‘Gilmore Girls,’ Season One: A Pop Culture Lovers Dream Come True

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When this was popular, and everyone watched this TV show week after week, I was happy burying my nose in a Janette Oke book. The appeal of Gilmore Girls was lost on me. Until 2-3 years into my blogging life, when talk of the Gilmore Girls was all I saw around the social media scene. gilmore girls season one

Gilmore Girls, Season One (2000) TV Show Review

16 years ago, Lorelai Gilmore (Lauren Graham) left home and never looked back. 16 years ago, the best thing to ever happen to her was the arrival of her daughter, Rory (Alexis Bledel). Now Rory is a bright, bookish young girl who Lorelai wants to give only the best to. This includes the best education money can buy. Only trouble is, as an employee of a small inn, Lorelai is ill equipped to give her daughter this.

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Showing up on the doorstep of her mother’s home would seem to be Lorelai’s only option. The problem? Emily Gilmore (Kelly Bishop). 

Lorelai and her mother don’t get along, at all. All of which traces back to Lorelai’s lack of interest in letting her mother turn her only child into a debutante. But now Lorelai is desperate and in exchange for her mother and father’s assistance with their granddaughter’s education, Emily asks one thing. Lorelai and Rory must attend Friday night dinners where a happy family dinner is expected to commence.

Writing about this show is not something I can do properly because there’s no way my writing can, will or does do it justice. Explaining why this series is so popular and loved (even 16 years later) is no easy task, and yet I’ll try. Or if nothing else, simply allow myself the indulgence of fangirling over the reasons why I love this series.

There are some shows that have an “it” factor that endear them like none other. Gilmore Girls is one such phenomenon. There is something about the fast-talking, junk food consuming mother and daughter that is endearing. But I think the fascination and appeal goes beyond that. In Rory and Lorelai, many of us found someone to relate to. Rory’s quieter, bookish sort is probably someone we bookish types feel a sort of kinship towards. Similarly, there’s the more outgoing and vibrant Lorelai who is also an easy to relate to character for those of us with a more outgoing personality.

This seems to be one of the things that really fueled the fandom of this show. A devoted fandom that, sixteen years later brought the once beloved series back to the forefront in the entertainment world. And who knows, perhaps this will be of a greater impact than its original run. (I speak of the later four 90-minute episodes exclusive to Netflix.)

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What I’ve said is so inadequate, but I’m afraid if I let myself continue on I’ll ramble on (and on) without an end in sight. This show is, simply put, comedy brilliance. I love the cast which includes the gruff diner (aka the love of Lorelai’s life, only she doesn’t know it yet), Luke; best friend Sookie St. James (played by the then unknown Melissa McCarthy); Michel, the French dude who is Lorelai’s best work place support; and of course, all the “boys” in Rory’s life.

Usually I’m not a fan of “old” shows (using the term to describe shows of the 90s and before) because they suffer the fate of bad production. But while this isn’t cutting-edge perfect, somehow Gilmore Girls remains relevant and current. The reason for this is all in the million and one things that makes Gilmore Girls a memorable experience. It’s that classic humor that never goes out of style; and the bond between a mother and daughter. It’s the romance; and Stars Hollow. It’s everything that makes this show what it is. The first season grows into what this show becomes, and sets in motion so many of the relationships that follow. Some of which will frustrate you with little care to your nerves, but this is why we love the show.

It’s the imperfections and simple joys of Gilmore Girls that we find the joy of the show. Best of all, this is a ray of pure sunshine. Something that is all too infrequent on our TV screens today. ♥

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‘Gilmore Girls,’ Season One: A Pop Culture Lovers Dream Come True. A review of Gilmore Girls, season one. #GilmoreGirls #TVShow #Favorite #Happy Share on X

Content: there is adult conversation, including talk about sex and some crude references. But overall, the first season is relatively “clean.” Gilmore Girls, season one is TV-14.

Photos: WB