“Gilmore Girls” has been and probably always will be the TV show I hold most dear to my heart. I watched it for the first time with my mom in middle school, and I have turned to it for solace from stress time and time again. Its overarching praise of womanhood is a treat to return to every year and for the comfort of the early 2000s nostalgia and fall vibes that “Gilmore Girls” exemplifies.
The show follows a fast-talking mother-daughter duo as they go about their life in the cozy small town of Stars Hollow, Connecticut, and navigate their relationships with friends, lovers and the mother’s parents, Emily and Richard. Lorelai, the mother, had Rory, the daughter, when she was 16, and she estranged herself from her parents’ wealthy, high-society lifestyle shortly after giving birth. Because of Lorelai and Rory’s closeness in age, the two are more like best friends.
In an article for the New York Times from November 2020, the height of the necessity for comfort shows, “Gilmore Girls” writer Sheila Lawrence said, “Of the fans I talk to, they generally fall into two categories. Either they have a Lorelai-and-Rory relationship, or they desperately wish they had a Lorelai-and-Rory relationship.” Mother and daughter relationships are often complicated, and Lorelai and Rory’s relationship is no different. That being said, seeing their relationship so rooted in love and friendship brings a sense of consolation to real-life relationships.
“Gilmore Girls” feels like an ode to womanhood. Not only is there comfort in its beautiful demonstration of love between a mother and daughter, but it also explores their friendships with other women. “Gilmore Girls” passes the Bechdel test with flying colors, and I would even go so far as to say that it very rarely, or possibly never, breaks the reverse Bechdel test. The female characters are strong and independent; they take initiative over their lives, and they are comfortable in their femininity, which is a reassuring depiction during times of stress.
The comfort that “Gilmore Girls” exudes also comes in large part due to the nostalgia it brings. The show ran for seven seasons from 1999-2007, and every aspect of the show screams the early 2000s. The show is known for its pop culture references, which place the show very firmly in its time period. Additionally, the way the characters dress feels like something out of a time capsule. While the clothes are stylish and making a comeback, you could still guess the show’s period by looking at just the costumes.
The show has strong associations with fall as well. I am from Spokane, Washington, where all four seasons strictly stick to the calendar. Fall is a special one. Changing leaves, sunny days and cool nights, and a return to routine from the summer make for a uniquely comforting time of year. It makes so much sense that “Gilmore Girls” creator Amy Sherman-Palladino chose to root her show in the cozy vibe that fall brings. Being far from home at Trinity makes an annual “Gilmore Girls” rewatch all the more necessary.
Taking care of yourself, especially in college, is an important part of every day. While my personal favorite has been turning to “Gilmore Girls,” this can obviously take lots of different forms. No matter what, though, taking just an hour a day to relax and do something that you truly enjoy is a vital part of college life.
In the midst of midterms, turning to “Gilmore Girls” for comfort has been the perfect end-of-day antidote to stress. Whether you’ve seen it a million times or have never set foot in Stars Hollow, now is the time to turn to your favorite show, whatever that may be, and let yourself relish in a familiar fictional world.
