Where you lead, I will follow. “Gilmore Girls” has always had a devoted following, but the fan base has grown over the years. Some watched it live on The WB, some found it in syndication on ABC Family and others discovered it during the bingeing age on Netflix. Depending on when you first started watching, you may have a different connection to the show.
How does when you watched ‘Gilmore Girls’ affect your perception of the show?
THREE ANSWERS
Elise De Los Santos
Single | 27 | Executive Editor for RedEye | @elisekdelo
As a teen …
When “Gilmore Girls” was on the air, I was just a few years younger than Rory, so naturally, I wanted to grow up to be just like her. I already loved reading, and I wore a school uniform with a plaid skirt, but things came to a head when I was in seventh grade and had to make a collage of things I wanted for my future. Up until that day, I wanted to be a doctor, but even with “doctor” spelled out in magazine cut-out letters and photos of my dream car (VW Beetle) and house (ugly suburban monstrosity), I still had this big empty space at the bottom. Then inspiration struck: Rory wants to be a journalist, and that’s a long-enough word to fill that space. Many of my goals have changed since I was 13, but the journalist idea stuck. It’s strange to think how a TV show essentially influenced my college, career and life choices. Scary, actually. But here we are.
Shelbie Bostedt
Single | 22 | Digital Content Coordinator for RedEye | @shelbielbostedt
As a 20-something …
I put off watching “Gilmore Girls” far longer than I should have. Since the fifth grade, I’ve had many a friend recommend the series—”You’re such a Rory,” was always their battle cry. Finally, in a moment of weakness 12 years later, I decided to dive laptop-first into Stars Hollow. Watching at 22 years old allows me to understand where both Rory and Lorelai are coming from at different points throughout the series—and also puts some of my life decisions into perspective. What would Lorelai say to Rory if she were in my position? Have I ever sounded as ridiculous as Rory does when she wants to give up going to Chilton for Dean in the pilot? As Britney Spears once sang, “I’m not a girl, not yet a woman,” I’m not a Rory but not yet a Lorelai.
Michelle Lopez
Married | 32 | RedEye Digital Editor | @michelleglopez
As a mom …
I never watched “Gilmore Girls” when it actually aired on TV. All that I recall is that it didn’t seem as cool as the other shows on the WB network I loved—which is kind of lame because I faithfully watched “7th Heaven.” Yikes. I happened to be the same age that Rory was when the series started, and I hoped for a real friendship with my then-strict Mexican mother. This would have been the escapism I so dearly yearned for. Sixteen years later, as a new mom, I decided to give it a try—when your baby’s bedtime is 7 p.m., that leaves plenty of hours for Netflix. I blew through the series in a month. Please don’t do the math and judge me. Everyone who told me I would love it was right. This show was a warm, cozy blanket at a point where I was embracing this challenging but rewarding chapter of my life.
