Gilmore Girls: a show praised for its witty dialogue and mother-daughter bond. Gilmore Girls was created by Amy Sherman-Palladino and first showcased on TV on October 5, 2000. It features a mother and a daughter duo, Lorelai Gilmore and Rory Gilmore, who live in a small town in Connecticut called Stars Hollow. We see plenty of quirky characters who are the epicenter of the two's lives as we watch the relationship between Lorelai and Rory grow and change.
I love Gilmore Girls and have rewatched it plenty of times. Some might say it’s the perfect show to watch in the fall, as it gives cozy fall vibes. But behind the fast talking, we notice all the moments that show the toxicity between Lorelai and Rory’s relationship. While Gilmore Girls is a comforting show that celebrates mother-daughter closeness, it also reveals how friendship can blur the lines between parenting and immaturity, especially in Lorelai and Rory’s relationship.
Lorelai acts more like a best friend than a mom to Rory. Their conversations range from their day-to-day lives to Rory’s boyfriends, and we learn EVERYTHING. It’s nice to see a mother-daughter relationship so close and trusting, but sometimes Lorelai’s focus on being Rory’s best friend gets in the way of her being a parent first. When things get hard, she jokes or avoids serious conversations, showing how Lorelai’s immaturity keeps Rory from learning how to deal with life-changing problems effectively. When Lorelai was growing up, she didn’t get the love or understanding she wanted from her parents, resulting in her becoming the parent she wanted: fun, chill, and supportive, but not always firm. We see her insert herself into Rory’s relationships, lunch with her friends, and showing up during her first date. When Rory drops out of college, Lorelai’s control and frustration go too far, creating a rift in their relationship. This moment proves how wanting to be the “cool mom” can lead to pain on both sides.
Rory’s immaturity reflects her mom’s influence. She struggles when things don’t go her way, like when she gets a D on an assignment and can’t believe her teacher would do that to her. Instead of taking it as a wake-up call, she freaks out. Later, when she steals a boat and drops out of college, it shows how she avoids responsibility when things get tough. Lorelai’s parenting made Rory confident but also dependent on her mom’s approval. Still, that bond is what makes them both so real. Rory isn’t perfect, and neither is Lorelai. Their relationship shows how hard it is to balance love, independence, and growing up.
