A quick scan of the reviews reveals quite a startling level of loathing for the reboot of the much-loved 'Gilmore Girls'. My tip to the haters: give it another go. I first saw 'Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life' 18 months ago and I wasn't keen. I've 'given it another go' a couple of times since then and, trust me, it gets better.
Yes, it's not the same - but seriously, what did you expect? If later series of the original failed to be 'the same' as the early stuff - never quite returning to the freshness of early episodes - then what hope is there ten years on?
Wisely the creators knew this, hence a feature-length format and a feel that is disturbingly the-same-but-different. To be fair, a large part of the same-but-different vibe comes from the actors themselves. What have the years done to them all? Precictably, it's greyer hair and paunches for the men, and 'Too much make up'/'Has she had work done?' for the ladies.
Once you get past all of that and start to enjoy the thing on its own terms, it really works. The bits I once had the most trouble with - 'Stars Hollow the Musical' and the surreal 'Life and Death Brigade' Halloween sequence - I now really enjoy, because I know what to expect and, Toto, we're not in Kansas anymore.
The story of this particular year in the Gilmore girls' lives works because, when we meet up with all *three* of them again, they are all at a point where they are really struggling. The aftermath of Richard's death, Emily having lost the love of her life, and both Lorelai and Luke's relationship, and Rory and Logan's, drifting aimlessly and holding them back emotionally and creatively - and the resolution of all of these - is what gives 'A Year in the Life' its satisfying and carefully-crafted story arc. No, Rory isn't president, and she's not perfect. Newsflash - adults screw up and good intentions and a Yale degree are no guarantee of lifelong success. Plus Rory had form for making baaaaaad decisions. Where is the interest in seeing a perfect Rory living a fairytale life anyway? That's not a story.
The script is littered with cultural references lampooning developments since the original series ended - the story around Luke's Diner and the internet password is a brilliant running joke, the type of thing 'Gilmore Girls' always did so well. A lot of the humour is borderline tasteless but just gets away with it - another 'Gilmore Girls' speciality.
High points for me were Paris, who was always going to be brilliant, and of course, Emily. Her performance at her very last DAR meeting is an absolute hoot and perfectly pitched.
And no. The ending is not a cliffhanger. It's obviously Logan's baby, she's going to bring it up alone because Logan is her Chris, and then marry Jess, her Luke.
So give it a go, or another go, with an open mind. You might just enjoy it.
Yes, it's not the same - but seriously, what did you expect? If later series of the original failed to be 'the same' as the early stuff - never quite returning to the freshness of early episodes - then what hope is there ten years on?
Wisely the creators knew this, hence a feature-length format and a feel that is disturbingly the-same-but-different. To be fair, a large part of the same-but-different vibe comes from the actors themselves. What have the years done to them all? Precictably, it's greyer hair and paunches for the men, and 'Too much make up'/'Has she had work done?' for the ladies.
Once you get past all of that and start to enjoy the thing on its own terms, it really works. The bits I once had the most trouble with - 'Stars Hollow the Musical' and the surreal 'Life and Death Brigade' Halloween sequence - I now really enjoy, because I know what to expect and, Toto, we're not in Kansas anymore.
The story of this particular year in the Gilmore girls' lives works because, when we meet up with all *three* of them again, they are all at a point where they are really struggling. The aftermath of Richard's death, Emily having lost the love of her life, and both Lorelai and Luke's relationship, and Rory and Logan's, drifting aimlessly and holding them back emotionally and creatively - and the resolution of all of these - is what gives 'A Year in the Life' its satisfying and carefully-crafted story arc. No, Rory isn't president, and she's not perfect. Newsflash - adults screw up and good intentions and a Yale degree are no guarantee of lifelong success. Plus Rory had form for making baaaaaad decisions. Where is the interest in seeing a perfect Rory living a fairytale life anyway? That's not a story.
The script is littered with cultural references lampooning developments since the original series ended - the story around Luke's Diner and the internet password is a brilliant running joke, the type of thing 'Gilmore Girls' always did so well. A lot of the humour is borderline tasteless but just gets away with it - another 'Gilmore Girls' speciality.
High points for me were Paris, who was always going to be brilliant, and of course, Emily. Her performance at her very last DAR meeting is an absolute hoot and perfectly pitched.
And no. The ending is not a cliffhanger. It's obviously Logan's baby, she's going to bring it up alone because Logan is her Chris, and then marry Jess, her Luke.
So give it a go, or another go, with an open mind. You might just enjoy it.