The Consistency of Gilmore Girls Fall
October 10, 2022
Writer: Skylar Wallison
Editor: Carolyn Berryman
“Where you lead I will follow, anywhere that you tell me to.”
For years, this quintessential lyric of the classic series Gilmore Girls has been a constant source of comfort through all of life’s ups and downs. As a tried and true devotee of the show, the stories of Lorelai and Rory Gilmore have consoled me during my hardest moments and sparked inspiration in me during my best. While the idea of a “Gilmore Girls Fall” has generated much traction on social media (Tik Tok, Instagram, etc.), for me, the fall season would be incomplete without a rewatch of my comfort show.
In August as I packed up my belongings and planned the decorations for my new dorm room, I struggled to accept that I would be leaving home and my childhood behind. My first weeks in college were exactly as one would expect — overwhelmingly fun, but overwhelmingly overwhelming. I often felt out of my element, as if every experience was just another time I had to step out of my comfort zone. I missed my New York City routines — my morning coffee at the cafe on 91st and Madison, cooking with my mom, and all the comfort crutches of my life that I had grown so accustomed to.
A crutch that never fails me is my annual autumn Gilmore Girls rewatch. At the peak of my overwhelming transition into college life, I decided to turn to what I knew would alleviate my unsettled feelings. The second I heard the infamous Carol King lyrics again, I knew that just like the song: this specific comfort would “follow me” as college “led” me all the way from New York City to Ann Arbor.
The two protagonists of the series, Lorelai and Rory, each taught me something different. Lorelai, the always humorous and spirited mother, reminds me to let loose and challenge myself. Rory, Lorelai’s studious and kindly daughter, motivates me to be diligent in my classes and academic pursuits, and to enjoy learning a little more every day.
Many things in my life remind me of Gilmore Girls: cable-knit sweaters, coffee (obviously), candles, and ultimately all Autumn comforts that soothe my anxieties. Every year I realize a core truth all over again: the best way to mitigate feelings of inconsistency and discomfort is to focus on the things that ground you. There is a certain power in the idea of “the comfort show.” It can be different depending on the individual, but the nostalgia and gentleness associated with Gilmore Girls will not only always draw me back to the series, but also back to myself.
The special part about Gilmore Girls is that it is real life. The ups and downs that both Rory and Lorelai experience often mirror those in our own lives. There is nothing fantastical or idealistic about the series — it covers heartbreak, stress, and loss, among many other similar aspects of both adolescence and adulthood. However, in harmony with the token “small town charm” of Stars Hollow, even the worst problems that the protagonists face can be solved through the support and love of others. The nuances of the Gilmore Girls’ lives soothe the soul: almost as well as my favorite cup of coffee.
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