My year with the Gilmores

A week ago, I finished watching Gilmore Girls. It took me exactly a year, so I thought we could recap it a bit and follow my personal development along with Rory and Lorelai.

The reason I started watching it was because of my study abroad. I was scared, so I needed a safety net to fall back on. On one hand, I was ready to embrace the new adventure; on the other, there were too many uncertainties.

Since I´m a major overthinker, I came up with the perfect solution. I will expect the worst and then be surprised when it´s good!

I definitely recommend this method; it always works out.

I knew it was a comfort show for many people, and that it had a lot of episodes. I have been warned that I will probably not be able to finish it, because I´ll get annoyed by Rory in the last few seasons. But I was up for the challenge. I needed something I could turn to if my Erasmus experience turned out to be lonely and sad.

Not only did I finish it, but I also truly enjoyed every second of it.

In Gilmore Girls, there´s a slow development; the plot is similar to peeling an onion, one layer at a time. Nowadays, many shows are taking an approach where they cut the onion in half and then squeeze the juice in your eyes, so you are overwhelmed with emotions and intensity.

With Gilmore Girls, it´s a peaceful, warm story, where you watch the development of a mother and a daughter. You could say there isn't much going on, but that wouldn´t be entirely true. What I loved the most about the show is that you not only follow the development of the two main characters, but also of many side characters.

Let´s start strong with Emily Gilmore.

We see a major development within this character, and I love her humour, hidden sensitivity and strength. I feel like you´ll appreciate her more when you personally have a complex relationship with your own mother. Don´t get me wrong, I love my mother, and I know she would kill for me. But we do have our ups and downs.

When people hate either Emily for being cruel or Lorelai for being childish, they usually haven´t been in a similar kind of relationship with their parents. Another great movie with this type of relationship dynamics is Lady Bird, if I can slip in a little movie recommendation.

Speaking of great development, we have to mention Luke Danes. Being closed and grumpy, then transforming into a caring boyfriend (but who are we kidding, he had always cared), and ultimately evolving into a communicative dad, was an amazing plot line. I loved following his path, and he proved he and Lorelai do belong together. However, it was rushed in the end.

I felt like I was growing along with Rory and Lorelai. In the year I have been watching it, I went to study abroad, got my first "big girl job", had my first more serious romantic acquaintance, lost my job, moved out, and filled the gaps in between with amazing memories and unforgettable experiences.

In the last episodes, I was becoming increasingly emotional. And the fact that I watched the last episode lying in bed in my own apartment felt like closing a circle. I´m so grateful for starting to watch the show at the time I did, because it helped to underline all the changes in my life.

If you´re out on the road, feeling lonely and so cold, all you have to do is call my name, and I´ll be there on the next train.

Love,

Book and Tea Girl