Netflix has gifted us with a reason to give thanks this November, because “Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life” will be available to stream on the 25th. You’ll be able to get your Thanksgiving leftovers, settle in and revisit the (sadly fictional) town of Stars Hollow, Connecticut, and the Gilmore girls themselves once more. The official trailer was released last week and upon watching it a few dozen times, here are three things I’m looking forward to.
Emily Gilmore in all her glory
Rory (Alexis Bledel) and Lorelai (Lauren Graham), the two generations of the Gilmore family the show is presumably named after, are who everyone is itching to see in this long-awaited reboot. But the highlight of the trailer was the matriarch of the clan, Lorelai’s mother Emily. Kelly Bishop, who plays Emily Gilmore, was known to steal a scene or two away from the younger Gilmores in the original run and it looks like she’ll do it again in the revival. One clip shows her appearing to throw everything in her house away, quipping, “I’m decluttering my life. If it brings you joy you keep it. If it doesn’t, out it goes.”
You bring me joy, Emily.
A plethora of pop culture references
“Gilmore Girls” was known for nothing if not throwing pop culture references at you every other line or so. The show first aired between 2000 and 2007, so when we watch it now, the references are great, but outdated. Now, we have nine years of world and cultural events to catch up on. In the clips we’ve seen already, Lorelai has talked about Amy Schumer and John Oliver, and there is even a joke about Ben Affleck as Batman. I’m hoping there’s some political humor, considering that this in an election year, and last time we saw her, Rory was about to cover Barack Obama’s first campaign.
Familiar faces
Pretty much every lovable townie from Stars Hollow is back: fearless leader Taylor is seen in the trailer at the front of a town meeting, the Gilmores’ cat-loving neighbor Babette appears in a clip with gossiping dance instructor Miss Patty and quirky Kirk makes an appearance with Lorelai and Rory at Friday night dinner. Even Melissa McCarthy’s character Sookie is back at her post as chef at the Dragonfly Inn. The townspeople will bring the comic relief they always did, in a show that I’m sure will have emotional highlights as well as comedic.