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Gilmore Girls: Season One

While many television series take time to lay down a foundation and ease the viewer into the story line, characters and concepts, Gilmore Girls takes a different tack. In season one, the background is certainly explained, but the fast-as-a-whip dialogue takes off from minute one and never eases up. Unless you are used to the Gilmore girls’ way of speaking (but really, how could you be?), the first few episodes are a little disorienting. As soon as you become accustomed to the speech and mile-a-minute pop culture references, you’ll discover that this show is unlike any other.

Lorelai Gilmore, though born into privilege in Hartford, Conn., now lives with her daughter in the small town of Stars Hollow. She moved away from her family after having a baby at 16, and raised Rory (short for Lorelai) by herself for the last 16 years. Rory’s dream is to get into Harvard, and Lorelai knows that unless Rory attends a top high school, her chances of acceptance are slim. So, she enrolls Rory in Chilton Academy, and just into her sophomore year, Rory is accepted. However, Lorelai can’t afford to send Rory to Chilton without any help.

She enlists her parents to cover tuition, and their only stipulation is a Friday night dinner every week to keep up with the girls’ lives. The relationship with Lorelai’s parents is strained at best, but she agrees to the condition. Despite the mother-daughter aspect of Rory and Lorelai’s relationship, they seem more like friends, and often refer to one another as their best friend.

The first season starts out a little shaky, with peripheral characters not completely defined (or randomly showing up as someone else entirely) and some of the back story not filled in. However, Lauren Graham (as Lorelai), exudes a perfect mix of comedy and drama. Alexis Bledel, though unsure at first and not entirely on, takes on the role of Rory more comfortably as the season continues. By the end, you feel a part of their lives and can’t wait to see where the Gilmore girls will take you next.

Written by: Tracy Elledge

Reviewers Rating: 8
Reader's Rating: 10.00
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