Winter, how I’ve been avoiding you. (In-depth Gilmore)
Discussing Gilmore Girls; A Year in the Life (that title...). Well up until now I haven’t been real sure why but I’ve huffed, puffed and waited to write about my once favorite show. As a background, I love this show, I grew up with it, I’ve listened to the @gilmoreguysshow .. In some seasons I can remember the names of the episode titles.. in order! (I have shame.)
I am also a media fanatic. I love seeing movies in the theaters, discussing newly discovered tv shows, finding a new documentary obsession or even watching--(watching should really be in quotation marks) even “watching” the bachelor while my girlfriends diss the forced drama and endless dreary promos while we drink bottles of wine together. But fundamentally exploring the idea of story and plot through these devices- movies, tv episodes, documentaries- well sometimes in that exploration there come problems. And I’ve realized with Gilmore, sometimes there’s more problems than I can defend. Recently I’ve watched some of Gilmore Girl’s seasons 1, 2 and 3 with my boyfriend Tom. Tom would ask, what drives these characters to be together? Just how healthy is the friendship-motherly, daughterly relationship? Does Rory ever grow up? (Answer- technically no?) Does any progress ever emerge between Lorelai and Emily? (Arguably the most dynamic relationship of the show.) For Tom, the writer Amy Sherman-Palladino’s style really irked him as well- he’d ask if there’s really any plot at all, something I’d come accustomed too and had stopped asking myself. (Amy’s also known for her disinterest in writing for act breaks- do with that what you will.)
Like Kevin and Demi have mentioned on their podcast, Gilmore Girls is like a warm blanket to curl up in. It’s never too complex, it’s usually not overly dramatic and tiresome (preseason’s 5/6ish) and the lovable townies help one escape reality in a different and more unique way than other weekly dramadies might provide. But the style of the show, how sometimes nothing happens, sometimes mostly nothing happens, and sometimes Amy and Dan’s love of mocking things is too heavy and denotes the plot, well I’d been immune to that. I’d overlooked it. Tom brought that back full throttle for this particular show.
For everyone reading, I love Tom. Even without his love of the Gilmore’s. And he’s studying to become a fiction writer so story and the arc of a story is something he not only studies but contemplates over in his head constantly. One of our favorite critics Robert McKee has a companion piece where he breaks down recent movies or released tv series and asks, Does It Work? His fundamental Does It Work phenomenon consists of many fortitudes and heavily relies on the specific genre category executed. To put simplest, does the viewer leave wanting more? Feel a sense of satisfaction? Do they have a better sense of who these characters are and why the outcome occurred? Would you watch it again?
Or is there a problem. Maybe the viewer can’t exactly pinpoint what the problem is or why they’re not happy with a film’s outcome. Still, sometimes there’s this overwhelming sense, that keeps one from walking away completely happy/moved/sad or fully satisfied with the work at all.
Before we dive straight into Gilmore Girls, let’s talk about The Office, a show most have seen or are familiar with. Is it an incredibly thought-provoking show? No. Is it for everyone? No. Does it work every single episode? No, in fact some episodes one could argue, are not good- watch a few in season 1 and you can see the shift. The heart of the show is supposed to be Mr. Michael Scott but that’s not clear initially. In season 1, Michael is Michael. Plain as day. His whit is very self-depricating and petty, he doesn’t think of others, etc. He is unlikeable and forgettable. Now season 1 is just six episodes but once you launch into season 2 you may feel like there’s a huge change. Sure the show has got there second-season sea legs but the main character has indeed shifted. Unlike before, Michael is someone you want to laugh with even when his jokes aren’t funny. He’s not always the best boss but he cares about other people. He’s goofy and he’s aware. And when he messes up, you feel for him. Because there’s someone front and center to root for at every turn of the episode.
Toward the end of season 7 Michael, the great Steve Carel, leaves. It’s a beautiful finale episode. In fact the most prominent memory I have of watching the office is the most quiet one (literally). Pam barely meets Michael at the airport because she missed saying goodbye to the best boss she’s ever had. We’re not sure what she says to Michael in that terminal, their microphones from the always-convenient documentarists are off through security, but the exchange is unforgettable. And while you’ll miss Michael and you’re Madeline and she’s a college lunatic and wants to be Holly (his tv wife), you feel a great sense of relief. You got to witness a wonderful character’s journey. It’s full circle. And that’s something to smile about.
Hmm.. full circle. That certainly is a theme within the new Gilmore Girls episodes. But does it work? Does Amy Sherman’s real ending of the show now suffice? Are we left wanting more? That’s next time on,
No, I’ll write more later. It’s bedtime and the bachelorette is on. Watch a Gilmore Girls; a Year in the Life on Netflix now. (Some of it IS good I swear!)
