Fall hasn’t reached its peak until the trifecta of coffee, coffee (coffee!), and an annual “Gilmore Girls” rewatch has been achieved. For many of us, revisiting the epitome of millennial comfort and autumnal coziness in the form of TV is an annual tradition.
What is it about this show that keeps us coming back year after year, much like our beloved caffeine morning after morning? Is it the fast-paced dialogue that keeps you on your toes? Or the seemingly endless pop culture references that introduce you to movies, history, literature, and music with every rewatch?
Take Season 3, Episode 9, when Rory and Lorelai watch “Grey Gardens“ and poke fun at the peculiar, codependent relationship between Jackie Kennedy’s relatives, Little Edie and Big Edie, only to recognize parallels with their own unusually close mother-daughter bond. Or consider Lorelai’s warning to her father about Rory spending a weekend with Patricia Krenwinkel, a former member of the Manson Family convicted of murder, delivered with her characteristic nonchalance: “If Rory comes home and says she’s going to spend the weekend with Patricia Krenwinkel and I say, ‘OK, grab a sweater,’ you just have to deal.”
And who could forget Luke and Lorelai’s exchange in Season 4, Episode 2, as they discuss Rory’s mattress in the back of his truck? “We’ve been here before.” “I recognize that tree.” The lines echo Samuel Beckett’s “Waiting for Godot,” in which Vladimir and Estragon have a philosophical chat underneath a tree while waiting for someone (or something?) named Godot.
And then there are the quotes that are just as funny on the tenth rewatch as they were on the first. In Season 5, Episode 1, Richard Gilmore declares, “Only prostitutes have two glasses of wine at lunch!” to which Emily Gilmore fires back, “Well, then buy me a boa and drive me to Reno because I am open for business!”
The exchanges between Emily and Richard, for example, are reminders that some of the show’s best moments come from its razor-sharp writing. There’s always another reference to catch, another joke to unpack, or another line to quote along with, even after you’ve practically memorized the script.
But the magic goes beyond the witty dialogue. It’s the cozy East Coast town where everyone knows and accepts everyone, even the often annoying resident oddball, Taylor Doose. It’s the mother-daughter bond many of us envied as teenagers, though, years later, many of us probably relate to Emily Gilmore more. It’s the simpler times: high school, Friday night dinners, town meetings, the Bracebridge Dinner, and the multiple Poes!
Beneath the cozy escapism are relatable struggles: bad decisions involving exes, anxiety-inducing new beginnings at college, and complicated family dynamics where conflict and miscommunication coexist with laughter and love. Add a bunch of celebrity cameos from Adam Brody and Jon Hamm to Rami Malek, Madeleine Albright, and Christiane Amanpour, and it’s easy to see why we keep coming back.
So, oy with the poodles already, let’s plan a rewatch day worthy of one of the most iconic shows of the 2000s. (Come on, The New York Times, you know “Gilmore Girls” ranks higher than 99 on your list of the 100 Best TV Shows of the 21st Century).
Step 1: The Guest List
The most important part of any party is the people! Invite your closest friends, whether they know every line by heart or have never watched an episode. The activities might be niche, but this is also the perfect opportunity to introduce newcomers to the magic of Stars Hollow. Come one, come all!
Step 2: Decor, Decor! (Read in Miss Celine’s Voice)
Set the scene with pumpkin spice candles, twinkle lights, artificial fall leaves, and a DIY Luke’s Diner sign featuring his iconic “No Cell Phones” rule. Add a bouquet of yellow daisies, naturally. For the super-fans, throw in a “WDYDOOY” sign (IYKYK), and display some zucchini, though thankfully, no one needs to sleep with it à la Jackson. You can even DIY a Stars Hollow directional sign pointing to iconic spots like Al’s Pancake World, Miss Patty’s, the Dragonfly Inn, Kim’s Antiques, and Doose’s Market.
Step 3: Set the Mood
No “Gilmore Girls” gathering is complete without a soundtrack. Pick one of the many playlists on Spotify or YouTube, or curate your own with Carole King, The Bangles, David Bowie, and PJ Harvey.
Step 4: Dress to Impress
Have everyone arrive dressed as their favorite character. The possibilities are endless:
• Emily visiting Stars Hollow: Matching gray blazer and pencil skirt, impeccable blowout, and chunky white sneakers
• Diner Luke: Backward cap, plaid shirt, and a tea towel over one shoulder
• Chilton Rory: The school uniform, if you happen to still fit into one
• Stars Hollow Rory: Chunky sweater, book-filled backpack, jeans, and black Converse
• Lorelai on Rory’s first day of school: Cowboy boots, pink T-shirt, denim shorts, and a long brown coat
• Boss Lorelai: Chunky oval glasses, Oxford shirt, sweater vest, bootcut pants, and heeled booties
• Doose’s Dean: Green apron and a box of cornstarch, commemorating his first kiss with Rory
• Bad-boy Jess: Gelled hair, hoodie under a leather jacket, and a withering stare
Step 5: Games, Games, Games!
Make “Gilmore Girls” bingo cards featuring classic moments like Sookie getting injured while cooking, Rory and Lorelai devouring junk food, or Taylor calling a town meeting. Play “Who Am I?” with character names on sticky notes stuck to everyone’s foreheads. Have a knit-athon during an episode, recreate Rory and Paris’s newspaper hats from the Yale Daily News, or turn the whole thing into a 2000s makeover sleepover, complete with jumping up and down and high-pitched screaming.
Step 6: The Food! (You Wouldn’t Want to Disappoint Sookie)
Food is practically a character in “Gilmore Girls,” so bring on the comfort food:
• Coffee, coffee, coffee: Bonus points for oversized mugs or a DIY coffee bar
• Pop-Tarts: Lorelai’s beloved snack, until she starts questioning whether she only likes them because Emily disapproves
• Danishes: Essential for Danish Day
• Donuts: Because one can never have too much sugar
• And if you want to go all out, make it a full junk-food feast worthy of a Gilmore night in with Luke’s burgers or ordering in Chinese food (even if it isn’t from Al’s Pancake World).
Bonus: A (Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of) Summer Edition
Who says Stars Hollow is only for fall? Host a summer rewatch on JUNE THIRD, in honor of the infamous date that Luke and Lorelai’s wedding was scheduled for before everything went spectacularly wrong.
Copper boom, may you embrace your inner Gilmore Girl!
Want more TV reccs? See our newest picks here.
Discover more from The Girly Pop Register
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
