The introduction was quite grand and cinematic. We see Lorelai and Rory reuniting at the gazebo in the middle of Stars Hollow. I thought all the sets looked great and it really took me back to the original feel of the show. Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel look amazing. This is pretty unrealistic for the show considering their junk food diets. That plot point is still in full swing during the revival. I was thrilled to see Luke at Lorelai's house because after 8 years, they are still together.
Luke has always been my favorite character in the show. He's similar to my husband in that he's manly, loves the outdoors, is handy with tools and fixing things, and is incredibly reliable. With the exception of keeping April a secret in season 6 and being hateful to Lorelai after their breakup in season 7, I love his character. He shares many of my viewpoints on the ridiculousness and hilarity of the town's shenanigans.
Rory's story begins rocky and continues that way throughout. She's been dating a guy named Paul for two years and no one can remember him, even Rory. She almost acts like she's too good for him. I can't tell if we're supposed to like him or not, but I just felt sorry for him.
The death of Edward Herman, who played Richard Gilmore, was definitely felt throughout this revival. The scenes of the funeral flashback were handled very well and you can tell the actors don't have to try to look sad in those scenes. I did tear up a little when Emily was standing over his casket.
The intense fight between Emily and Lorelai about her drunken speech after the funeral was a testament to the talent of these two actresses. I started getting emotional myself when they were yelling in the kitchen. I can see both sides because of course, what Lorelai said about her father was inappropriate and it seems like she should have been able to come up with something better, even if it wasn't super sentimental, as Rory later points out. But at the same time, it does speak volumes about Lorelai's relationship with her dad and how he was more focused on his work than spending time with her.
Next, we discover Rory and Logan Huntzberger are in an open relationship where they're basically friends with benefits whenever Rory is working in London. She is also keeping this a secret from her mom. I admit, I liked Logan for Rory in the original run of the show, but this changes everything. It's obvious, even in this first scene, this relationship is doomed.
We're introduced to a British woman named Naomi, who is a boisterous drunk. Rory is trying to interview her for a book they're writing together on Naomi's life. She's crazy and fun to watch, but it's clear she's going to be a challenge for Rory.
During Emily and Lorelai's fight, Emily points out that Lorelai has never asked Luke if he wanted to have another kid. This leads to them briefly discussing it and ending up in a fertility clinic called Dynasty Makers. Paris' unmistakable voice is heard and we find out she's the head of this clinic. Someone should really explain to Luke he will not be having sex with the surrogates because he's genuinely confused throughout this whole scene. Ultimately, he's too freaked out and they decide against it. This story line doesn't go much further, but it does depict how Luke and Lorelai's communication skills still need work.
Speaking of Paris, she's very successful in her career, but is in the middle of a divorce from Doyle. I was sad when I found out they were splitting, but for some reason it doesn't seem final. They seem crazy enough to belong with each other.
It was great seeing all the townies again and to know nothing has really changed. Kirk is still creating weird and hilarious businesses, Taylor is still in charge of the town's affairs and invested in making sure Stars Hollow is the best it can be, and Miss Patty is still teaching dance. Rose Abdoo, who plays Gypsy, is still working on cars, but she also plays Emily's new maid. The first time I watched the revival, I completely missed this detail. I listened to the Gilmore Guys Podcast where they pointed it out and thought it was hilarious. Especially since she made up her own language for the role.
Lane and her band life was always one of my favorite aspects of the original show. I always thought she didn't get enough screen time, and the same is true in this revival. Nevertheless, I loved the scene at her house where we get a glimpse of her and Zack's twin sons. The camaraderie between Lane, Zack, Brian, and Gil has not changed. Brian still lives with them which is funny, but I wish he would have been married to Kyon. I liked the short performance we got, which was only made better by Paris' line "Are they serious?"
I didn't care for the scenes in the Inn with Michel and how they're having a hard time replacing Sookie. Her absence left an emptiness for sure.
The decluttering scene with Emily and Lorelai was entertaining and it was nice to see them connecting and grieving the loss of Richard together. Winter ends with Lorelai getting manipulated into going to therapy with Emily, who surprisingly took her daughter's advice to go in the first place. We as the audience were right with Luke, who tried to warn her. But honestly, therapy is a great idea for them both.
Overall, Winter was a pretty good start to the revival. We get to revisit this quaint town with all the characters we know and love. There's always a coziness to the show and they were able to recapture it.
Check out my reviews for Spring , Summer, and Fall!
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