Gilmore Girls - The Complete First Season
Director: Kenny Ortega, Lev L. Spiro, Peter Lauer, Neema Barnette, Robert Berlinger, Eric Laneuville, Stephen Clancy, Michael Zinberg, Sarah Pia AndersonStudio: Warner Home Video
MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Subtitled, NTSC
Audio: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround
DVD Release: May 4th 2004
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DVD Review
A very atypical mother-daughter relationship is at the center of Gilmore Girls, a comedy-drama that immediately set itself apart from the herd with smarter-than-smart dialogue and an endearing mix of whimsical comedy and family drama. Set in the Capra-esque burg of Stars Hollow, where everybody knows everyone and eccentrics abound, Gilmore Girls was less a mother-daughter show and more of a screwball buddy comedy in which the two buddies happened to be parent and child. Pregnant at 16, Lorelai (Lauren Graham) left her rich parents to bring up her daughter Rory (Alexis Bledel) on her own terms; when Rory herself turns 16, Lorelai wants to send her academically gifted daughter to the prestigious Chilton school. The catch is, Lorelai can't afford it on her own, and rather than let Rory go without, the elder Gilmore girl brokers an uneasy truce with her parents (Edward Herrmann and Kelly Bishop), who finally get a chance to bond with their granddaughter while financing her education.
It sounds like a premise potentially fraught with angst and trauma, but in reality Gilmore Girls was one of the freshest, airiest, most enjoyable shows to air on the perpetually melodramatic WB network, critically praised once viewers got hooked on its unique brand of humor. Rory's growing-up adventures, including her acclimation to snooty Chilton and romance with townie dreamboat Dean (Jared Padalecki), gave the show a teen-friendly feel, but Gilmore Girls was anchored in the adult by the luminous Graham, a brilliant comedic leading lady who could turn dramatic on a dime and never break stride. The show's hallmark was its rat-a-tat, whipsmart dialogue, delivered perfectly by Graham and Bledgel, as well as a host of wacky supporting characters who would go on to become invaluable cast members. The first season allowed the show--and its lead actresses--to bloom gracefully and establish a deep, humorous rapport that lent itself perfectly to weekly travails both comedic and dramatic. --Mark Englehart
User Reviews
Gilmore Girls is a real treat - Rating: 4/5
Gilmore Girls is a great show exploring the relationship between a 32-year old mom and her 16-year-old daughter. I think it is great that more and more shows are exploring the positive aspects of different kinds of relationships. Everwood is a show about a father (trying to be one) and his angry, resentful son. Gilmore Girls explores the single mom dynamic and does it very, very well.
Most of the credit, although the cast is very good from top to bottom, has to go to Lauren Graham. She's without question one of the best actresses on television today. She is fast, witty, and has a charismatic personality that draws you in. Scott Cohen (Max Medina) states in the interviews, "If you're going to act across from Lauren Graham, you'd better bring your 'A' game, because she'll leave you in the dust otherwise." She plays a cheerful, exciting mom who drinks coffee by the bucketful, loves to eat pizza and chocolate, and runs a small Inn in the town of Star's Hollow. I'm not a girl, but I can quickly imagine that Lorelai (Lauren Graham) is the kind of mom that many girls envision for themselves. She's more than a mom to her daughter Rory (Alexis Bledel), she's her best friend. Don't think that Lorelai is soft on her daughter when Rory finds herself in a pickle or has done something wrong, as Lorelai can quickly shift to a very concerned and disappointed mother.
Cast includes Scott Patterson (Luke) who runs a small diner. He doesn't talk much, but it's obvious that there is a connection between he and Lorelai. Their witty banter is some of the best on television.
There's Melissa McCarthy (Suki), Lorelai's friend and cook at the Inn. She's a bubbly, energetic woman who's a bit clumsy despite her great culinary abilities, such as accidentally smashing a pan into the face of another chef.
There's Yanic Truesdale as the Inn's stuffy, French concierge who believes everyone else is a fool. Great character and wonderfully played by Yanic.
Also, there is Keiko Agena as Rory's Korean best friend, Lane.
Edward Herrmann and Kelly Bishop play Lorelai's wealthy parents who live in Hartford, Connecticuit. Both are fantastic actors and great additions to the show.
Alexis Bledel is the new-comer to acting. Therefore, I cannot fault her for her portrayal of Rory Gilmore as a bit wooden and lacking a certain charisma. This is most evident in the first half of the season. Alexis picks up quick though, as she quickly is able to get a handle on her character. I haven't seen any of the other seasons, so I'm going to assume that things improve for her. She never takes away from the show, however. But many times, seasoned actors can inadvertently show a contrast to someone who has little acting experience.
The town of Star's Hollow is the kind of place I've always dreamed of living. It's fun, friendly, and has all the characters of a small town. Season 1 focuses on Lorelai's re-connection with her parents as well as Rory's getting to know her grandparents. It also focuses on possible romances for both women.
People may assume that this is a "girl's" show. You'd be selling it short if you arrive at this conclusion without seeing it. The acting is superb, the stories delightful, and the atmosphere fun and charming.
Give the Gilmore Girls a chance, and you'll find as I did, that they very quickly grow on you.
A wonderful surprise - Rating: 5/5
I had never seen this programme until very recently. It came up as one of Amazons recommendations to me in an email. I paid it no thought, not knowing anything at all about the show. However, when I noticed that it was airing on the Hallmark Channel here in the UK, I thought I would give it a watch. After 5 episodes aired, I had already ordered the first 3 series, and now, after completing the viewing of series 1, I have ordered series 4 and 5. This should emphasise to you all just how good this show is. To all of you who think it is just another teen show (I'm 43), it most certainly is not. It is a show about relationships, with comedy thrown in, and will appeal to all ages. Lauren Graham is just outstanding as Lorelai. Her prickly relationship with her Mother is a joy to behold. This programme is a departure for myself, my usual viewing is West Wing, 24, Red Dwarf, Blackadder and shows of that ilk. But I have no hesitation whatsoever in recommending it to anyone who likes appealing characterisation, wonderful snappy dialogue and outstanding acting. 5 stars
THE WORLD'S BEST TV SHOW! - Rating: 5/5
First and foremost, I must begin by saying that Gilmore Girls is the best television show I have seen in years. I must start with the cast. Lauren Graham couldn't be better for the role of the mother, Loralei Gilmore. And Rory wouldn't be Rory without Alexis Bledel's angelic appearance and amazing acting skills.
Gilmore Girls is a story of a young mother and daughter who, surprisingly, are best friends. Rory is 16 and Loralei is 32 (Loralei dropped out of highschool at 16 when she became pregnant with Christopher's baby). At the beginning of the season, Loralei wants Rory to go Chilton, a Connecticut prep school. But the only way in is to pay the costly tuition, and the only way to get the money is to ask dear mom and dad for the loan, which means in return, you will have to meet with them for dinner every Friday evening. And that, my friend, is the last thing Loralei wants to do after sixteen years of freedom from her pushy, proper, rich, and conniving parents, Richard and Emily Gilmore. But Rory must go to Chilton. So Loralei must go to dinner. Over the season, you are introduced to more and more characters. Luke Danes, the diner guy who never takes his hat off and hardly ever says a word. But Luke would do anything for Loralei because he has a crush on her. Then there is Dean, Rory's first boyfriend. Ahh, first love. Dean thinks nothing but of Rory and would do anything for her. Next is Lane Kim, Rory's best friend. Lane is Korean and her mother is very religious and strict. Which means, but of course, a lot of sneaking around. Then, there's Sookie St. James, best friend and coworker of Loralei. Sookie is bubbly, funny, and the world's best chef. Then comes Jackson, Sookie's future husband, but for now, the vegetable guy who has a major crush on Sookie. And Sookie, poor thing, is clueless. Michelle is Loralei's french coworker at the Independence Inn. And most of the time, she would love to slap him. Miss Patty is the town gossiper, an old beauty who still instructs dance lessons and is a little over the top. But every town has one of those. Next up is Taylor, town mayor, owner of everything, and Luke's arch enemy. Then there's Kirk, the town geek who has a lot of strange ideas. Moving on to Rory's classmates, Paris Geller, the perfectionist who needs a therapist and would like nothing better than to take smart and pretty Rory down. Madelyn and Louise are her possy that think nothing but of fashion and have brains the size of peanuts. Then there's Tristan, the preppy, stuck up, school hottie who is dying for Rory, but Rory hates him. Oh the drama. But the best thing about Gilmore Girls is how all these characters come together with their wacky personalities and create a bond. Stars Hollow is really the perfect, ideal small town filled with busy bodys. But that's to be expected. Loralei and Rory have an unexplainable bond and work perfectly together. Loralei's witty sense of humor ties it all together. With a brilliant cast, a brilliant writer, and a brilliant director, Gilmore Girls is everything you could hope for in a TV show. It's warm, funny, and sweet. It's one of a kind. And I hope this review has persuaded you to buy this season, because you're really missing out on something if you don't. This is a classic that you will never forget.
Cheaper elsewhere - Rating: 5/5
I put all the seasons on my wish list but quickly took them down because I found them at Target for $18.88 for each season! That's a $20 savings over Amazon's price, per season.
bought it for my gf - Rating: 4/5
she loves it but says it doesn't get "really good" until the second season. holla
