A few weeks ago, everyone was talking about the crazy season premiere of The Walking Dead. You couldn’t walk down the hall or grab a bite to eat in the cafeteria without hearing someone talking about it. Students, staff, professors – everyone was sharing their take on that shocking episode.
Well, folks, it’s happening again. This time, however, there isn’t a zombie in sight. UNB Saint John is talking as fast as they possibly can about the Gilmore Girls revival, which premiered exclusively on Netflix on November 25th.
The show was a hit during its original run from 2000 – 2007, but after nine years of radio (television in this case) silence from its creators, how could Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life have been such a success? We talked to some fans on campus to get the official UNB Saint John opinion on why the show remains so popular, and whether or not the revival lived up to their expectations.
Lisa LeBlanc, a third year student in the education program, has been a fan of Gilmore Girls from the beginning.
“I started watching it when it first came out, and have loved it ever since,” she explains.
When asked why she thinks the show has remained popular for so long after it ended, LeBlanc tells us, “[People] love the bond that Lorelai and Rory have, along with all the pop culture humour and the romance and the drama. It’s just an amazing show all around.”
Natalie Pequin, a sixth year Arts / Education student who started watching the series last summer, agrees that the mother-daughter relationship between the show’s title characters is a drawing point.
“[Their] relationship bears a strong resemblance to the closeness I shared with my mom when she was alive,” Pequin explains. “It just sparks all of those warm, fuzzy feelings that are lacking in day-to-day life.”
Megan Santucci, a transfer student who hopes to be accepted into UNB Saint John’s nursing program, believes that the show has remained popular because those who watched it from 2000 – 2007 essentially grew up on Gilmore Girls.
“It’s just been a part of my life for so long, that I can’t even begin to describe how much it means to me. It’s a fundamental part of my existence.”
But were these loyal fans happy with Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life? The Baron decided to investigate.
“I was mostly pleased with the revival,” states Liam Floyd, a third year English student. “I thought it was a great return to the world [of Stars Hollow], and the trademarks [of the original show] returned: rapid-fire dialogue, fascinating character arcs, complex relationships. I think that Lorelai and Emily’s story arcs were particularly successful. [However], I was definitely disappointed by some things.”
Floyd, who began watching Gilmore Girls on Netflix near the end of 2014, went on to explain where the revival went wrong.
“I think they spent too much time on a certain musical sequence, which could have been spent shedding light on other characters, like Lane Kim,” Floyd says. “I [also] think the character of Rory was betrayed. She is a horrible person in this revival.”
Regarding how Rory Gilmore’s character seems to have become less likable, Floyd was possibly referring to how she conveniently keeps forgetting to break up with Paul, her current boyfriend in A Year in the Life. Her seeming to forget that he exists becomes a joke in all four episodes.
“I could have done without Paul,” Megan Santucci quickly agrees. “I get that they needed to show that Rory has had more boyfriends [than the original three from Gilmore Girls], but he shouldn’t have been included as a running joke. They should have actually made him a character presence.”
Regarding the format of the revival – which consisted of four episodes that were around two hours long – the general consensus was that more episodes would have been appreciated.
“It was different than what I was expecting,” Natalie Pequin explains. “I wish there had been more [episodes], and with an ending like that, I’m hoping and praying for more!”
She was, of course, referring to the top secret final four words in the last episode of the revival. We could tell you what they are – but where is the fun in that? You won’t find any spoilers here!
“Overall, I feel satisfied and am comfortable where things ended,” Floyd says. “If they decide to continue, great, but if not, that’s okay for me too.”
So what are you waiting for? If you’re looking for a show to binge watch over the winter break, it seems clear that UNB Saint John’s students would highly recommend both Gilmore Girls and Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life. Both can be accessed with a subscription to Netflix, or for the pirates among us, via your favourite virus filled streaming website.
