Seasons come and go, but in the small yet extraordinary town of Stars Hollow, some things never change. On Friday, November 25, Netflix’s Gilmore Girls revival returned Us to Lorelai (Lauren Graham) and Rory Gilmore (Alexis Bledel) and their world of coffee, candy and everything else in between to finally deliver an ending (maybe?) to the cherished series.
In case you’re struggling to wrap your head around everything that happened, Us Weekly gathered the 16 moments from Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life that we can’t stop thinking about.
Paul who?
Let’s talk about Paul (Jack Carpenter) — or actually, let’s not because no one can quite seem to remember who he is. Rory’s seemingly irrelevant boyfriend — who dumps her by text before she can beat him to it because she forgot — plays a very minor role in the revival. Nonetheless, his very existence still remains very startling.
Paris’ fertility clinic
Every Gilmore Girls fan knows that Rory’s longtime best friend Paris Geller (Liza Weil) thrives in a position of power, and in the revival she asserts full control over surrogate mothers at her fertility clinic, visited by Lorelai and Luke (Scott Patterson) in “Winter” as they flirt with the notion of having a child together. Also, as you might have guessed, Paris’ adorable children are raised by nannies who they love. Like mother, like daughter!
What happens in London, stays in London!
The ever-traditional Rory has turned a new page, one that involves conducting a no-strings-attached relationship with her former long-term boyfriend, Logan Huntzberger (Matt Czuchry). Resorting back to his playboy ways, Logan has an affair with Rory, although he is engaged to a French heiress who hardly ever seems to be around, and somehow Rory is totally OK with this — or so she says. Deep down, we’re still convinced that she’s in love with Logan, although series creator Amy Sherman-Palladino failed to fully verify our suspicions.
Technology has taken over the town
Not even Stars Hallow is immune to iPhones and the internet, a harsh reality Luke comes to terms with as his phone-free (and now man-bun-free) diner gradually emerges into a modern-day coffee-shop setting, overflowing with laptops and web-surfing. Although he attempts to protest this new era by banning photos of food and distributing false wifi passwords, Luke’s Diner is definitely not what it used to be.
Mr. Kim!
Rory’s childhood bestie, Lane (Keiko Agena), was raised by a strict mother, and viewers have always wondered if Lane’s dad would ever enter the scene and rescue her from her antiques-store and tofu-eating lifestyle. Is he OK with the band? Did he approve of a boyfriend who’s not Korean? Unfortunately, these questions will remain unanswered, as Mr. Kim only had a brief — but much appreciated — cameo.
Michel’s marriage
Ten years later, it seems as though Michel (Yanic Truesdale) has fully come into his own true and confident self. Happily married to his husband, Frederic, and with the prospect of fatherhood bright in his future, Michel seems to be quite content these days. Not to mention, Stars Hollow might be hosting its very own pride parade in the near future. Way to be progressive, Taylor (Michael Winters)!
Ooo-ber
Move over, Uber — some serious competition is heading your way. Although it may seem like just another one of his many entrepreneurial endeavors, Ooo-ber might be the best idea Kirk (Sean Gunn) has had. Equipped with many modes of transportation, his mother’s help and the piglet, Petal, that he raises with Lulu, Kirk’s start-up, Ooo-ber, could revolutionize the ride-share game!
April all grown up
Summer might be in the air, but April (Vanessa Marano) is still ever-present! In the third installment of Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, Luke’s daughter, April, makes a quick but memorable appearance. Home for the summer while studying at MIT, she seems to have a few new interests up her sleeve, such as advocating for marijuana legalization and piercing her nose. April confides in Rory that she is still searching and trying to find herself — and it seems like Rory might still be in the same boat.
Returning to her roots
All of her years at the Yale Daily News clearly prepared Rory for the inevitable: serving as editor in chief of the Stars Hollow Gazette! After engaging in several freelance opportunities and couch-hopping from city to city, Rory finally settles down and takes over her hometown newspaper. Doyle (Danny Strong) would be proud!
Rebellious behavior
The townspeople of Stars Hollow have their priorities in order! Lorelai and her pals have grown quite skilled at tiptoeing around Taylor’s strict policies, and they put their mastery to the test by opening the Secret Bar, a tax-free joint that thrives without Taylor’s consent — or knowledge! To make it all the more entertaining, Lane and Zach (Todd Lowe) perform live tunes. Table for one?
Stars Hollow: The Musical
Broadway-bound? Maybe. Laugh-out-loud hilarious? Absolutely! When Taylor decides that it’s time for a play to get produced about the town’s history, the end result is an extremely uncomfortable (albeit witty) performance — with a little bit of Hamilton and ABBA, but of course — that reflects Stars Hollow quite perfectly. And the two leads in the musical are no slouches when it comes to the stage: They are none other than Sutton Foster (Younger) and Christian Borle (Smash), both of whom are two-time Tony winners. (The pair tied the knot in real life in 2006 before splitting in 2010.)
We’ve been Gilmore’d
Family matriarch Emily Gilmore (Kelly Bishop) is turning in her professional wardrobe, DAR membership and disregard for her maids for tennis shoes, a beach house and a job at the museum! After losing her husband, Richard Gilmore (Edward Herrmann), to a heart attack, Emily made drastic changes in her life, and we couldn’t be prouder. She is carefree, kind and living for herself, rather than in her husband’s shadows. Her coming-of-age, so to speak, unfolds tastefully and offers genuine closure.
The Life and Death Brigade
The gang is back together again! Yale’s secret society, which counts Logan as a member, reunite in a totally cheesy and opulent manner, and we wouldn’t have had it any other way. From costume-clad dancing in the streets to purchasing a jazz club, Logan and his pals take Rory out one last time for an unforgettable and over-the-top night on the town in true Life and Death Brigade fashion.
Carole King belts it out
Where she leads, we will follow! Musical icon Carole King, who sings Gilmore Girls’ theme song, “Where You Lead,” reprises her role as Sophie, who joins the Stars Hollow advisory committee for the town’s musical. When the committee discusses new song ideas for the show, Sophie mentions that she has tunes she would be happy to contribute, and she then performs King’s 1971 hit, “I Feel The Earth Move.” Talk about a full circle!
Lorelai and Luke’s happily ever after
Wedding bells, glitter, spontaneity and cakes baked by Sookie (Melissa McCarthy)! How else would Lorelai have said “I do” to Luke? In a stunning scene that made our hearts smile, Lorelai finally wed her longtime love in front of Lane, Michel and Rory, and it was absolutely magical.
The last four words
The revival concludes with a shocking cliffhanger, as Rory is pregnant with another Gilmore girl (or boy), leaving Us with a range of emotions and feelings of confusion. Who’s the dad? Who will Rory end up with? Will there be another revival, or is this actually how it all ends? We need answers!
Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life is currently streaming on Netflix.
