"Have you ever watched Gilmore Girls?" It's what my friend said when she recommended me this show while were discussing my tumultuous family relations. She said: "Give it a shot, you might find it surprising how much you can relate to these characters, their journeys and struggles." Said and done.
I have just finished watching the show and the last episode had me crying from beginning to end, and this is a statement to the most powerful asset the show has: the ability to make us relate and sympathize with the characters. This is a show about relationships: family, friends and love, plus we get to see one the main characters go through high school and college, and who can't relate to those things?! Life is tough and relationships are hard, but to still believe in your goals and dreams despite it all is what this show is all about.
The Gilmore Girls:
Lorelai's character (the mom) is the soul of the entire show, her dysfunction relationship with her parents, the hard work put into building her life and independence, the love, care and trust (even if a bit idealized) she shares with her daughter is a wonder to see, she is a living and breathing compulsive joker that made me laugh out loud so many times I lost count, and all of it lets us connect with her in so many levels.
Rory's character (the daughter) is the one everyone wish they were: has good grades, likes to study, is ambitious and above it all has in her mother a best friend and a partner. As she comes of age, we get to see a lot we can relate to: first love, first time, getting to college, existential crisis (every college kid has at least one), graduation and the uncertainties that lies ahead of adulting around.
Emily's character (the grandmother) is the one that makes us understand why all of us gotta go to therapy: because our parents didn't. She is also the reason one of the most iconic parts of the show exists, the Friday night dinners with Lorelai and Rory. The dinners are almost a synthesis of the entire show where these three women, who lead absolutely different lives and want completely different things from one another, try to get together and figure out a way to be a family.
The show is pretty clever in depicting the impact family support can have on someone as well as the result family disfunction can inflict on somebody, and that's what family is all about. But don't get me wrong, sometimes the very lesson the show is trying to teach about the importance of clear communication, and the problems with misinterpretation and assumptions are sometimes used for a lack of better writing, especially concerning Lorelai and Rory's romantic interests throughout the show and are very often frustrating and out of character.
It has a lot of great side characters and the tone and dynamic between them all shifts a bit from season 4 forward. It's a nice depiction of the small-town way of life and has a rare yet kind and considerate take on relationships between generations (grandma, mother and daughter). All and all Gilmore Girls is an up lifting, feel-good and cozy show. I loved this journey and I genuinely think it made me realize and change the way I see myself and deal with my family issues (and all of it while having a good time!). Hope a lot of people give it a shot, because it's definitely worth it.
