On October 5, 2025, Gilmore Girls celebrated its 25th anniversary, causing fans to reminisce on all the comical and iconic moments in the 7-season show. The show follows a young, energetic, talkative mother, Lorelei Gilmore and her studious daughter Rory, as they rely on each other deeply while navigating relationships, school, work, and other daily occurrences. Adored by many and frequently viewed during the fall, this witty show is very popular among teenage girls, so is it worth watching?
Airing in 2000, the show began small, with moderate viewership and not very much funding. However, as it progressed through the season, it became more popular and more successful, especially in 2011 when it arrived on Netflix, causing a spin-off series, Gilmore Girls: A Day in the Life, to take place. There are multiple reasons for why Gilmore Girls could have possibly not been as successful in the beginning and countless reasons why it is so successful now.
One of the most conversed about aspects of this show is the characters in it. Lorelei Gilmore is one of the most beloved characters, being the perfect combination of work and play. While she is a role model for characters in her career, her main characteristic is her fast-paced sense of humor. Originating some of the most iconic lines of the show, like “oy with the poodles already” and “I smell snow,” her character engages the audience at all times. Additionally her relationships make up some of the key aspects of the show, from the comedic mother-daughter relationship between her and Rory to her one and off relationships with Luke, the diner owner, the show truly does feed off her energy and interactions.
However, Lorelei’s relationships are not the most debated, unlike her daughter Rory’s love interests: Dean, Jess, and Logan. The three could not be more different, with Dean representing Rory’s small town life, Jess representing rebellion, and Logan representing Rory’s more privileged life, shaping her character arc along with the sophistication of her relationships throughout the 7 seasons.
Seniors Alison Irmer and Sophie Fromkin are big fans of the show, yet differ in their opinions of Rory’s’ boyfriends. This is reflected in many of their opinions of the show, as shown in Fromkin saying her biggest piece of criticism is that “they made Jess a good guy,” which she is passionate about because she feels that Jess was not good to Rory and Logan treated her better. Meanwhile, Irmer believes the opposite, which is why she says her favorite scene is when Rory and Jess get together for the first time.
Arguably the most iconic aspects of the program, however, is the setting and the mood it creates. Taking place in a small, close-knit community, the small town charm is really captured in so many ways. From the long conversations with neighbors, to walking to every town landmark, to the always-eventful town meetings, it is evident how imperative of a role community plays in the show.
The show is also centered around the season of fall, with the cover picture having a background of colorful leaves and the fashion being almost exclusively sweaters and jeans. Many viewers excitedly await the return of fall for an annual Gilmore Girls rewatch, which is why at the Emmys this year, Lauren Graham who plays Lorelei Gilmore, understandably labeled the show as the one that “took over the fall.”
However, nothing is perfect, not even this beloved show. Some critics believe it is difficult to start because the first couple episodes are slow and less eventful. Other viewers claim the show is harder to watch in the later seasons because of the decline in Rory’s character, particularly her growing entitlement and decline in morals. While understandable, fans might argue that this shift in Rory’s behavior makes the show more interesting and strengthens the mother/daughter bonds between her and Lorelei. Many viewers have also expressed disappointment in the show’s finale. Both Alison Irmer and Sophie Fromkin reported dissatisfaction with the ending, with Irmer saying “they didn’t give enough closure” to the end of the show. However, this discontent has not prevented these fans from indulging in the show, with Fromkin watching it about 12 times and Irmer, 17.
There are countless reasons to love this timeless show, from the engaging relationships, to the quick witted comments, to the cozy fall vibe. Considered a must-watch by many and a fall necessity, the season would not be complete without this Netflix favorite.
