binge watched 'Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life' (2016)

[orangerful]

Better than I expected...spoilerly thoughts under the cut...mostly the things I as nit picky about...



It was interesting how much they made Edward Hermann's death a key plot point, the loss of Richard really propels a lot of the story.

I felt really bad for Paul. I know the joke is that he is so forgettable but...damn, that is harsh! There wasn't anything about him that felt forgettable except that he didn't fit into the GG world yet. But was that his fault? (and I knew that he was going to have to break up with her as soon as he was introduced as the hilariously forgettable guy).

The writing felt right. Graham and Bledel fell into the rhythm very quickly. You could tell the creator of the series was back at the helm.

The thing with Logan was kind of icky but I understood it. I mean, I could sense Rory's logic, the idea that she felt she could be detached enough that his engagement didn't bother her. But it was still kinda icky, though a very Gilmore thing to do.

Paris was a hot mess, as usual, though I really wish that after all these years she had maybe gained some more confidence. You can still be a crazy, hardcore worker type without being an awful mother who abuses her maid and ends up divorced. And we barely got to spend any time with her and Doyle (who I still refer to as Johnathan from Buffy, even though I know his name is Danny (I wrote a few of the Hunger Games movies and some other award winning films) Strong.

The "Wild" thing was kinda random but pretty amusing even if I felt that the bit went on a little too long. Also, Lorelai was spending money like crazy, flying all the way to California on a whim? Buying hiking gear? I feel like her asking Emily for money at the end was just ridiculous because she clearly has a lot of extra income to throw around if she can do that without a second thought!

The scene with Christopher felt very weird. The way it was filmed, never putting him and Rory in the same frame until the hug...for a moment, I thought maybe the actor couldn't make it to the set to film and they were faking it all ala Arrested Development.

I think Jess and Emily were the "move improved" of the series. Jess managed to not get into any fist fights with anyone and Emily freed herself from a life she was no longer happy in. I loved her outburst. It felt surreal, I was worried it was going to be all in her head.

I was enjoying it all immensely until the last 3 second. When Rory said she was pregnant. And suddenly I was really upset with the show. Rory is smarter than that. I don't believe that a girl who was flying all over and having sex with an engaged man on a regular basis would not be on birth control of some kind. And in my head, I assume it was from the "one night stand" and not with Logan.

I feel like they were trying to be all cute (or maybe attempting to create a need for more seasons?) but it just pissed me off that we had a woman focused on her career who pretty much spirals and ends up settling for no real job (??? the Gazette doesn't pay ???) and moving back in with her Mom?

Sylvia said that Amy Sherman-Palladino said she always wanted to end the series that way, which just bothers me so much. Lorelai spent the whole series trying to get Rory to a better place than she was and instead Rory is about to be in the same spot. Except she is 32. But still, no partner, no job - pretty much ending her life.

I wanted this to be a four episode final farewell. It was fun to revisit Stars Hollow, see the little tweaks they made to make it feel like 2016 but still keep the little callbacks to 2000-2007. And it felt like it was all going to wrap up nicely, except suddenly they decided to have Jess look at Rory longingly through the window as he left, the strange elopement not-a-wedding (I'm so confused, did they not have a wedding at all the next day? Where was Emily in her dress?), and then that last sentence that made me feel tricked - like this wasn't a revival but a pitch for a Rory spin-off because, like her tv counterpart, Alexis Bedel has been unable to top what she did as a teen and has come back to Stars Hollow to survive.



So long Stars Hollow. It was nice visiting you again.

Comments

[blakmagjick]

I have mixed feelings for a bunch of the stuff..but overall I really enjoyed it, and glad i got to see more Stars Hollow.
I agree with a lot of the things you said here :)

I *really* wish the musical wasn't a thing...that whole part...ugh.
I guess just the additional song was important...but otherwise, ugh.

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it was REALLY LONG! I kept thinking they should have just shown a few clips and then maybe have the whole musical on the DVD on YouTube or something! Maybe they were having trouble padding out the 90 minutes that day?