Since the first episode in 2000, Gilmore Girls, a show famous for its charming characters, witty banter, and picturesque scenery, has been a source of joy and entertainment for many. Following the lives of the dynamic mother-daughter duo Lorelai and Rory Gilmore, Gilmore Girls tells a beautiful coming-of-age story that has touched the hearts of thousands of people. Yet beneath this idyllic small town life is a complex story; while not all of the narratives are happy and some are better told than others, all are equally important. The show cleverly and subtly captures complicated human stories and relationships in a cheerful light. These stories have withstood the test of time—appealing to audiences across all ages. Rather than a simple story of a perfect mother-daughter relationship, it portrays a complicated web of human relationships, societal expectations, and the price one pays for being different.
The show handles a lot of these complex characters and relationships well. However, as a teenage, high-school girl who can relate to Rory Gilmore’s character on so many levels, there are areas I believe where the writers could have done more to inspire audiences. For instance, the academic journey of protagonist Rory Gilmore is barely addressed. Rory was first introduced to audiences during her early high school years. Over the years, Rory was continually portrayed as a star student—a girl with perfect grades, achieving every academic goal possible. Impressionable girls watching the show would look up to Rory as a role model and inspiration. Yet, viewers were barely burdened with scenes of Rory performing mundane tasks like schoolwork and working through challenging times. Occasionally, she was shown in her room, her head buried in a textbook, but these study sessions were often interrupted by the lure of movie nights, Chinese takeout, or her ever-changing love life. Despite consistently achieving top grades and gaining admittance into Ivy League schools, the show rarely showcased the sacrifice, work ethic, and diligence required to achieve Rory’s level of academic success. Rather, Rory’s academic excellence seemed to occur effortlessly, portraying an unrealistic image of the necessary elements to secure success, thus making Rory’s character less relatable. Although it was delightful for teenagers to have a relatable on-screen role model like Rory, the show missed out on an opportunity to create an even deeper connection with the viewers.
Even worse, Rory’s inability to deal with challenges was another disappointment and missed opportunity to inspire young, female viewers. At Yale, Rory was presented with a golden internship opportunity at one of the largest newspapers—something that she only acquired through her connections with the CEO, who happened to be her boyfriend’s father. However, all it took was some harsh feedback from the CEO to make Rory drop out of Yale and move into her grandparents’ pool house. The privilege of having her essentials provided for her, along with the lack of pressure to return to Yale, led Rory to permit herself to live a lavish life for a whole semester. This period of her life showed viewers that her perfect image hid a painful reality underneath: she was prone to giving up when things didn’t go her way, rather than using criticism as fuel to prove her critics wrong. Though certainly a relatable character, one might wonder if Rory Gilmore could have been presented to audiences as stronger and more resilient. This way, she would be an inspiration for younger women who watched the show to persist in achieving their goals.
All in all, Gilmore Girls will always have a special place in our hearts. It’s a show for the days when we’re happy, sad, and everything in between. And while we may long for a bit more from it, it’s full of love and joy that so many of us over the years continue to relate to today.
