I know that by now you're ...
Question: I know that by now you're sick and tired of hearing and reading negative comments about how this season of the
Gilmore Girls absolutely stank. Unfortunately, I just watched the season-finale episode, and seeing how the show went down when Lorelai pushed Luke into eloping with her, Luke fought that ultimatum by wanting to wait to get married, and Lorelai just walked away and ended up in bed with her ex-boyfriend/Rory's father. I just felt very jilted and
very sick to my stomach. Why would Lorelai do a stupid thing like that just because she felt too impatient and wanted to pressure Luke into eloping with her? Couldn't she have just waited until the day after she went to her parents' house to ask Luke to elope with her, and to talk through their problems before going to elope to the Hamptons? Then the show could have ended on a good note, with them before they went to the Hamptons and took the plunge. It's just a shame that this season had to go out on a sour note, with a pathetic cliff-hanger that will probably cause it to be even worse next season than this season. Do you think that there is no hope for Luke and Lorelai to live happily ever after now that Lorelai has just sabotaged her relationship? What's your take on this whole situation, Matt?
Answer: I
weighed in on my Roush Dispatches blog, so check that out. But basically, I agree with the overall feeling of dismay where this season finale was concerned, which was reflected in most of my mail that came immediately after. I'm still reasonably hopeful that there will be reconciliation and a happy ending for Luke and Lorelai, but honestly, I'd like Lorelai to have a
Dallas moment and wake up, having had this all be nothing but a bad, sour dream.
But taking an alternative view, there's this from Janna: "I wrote a few months back to complain about the appearance of April on Gilmore Girls. I feared that it was going to drive a wedge between Luke and Lorelai. After the last few episodes of the season, however, I feel otherwise: It's Luke I'm angry at. He has been making things hard, pushing Lorelai out of his life. After last night's speech, he didn't even try to follow her! I, for one, am glad she wound up with Christopher. My question is this: Do you think that, although it may have been the Palladinos' idea to have L&L wind up together and live happily ever after in Stars Hollow, maybe that isn't the best destiny for our favorite TV mom?"
My take: I honestly cannot imagine that the endgame of this series is for Lorelai and nice but bland Christopher to end up together. I just don't see the fireworks.
And finally (for now) on the Gilmore front, this provocative question from Jackie: "How can I say this without making everyone out there mad at me? Will it really make that big of a difference without the Sherman-Palladino writing team on Gilmore Girls? Honestly! How many of our favorite shows over the years have switched writers, producers and directors without us knowing, but yet we all go on enjoying them without batting an eye? If it wasn't for the Internet, entertainment shows, etc., we would not know the difference, and we'd all tune in next season and enjoy ourselves nonetheless. Now everyone will be looking for flaws and ready to give up on the last season. I have been a huge GG fan since the beginning and I plan to continue to be one, no matter who is writing the episodes. I just don't get the big deal."
A fair point, but there are certain shows that have such a distinctive voice and personal vision — West Wing was another, which took a big hit when Aaron Sorkin stopped writing it (though it also went way downhill during his last season) — that the hand-wringing and concern are understandable. It's very possible we won't notice much of a difference, and as we've discussed before, new blood running things could be just what the show needs to snap out of this recent malaise. And Jackie does make a good point that almost no show's reputation can survive living under such intense media scrutiny. I would hope we can ease up a little when the show returns next season. But as they say, the genie's out of the bottle. I can't see fans becoming less obsessive, can you?
