The Show That Never Really Left
Some shows disappear almost as quickly as they arrive, while others turn into family favourites. They become part of your routine and something you reach for when life feels a bit too much. Gilmore Girls is one of those shows. Twenty-five years on, people are still rewatching it. I say this with the realisation that it is happening in my home as well. My daughters use quotes from it all the time. And yes I hear it on repeat in the background while I cook dinner or fold laundry. And you know what? It’s not because it’s having some big comeback. It’s because it still feels right, like it belongs, slipping easily into the background without needing to try.
A Mother–Daughter Mess We All Recognise
It works because of the mother daughter relationship between Lorelai and Rory. They’re far from being a perfect TV mother-daughter duo. Their relationship is messy and that’s why it is so real. They argue, they screw up and say the wrong thing at the wrong time, like many of us. But their understanding of each other is what most people spend their whole lives looking for. Many of us have complicated relationships, with either a parent, a kid or even just a best friend, and that’s exactly why you will find yourself somewhere in this story.
A Story That Changes as You Do
It is the show that changes depending on when you watch it. When you’re a teen, Rory makes total sense. Teenagers undergo a lot of pressure to be perfect, and the fear of letting people down is something they grapple with all the time. It’s not new, we see the very same thing with our kids. But when you watch it again in your thirties, you will notice that Lorelai’s decisions aren’t as reckless as you initially thought. She’s just trying to figure it out like every other mum out there. And then one day you’re watching Emily go ballistic over seating arrangements, and guest lists, and you think, “Oh. I get it now.” Not many shows age with you like that.
Stars Hollow, Unreal but Exactly What We Need
Stars Hollow deserves its own mention. Yeah, it’s completely unrealistic as no small town is actually like that. But that’s kind of the point, right!. It’s a place where everyone knows your business and half the town drives you crazy, But on the flip side, they’d also drop everything to help you move or bring you soup when you’re sick. In a time when a lot of us feel more isolated now, more than ever, that sense of community is something we’re all a little hungry for. And the side characters are just perfection. Luke with his backward baseball cap and his grumbling. Miss Patty with her scandalous stories. Kirk doing… whatever bizarre thing Kirk is doing that week. They’re ridiculous, sure, but these are the kind of people we actually meet in our daily lives. They make the town feel alive, not just a set put together for the filming.
Fast Talk, Familiar Comfort
The dialogue is another reason people keep coming back. I for one, must admit that I really enjoy the rapid-fire banter, the endless pop culture references, and the conversations that go nowhere and everywhere at once. The show just assumes you’ll keep up, and if you don’t catch a joke the first time, you’ll get it on your third rewatch. And you’ll rewatch it, because there’s always something new you catch. Certain lines land differently once you’ve lived a little more. And there’s also something about the world it shows us that keeps pulling you back. Gilmore Girls comes from a time before everyone was glued to their phones. With endless scrolling on TikTok and Instagram that makes us all feel like we are constantly falling behind. There was a time when people actually sat and had good conversations. They hung out in diners for hours without checking notifications every five minutes. Watching it now feels like stepping into a simpler version of life, even if that version never really existed for you.
When Being Smart Isn’t Enough
The show’s view on ambition is more honest than it often gets credit for. The important message that the show brings out, is that Rory doesn’t just glide through life winning at everything. She messes up and often loses her way. It’s in these moments that she learns a tough truth. Being smart and working hard doesn’t guarantee that everything will magically work out the way you want. That idea hits a lot harder as you get older, especially if you were once the “gifted kid” who thought everything was already figured out.
Why It Still Feels Like Home
Gilmore Girls lasts because it’s something you can relate to, with characters that you can identify with. It’s the show you put on after a long day when you’re brain dead and you don’t want to think anymore. It’s not your go-to for shocking twists or intrigue. You’re there because it’s comfortable, familiar and it feels safe too. It reminds you of something good. Twenty five years later, it’s still around because it understands something important. Life is messy and relationships are complicated. The Gilmore Girls gives you the story that makes you feel a little less alone in it all.
