Fall is here, meaning it’s time for coffee, cozy sweaters and “Gilmore Girls.” The 2000s TV show has just hit its 25th anniversary, and the Urban community is still hooked by its small-town charm and endearing characters.
“Gilmore Girls” follows Lorelai, who moved to the fictional Stars Hollow as a teen mom and began a new life with her daughter, Rory. The show is set in Stars Hollow, an idyllic small town with a tight-knit community. “[‘Gilmore Girls’] takes you away from your real, everyday life into a world that’s lovable, with characters who are lovable,” Amelia Fishman ’28 said.
Urban students are particularly drawn to “Gilmore Girls” during the fall season. “[The fall] brings people in. One of my friends … only watches [‘Gilmore Girls’] when it’s fall,” Charlotte Turner ’29 said. “I feel like it’s really nice to see all the seasons because in San Francisco, we don’t really have them.”
The fall appeal of “Gilmore Girls” is reflected in its streaming numbers. In 2024, “Gilmore Girls” made the top 10 streamed shows in the U.S. for five weeks, four of which were during September and October.
Another aspect central to the show’s popularity is the mother-daughter relationship between the lead characters Lorelai and Rory Gilmore. “They’re more like friends than mother and daughter. … It makes their relationship unique and fun to watch, and you want to support it,” Charlotte Klein ’26 said.
History teacher Brooke Roberts’ daughter introduced her to the show. “My daughter was in middle school, and she and all of her friends were super into it. I couldn’t not watch, because it was so entertaining, and it gave us a way to hang out,” she said.
Students also share experiences watching “Gilmore Girls” with their moms. “I started watching with my mom when I was nine, and I’ve been rewatching it [since],” Turner said.
Lorelai’s journey to independence resonates with students, adding to the show’s appeal. “At first, everything was kind of handed to her on a silver platter, but she didn’t want that,” Rory Madway ’28 said. “She wanted to be independent, and I think that’s really powerful.”
Students also watch “Gilmore Girls” because of Rory, whose academic excellence is still looked up to 25 years after the show’s release. “Rory’s the ideal person who does all the homework, … [and] is an active student. … It’s kind of an aspiration, and it’s something I want to be able to do in the future,” Fishman said.
“Gilmore Girls” fans have debated over Rory’s three main love interests since the show’s inception, giving “Gilmore Girls” a life that continues even after it has ended. “It adds a lot [to] have [a love interest] to root for, and it unites people in talking about the show,” Niko Drusnikov ’28 said.
While Rory’s academic success, relationship with her mom and ever-changing romantic life can seem unrealistic, these facets only add to the show’s appeal. “The satisfaction of watching the show comes with somebody achieving … [what] you want to have yourself,” Fishman said. “It’s a perfect reality — everything you wish is true.”
“Gilmore Girls” still portrays moments of imperfection. Rory struggles to find a place at her new high school, has relationship troubles and temporarily drops out of Yale University. Many students see pieces of themselves within the character. “She’s just trying to figure things out. And I think that a lot of people can relate to that,” Klein said.