the end, though.
Honestly, I never found myself caring too much about any romantic relationship other than Paris and Doyle; the best parts were always the non-romantic relationships.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 2:02 PM on September 30, 2014 [3 favorites]
roomthreeseventeen: "mhum, can confirm that the theme song is on the DVDs."
Thank goodness. It's a relatively minor thing compared to, say, the original WKRP licensing debacle (and the more contemporary Daria situation), but dammit I want the original theme songs. I guess Dawson's Creek may have been of the final generation of TV series before TV on DVD (and then Netflix) became the (lucrative) norm and these kinds of licensing issues became unavoidable.
posted by mhum at 2:03 PM on September 30, 2014
Thank goodness. It's a relatively minor thing compared to, say, the original WKRP licensing debacle (and the more contemporary Daria situation), but dammit I want the original theme songs. I guess Dawson's Creek may have been of the final generation of TV series before TV on DVD (and then Netflix) became the (lucrative) norm and these kinds of licensing issues became unavoidable.
posted by mhum at 2:03 PM on September 30, 2014
Bulgaroktonos, seriously? The separation of Emily and Richard is bad, bad times.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 2:03 PM on September 30, 2014
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 2:03 PM on September 30, 2014
Not a listicle Typo so much as an abbreviated post-facto liveblog.
posted by Wretch729 at 2:06 PM on September 30, 2014
posted by Wretch729 at 2:06 PM on September 30, 2014
Cool Papa Bell: "There's a reason she didn't go on from Gilmore Girls to become the outright star of anything."
Is Parenthood something, maybe?
posted by mhum at 2:06 PM on September 30, 2014 [3 favorites]
Is Parenthood something, maybe?
posted by mhum at 2:06 PM on September 30, 2014 [3 favorites]
Dean is bland in a way that makes sense for a first boyfriend, but I can't imagine anyone over the age of 15 liking him.
That's exactly it! Plus, I'd probably have a better memory of him if the cheating storyline never happened. (I did actually like how Lorelai came out of that- so many shows seem to make allowances for cheating if people are in love, but she didn't believe that Rory held any kind of claim on her married ex-boyfriend.)
Logan reminds me of the worst people I went to high school with, and I will never, ever find him redeemable in any way.
posted by casualinference at 2:07 PM on September 30, 2014
That's exactly it! Plus, I'd probably have a better memory of him if the cheating storyline never happened. (I did actually like how Lorelai came out of that- so many shows seem to make allowances for cheating if people are in love, but she didn't believe that Rory held any kind of claim on her married ex-boyfriend.)
Logan reminds me of the worst people I went to high school with, and I will never, ever find him redeemable in any way.
posted by casualinference at 2:07 PM on September 30, 2014
I had completely forgotten about Richard and Emily separating. That's totally worth caring about.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 2:08 PM on September 30, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 2:08 PM on September 30, 2014 [3 favorites]
I don't like Logan as Rory's boyfriend at all, but I do like the scenes between Logan and Mitchum.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 2:09 PM on September 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 2:09 PM on September 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
I watched Gilmore Girls with my mom over winter break my junior year of college. It was sort of a bittersweet thing - we'd had sort of the difficult relationship common to moms and high-school-age daughters, and I think both my mom and I felt bad about our relationship compared to the idyllic Rory-Lorelai relationship.
But then Rory broke up with Dean and everything was OK - and I realized that I could break up with my nebbishy-but-increasingly-terrifyingly-controlling college boyfriend, and then I did and I cut off all my hair and things were great! I didn't find a Jess, but I got infinitely more awesome and happy, and I do think that it was in part because of Gilmore Girls.
I rewatched it a few years ago and at first my boyfriend (way better than the Dean-boyfriend) would ignore it, but then I saw he was listening and getting more invested, and then I found out he was borrowing the DVDs and watching it at night after I'd fallen asleep. Then we went to a cabin for our anniversary and he suggested that I bring the last couple of DVDs so we could finish the show up. It was great!
posted by ChuraChura at 2:15 PM on September 30, 2014 [6 favorites]
But then Rory broke up with Dean and everything was OK - and I realized that I could break up with my nebbishy-but-increasingly-terrifyingly-controlling college boyfriend, and then I did and I cut off all my hair and things were great! I didn't find a Jess, but I got infinitely more awesome and happy, and I do think that it was in part because of Gilmore Girls.
I rewatched it a few years ago and at first my boyfriend (way better than the Dean-boyfriend) would ignore it, but then I saw he was listening and getting more invested, and then I found out he was borrowing the DVDs and watching it at night after I'd fallen asleep. Then we went to a cabin for our anniversary and he suggested that I bring the last couple of DVDs so we could finish the show up. It was great!
posted by ChuraChura at 2:15 PM on September 30, 2014 [6 favorites]
Is Parenthood something, maybe?
I am not really into Gilmore Girls, but my wife is a massive fan, and as a result I've basically seen the whole series in passing at least 2 times (just by being in the same room sometimes when she watches). While it's not exactly my thing, I can see why she likes it.
Parenthood, though? Holy crap. That show is the absolute most distressing thing I have ever seen on TV. I'm sure my reaction has deep roots in my own neuroses, but every time it is on and I'm in the room, there ends up being a scene with 3-8 people all talking over each other with nobody listening like utter crazy people and OMG DYSFUNCTION DYSFUNCTION MUST LEAVE ROOM. I feel viscerally freaked out and terrified by it, and just, wow.
(also: Logan is a bad person who doesn't deserve Rory)
posted by tocts at 2:15 PM on September 30, 2014 [2 favorites]
I am not really into Gilmore Girls, but my wife is a massive fan, and as a result I've basically seen the whole series in passing at least 2 times (just by being in the same room sometimes when she watches). While it's not exactly my thing, I can see why she likes it.
Parenthood, though? Holy crap. That show is the absolute most distressing thing I have ever seen on TV. I'm sure my reaction has deep roots in my own neuroses, but every time it is on and I'm in the room, there ends up being a scene with 3-8 people all talking over each other with nobody listening like utter crazy people and OMG DYSFUNCTION DYSFUNCTION MUST LEAVE ROOM. I feel viscerally freaked out and terrified by it, and just, wow.
(also: Logan is a bad person who doesn't deserve Rory)
posted by tocts at 2:15 PM on September 30, 2014 [2 favorites]
holy snacks i never even made the remotest of connections about the twin peaks stuff, as someone who watched gilmore girls with my mom when it was on tv (I was like 13?) and had never heard of twin peaks or david lynch at the time. since then i've moved on to consume progressively darker and weirder media but now that i think about it i guess the gilmore girls/stars hollow universe was pretty proto-weird for me.
i haven't revisited it since, i guess i kind of casually wrote it off as too saccharine, but at the time my mom and i definitely bonded over the dialogue and lightly odd atmosphere and the 'lol-connecticut' factors, and as an impressionable teen i *loved* keiko agena's character and thought she was the coolest (can't remember the character's name!).
i never would have caught the twin peaks actresses appearing at inopportune times, that is making me want to go back and check it out again! i'm sure I'd get way more references in general now than I did at 13!
posted by ghostbikes at 2:18 PM on September 30, 2014
i haven't revisited it since, i guess i kind of casually wrote it off as too saccharine, but at the time my mom and i definitely bonded over the dialogue and lightly odd atmosphere and the 'lol-connecticut' factors, and as an impressionable teen i *loved* keiko agena's character and thought she was the coolest (can't remember the character's name!).
i never would have caught the twin peaks actresses appearing at inopportune times, that is making me want to go back and check it out again! i'm sure I'd get way more references in general now than I did at 13!
posted by ghostbikes at 2:18 PM on September 30, 2014
Cool Papa Bell, quite a number of people love working with Lauren Graham, including Jason Ritter.
Scott Patterson, on the other hand....
posted by discopolo at 2:20 PM on September 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
Scott Patterson, on the other hand....
posted by discopolo at 2:20 PM on September 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
I liked Logan as a character more than I liked Dean or Jess. With Logan the character at least operated on more than one level. Dean was very much a Generic First Boyfriend on whom the watcher could project a personality, and while Jess was supposed to be the Enigmatic Bad Boy, more often than not he wasn't enigmatic, he was just angry for [REASONS]. Logan was a rich boy, but he wasn't just a rich boy and he actually seemed to have reasons to be interested in Rory besides the fact she was the star of the show and thus needed a boyfriend, so here, have an archetype.
And I totally agree with Bove that season six felt like sabotage. I actually gave up after maybe five or six episodes. My girlfriend (now wife) would save episodes on the DVR and have me watch particularly good scenes, but she never made it sound like I was missing anything by not watching the rest.
And I tried to give season seven a chance with the new show runner, but something just felt off so I gave up on that too. As far as I'm concerned, seasons six and seven never happened.
posted by fedward at 2:31 PM on September 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
And I totally agree with Bove that season six felt like sabotage. I actually gave up after maybe five or six episodes. My girlfriend (now wife) would save episodes on the DVR and have me watch particularly good scenes, but she never made it sound like I was missing anything by not watching the rest.
And I tried to give season seven a chance with the new show runner, but something just felt off so I gave up on that too. As far as I'm concerned, seasons six and seven never happened.
posted by fedward at 2:31 PM on September 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
I'm looking forward to the reboot: The Golden Gilmore girls.
posted by blue_beetle at 2:33 PM on September 30, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by blue_beetle at 2:33 PM on September 30, 2014 [3 favorites]
Gilmore Girls is heavily inspired by Twin Peaks.
One of the very best episodes of the show is very Lynchian indeed.
posted by Johnny Assay at 2:37 PM on September 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
One of the very best episodes of the show is very Lynchian indeed.
posted by Johnny Assay at 2:37 PM on September 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
The best and only soulmate for Rory is and will always be Paris. Who needs those inconsequential boys?
posted by emjaybee at 2:39 PM on September 30, 2014 [15 favorites]
posted by emjaybee at 2:39 PM on September 30, 2014 [15 favorites]
Is Parenthood something, maybe?
Ensemble piece and she's the third (fourth?) lead.
Cool Papa Bell, quite a number of people love working with Lauren Graham, including Jason Ritter.
Yeah, got my own source. You'd recognize her name.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 2:41 PM on September 30, 2014
Ensemble piece and she's the third (fourth?) lead.
Cool Papa Bell, quite a number of people love working with Lauren Graham, including Jason Ritter.
Yeah, got my own source. You'd recognize her name.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 2:41 PM on September 30, 2014
Just yesterday I finished the full run of Gilmore girls. No, I'm not procrastinating at all!
posted by wierdo at 2:41 PM on September 30, 2014
posted by wierdo at 2:41 PM on September 30, 2014
emjaybee: "The best and only soulmate for Rory is and will always be Paris. Who needs those inconsequential boys?"
No doubt.
posted by mhum at 2:43 PM on September 30, 2014
No doubt.
posted by mhum at 2:43 PM on September 30, 2014
Oh, god, I love Gilmore Girls. I love Lorelai, I love Emily, I love Lane and Sookie and Miss Patty and yes. (OK, I do not love Taylor, but he is not there for my approval.)
I love "a film by kirk."
And then it was over, and "Bunheads" came along and I thought I'd have some time to enjoy another female-dominated cast throw around references and be emotional at each other, but no. ABC Family canceled it. I'm still not over that.
posted by rewil at 3:02 PM on September 30, 2014 [8 favorites]
I love "a film by kirk."
And then it was over, and "Bunheads" came along and I thought I'd have some time to enjoy another female-dominated cast throw around references and be emotional at each other, but no. ABC Family canceled it. I'm still not over that.
posted by rewil at 3:02 PM on September 30, 2014 [8 favorites]
So a friend of mine once invited me to come drink with his rugby team. I wasn't that interested in rugby, but I was interested in going for beers and meeting some good-looking men. And so I went, and was feeling a bit awkward from hanging around a bunch of strangers and not being able to contribute to the conversation.
But there was one guy who was friendly and easy to talk to. We bonded over our shared love of Gilmore Girls, while everyone else dished on America's Next Top Model. (Did I mention it was a gay rugby team?)
I started thinking maybe something could happen between us. After a few more beers, I was pretty sure something was going to happen.
Then he said "I'm so glad Rory and Logan are together. He's so good for her."
There was no going back from an inflammatory statement like that. After our (verbal) spat, we both went home alone.
posted by Banknote of the year at 3:10 PM on September 30, 2014 [15 favorites]
But there was one guy who was friendly and easy to talk to. We bonded over our shared love of Gilmore Girls, while everyone else dished on America's Next Top Model. (Did I mention it was a gay rugby team?)
I started thinking maybe something could happen between us. After a few more beers, I was pretty sure something was going to happen.
Then he said "I'm so glad Rory and Logan are together. He's so good for her."
There was no going back from an inflammatory statement like that. After our (verbal) spat, we both went home alone.
posted by Banknote of the year at 3:10 PM on September 30, 2014 [15 favorites]
Logan is good for Rory in that there are a lot of ways that Rory learns to stand up for herself. Every time she calls Logan out on being a dick (to Jess, to Marty, to her), that's all good stuff. The best, of course, is when Rory writes the article about Logan's launch party, and ultimately, it 's that guy that gets her the Obama job, right?
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 3:22 PM on September 30, 2014
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 3:22 PM on September 30, 2014
Whatever LG's rep IRL, one of the best lines I ever read on the late TWOP was: “I don’t know if I want to be Lauren Graham, or do her.”
a big part of the show was the unique writing of Amy Sherman-Palladino
Some of my all-time fave shows are Moonlighting (1980s) and Northern Exposure (‘90s).*** Hence my delight at discovering another somewhat fantastical, very verbal, GG, about a year or so into its run in the early 2000s. I don’t feel as if I’ve found a comparable show for the 20-teens.
(*** I’m also old enough to remember what first brought Kelly Bishop to fame, A Chorus Line. Sheila’s story in that show is pretty much hers. But you already knew that.)
posted by NorthernLite at 3:27 PM on September 30, 2014 [2 favorites]
a big part of the show was the unique writing of Amy Sherman-Palladino
Some of my all-time fave shows are Moonlighting (1980s) and Northern Exposure (‘90s).*** Hence my delight at discovering another somewhat fantastical, very verbal, GG, about a year or so into its run in the early 2000s. I don’t feel as if I’ve found a comparable show for the 20-teens.
(*** I’m also old enough to remember what first brought Kelly Bishop to fame, A Chorus Line. Sheila’s story in that show is pretty much hers. But you already knew that.)
posted by NorthernLite at 3:27 PM on September 30, 2014 [2 favorites]
No, dammit ... I just cleaned out my netflix queue last night and removed all the shows that, honestly, I was never going to watch. It's too soon start adding more shows to it.
I've never seen a single episode. I don't think I even had a tv the years it was on. But I'm guessing the consensus here - at least based upon the above conversation - is that this is good tv and belongs in the queue?
posted by kanewai at 3:27 PM on September 30, 2014
I've never seen a single episode. I don't think I even had a tv the years it was on. But I'm guessing the consensus here - at least based upon the above conversation - is that this is good tv and belongs in the queue?
posted by kanewai at 3:27 PM on September 30, 2014
Lauren Graham was on the Nerdist podcast earlier this year I think, and it was a pretty great episode. She and Chris used to be neighbors, and that was back when he drank and he seemed a little worried that he had been That Guy, and she was breezy and funny about it in a way that maybe he was but she didn't see any point in bringing it up now.
It sounds like she does not take much shit from anybody, and kind of doesn't have to, so what may qualify as "crazy" might just be "unmoved by industry bullshit". She writes novels when she feels like it, I think she might be shopping one of them as a film or series.
I can't decide how I would feel about a re-watch.
posted by Lyn Never at 3:53 PM on September 30, 2014 [3 favorites]
It sounds like she does not take much shit from anybody, and kind of doesn't have to, so what may qualify as "crazy" might just be "unmoved by industry bullshit". She writes novels when she feels like it, I think she might be shopping one of them as a film or series.
I can't decide how I would feel about a re-watch.
posted by Lyn Never at 3:53 PM on September 30, 2014 [3 favorites]
Gilmore Girls is heavily inspired by Twin Peaks.
These are my favorite tv shows ever. Though whenever I say I love Gilmore Girls people look at me like I'm nuts.
I definitely have a soft spot for Emily, and I think she's a complex but understated character. Though I think Lorelai's anger at her is completely warranted. Richard was pompous and boring and one of the very few characters on the show I didn't like. Him and Luke's sister and Luke's sister's husband. My very, very favorite was Paris. I love Kirk as well. He's brilliant. How can anyone not like a show with Kirk?
posted by Blitz at 3:54 PM on September 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
These are my favorite tv shows ever. Though whenever I say I love Gilmore Girls people look at me like I'm nuts.
I definitely have a soft spot for Emily, and I think she's a complex but understated character. Though I think Lorelai's anger at her is completely warranted. Richard was pompous and boring and one of the very few characters on the show I didn't like. Him and Luke's sister and Luke's sister's husband. My very, very favorite was Paris. I love Kirk as well. He's brilliant. How can anyone not like a show with Kirk?
posted by Blitz at 3:54 PM on September 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
I would give my left arm for a spin-off show about the band, Hep Alien.
It was those little sub-plots that made the show so great. Lane Kim and her wacky christian mom was a good sub-plot. I found Kirk kind of annoying but his stories added to the series. I could do without that concierge. I think he was supposed to be annoying but it went overboard.
posted by hot_monster at 4:00 PM on September 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
It was those little sub-plots that made the show so great. Lane Kim and her wacky christian mom was a good sub-plot. I found Kirk kind of annoying but his stories added to the series. I could do without that concierge. I think he was supposed to be annoying but it went overboard.
posted by hot_monster at 4:00 PM on September 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
Once a guy messaged me on Okcupid and said " I can't begin to explain how much I love that show on so many different levels". When I went online two days later he had already taken down his profile! I'm still convinced he must have been my soul mate.
posted by Blitz at 4:02 PM on September 30, 2014 [5 favorites]
posted by Blitz at 4:02 PM on September 30, 2014 [5 favorites]
Oh, that just reminded me how much my husband HATES TJ and Liz. (I don't mind them, and I especially like the actress, Kathleen Wilhoite, as Chloe on ER.) Oh, wow, I'd forgotten.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 4:03 PM on September 30, 2014
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 4:03 PM on September 30, 2014
are we supposed to like any of Rory's boyfriends? Dean seemed so bland at the time (though I'm curious as to how he fares on rewatch), early Jess was awful (though I liked Philly Jess), and Logan was the absolute worst person in the entirety of the show.
I think that Rory wanted to be nice to people, without having a moral core under that. And Lorelei had strong morals and the rarest of needs to be nice. Rory doesn't treat people great, even as she's hoping she's being nice, and a lot of them don't treat her that great either. On rewatch, I actually worry that Lorelei never points out the major red-flags of Dean's behavior (and then I wonder if she just doesn't know what a good relationship looks like herself). Jess seems like someone intriguing enough to date (especially to Rory) until you actually do, in which case he transforms. I think he actually told her, early on, that all that wooing was just to get her, and now he has her, so he's done. I didn't understand what Rory saw in Logan until my most recent rewatch (something that happens with frequency). There's this one scene, where Logan is trying to convince Rory that he just wants a quiet night in, and she says that even when he had a temperature of 104 they still went bar hopping. And I realized that Rory loves the wild adventure of Logan -- she loves the Life & Death Brigade stunts, she loves last minute surprises, she loves the rich trips and presents that are just because. And I think she loves the adventure more than she loves Logan. She knows it too, at the end of the series, when he wants to settle down and be done with adventures. (And while I think season 7 is rockier than the rest I do watch it and I like the end of their relationship.)
posted by Margalo Epps at 4:18 PM on September 30, 2014 [5 favorites]
I think that Rory wanted to be nice to people, without having a moral core under that. And Lorelei had strong morals and the rarest of needs to be nice. Rory doesn't treat people great, even as she's hoping she's being nice, and a lot of them don't treat her that great either. On rewatch, I actually worry that Lorelei never points out the major red-flags of Dean's behavior (and then I wonder if she just doesn't know what a good relationship looks like herself). Jess seems like someone intriguing enough to date (especially to Rory) until you actually do, in which case he transforms. I think he actually told her, early on, that all that wooing was just to get her, and now he has her, so he's done. I didn't understand what Rory saw in Logan until my most recent rewatch (something that happens with frequency). There's this one scene, where Logan is trying to convince Rory that he just wants a quiet night in, and she says that even when he had a temperature of 104 they still went bar hopping. And I realized that Rory loves the wild adventure of Logan -- she loves the Life & Death Brigade stunts, she loves last minute surprises, she loves the rich trips and presents that are just because. And I think she loves the adventure more than she loves Logan. She knows it too, at the end of the series, when he wants to settle down and be done with adventures. (And while I think season 7 is rockier than the rest I do watch it and I like the end of their relationship.)
posted by Margalo Epps at 4:18 PM on September 30, 2014 [5 favorites]
I have v. pleasant memories of watching the show with my husband but when I start thinking about specific details I remember how maddening the show could be. Amazing performances, amazing writing, but it is something like eating a scrumptious chocolate bar with almonds and raisins-- I hate raisins.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:37 PM on September 30, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:37 PM on September 30, 2014 [2 favorites]
I never found myself caring too much about any romantic relationship other than Paris and Doyle
Paris Gellar is the best character of all time. OF ALL TIME. I might need to go watch that one scene of her and Doyle rehearsing dance numbers for the 2002 party now.
p.s. how big of a fan am i? my email address is a reference to what affliction lorelai would prefer to a head cold.
posted by palomar at 5:53 PM on September 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
Paris Gellar is the best character of all time. OF ALL TIME. I might need to go watch that one scene of her and Doyle rehearsing dance numbers for the 2002 party now.
p.s. how big of a fan am i? my email address is a reference to what affliction lorelai would prefer to a head cold.
posted by palomar at 5:53 PM on September 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
I own all the seasons on DVD so I have rewatched them so many times (they are like comfort food television to me) but I am exhorting everyone I know who has never seen it to FOR THE LOVE OF GOD PLEASE WATCH IT ON NETFLIX.
posted by Kitteh at 6:21 PM on September 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Kitteh at 6:21 PM on September 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
I liked Jess in highschool
posted by likeatoaster at 6:33 PM on September 30, 2014
posted by likeatoaster at 6:33 PM on September 30, 2014
It sounds like she does not take much shit from anybody, and kind of doesn't have to, so what may qualify as "crazy" might just be "unmoved by industry bullshit". She writes novels when she feels like it, I think she might be shopping one of them as a film or series.
I didn't know she wrote novels! I just downloaded and read a sample. She is funny.
posted by discopolo at 6:35 PM on September 30, 2014
I didn't know she wrote novels! I just downloaded and read a sample. She is funny.
posted by discopolo at 6:35 PM on September 30, 2014
Her first book is really very good.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:42 PM on September 30, 2014
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:42 PM on September 30, 2014
I love Gilmore Girls but I think watching it gave my mother some very dysfunctional ideas about what mother-daughter relationships are supposed to be like.
posted by NoraReed at 6:44 PM on September 30, 2014 [4 favorites]
posted by NoraReed at 6:44 PM on September 30, 2014 [4 favorites]
Lane Kim and her wacky christian mom was a good sub-plot.
But also kind of uncomfortably real for those of us with crazy evangelical parents. Though I never did create a brilliant hidden wardrobe/music stash because I am not fucking MacGuyver, but that was cool too.
Still upset by Lane's story a little, actually. I may have yelled and thrown the remote once or twice about how it ended up.
posted by emjaybee at 7:21 PM on September 30, 2014 [3 favorites]
But also kind of uncomfortably real for those of us with crazy evangelical parents. Though I never did create a brilliant hidden wardrobe/music stash because I am not fucking MacGuyver, but that was cool too.
Still upset by Lane's story a little, actually. I may have yelled and thrown the remote once or twice about how it ended up.
posted by emjaybee at 7:21 PM on September 30, 2014 [3 favorites]
I've only watched one episode, and that was at a West Indian restaurant in Silver Spring, where they had it on the TV over the dining room. So, between bites of jerk chicken and fritters or whatever we ordered, I watched these two women theatrically speed-bantering at each other like some methamphetamine screwball comedy.
It did not make me want to watch it again. Ever. Should I revisit this opinion?
posted by the sobsister at 7:23 PM on September 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
It did not make me want to watch it again. Ever. Should I revisit this opinion?
posted by the sobsister at 7:23 PM on September 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
Having rewatched relatively recently, and though I love the show like a warm blanket on a late fall day, I find both Lorelei and Rory to be insufferably whiny, selfish drama magnets without even a modicum of self-awareness.
Shut up, Rory, indeed (i miss my beloved TWoP).
Oy, with the poodles, already.
posted by softlord at 8:34 PM on September 30, 2014
Shut up, Rory, indeed (i miss my beloved TWoP).
Oy, with the poodles, already.
posted by softlord at 8:34 PM on September 30, 2014
Still upset by Lane's story a little, actually. I may have yelled and thrown the remote once or twice about how it ended up.
Oh god. I think I have ranted about that here before, but I am STILL really mad about that. Lane deserved better!
For those of you asking if you should give the show a try: YES. In addition to the great writing, fun performances, and realistic(ish) storylines, it has to go down as one of the best shows for women ever. So many different interesting female characters.
posted by lunasol at 8:36 PM on September 30, 2014 [2 favorites]
Oh god. I think I have ranted about that here before, but I am STILL really mad about that. Lane deserved better!
For those of you asking if you should give the show a try: YES. In addition to the great writing, fun performances, and realistic(ish) storylines, it has to go down as one of the best shows for women ever. So many different interesting female characters.
posted by lunasol at 8:36 PM on September 30, 2014 [2 favorites]
Never have I been so envious of Netflix subscribers.
posted by fatehunter at 8:43 PM on September 30, 2014
posted by fatehunter at 8:43 PM on September 30, 2014
Shut up, Rory, indeed (i miss my beloved TWoP).
Anyone else here had a "shut up, rory" tshirt? I loved that tshirt.
posted by CrazyLemonade at 9:44 PM on September 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
Anyone else here had a "shut up, rory" tshirt? I loved that tshirt.
posted by CrazyLemonade at 9:44 PM on September 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
Anyone else here had a "shut up, rory" tshirt? I loved that tshirt.
Yes!
One of the main things I love about this show is that the writing and characterization is so compassionate -- so very few of the characters are "bad" or "evil," or even "good." Everyone has their quirks, everyone has their neuroses, everyone has their flaws. It's one of the very few shows I've watched where a character can be the hero of one episode and the villain of the next, without feeling as if the writers betrayed the character. I do think Lauren Graham and Emily Bishop were the best actors at embodying that realistic humanity. Rory's character was realistic, but anyone is going to be so frickin' annoying when they're smart and in college and pedigreed that it was still hard to watch.
posted by jaguar at 10:30 PM on September 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
Yes!
One of the main things I love about this show is that the writing and characterization is so compassionate -- so very few of the characters are "bad" or "evil," or even "good." Everyone has their quirks, everyone has their neuroses, everyone has their flaws. It's one of the very few shows I've watched where a character can be the hero of one episode and the villain of the next, without feeling as if the writers betrayed the character. I do think Lauren Graham and Emily Bishop were the best actors at embodying that realistic humanity. Rory's character was realistic, but anyone is going to be so frickin' annoying when they're smart and in college and pedigreed that it was still hard to watch.
posted by jaguar at 10:30 PM on September 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
Also, I was yelling, "Oy with the poodles already!" the other day at my cats, who were unimpressed, and I was upset I had no one with whom to share this. So thank you, MeFi and softlord.
posted by jaguar at 10:33 PM on September 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by jaguar at 10:33 PM on September 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
For about a year, I was a Nielsen household. It was recently enough that it was a digital monitor, which they hooked up to my tv, rather than a self-reported journal. I lived by myself. I worked from home. "Gilmore Girls" reruns were on for two hours every weekday, from 4pm to 6pm, I believe. I felt an absolute obligation to watch every weekday, to record for humanity that this show was important and we all wanted more of it.
posted by jaguar at 10:38 PM on September 30, 2014 [8 favorites]
posted by jaguar at 10:38 PM on September 30, 2014 [8 favorites]
I came to this show surprisingly late, considering several people used to tell me I basically was Rory (editor-in-chief of the school newspaper, Ivy League, same class year, blah blah, though after reading what many people think of Rory I'm no longer sure it was a compliment, and it's actually led me to reflect on some of my own flaws). I liked the more balanced feeling I got from finding it at a time where I was somewhere between Lorelai and Rory in age, so I could identify with both of them. I used to get a channel that showed the episodes at midnight every weeknight, so I both feel like I've seen most of it and have serious gaps. If we start doing the Netflix thing I'm going to have to rectify that.
Occasionally, someone asks me if it's raining, and it takes all the strength I have not to snap, "No, it's National Baptism Day. Tie your tubes, idiot" (male or female).
posted by ilana at 10:49 PM on September 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
Occasionally, someone asks me if it's raining, and it takes all the strength I have not to snap, "No, it's National Baptism Day. Tie your tubes, idiot" (male or female).
posted by ilana at 10:49 PM on September 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
That guy who plays Rory's grandpa has been in just about every TV show ever, I think.
More movies and TV movies than series appearances, I think, but he's very recognizable and has done a number of small but notable roles. I've been a fan of Edward Herrmann's since St. Elsewhere, but one of his first roles was in The Paper Chase (the film).
before developing a violent allergy to the double-barrel barrage of banter.
I watched for the banter. (The juvenilia plots such as the bland boyfriends and the constant scheming of Paris were what drove me away in the end.) I believe that Sherman-Palladino essentially wrote half again as much dialog for the show as most shows do, e.g. instead of the page-a-minute standard, or 45 pages for an "hour" show, she would write 55-65 pages and they would make it fit.
I also disliked the somewhat plastic feel of the Stars Hollow world, but realize now this was influential on e.g. Diablo Cody and Veronica Mars. I think. It's certainly more of a thing now.
posted by dhartung at 10:50 PM on September 30, 2014 [2 favorites]
More movies and TV movies than series appearances, I think, but he's very recognizable and has done a number of small but notable roles. I've been a fan of Edward Herrmann's since St. Elsewhere, but one of his first roles was in The Paper Chase (the film).
before developing a violent allergy to the double-barrel barrage of banter.
I watched for the banter. (The juvenilia plots such as the bland boyfriends and the constant scheming of Paris were what drove me away in the end.) I believe that Sherman-Palladino essentially wrote half again as much dialog for the show as most shows do, e.g. instead of the page-a-minute standard, or 45 pages for an "hour" show, she would write 55-65 pages and they would make it fit.
I also disliked the somewhat plastic feel of the Stars Hollow world, but realize now this was influential on e.g. Diablo Cody and Veronica Mars. I think. It's certainly more of a thing now.
posted by dhartung at 10:50 PM on September 30, 2014 [2 favorites]
Does this mean I'm going to have a new generation of online strangers assuming I'm female because of odd American usages of the name of an old Irish king?
Thank Gallifrey for seasons 5-7 of Doctor Who.
posted by rory at 2:17 AM on October 1, 2014 [1 favorite]
Thank Gallifrey for seasons 5-7 of Doctor Who.
posted by rory at 2:17 AM on October 1, 2014 [1 favorite]
My Dad loved this show. And he would watch it with my brother's step-daughter (who was around 5 at the time). And they called it "the two girls".
Unfortunately, there was another media item she called "the two girls". That was Mary-Kate and Ashley Olson DVDs. So she would play a trick on him and say "Let's watch the two girls!"
He would go "Awesome!" because he was hoping for some nice Lauren Graham time. But, no, he got Mary-Kate and Ashley. Repeatedly.
But now he has all the two girls he wants to watch. And I totally don't make fun of this nearing-60 military-buff blue-collar hard-drinking man watching Gilmore Girls. Nope.
posted by Katemonkey at 2:51 AM on October 1, 2014 [1 favorite]
Unfortunately, there was another media item she called "the two girls". That was Mary-Kate and Ashley Olson DVDs. So she would play a trick on him and say "Let's watch the two girls!"
He would go "Awesome!" because he was hoping for some nice Lauren Graham time. But, no, he got Mary-Kate and Ashley. Repeatedly.
But now he has all the two girls he wants to watch. And I totally don't make fun of this nearing-60 military-buff blue-collar hard-drinking man watching Gilmore Girls. Nope.
posted by Katemonkey at 2:51 AM on October 1, 2014 [1 favorite]
Logan is the absolute worst. Philly Jess is the only redeemable Rory love interest.
Paris is my spirit animal.
posted by Suffocating Kitty at 6:54 AM on October 1, 2014 [1 favorite]
Paris is my spirit animal.
posted by Suffocating Kitty at 6:54 AM on October 1, 2014 [1 favorite]
For all of the great fights on the show, the falling out between Lorelai and Rory was supremely unsatisfying. It should be the climax of the show--Rory starting down Lorelai's path and Lorelai being forced to empathize with her mother's position when she did that--but it all falls flat and doesn't hit the notes it should. I haven't watched it again since it originally aired, but man, such a disappointment.
posted by almostmanda at 7:00 AM on October 1, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by almostmanda at 7:00 AM on October 1, 2014 [2 favorites]
Parenthood, though? Holy crap. That show is the absolute most distressing thing I have ever seen on TV. I'm sure my reaction has deep roots in my own neuroses, but every time it is on and I'm in the room, there ends up being a scene with 3-8 people all talking over each other with nobody listening like utter crazy people and OMG DYSFUNCTION DYSFUNCTION MUST LEAVE ROOM. I feel viscerally freaked out and terrified by it, and just, wow.
I strongly suggest you stay far, far away from The Goldbergs, then. Because, your head will, absolutely, positively explode. I've lost too many friends...
posted by Thorzdad at 7:43 AM on October 1, 2014
I strongly suggest you stay far, far away from The Goldbergs, then. Because, your head will, absolutely, positively explode. I've lost too many friends...
posted by Thorzdad at 7:43 AM on October 1, 2014
For all of the great fights on the show, the falling out between Lorelai and Rory was supremely unsatisfying. It should be the climax of the show--Rory starting down Lorelai's path and Lorelai being forced to empathize with her mother's position when she did that--but it all falls flat and doesn't hit the notes it should. I haven't watched it again since it originally aired, but man, such a disappointment.
I agree. It could have been so much better. It's like they didn't want it to be as terrible as it should have been because no one wanted to envision a future where Lorelai/Rory resembled Emily/Lorelai.
I think the Emily/Lorelai/Rory dynamic was the heart of the show (they're all Gilmore girls) and of course they had to have love interests, but they were sort of a distraction. I know I'm in the minority because I hated Luke. He was such a grumpy, dirty drip.
Also, I didn't like Lane's arc as well - it's like she had to have some sort of fail to get stuck in Stars Hollow so it could be contrasted with Rory's Joey Potter like meteoric rise to great things, or something. Lane seemed miserable from her babies on. Even living with the band she seemed miserable. If only Adam Brody hadn't gotten on the OC, it might have all worked out.
posted by sweetkid at 8:04 AM on October 1, 2014 [2 favorites]
I agree. It could have been so much better. It's like they didn't want it to be as terrible as it should have been because no one wanted to envision a future where Lorelai/Rory resembled Emily/Lorelai.
I think the Emily/Lorelai/Rory dynamic was the heart of the show (they're all Gilmore girls) and of course they had to have love interests, but they were sort of a distraction. I know I'm in the minority because I hated Luke. He was such a grumpy, dirty drip.
Also, I didn't like Lane's arc as well - it's like she had to have some sort of fail to get stuck in Stars Hollow so it could be contrasted with Rory's Joey Potter like meteoric rise to great things, or something. Lane seemed miserable from her babies on. Even living with the band she seemed miserable. If only Adam Brody hadn't gotten on the OC, it might have all worked out.
posted by sweetkid at 8:04 AM on October 1, 2014 [2 favorites]
So, is there going to be a Fanfare thread for the show?
If you want one, there's a Fanfare Talk about Gilmore Girls thread where you can chime in what kind of watch/rewatch you're hoping for.
posted by Margalo Epps at 8:14 AM on October 1, 2014
If you want one, there's a Fanfare Talk about Gilmore Girls thread where you can chime in what kind of watch/rewatch you're hoping for.
posted by Margalo Epps at 8:14 AM on October 1, 2014
Also, I didn't like Lane's arc as well - it's like she had to have some sort of fail to get stuck in Stars Hollow so it could be contrasted with Rory's Joey Potter like meteoric rise to great things, or something. Lane seemed miserable from her babies on.
Also the worst thing ever--Jackson faking a vasectomy. I realize we're watching a show where the central plot is the result of an unplanned pregnancy and we want to come back to that without it being Rory's unplanned pregnancy, but the way it's handled for both Lane and Sookie is really upsetting.
posted by almostmanda at 8:17 AM on October 1, 2014 [2 favorites]
Also the worst thing ever--Jackson faking a vasectomy. I realize we're watching a show where the central plot is the result of an unplanned pregnancy and we want to come back to that without it being Rory's unplanned pregnancy, but the way it's handled for both Lane and Sookie is really upsetting.
posted by almostmanda at 8:17 AM on October 1, 2014 [2 favorites]
I ended up being driven off from the show for the most part by Jess. Would occasionally dip in and out after that, but stopped being a Fan. Oh my god was Jess annoying and douchey. Not that I thought Rory and Dean forever, because he so clearly was the starter boyfriend that would last at most until Thanksgiving of her freshman year at college, when she had a dating pool larger than six people and with far more similar interests.
posted by tavella at 8:28 AM on October 1, 2014
posted by tavella at 8:28 AM on October 1, 2014
I actually really liked Rory. But I was a year younger than she was, and she seemed like my spirit animal! She was nerdy, she was bookish, she was something exciting to watch and relate to. Then Rory got weird (or maybe I grew up), and Lorelai was the best. Then sort of back to Rory. I cheered when she broke up with Logan. Cheered!
The show caught my attention in the second season, when I was home with an ear infection and miserably watching TV on the sofa. My dad caught part of the episode and said, "Oh, that show seems good. Better than some of the other stuff you watch." And it was good! It was really good! I was head-over-heels with the show. My mother bought me the third season on DVD for my birthday, because she knew how much the show meant to me. (My parents never understand the shows I like. They often loathe the shows I like! But they understood that one!)
I re-watched the first and second seasons a few years ago, and I recognize more actors now, and the show still really holds up well. I like Lorelai more, and I'm not sure if I'll make it past season 4 or 5, but the show. So many memories. Thanks for giving me some appointment TV, and giving a lonely, depressed teenager/young adult something to escape to once a week while she got her life together.
posted by PearlRose at 8:34 AM on October 1, 2014
The show caught my attention in the second season, when I was home with an ear infection and miserably watching TV on the sofa. My dad caught part of the episode and said, "Oh, that show seems good. Better than some of the other stuff you watch." And it was good! It was really good! I was head-over-heels with the show. My mother bought me the third season on DVD for my birthday, because she knew how much the show meant to me. (My parents never understand the shows I like. They often loathe the shows I like! But they understood that one!)
I re-watched the first and second seasons a few years ago, and I recognize more actors now, and the show still really holds up well. I like Lorelai more, and I'm not sure if I'll make it past season 4 or 5, but the show. So many memories. Thanks for giving me some appointment TV, and giving a lonely, depressed teenager/young adult something to escape to once a week while she got her life together.
posted by PearlRose at 8:34 AM on October 1, 2014
I actually really liked Rory. But I was a year younger than she was, and she seemed like my spirit animal!
I loved Rory. I especially have a soft spot for Alexis Bledel's acting, which, like January Jones', seems like it comes from a fragile, introverted, delicate, slightly difficult person place, where small movements and soft words mean the most. I just think actors like that have different internal cues and are observers in a different way in their scenes than the more naturally outgoing, confident, brash types, which are most Hollywood actor types. It's a style especially suited for television over theater, and I think it is really interesting.
posted by sweetkid at 9:37 AM on October 1, 2014 [4 favorites]
I loved Rory. I especially have a soft spot for Alexis Bledel's acting, which, like January Jones', seems like it comes from a fragile, introverted, delicate, slightly difficult person place, where small movements and soft words mean the most. I just think actors like that have different internal cues and are observers in a different way in their scenes than the more naturally outgoing, confident, brash types, which are most Hollywood actor types. It's a style especially suited for television over theater, and I think it is really interesting.
posted by sweetkid at 9:37 AM on October 1, 2014 [4 favorites]
I only very rarely saw an episode of this show, and even then only in passing. But for some reason the "jam hands" thing has stuck with me to this day. In fact last night my hands were feeling gross and sticky and I was all "OMG JAM HANDS!" It's bizarre the things that stick with you.
posted by aclevername at 9:41 AM on October 1, 2014
posted by aclevername at 9:41 AM on October 1, 2014
Logan is the absolute worst.
I actually liked Logan, in large part because of (I think) something someone on a TWoP forum pointed out: most people automatically thought of him as a rich-kid party boy, but every time he was on screen by himself, he was either reading or working. I thought the show established pretty quickly that he was smart and that he was interested in writing and language, particularly, as much as Rory was, and by the end of the show he'd turned out to be kind of a work geek. I respected him for that. I was glad Rory didn't marry him because I thought they were too young and it was like her to understand that and put her hopes for her career first, but I was sorry that they had to break up anyway.
posted by dlugoczaj at 10:43 AM on October 1, 2014 [1 favorite]
I actually liked Logan, in large part because of (I think) something someone on a TWoP forum pointed out: most people automatically thought of him as a rich-kid party boy, but every time he was on screen by himself, he was either reading or working. I thought the show established pretty quickly that he was smart and that he was interested in writing and language, particularly, as much as Rory was, and by the end of the show he'd turned out to be kind of a work geek. I respected him for that. I was glad Rory didn't marry him because I thought they were too young and it was like her to understand that and put her hopes for her career first, but I was sorry that they had to break up anyway.
posted by dlugoczaj at 10:43 AM on October 1, 2014 [1 favorite]
Oh, and I agree with most folks who think Lane's storyline was disappointing at the end (although I also like Zack and his sweetly bumbling way), but I LOVED the growth of her relationship with her mother, and the fact that her mother turned out to be, secretly, just as much of a music freak as Lane was! Touring with a tambourine band, and writing a hit song! That was just beautiful.
posted by dlugoczaj at 10:45 AM on October 1, 2014
posted by dlugoczaj at 10:45 AM on October 1, 2014
I was glad Rory didn't marry him because I thought they were too young and it was like her to understand that and put her hopes for her career first, but I was sorry that they had to break up anyway.
I agree, I also thought they were well suited for each other and "got" each other in a lot of ways. In my imagination fanfic they got back together a few years down the road.
posted by sweetkid at 10:51 AM on October 1, 2014 [1 favorite]
I agree, I also thought they were well suited for each other and "got" each other in a lot of ways. In my imagination fanfic they got back together a few years down the road.
posted by sweetkid at 10:51 AM on October 1, 2014 [1 favorite]
About 5 years back, ABC Family used to show (or perhaps they still do) Gilmore Girls at 11 am every day, in order, ad nauseum. I was working 3 part-time jobs at the time and I watched the heck out of Gilmore Girls on my lunch break. To be honest, although I loved it when I was watching it, I'm scared to re-watch because I feel like as soon as I hear the theme song, I am going to be completely paralyzed by a fear that I have someplace I'm supposed to be, or some work I'm supposed to be doing.
posted by chainsofreedom at 11:38 AM on October 1, 2014
posted by chainsofreedom at 11:38 AM on October 1, 2014
Yeah - I still hate Logan because he really took away large parts of who Rory was, and who Lorelei raised her to be. It's like cheering for Chad Michael Murray to end up with Rory. He is rich, entitled, steals from her grandmother, breaks into buildings, steals yachts, and makes Rory feel like a stick in the mud for disapproving. It's EXACTLY the kind of guy Christopher was, and never grew out of. Spoiled and entitled. They made a point of their bonding like frat boys over all the private schools that kicked them out. As much as a jerk Jess was in high school, he never actively broke the law with Rory or tried to get her in trouble. He wanted Rory to be Rory - he liked her as she was. Sure Logan was smart and worked hard - but he was insufferable.
posted by Suffocating Kitty at 11:50 AM on October 1, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by Suffocating Kitty at 11:50 AM on October 1, 2014 [3 favorites]
Logan was great, he treated Rory like the intelligent, ambitious person she was and had lots of respect for her. He didn't want a boring sex-pot girly girl even though he could have had one. He was always supportive of her. Sure he had some issues with rebellion at first but so what? He was really young and intelligent and developed past that small part of his personality. And he had a very difficult life. He may have come from more money in some ways than Rory, but Rory was the one privileged beyond belief with her entire family and the entire universe (including Sookie, Mr Medina and the entire town of Stars Hollow) supporting her in every way. Logan's money and family were a burden. His dad was an ass and a burden. The money he came from was a burden. It was used to restrict and manipulate and withhold approval from him. The way he seems pushed and oppressed into a certain way of existing, with no regard to who he might be or want to be or could be as a person is sad. His father has no care for who he his, even though he seems lovely as is shown in his relationship to Rory. His character deals with it really well. Rory seems to actually fail him in the episodes where she does not seem to understand this difficulty of his life. She doesn't recognize that she has the best possible situation ever. One where the money is always there when it's needed for the purpose of great opportunities, from her dad or mom or grandparents, and massive social support in every way to do what SHE wants to do with that money and become who she wants to be. The whole show from the first episode to the very last is about her great potential and desire to become a journalist. The money for her was never a burden and it was always there with ease and abundance even if we see episodes where the Gilmores go through little "trials" to get money and having little money crises. Rory was much, much, much more privileged than Logan and more spoiled.
I also loved how they ended the show. They were very true to the idea that the show was about Rory and her potential and her life and her development, and the great possibilities before her. They could have made it seemingly more "romantic" by her agreeing to marry Logan and move with him (was it to California?), but she says no, because she is young and has too much to do and too much to explore and did not know what might be in her future but knew it could be great. She had been raised and nurtured in the most careful way and she was in a position to know not to limit herself or settle into a conventional ideal of a woman accepting marriage. She knew, because of everything that happened from the very first episode, that she wanted the unknown and to "go for it" whatever "it" would end up being. It was a marvelous ending.
posted by Blitz at 4:40 PM on October 1, 2014 [3 favorites]
I also loved how they ended the show. They were very true to the idea that the show was about Rory and her potential and her life and her development, and the great possibilities before her. They could have made it seemingly more "romantic" by her agreeing to marry Logan and move with him (was it to California?), but she says no, because she is young and has too much to do and too much to explore and did not know what might be in her future but knew it could be great. She had been raised and nurtured in the most careful way and she was in a position to know not to limit herself or settle into a conventional ideal of a woman accepting marriage. She knew, because of everything that happened from the very first episode, that she wanted the unknown and to "go for it" whatever "it" would end up being. It was a marvelous ending.
posted by Blitz at 4:40 PM on October 1, 2014 [3 favorites]
Logan was an interesting and complex character because all of the characters were, but I personally was rooting so hard for Marty (at least the beginning) that I couldn't see Logan as anything other than "Marty's unworthy rival" and hated him for that reason. Marty was clearly the Luke-ish one, and Logan was clearly the Christopher-ish one, and we know what the right answer there is, right? I identified with Rory so much in the early seasons, and then just didn't get what the heck she was supposed to be thinking during the Yale years, it was really frustrating for me (and for Lorelai, I guess.)
But I like Margalo Epps' theory above that Rory was never so much attracted to Logan as to the spirit of adventure he represented, and I think if I rewatched it now I would maybe be able to get what she saw in him a little more. I watched every episode of the show when it originally aired and have really not watched it at all since. But all this netflix-related nostalgia is making me really want to.
posted by OnceUponATime at 11:33 AM on October 2, 2014 [1 favorite]
But I like Margalo Epps' theory above that Rory was never so much attracted to Logan as to the spirit of adventure he represented, and I think if I rewatched it now I would maybe be able to get what she saw in him a little more. I watched every episode of the show when it originally aired and have really not watched it at all since. But all this netflix-related nostalgia is making me really want to.
posted by OnceUponATime at 11:33 AM on October 2, 2014 [1 favorite]
There's a Gilmore Girls Superfan quiz on Vulture, if anyone else is interested. (I got 43 out of 50 entirely due to trivia about rather than in the series. I didn't even know there were YA book adaptations.)
posted by Margalo Epps at 6:45 PM on October 4, 2014
posted by Margalo Epps at 6:45 PM on October 4, 2014
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