Gilmore Girls - Season 1 [DVD]

“Gilmore Girls” is the story of thirty-something Lorelai Gilmore and her sixteen year old daughter Rory who live in Stars Hollow, a close-knit town in Connecticut where everybody knows everybody else’s business. Lorelai had Rory at sixteen, and after a refusal to marry Rory’s father, Christopher, ran away from her parents’ home and got a job in an inn. She has since worked her way up to the manager of the “Independence Inn” and Rory is doing extremely well academically. When Rory gets accepted into a prestigious private school, Chilton, Lorelai turns to her estranged and incidentally, rich mother to assist her in the school fees until she can afford to pay her back. Lorelai’s mother, Emily, agrees to this loan, but only on condition that Lorelai and Rory join her and her husband Richard for dinner every week.

I love “Gilmore Girls” for the rich array of characters, quick-witted dialogue and the assortment of trivia references, such as to literature and music. Lauren Graham (Lorelai) and Alexis Bledel (Rory) are outstanding actresses, and work well with each other to convey their characters. I also love the characters that weave within their lives, for example, Rory’s best friend Lane and Michel, the obnoxious French man who works at the Independence Inn with Lorelai. The script is fast-paced, and I’ve read that while the average show of this length has scripts of around fifty pages, “Gilmore Girls” average around seventy to eighty pages. This doesn’t make the show confusing, it just adds to the humour and realism.

I’m not trying to sell this show to you; I just love it so much I felt compelled to write a review. I’ve already re-watched some episodes and this series definitely has potential to be watched over and over again. The extras add to the enjoyment of the show. There are a few deleted scenes, a documentary on the first season as told by the director and actors and the episode “Rory’s Dance” with facts written underneath the scenes as they are happening. Overall, I love this DVD box set and at less than £1.50 an episode, I recommend this.

I’ve noticed that sometimes people include episode summaries and as there isn’t one for this DVD yet, here’s one to those who might find it useful:

1: Pilot – Rory is accepted into Chiltern, and Lorelai asks her parents, Emily and Richard, for a loan.

2: The Lorelais’ First Day at Chilton – Lorelai oversleeps for Rory’s first day. Rory starts on a bad note as she finds the workload is very tough and her classmates even tougher.

3: Kill Me Now – Rory announces at the dinner table with her grandparents that she needs to learn a team sport. Much to Lorelai’s disgust, Rory plays golf with her grandfather and actually enjoys it. Lorelai has a difficult wedding reception to handle at the inn.

4: The Deer Hunters – Rory gets her first “D” and studies manically for the next exam. She is late for the test and is banned from doing it which causes Rory to have a meltdown. Lorelai is called into the school and meets Rory’s teacher, Mr Max Medina.

5: Cinnamon’s Wake – The neighbours’ cat, Cinnamon, dies and Lorelai and Rory are there to support them. Lorelai admits her attraction to Max to both herself and Rory.

6: Rory’s Birthday Parties – Rory’s grandmother prepares a fancy party for Rory’s birthday, and the following night, Lorelai hosts her very different one.

7: Kiss and Tell – Rory has her first kiss from Dean. Lorelai finds out, but not from Rory. Rory has her first date with Dean, with her mother there!

8: Love and War and Snow – Rory is stranded at her grandparents’ house because of the snow. Luke is crushed when he sees Max with Lorelai. Rory apologises to her best friend Lane for not being there enough.

9: Rory’s Dance – Rory reluctantly attends a formal at Chilton with Dean. Dean gets in a fight with Tristan. Rory and Dean fall asleep and fail to come home. Emily and Lorelai’s worry about Rory makes them argue.

10: Forgiveness and Stuff – After Richard is rushed to hospital, the Gilmore’s settle their difference.

11: Paris is Burning – Rory is at ease with Max which scares Lorelai. After talking to Sookie, Lorelai makes up with Max in a kiss at Rory’s parents day. Paris sees and informs everyone. Rory confronts Paris.

12: Double Date - Lorelai encourages Sookie to ask out Jackson and finds herself on the double date from hell with Jackson's cousin, Rune. Lane gets in trouble with her mum for going out with a boy who hasn’t been approved.

13: Concert Interruptus – Lorelai hosts a charity rummage sale. After Lane can’t attend a concert with Rory, Rory invites Paris, Madeline and Louise.

14: That Damn Donna Reed – Emily forces Lorelai to admit her feelings for Luke. After arguing with Dean, Rory dresses up as Donna Reed to make up with Dean.

15: Christopher Returns – Rory’s father returns to Stars Hollow. Lorelai and Christopher relive their history. Lorelai has to make up with Luke after missing their meeting.

16: Star-Crossed Lovers and Other Strangers - Luke's ex-girlfriend Rachel arrives in Stars Hollow. Lorelai gets trapped in a boring blind date arranged by Emily. Dean breaks up with Rory.

17: The Break-Up, Part 2 – Rory denies her heartbreak and attends a party with Lane, ending up with kissing Tristan.

18: The Third Lorelai – Richard’s mother comes to visit, much to Emily’s horror.

19: Emily in Wonderland – Lorelai and Rachel get to know each other. Emily visits Stars Hollow.

20: PS I Lo… - Lorelai and Rory argue and Rory stays the night at her grandparents.

21: Love, Daisies and Troubadours – Paris causes trouble for Rory over Tristan’s lies. Dean and Rory get back together. Max proposes to Lorelai.