Since 1939, when home television first arrived on the market, there have been thousands of shows made. Many terrible, many wonderful, but only a select few were so well done that they’ve gone down as a classic.
Gilmore Girls first aired on The WB in 2000. The show was initially conceptualized by the brilliant Amy Sherman-Palladino, who is also known for creating The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.
The show centers around Lorelai (played by Lauren Graham) and her teen daughter Rory (played by Alexis Bledel) who live in the small and cozy Connecticut town of Stars Hollow. Lorelai left home at a young age as a teen mom, and after searching for a place to lay down her roots, she found Stars Hollow and took a maid position at the Independence Inn. Lorelai raised and supported Rory as a single mother, rarely seeing her own parents or Rory’s father, Chris.
Season one opens with Lorelai, now the manager of the Independence, and Rory, a Harvard obsessed teen just beginning private school in her sophomore year.
Throughout the show, we follow these characters through love, loss, and tremendous growth.
Gilmore Girls is one of the coziest shows of all time. You become emotionally invested in each of the incredibly crafted characters. The fast-paced and articulate dialogue, relatable situations, and larger-than-life townspeople all make for an engaging yet heartfelt program.
Another great aspect of the show is that it appeals to numerous age demographics. Teens can relate to Rory trying to navigate high school. Lorelai juggling being a single mother, running a business, and trying to find love can be appealing topics for adults.
One of the reasons Gilmore Girls stands out amongst other programs of its time is that Sherman-Palladino created something that appeals to women. The female characters are complex, rather than just homemakers or love interests. With a majority of television being written by men, Gilmore Girls provides a refreshing opportunity to see intelligent, strong, and well spoken women, focusing on not only the men in their lives but their own friendships, businesses, and ambitions.
All in all, Gilmore Girls is an amazing show, and is definitely my favorite. I have watched it way more times than I can count and still notice new things about it each time. So, if you’re looking for a great show to binge watch, I’d recommend getting cozy and taking a trip down to Stars Hollow.
