Gilmore Girls has really lost its way. I just got into the show last season, but I’ve been going to the local library and renting DVDs of the early episodes (the library here has all of the first five seasons!) The writing and characters have really taken a dive. I don’t fault the actors; they’re still fantastic. It’s just that they’re getting subpar material. They say “I love you,” f’Chrissake! Consider how Lorelai always had difficulty reaching inside and getting to know her own emotions, and how she always found herself botching relationships when she got too close. I know people like this; this is a very credible way to act.
Lorelai Gilmore was a unique kind of complex personality that you seldom see on TV. However, this season, she’s more reluctant with witty rejoinders, and seems to be more prone to let others get the upper hand in the back-and-forth verbal shooting matches that defined the show. Also, Luke seems to have lost his edge somewhat, as well. The world is beating him up right now, he’s losing absolutely everything, but somehow he comes off as less cross and less bitter than he was in the early episodes. I might expect his emotions to manifest themselves more in his quotidian behavior than they have been.
And Christopher! What does he do all day? I mean, I know he’s loaded and doesn’t have to work, but hell, he’s got to be doing something with his time, right? Even if he’s just gardening or surfing the net or something? It’s like they store him in mothballs and then just pull him out when it’s time for a scene with Lorelai. More, please!
It seemed like the story arc of the relationship with Lorelai and Christopher was developing nicely in the beginning of this season. They nearly tore each others’ throats out in the bathroom during the Friday night dinner, resulting from a difficult disconnect between the two of them that they had previously overlooked. Then all of a sudden they went to Paris and everything was swell, except for a marriage that Lorelai wasn’t so sure about. Next the stories are all about how Christopher needs to “get in with Stars Hollow,” as if that really means anything. What is this crap? Why do we need to focus on getting Christopher to be pals with Lorelai’s pals? Why not focus more on how their relationship isn’t working? Have them talk and realize they’ve changed too much since high school! Have them fight! Have Christopher make an ass out of himself in front of Lorelai’s friends! There are so many better ways to do this.
And for God’s sake: knock it off with the “I love yous.” That’s something that Lorelai would never say, even if she really, truly, honestly felt love. And I’m sure she does.
I don’t know who the yutzes are who are writing this show, but if they need someone who can do a better job, I’m available. I’d be glad to quit my job and write for Gilmore Girls, because even with this turkey of a season, I’m sure it can be salvaged.
Oh, and one more thing: the current head writer of the show has arranged for a special guest star to appear sometime this season. It’s a famous Hollywood director who just directed a movie that was released earlier this year, and he’s playing… himself! Barforama. The last thing we need is more Hollywood incest. Some writer inviting a director to play himself on a TV show that doesn’t exactly take place in Hollywood is such a lame idea. “We both work in TV! Or movies! Let’s give bit phat props to… ourselves!” They’ve come a long way from curiouser guest stars like Paul Anka and Madeleine Albright. Film people writing about film people is something I don’t care for at all. Yuck.
I’ll keep watching it, but my fiancée and I still refer to the DVDs of the earlier episodes as “real Gilmore Girls episodes.” Bonus: no Aerie Girls.