Fall Into the Season with “Gilmore Girls”

From left to right, Alexis Bledel and Lauren Graham, the stars of “Gilmore Girls” walk down the street together drinking coffee. The pair is surrounded by fall decor and dressed in classic, cold weather outfits, symbolizing the season. Photo cred: Pinterest

Carrie Bradbury, Senior Editor and Review Desk Lead

The leaves are turning colors, there is a slight chill in the air, and the pumpkin patches are starting to open. Taylor Swift's “Evermore” can be heard on the radio and a baggy sweater becomes a common outfit seen in schools. There are many defining aspects of fall that become a common practice out of habit, rather than intention.

For some Watauga High School students, watching the beloved and nostalgic “Gilmore Girls” show is an essential addition to their fall habits.

“There's summer episodes and there's winter episodes,” said Ellen Hege, senior at Watauga High School. “But the fall episodes, that's what you think of.”

Hege is not only a fan of the show but rewatches the series every fall. Due to the homey feeling and familiarity that the show carries year after year, “Gilmore girls” is perfect for a fall binge watch.

“The coloring of the show is so fall. It's so nostalgic. 
I don't know what it is about the show, but it just gives you this warm feeling,” Hege said. “I would love to be at Luke's dinner, in the middle of fall, wearing a sweater and drinking a cup of Luke's coffee.”

“Gilmore Girls” is heavily focused on family dynamics, especially in regards to the three generations of the namesake Gilmore girls. Navigating the relationship between Emily, Lorelai, and Rory illustrates an intruding image for the viewers, one that they’ve possibly never seen before. 

Despite that the show’s plot is largely built off of conflict within the Gilmore family,  the overwhelmingly female cast makes it a welcoming watch for mothers and daughters.

“My mom really loved the show. My family has always had this tradition where we pick a show and watch it all together,” Hege said. “
‘Gilmore Girls’ became my mom and I’s show, and we have religiously watched every episode multiple times. We quote it everyday.” 

The main characters, Rory and Lorelai Gilmore, are two of the most renowned characters in teenage television for their portrayal of friendship, romance, and family. While viewers might not always connect with the situation of the mother-daughter duo or agree with their actions, it is undeniable that these two characters are brilliant in both their personalities and the ways in which they deal with conflict.

Julianne Bagley, senior at Watauga High School, is an avid fan of “Gilmore girls” and has found many elements of the show to be relatable and entertaining. 

“I really like ‘Gilmore Girls’ because I like the dynamic between Rory and her mom. 
I think it's really fun to see their mother daughter relationship, and the fun adventures they go on,” Bagley said.  “I also really enjoy the small town, Connecticut, northeastern vibe of the show in the fall town. It's a great comfort show to watch.”

Stars Hollow, the town where the story takes place, has a nostalgic atmosphere that draws viewers in. The town has everything that any other small town would: a local coffee shop, a crazy town mayor, and a row of houses where all the neighbors are as close as family. But it's the coloring of the show that ties it all together in the end. 

Madelyn Floyd, freshman at the high school, finds connection between Star Hollow and the small towns of Watauga County.

“I feel like it has a really nostalgic vibe, the fall town, and all the coziness surrounding the town, really reminds me of Blowing Rock,” Floyd said. “The characters are really relatable, and their humor makes me laugh. Seeing the dynamic between Rory and Lorelei was also cool to watch.”

Family dynamic is a reoccurring motif throughout the show and one that challenges the viewer to take sides based on their own moral compass. While some might believe that Rory and Lorelei are poor, Hege believes that to be not entirely true.

“I think there's a lot of talk about different kinds of wealth in the show. I am a firm believer that Lorelei and Rory are a lot better off than they believe that they are,” Hege said. “If you look at Jess's life compared to the Gilmores' life, they are completely different. The Gilmores have a lot of privilege and have been lucky enough to experience that privilege. I think it shows you what privilege can do to you.”

One of the most infamous scenes in the show is when Rory makes the choice to drop out of Yale and join her grandmother in a position on the Daughters of the American Revolution. This era of the show irritates many viewers and is often a reason why they turn away from Rory as a character.


“When Rory drops out of Yale, joins the DAR and becomes this person that she always was hating on,” Hege said. “I think that's a really important lesson to show that you can become your worst enemy.”

In one of the most memorable scenes of the show, Jess Mariano, the classic “bad boy” and Rory’s ex boyfriend, criticizes Rory’s decision and says, “Why did you drop out of Yale?” This was a turning point for the character of Jess and signified his drastic  character development. 

Through the show, Rory has three boyfriends: Dean, Jess, and Logan. Each boy is incredibly different, yet somehow each time, they are exactly Rory’s type. The inclusion of romantic relationships and the drama as a result of them draws in a younger audience for the show.

“My favorite character is probably Jess. I think he's pretty funny and then he's really honest and abrupt, straight to the point,” Floyd said. “My least favorite character is Dean. He's confrontational and annoying. He kills the whole vibe.”

It is certainly intriguing the manner in which Rory navigates her various relationships through the show. Looking beyond romance, Rory and her mother go through many rough patches as a family and with their friends, but through the more challenging story lines shown in “Gilmore Girls”, viewers get a better understanding of the characters.

Out of every conflict, comes a resolution, and one that often involves celebration. Celebration is a recurring theme throughout the story and viewers grow incredibly close to the Stars Hollow community through it.

“I think you can learn to come together as a community. Stars Hollow shows that strong community,” Floyd said. “I think you can learn some life lessons in that not everything has to be so serious, and you can kind of have fun.”