The Word
  • Home
  • Movies
  • TV
  • Music
  • Sports
  • The Word Podcast
  • Pop Culture History

'Gilmore Girls' Revival: What We Want & What We Don't 

10/27/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
by Aprille Hanson
Where you lead, I will follow is what my inner “Gilmore Girls” fan has been saying since the show ended its seven-season run in 2007. A movie? A cast reunion special? Dare I say a TV reboot? I will follow!

Well, show creator/writer Amy Sherman-Palladino certainly dared and has signed on for a “Gilmore Girls” revival on Netflix. Amy’s husband, Daniel Palladino will also write and direct the four present-day 90-minute long episodes, one for each season of the year. There is no official word yet on what cast members have signed on yet, but Lauren Graham has already been talking about it on social media.

It is likely most of the cast will return, certainly Graham reprising her role as Lorelai, her love interest Luke (Scott Patterson) and daughter Rory (Alexis Bledel). The show will likely have to address the death of family patriarch Richard Gilmore, as actor Edward Herrmann died last year. Fans hoping to see Sookie St. James might be disappointed as her actress, Melissa McCarthy, might just be too big of a star now for Stars Hollow, Conn.

At a time like this, fans are bursting with excitement, but it’s got to be done right. Here are my takes on why the revival news is great, why it may not be and what I’d like to see from it.

WHY IT’S GREAT

More Gilmorisms: The quick wit and back and forth dialogue that Amy Sherman-Palladino wrote for this show is only rivaled by the great Aaron Sorkin (“The West Wing”). What other shows on television at this moment have the creativity to spawn a whole set of phrases so loved and revered they have a name -- “Gilmorisms.” The comedic timing the actors have to deliver the lines oh so perfectly is such a huge part of the show.

“It’s all any of us wants, to find a nice person to hang out with ‘til we drop dead. Not a lot to ask!” Well said Lorelai, well said.

Those final four words:  The Palladino’s left the show before its final season, which left the ending to one of the most beloved shows ever on television out of their hands. Not good at all. We learned Rory is going to jet off to cover Barack Obama’s bid for the Democratic Party nomination for the presidency and most of it revolves around a farewell party for Rory that Luke is throwing. Sure, Luke and Lorelai do kiss at the end despite the shambled relationship, but there’s really no closure. There’s no answers other than Rory leaving. It was not an end and it left many cast members and Sherman-Palladino unhappy. From the beginning of the series, Sherman-Palladino said she knew what the final four words spoken would be to end it all so finally maybe we can hear those words.

More kisses: We waited a long time. We watched various men traipse in and out of Lorelai’s life and her continually going to the diner to banter with the curmudgeon that is Luke.  They were perfect for each other but they couldn’t see it until the final episode in Season 4, “Raincoats and Recipes” where they shared their first kiss. Here’s to many more between the couple.

Mothers & Daughters: There will never be a better mother-daughter relationship on TV than Lorelai and Rory. Period. Won’t happen ever. This reboot is a chance for mothers to curl up with their daughters once again, drink coffee and watch the show. Better yet, it’s a chance for a whole new generation of mothers to go back and binge watch the series with their daughters, then watch the revival.

Setting a precedent: Netflix answered the cry of “Gilmore Girls” fans and struck a deal with Warner Brothers to bring it back, even for a short time. Streaming services like Netflix, Hulu and Yahoo! have been the saviors for a few shows with cult followings (“Longmire,” “Mindy Project,” “Community”) and it might encourage them to bring back other shows that have actually ended too soon. Netflix brought back “Arrested Development” for a bit as well. So who knows, maybe if “Gilmore Girls” brings in the viewers (which it will) maybe other shows we miss can come back. “Firefly” anyone?

WHY IT MIGHT NOT BE

April Nardini: Who knew fans could hate a little 12-year-old character so much? Well, we did. April was the random character thrown in as Luke’s daughter who he never knew existed. It turned out she caused the demise of Luke and Lorelai’s relationship. The show has to correct this character somehow. Even the actress Vanessa Marano admitted recently that she is such a fan of the show she didn’t even like her character. If they must bring her back, they better make her likeable, if it’s possible or else we’ll revolt in the streets.

Nostalgia: Yes, we want a better ending. Yes, we want to see how these characters turned out. But by bringing it back, you’re messing with sacred ground in many fans’ minds. This is “Gilmore Girls” and one wrong move is going to shatter our adolescence, so please be gentle.

Luke & Lorelai: I know Sherman-Palladino has said if there was ever a reboot, she’d end the series right. But “right” is all up for debate. If it doesn’t end with Luke and Lorelai together, then we have a big problem. It’s the only right way to do it for the fans. Let’s hope that’s how she sees it too.

WHAT I WANT TO SEE

Wedding bells: We as the fans need a forever commitment between Luke and Lorelai. We need a wedding. We don’t need Christopher to come in and try to win Lorelai back and we don’t need any more random children to crawl through the woodwork. I want to see that final kiss. We fans deserve it.

Best friends: The main focus of the show should always be Lorelai and Rory. That relationship is so unique and special I just want to see how it’s been throughout the years. I want to see good things in Rory’s career and some good bonding time for the two because where it left off, it started to be a little rocky again. And maybe, Rory could start her own mother-daughter relationship. Final words: “Ready to be a grandma?” … OK, five words. Maybe Sherman-Palladino can strip it down to four with more elegance.

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    September 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    January 2013

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • Movies
  • TV
  • Music
  • Sports
  • The Word Podcast
  • Pop Culture History